Philip Byers Art

[philipbyersart]

The Red Cathedral, 2020. I realized recently that I paint things I would love to discover in video games, whether glimpsed from afar or stumbled on unexpectedly. This is exactly the kind of imperious, dazzling monument I would love to encounter wandering a desert landscape!

[philipbyersart]

Really enjoying the cool weather of late here on the east coast. This is the closest thing to an Autumnal piece I've ever done, though I have an idea for another.

[philipbyersart]

What do you think lies within the other portals glimpsed in this painting?

Tower of Dreams was the first of many paintings of towers for my series The Else Lands. It emerged unbidden through an exploratory drawing process I undertook while teaching an introductory drawing class and developed into a fully rendered pencil drawing before becoming a painting. The long, gradual evolution that shaped it resulted in one of my strongest and most popular pieces to date, and taught me a lot about my strengths and weaknesses as both a draftsman and a painter. It also helped solidify the then-nascent realization that I really like painting architectural forms!

[philipbyersart]

Cold Cosmic Towers. A baleful red moon glares down at a ghostly tower. The yellow eye of dawn peers across the horizon of an enormous planet that fills the sky. The doorway stands empty. The conjunction is nigh. Or so I tell myself. What do you see?

Only three days left to pick up the Timed Edition print of Dark Emissary! It's my largest print to date at 15.75" x 30", and it's gone for good after September 15. Each print is signed and numbered up to the quantity sold. Take a look!

Dark Emissary - Timed Edition Print — Philip Byers

-Timed Edition Print—only available until September 15, 2020, after which no more copies will be sold. -Image produced using archival qual

[philipbyersart]

Too tired for anything deep or insightful tonight. Here's a pretty picture I made that I like a lot. I worked on this one during a fair amount of adversity and with very limited time to paint. Finding time to paint can still be a matter of stealing a few moments a day, but I'm so thankful for how much I've been able to accomplish.

#theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #visionaryart #thedarktower #cosmichorror #dungeonsanddragons #dnd

[philipbyersart]

Dark Emissary, 2020. Sometimes the idea for a piece hits you like a thunderbolt. I happened to glance at my copy of The Children of Hurin, with cover art by Alan Lee, and I suddenly saw a stark, pitiless black spire against a gray sky, with a gate of white light cleaving it. I'm trying something new with this piece, too: I'm offering it as a timed edition print between now and September 15, after which time it's gone for good. Each print will be signed and numbered up to the quantity sold. Check it out! https://theelselands.com/store/dark-emissary-timed-edition-print

#theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #thedarktower #dungeonsanddragons #dnd #hrgiger #hplovecraft

Dark Emissary - Timed Edition Print — Philip Byers

-Timed Edition Print—only available until September 15, 2020, after which no more copies will be sold. -Image produced using archival qual

[philipbyersart]

Cracked stairs and strange, totemic rocks...what could it be? The bottom third of a new piece in progress! I'm really compressing the palette on this one and trying for some stark contrast and a clean silhouette. Stay tuned! #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #mtg #magicthegathering #hrgiger #giger #lovecraft #hplovecraft #visionaryart #thedarktower https://www.instagram.com/p/CDuWoFPjSC5/?igshid=8cac3auptwvv

[philipbyersart]

I'm thinking of doing another piece with a really stark, desaturated palette like this one, though with a different color cast. Sometimes I find myself oscillating from one extreme to another from one piece to the next. I got my fix for greenery in my previous piece; now I'm ready for something somber and austere. #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #visionaryart #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #mtg #magicthegathering #lovecraftian #lovecraft #hplovecraft #giger #hrgiger https://www.instagram.com/p/CDkUMZ6jgos/?igshid=1arud817qfoym

[philipbyersart]

Last chance to pick up open edition prints of Crystalline Shores and other pieces in the Else Lands series! They're disappearing at midnight tonight, EST! Use discount code GENCON10 at checkout on these as well as playmats and limited edition prints. You can also pick up phone cases from my Reddbubble shop, linked in my online store (link to my website and online store in bio.) #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #visionaryart #landscape https://www.instagram.com/p/CDaCkleDslH/?igshid=x2vbqh6xw0x3

[philipbyersart]

