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.

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.

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.

Queen Cleopatra Seeks an Audience with Ra at Heliopolis

This illustration is of Queen Cleopatra Thea Philopater the VII at the gates of the ancient city of Heliopolis where she seeks an audience with the Sun God, Ra.  

Work in progress: 

Medium: Oil on Crescent®  cold press illustration board
Dated: unfinished
Original size: 16"x 20"

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

Shooting Star

This illustration was an assignment I had in my Design class that I took in 2011.  I had to demonstrate asymmetrical balance, unity by continuation, and movement by multiple images.  I love space and astronomy and took the assignment as an opportunity to illustrate a comet traversing the universe prior to meeting its end in an explosion. 

Medium: Oil, acrylic, and Prismacolor on Cresent black board
Dated: 2011
Original size: 20"x 30"
Original Art: NFS

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