TheBrassGlass

Welcome! You're here looking for fantasy art for your book, product, tabletop game, RPG campaign or a gift for someone who shares your love of characters and good visual storytelling. Contact me for a free consultation!

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 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 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

Procreate, 2024
Personal poster projectThe 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

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

Magda

Commercial commission project; 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

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

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 for a newspaper.A wearer of fabulous hats, I live in Connecticut, where I love visiting historical sites and hiking beautiful parks, taking photos of birds and waterfalls. I also love helping up-and-coming artists and writers, and am very active in online communities and organizations in my state.