Queen Hera

While working on my Demeter painting I drew this in my sketchbook.  It may be the start of a collection.

  

   

Medium: Graphite on paper    
Dated: 2020
Original size: 14"x 11"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

The Goddess Demeter Waits in Eleusis for Spring's Return

This illustration depicts Demeter, the goddess of the harvest who presides over the bounty and fertility of the earth, waiting in her temple at the ancient city of Eleusis for her daughter, Persephone.  

The tale goes that Hades fell in love with Persephone and abducted her, taking her to the Underworld to be his wife.  Demeter searched relentlessly for her daughter and the seasons came to a halt.  With the earth at the brink of starvation, Zeus sent Hermes to fetch Persephone.  Hades would only release her if she had not eaten anything while in his domain.  Alas, poor Persephone had eaten a few seeds of a pomegranate and so was partially bound to the Underworld and Hades for certain months of the year, hence Fall and Winter.  The arrival of Spring means that Demeter will be reunited with her daughter and so she waits anxiously in anticipation of that meeting.

Here is the painting in progress:   

  

   

Medium: Oil on Crescent™ Cold Press board    
Dated: 2020
Original size: 20"x 30"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Nyx the Primordial Goddess of the Night

This illustration of the Greek primordial goddess of the night, Nyx.  She was born out the chaos of creation and mated with Erebus, the primordial deity of darkness. Together they created: Aether (Brightness), Hemera (Day), Moros (Destiny), Keres (Destruction), Thanatos (Death), Hypnos (Sleep), Oneiroi (Dreams), and several more children.

She resides in Tartarus and is considered to be a deity of such exceptional power and beauty that she is feared by Zeus himself.

This illustration will be painted in oil on masonite panel.  Work in progress.  

Medium: Graphite
Dated: 2020
Original size: 14"x 11"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Divine Irony

This illustration of Lucifer Morningstar was inspired by DC Vertigo's comic book series Lucifer, a spinoff of Neil Gaimon's The Sandman series and by Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy.  Lucifer is a handsome devil dressed in a tuxedo shown reading and being amused by Dante's first volume, Inferno.   

Medium: Oil on paper on masonite panel
Dated: 2020
Original size: 10"x 8"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

The Witcher Geralt of Rivia

In November of 2019 I purchased the Xbox One video game called The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.  I never played the prior two games, however, I fell in love with the setting, story, and especially the characters.  I discovered that the game was based on a bestselling book series by author Andrzej Sapkowski and that Netflix had just adapted the series into a tv show.

I binge watched the first season and started reading the first novel, The Last Wish.  I really love the main character, the witcher known as Geralt of Rivia, the White Wolf and Butcher of Blaviken.  I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Henry Cavill, the actor who plays Geralt on the Netflix show, is also in love with the witcher.  He played the games, read the books, and advocated for the role.  His dedication to the role and brilliant performance inspired me to create this painting.  

Medium: Oil on Crescent cold press illustration board
Dated: 2020
Original size: 12"x 9"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Young Flying Fox

I have always loved and been fascinated with bats.  I have drawn them several times over the years, yet they have always been in flight with wings extended.  This time I decided to challenge myself and draw a young flying fox hanging from a tree with its wings contracted.  

Here it is in progress:        

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 2020
Original size: 9"x 12"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Snowy Owl in Flight

At the beginning of the year I joined an art group called 42 Sketches.  The idea is to create sketchbook art everyday in order to both exercise the hand and form a habit.  While writing my book, I had stopped working on art and so I joined the group to motivate myself.

This is a snowy owl in flight.  It is the very first owl I have ever drawn.  I have always admired owls but I let my fear of failure prevent me from attempting it.  I loved working on this and I am happy with how it turned out!
        

Detail of the face

  

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 2020
Original size: 9"x 12"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Julius Caesar

Over the last year and a half I have been focused on writing my novel about Marc Antony which left me little time to draw.  On New Year's Day, I joined an art group so I could be inspired to work on my art again while I write my book.  I decided to work on a still life in order to get my hand "back in the game".  It is fitting that my subject is Julius Caesar, since he does appear in my novel.  

