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.

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.

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.

Letter Transition: V for Vampire

This illustration was done in my Commercial Art class.  It was a "transition" assignment starting where I had to start with a letter in the alphabet and transform it into an object.  I loved this assignment and went with a vampire theme.      

Medium: Ink and prismacolor on sketch paper
Dated: 1991
Original size: 4"x 10"

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

Depeche Mode: Flexible

This is a song illustration that I created for Depeche Mode's song Flexible from the album Catching Up With Depeche Mode.

Medium: Prismacolor on sketch paper
Dated: 1990
Original size: 14"x 11"

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

Depeche Mode: Sometimes

This is a song illustration that I created for Depeche Mode's Sometimes song from the album Black Celebration. 

Medium: Prismacolor and ink on sketch paper
Dated: 1990
Original size: 14"x 11"

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

Never Tell Him the Odds

This illustration was inspired by the amazing performance that Alden Ehrenreich delivered as the dashing scoundrel  Han Solo in the film Solo: A Star Wars Story by Ron Howard. 

Medium: Graphite and pastel on bristol paper
Dated: 2018
Original size: 8"x 12"

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

The Ashes of Defeat

This illustration was inspired by the outstanding performance that Robert Downey Jr delivered as the genius, billionaire, philanthropist Tony Stark aka Iron Man in the film Avengers: Infinity War by Anthony and Joe Russo.  This piece was also inspired by the amazing music composed by Alan Silvestri for the film, which I listened to while I worked on this. 

Medium: Graphite and pastel on Bristol paper
Dated: 2018
Original size: 9"x 12"

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

Depeche Mode: Black Celebration

This is a song illustration that I created for Depeche Mode's title track from the album Black Celebration.  Without a doubt, this album is my favorite.  I bought it when it was released and I felt the songs resonated with me during that time of my life.

Medium: Prismacolor and ink on sketch paper
Dated: 1993
Original size: 14"x 11"

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

Eric Northman's Most Treasured Possessions

In the Fall of 2011 I discovered HBO tv series True Blood and The Sookie Stackhouse novels by Charlaine Harris.  I fell in love with the relationship between Eric Northman and Sookie Stackhouse in the books and decided to create an illustration about them.  At this time I was also taking a Drawing I class and this became my final assignment.

Here is the original sketch: 

Here is the current progress shot: 

Medium: Charcoal and pastel on Artagain® paper
Dated: unfinished
Original size: 20"x 30"

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

Martin L Gore of Depeche Mode

I have been a fan of of the British band Depeche Mode ever since I purchased the LP "People are People" back in 1984.  In the late 80's and early 90's I drew portraits of the band members and even illustrated some of their songs.  In 1991, I decided to draw my most ambitious portrait yet, one done on a scale of 18" x 24" and my subject was my favorite composer and songwriter, Martin Gore.  The result is the illustration you see below.

   

I had the opportunity to meet the band, Depeche Mode, in 1993 when I won front row tickets and a back stage pass to a concert they performed in Houston for the Songs of Faith and Devotion tour.  I brought the portrait below to the show along with some of those song illustrations I mentioned.  The band loved them and Martin kindly autographed his portrait for me (his signature is on the lower left).

Medium: Graphite on sketch paper
Dated: 1991
Original size: 24"x 18"

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

Russell Crowe as Maximus in The Gladiator

This illustration of the Roman general Maximus pays tribute to the outstanding performance that Russell Crowe delivers as the enslaved general turned hero in the film Gladiator by Ridley Scott.  This piece was also inspired by the amazing music composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard for the film. 

Interestingly enough, while visiting Austin, Texas in August of 2000 I had the honor of presenting the only Artist Proof of this original to Russell before a concert he was performing with his band Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts.  He invited me to stay for the concert as his guest and while enjoying the delightful blues/rock they played from the VIP lounge, I had the chance to meet and speak with Ron Howard!    

Medium: Graphite and pastel on Bristol paper
Dated: 2000
Original size: 14"x 11"

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

Depeche Mode: Dave Gahan in Enjoy the Silence

This is a song illustration that I created for Depeche Mode's song Enjoy the Silence, featuring Dave Gahan, from the album Personal Jesus.

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

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

Duran Duran: Too Much Information

This is an illustration that I created for Duran Duran's song Too Much Information from the Wedding Album. 

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

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

Depeche Mode: People Are People

This is a song illustration that I created for Depeche Mode's People Are People song featured on the UK album Some Great Reward and US album People Are People.  

Medium: Prismacolor and ink on sketch paper
Dated: 1993
Original size: 11"x 14"

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

Duran Duran: Drowning Man

This is an illustration that I created for Duran Duran's song Drowning Man from the Wedding Album. 

Medium: Oil Pastel and Tape on Sketch paper
Dated: 1993
Original size: 8"x 6"

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

Sting as Anne Rice's The Vampire Lestat

"That night the vampire returned to work the dark gift on Louis." We see the vampire known as Lestat consider the consequences of the act, but only for a second! 

My illustration was inspired by Anne Rice's Interview With the Vampire and the idea of what Sting would have looked like, had he played the vampire on Broadway as it was proposed many years ago.  

In November of 1999, as fate would have it, after listening to Sting play at the Jones Hall in Houston, I crossed paths with the man himself in an elevator!   He invited me to have drinks with him and his band and I was able to give him one of the only two artist proofs of the limited edition print series.  The other Artist Proof was a gift to Anne Rice. 

Medium: watercolor and ink on sketch paper
Dated: 1995
Original size: 14"x 11"

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

Adrian Paul as Duncan MacLeod in Highlander

Adrian Paul starred as the titular character on the hit 90's TV show Highlander: The Series. This illustration was a commission that I did for a friend that was in love with the show.  

At the time I did this commission, I had never seen the show and it wasn't until after I finished this piece that I was curious about it.  I think I ended up borrowing seasons 1-3 from a friend (this was before Netflix) and was "hooked" immediately. 

As a thank you gift, my friend asked Adrian to autograph one of my prints for me.  :)

Medium: graphite on Bristol paper
Dated: 1995
Original size: 10"x 8"

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

Sting Portrait

During the early 80's I fell in love with the music of The Police and when the band broke up I continued to follow Sting on his solo journey.  He is a prodigy of sorts with a gift for lyrics, composition, and performance.  This is one of my homages to him as a musician.  I hope to finish this one day.

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

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

Siouxsie & the Banshees: Face to Face

After I saw the film Batman Returns in the theater I was obsessed with Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal of Catwoman and with Siouxsie & the Banshees' theme song Face to Face  scored for the film.  The song is haunting and beautiful.  It describes the dichotomy of Batman and Catwoman's complex relationship.  

This illustration was part of an assignment in my Commercial Art class where I had to make a template with cut outs and create "copies" of it.  Everything that I painted onto the paper represents all the areas a cut out with an exact knife.  Ugh. 

Medium: Acrylic on 2 ply sketch paper
Dated: 1992
Original size: 18"x 24"

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