John Carter of Mars

Here is Julie working on the last stages of a painting based on ERB's John Carter, a private commission from a friend of ours. We are taking turns in our usual unplanned way, There is no "you do this and I do that". One of us just takes over when the other is ready to stop. At the end of the day the only important thing is to divide the working time as evenly as we can and to have lots of fun!
The drawing below is the preliminary sketch for two of the white apes in the right half of the painting.

Boris

John Carter of Mars

We did this drawing as a private commission. One of the most fun and exciting things about working on fantasy art is the FANTASY part! The story of John Carter of Mars is such a blast. To do our research for this piece, we borrowed a copy of Edgar Rice Burroughs' "The Gods of Mars & The Warlord of Mars" from our own
Dave Palumbo who has an especially beautiful edition that has the cover art as well as interior illustrations by Frank Frazetta. What a story! If you haven't read these stories yet, better get to it!
--Boris and Julie

Flying Wolf

A flying wolf? Why not! This painting is just getting started, but I thought it would be fun to show you part of it.

--Julie

Heavy Metal Magazine Tarot

Our latest installment of Tarot cards is in the January issue of Heavy Metal Magazine!
Nine of Pentacles by Julie Bell
King of Swords by Boris Vallejo
Page of Wands by Anthony Palumbo

Red Rider

Here's a drawing we did together that we just finished. Now back to work on the next thing!

Julie and Boris

Small Works show in Philadelphia

Opening tonight, there is a fantastic selection of Small Works up on the walls at The Artist's House on N. 2nd Street in Old City, Philadelphia. They've got paintings, drawings, and sculptures from 35 different artists. We love to go to shows like this where you get glimpses of so many different styles of working. Seeing good original art is the best kind of brain food for an artist--always inspiring! Makes you want to go home and paint!


Randi by David Palumbo


Olga by Anthony Palumbo


Self Portrait by Anthony Palumbo


Randi 2 by David Palumbo


David Palumbo, Lorraine Reisenbach (owner of The Artist's House Gallery), and Anthony Palumbo

New Biker Girl Drawing

In putting together material for our newest book, The Ultimate Illustrations: The Drawings of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell (published by Anova Books and Harper Collins, text by Anthony Palumbo, scheduled for release in the Spring of 2009), we needed to fill a spot with a new drawing, so we figured that the people who follow our blog should be the first to see it!
There is something fun and exciting about having a mission where you don't have time to think about it too much, you just have to get down to work and do it. Save all that procrastination energy for a later date. I guess it's like double procrastination and it cancels itself out! Never thought of that before.

Julie