Worlds Adrift combined many of my favorite things to paint: towers, portals, open landscapes and far horizons. The main conceit of this piece was depicting parallel dimensions in a way that resulted in an interesting silhouette, a strange portal ship voyaging between worlds. I'll be streaming again today at 1PM EST! Join me to watch me work on a painting, ask questions, or just chat! I'll post the link to the stream closer to the start time. Today is the last day to snag open edition prints I've released for Gen Con Online! They'll be going away at midnight tonight! You can also pick up phone cases, playmats, and limited edition prints. Use code GENCON10 for 10% off your order! Just follow the link in my bio. #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #thedarktower #visionaryart #studioghibli https://www.instagram.com/p/CDY_7oKDhA3/?igshid=dt5z0j1l8v2t

[philipbyersart]

Taking another shot at streaming today! Stop by to watch me sketch in Photoshop, ask questions, or just chat! I'll be going live at 1PM EST and will post the link in the comments. #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #flyingsaucer #ufo #visionaryart https://www.instagram.com/p/CDWjKqRDZjd/?igshid=677kgeq8l7im

[philipbyersart]

Who do you think built this edifice? The Twilight Gate was imagined as a companion piece to The Waning Passage. I wanted to invert the setting of that piece, placing the cosmic environment within the portal and the landscape without, suggesting that each might lead to the other. I struggled to find an analog for the crescent moon in a twilit landscape. Eventually I settled on a crystal illuminated by the light of the setting sun. I'm enjoying the puzzle of finding various crests to adorn the tops of these towers; it's a motif I plan on continuing to explore in future paintings. My web store has been updated for Gen Con Online! Pick up prints, playmats, and phone cases of the Twilight Gate, as well as many other pieces in The Else Lands series! In celebration of the event, I'm offering convention-exclusive prints through August 2 in addition to my limited edition prints, so check those out while you can! #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #elvish #thedarktower #thedarkcrystal #visionaryart https://www.instagram.com/p/CDU12o7jPX4/?igshid=may0smqvedn

[philipbyersart]

I'll be doing my first-ever livestream today at 2PM EST! Stop by to watch me noodle around in Photoshop, ask questions, or just chat! I'll post the link to the stream in the comments! https://www.instagram.com/p/CDUC2HJDWCA/?igshid=1vn1mwmuvpw2s

[philipbyersart]

Forest Sanctum, 2020. To celebrate the commencement of Gen Con Online, I'm releasing a new piece! After wandering the stars in recent works, I felt it was time to come back down to earth. I'm fortunate to live in a lush, green part of the world; Forest Sanctum is my homage to it. This piece came together so easily and naturally and was an absolute joy to work on. The beauty of the natural world, its mystery and magic, lie close to my heart. I hope this piece evokes something of those feelings! In addition to limited edition prints, I'm also launching some new products in conjunction with Gen Con Online: playmats and phone cases! As a Gen Con Online exclusive, I'm making open edition prints of the entire Else Lands series available through August 2. These prints are normally reserved for in-person events, so get them while you can! Check out the full suite of offerings on my website, linked in my bio! #theelselands #gencon #art #artist #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #visionaryart #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #thedarktower #natureart #studioghibli https://www.instagram.com/p/CDRfSZgjo4k/?igshid=1reer55slga1o

[philipbyersart]

Some details from a work in progress. I haven't painted a forest setting in a long time, but it's coming together really well! Having clear reference for what I'm depicting is really helping to expedite the process and give me good results. Painting such an intimate, natural environment is a welcome shift from the more turbulent and grandiose settings I've been portraying lately. #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #visionaryart #natureart #naturepaintings #thedarktower https://www.instagram.com/p/CDFI4MxjSQF/?igshid=1tsari4865lfh

[philipbyersart]

Endless Paths is an older piece, but one I'm still really proud of. It came at the beginning of my 'swirls' phase, when I was leaning into automatic drawing and surrealism. The idea here was to have a portal materializing from the landscape, a sudden rift in the fabric of reality. Where do you think it leads? #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #magic #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #visionaryart https://www.instagram.com/p/CDAUI-UjLY3/?igshid=llkovyrzczl5

[philipbyersart]

Gen Con Online is only ten days away! As part of the event, I'm rolling out some new products, one of which is playmats! I'll be unveiling designs for all of the pieces in The Else Lands; here are a few of them!  #theelselands #art #artist #painting #digitalpainting #surreal #surrealism #darkart #fantasy #fantasyart #scifi #scifiart #originalart #surrealartist #strangeart #darksurrealism #otherworlds #mysticart #mysticalart #visionaryartist #otherworldly #beksiński #beksinski #castleinthesky #mtg #magicthegathering #thedarktower #lovecraft #gencon #cthulhu https://www.instagram.com/p/CC4icmOjVWV/?igshid=gytudpuz4qoz