TheBrassGlass crest logo
TheBrassGlass | fantasy illustration

Welcome! I'm a digital artist, scroll down for samples of my work; tap an image to learn more. I do NOT use artificial intelligence image generators. All opinions here are my own. Email me at thebrassglass@gmail.com for rates.




TheBrassGlass crest logo

TheBrassGlass | fantasy illustration

Welcome! I'm a digital artist, below are samples of my work; click on an image to see a larger version and for more information. Learn about my commissions process or email me at thebrassglass@gmail.com for rates and a free consultation. I do NOT use artificial intelligence image generators, nor offer my art as NFTs. All opinions here are my own.




The sorceress

C.G. Coppola commissions

These are promotional illustrations for the indie author C.G. Coppola (a truly wonderful person to work with). These are characters from her 'Arizal War' series, though you can find her entire book catalogue here.She sent me sketches, descriptions and photo references, on which I would base the illustrations. Click on any of the images below to see a larger version.Procreate, 2025.Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



The sorceress

The Sorceress

Procreate, 2023-24Brief: Paint a sorceress.I had a lot of free rein with this piece. Drawing on my study of ancient cultures and artifacts (hence the ancient-inspired collar and jewelry), I also researched a bit about Eastern European witches (this led me to give her long, thick braids) and was inspired by the powerful sorceresses in Greek mythology, particularly Circe and Calypso, hence her toga-like garment.I went with the predominantly gold and purple color scheme because they are complementary colors and associated with mysticism, royalty and magic. Her facial structure was based on the actress Anjelica Huston. I wanted her to seem almost electrified with power, so I painted her hair as it if were levitating around her, blurred slightly with motion.The mandala-like background was slightly inspired by the sparse graphic backgrounds of some of Maxfield Parrish's paintings.Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



The witch

The Spellbook

Procreate, 2023Brief: Paint a witch, use dark storytelling to build a scene through maximalist details.I began by listing all things I'd imagine could be found in a witch's workshop, then did visual research, including photos I took in historical New England homes. I then made thumbnail sketches before picking one to further develop. Click on images below for a closer look.

Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



The sorceress

The Red Queen

Procreate 2024Brief: A red queen with thick black hair and ageless beauty, who seems to get her red magic from a gem inlaid in her necklace. Her clothing should be opulent, with fur, satin or satin, embroidery, as well as a regal crown. There are rumors she is an evil witch; she doesn't directly confirm them but does little to dispel them. Use shape language and pose to build the character.I immediately thought of the magical queens of old fairy tales for this, drawing on elements of historical clothing such as panniers but making them pointy to give her an evil edge. You will find triangles and points throughout her design, and I drew on the Gothic architecture for the crown and the background.Click on the images below for more about the process.

Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



Dream dragon
J.A. Meyers

Dream Dragon

Procreate, 2024
Personal poster project
The concept behind this was to create a majestic scene with a magical dragon that protects the dreams of all those in its city.Intended for print and poster sales.Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



The sorceress

Tears of the Princess

Personal project; Procreate, 2023My homage to early 20th century artist J.C. Leyendecker and the Nintendo video game "Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild."The tall hat and moon in a Leyendecker painting made me think of Link’s ancient armor helmet and the blood moon that plays such a huge role in the game.Most of the power of the painting hinged on the man's concerned expression. I made Link's eyes larger and raised the tops of the eye holes in the helmet to allow the viewer to better see his expression.Click on the images below for more on the process of making this piece.

Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



The sorceress

Magda

Commercial commission for the excellent fantasy novel “Lennamore: A Soul for a Crown” by C.M. O’Slatara; Procreate, 2024Brief: Depict a scene from a fantasy novel of an archerwoman and her traveling party fighting off a goblin ambush in a golden autumn woods. Budget was limited, so only three to four characters could be painted.I did visual development research on medieval carriages (what the female character is standing on), clothes and archery for this piece. The author and I based the faces and ears of the goblins on bats, and I made concept art based on these discussions.To keep within budget, I used silhouettes in the background to suggest additional figures in combat.Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



The sorceress

Driftwood horse

I've loved driftwood since I was a little kid and it's immediately what I thought of when I saw the inspiration photo. I found a couple more reference images to inform the textures and my treatment of the horse's body (click on reference images below to view larger). The most important elements to me were to capture the light, the play of the water in both the droplets and foam, and the reflections in the wet sand. It remains one of my most favorite of my paintings to date.Procreate, 2020.Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com




The sorceress

In some trouble

Personal project; Procreate, 2024I liked the idea of a dragon angry at a pompous knight for venturing into his lair. The style was inspired by mid-century illustrations, and the shading is spare to keep that almost flat, graphic quality.

Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



The sorceress

Unicorn hunt

The medieval myth of the unicorn hunt always captured my imagination. This is the first time I tried to paint something based on it, a young maiden whose brothers bring her to a clearing and tell her to gather flowers, hoping she would draw the unicorn so they could slay it. I see her struck by its beauty and majesty, and I don't think she'd ever forgive herself if her brothers were successful in their nefarious pursuit.The style and colors were inspired by the look of Disney's "Rapunzel." I used a soft brush and blur to make the brothers recede into the background. Click on image below for some details. Personal project; Procreate, 2024.

Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com



J.A. Meyers

J.A. Meyers | TheBrassGlass

I make art and concept art for book covers and promotional materials, tabletop and card games, as well as commissions for gifts and personal use.I have a dual bachelor's degree in art and English, and over 12 years of experience in editing, writing and publishing. I have more than four years of experience as a digital painter, and five years of experience as an award-winning cartoonist.

Contact:
thebrassglass@gmail.com

recent titles and projects

recent projects

disclaimer

  • I do not use artificial intelligence image generation, nor do I offer my work as NFTs, out of environmental and ethical concerns. My opinions here are 100% my own, I speak for no one else.

software

Procreate, Canva, InDesign, InkScape, GIMP, LibreOffice Suite




TheBrassGlass | fantasy illustration

Rates depend on the complexity of the artwork and its intended use. If you're an indie author, I offer payment plans, lower commercial rates and some negotiation on pricing.I accept PayPal or Venmo only and all commissions will have a written contract that we both sign.Email me at thebrassglass@gmail.com for price quotes, commercial inquiries or to ask any questions.Let me know what genre and style you'd like, if you need the art in black and white or color, and your deadline,
as well as descriptions and any reference images that might help me bring your vision to life!

J.A. Meyers

visit my shops