Here he is, in progress:

Added in pastel for shading

Medium:  Prismacolor & pastel on Strathmore sketch paper
Dated: 2020
Original size: 8"x 10"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

See You Next Year!

My favorite winter icon is the snowman.  I have a collection of them which I display every year for Christmas.  

Medium: watercolor and acrylic on watercolor paper
Dated: 2020
Original size: 12"x 9"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Gaudium (The Angel of Joy) - Work In Progress

This illustration "Gaudium" is the third and final in my  triptych series of Angels: "Peace, Love, and Joy".  
  

Progress shots of my illustration.  More soon.

Added her skin tone

    

Medium:  Ink, watercolor, acrylic, and pastel on bristol paper    
Dated: 2018
Original size: 9"x 7"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Halloween Watercolor

These sketches were done in an art journal I had during my my high school years as a teenager.  My photography instructor had us keep a journal and we had to turn in a minimum of 5 pages every week.  The idea was to get your head in your creative side daily.  It was a great exercise, one I should do more often.     I walked on the "darker side" of life during these years and like Ministry's famous song, Halloween was everyday for me. 

 

Medium: Watercolor on sketch paper
Dated: 1993
Original size: 8"x 6"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Nehvahn Vasco D'lavar in Ravenloft

This illustration was done for the character I played in the AD&D campaign setting, Ravenloft.    

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 1993
Original size: 8"x 6"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Siouxsie Sioux

I drew this illustration of Siouxsie Sioux in my notebook while at high school.  I adore the music of Siouxsie and the Banshees and have always looked up to Siouxsie as a role model for her sense of style and strong personality in a male dominated industry.

Medium: Graphite on copy paper
Dated: 1990
Original size: 10"x 8"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Christy 2

This illustration is another tribute to one of my early influences,  Patrick Nagel.  I loved the challenge of seeing the world through Patrick's eyes and his style helped me to better understand both composition and anatomy. 

This portrait is one of my favorite models in the 80's and 90's, Christy Turlington. 

Medium: Ink on Canson marker paper
Dated: 1995
Original size: 14"x 11"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Jozsef Tarmak

This illustration was done as a portrait of a character in a vampire novel I was going to co-author with a friend.     

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 1991
Original size: 11"x 14"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

The Queen of Ice and Snow - Work In Progress

After watching Disney's Frozen in 2013, I was inspired to create this illustration of Elsa.  I loved the theme of feminine independence and sisterly love.  Visually, the film left me awestruck and dazzled by the winter wonderland which the story is set in.  

I am currently working on the snowflakes and the trail of a thousand tiny ice crystals which flows from Elsa's hand:

 

Medium: Prismacolor and pastels on Artagain paper
Dated: unfinished
Original Size: 18"x 24"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Divine Irony - Final Sketch

This illustration of Lucifer Morningstar was inspired by DC Vertigo's comic book series Lucifer, a spinoff of Neil Gaimon's The Sandman series and by Dante Alighieri's The Divine Comedy.      

Lucifer is a handsome devil dressed in a tuxedo shown reading and being amused by Dante's novel.  Not sure yet what will be going on in the background.  I may show his angelic wings, his leather wings, or fire.  

This illustration will be painted in oil on masonite panel.  Work in progress.  

Medium: Graphite
Dated: 2019
Original size: 10"x 8"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire

This illustration of Louis is a recreation of Joe Phillip's beautiful art in the comic book adaptation of Anne Rice's Interview with a Vampire.     

Medium: Watercolor and Prismacolor on sketch paper
Dated: 1994
Original size: 24"x 18"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Force of Nature (First Draft)

This illustration depicts a druid while casting a spell to summon forth the power of the wind and nature.  It was a challenge to get the gust of his hair, robe, and leaves just right, but the end result made it worth the effort.  

I  was not happy this large scale version, so I am currently repainting this in a 14"x 11" size.

Medium: Oil on masonite panel
Dated: 2019
Original size: 24"x 18"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.

Angel Stationary

This illustration was a fun idea I got while in my Commercial Art class.  I really enjoyed creating it.  What would angelic themed stationary look like?  Maybe something like this!      

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 1992
Original size: 14"x 11"

All images are ™ & © dba Albrecht Illustrations. All rights reserved.