FEATURE: Lighting Masters

...and Friday has come and gone without our little Friday Feature. I had contacted several people, but it seems everyone had a busy week! That's okay! More interview-like features comin atcha this week!

SO. I figured we'd tackle a feature of a different kind: LIGHT.

If any of you are painters, you know that light can be an elusive, elusive beast. I wanted to feature some works from artists that I consider lighting masters; and whose works continue to educate and inspire me. Hopefully you guys will find them helpful, too!

First up, we have Nanya.
While I'm a big fan of fancy fantasy lighting as much as the next person, can I just say holy crap? This is a painted still life! Sometimes the best lighting is amazingly subtle. Someday I hope to be this epic:

"Drawn to Life" by Nanya

Next up, we have MarcSimonetti. 

Not only is this guy totally amazing with architecture (aka, the bane of my existence), but his lighting is dramatic, deep, and super-detailed.

"Dying Earth II, Jack Vance" by MarcSimonetti

And who doesn't know and love Wakkawa? 

In my opinion, his gorgeous figures are always breaking the mold and pushing the envelope, and much of it is in part because of his great sense of lighting. Here is a great example of how he combines the figure and light in a stylized way: 

"Blinded and Hopeless" by Wakkawa

Then we have Kuroitora.

I always love his work because of the super-saturated and undeniable lightsources, and the drama and action that is captured in his works. I love to do commissioned characters in back-lighting, and Kuroitora is such a master of the epic backlit figure:

"Firedance" by Kuroitora

Finally, we have Tahra. 

One of my favourite things about Tahra's work is his use of texture in combination with lighting. Check out this amazing environmental piece: 

"Post Box in Forest" by Tahra

So have you guys soaked up enough awesome yet?! 

Go check out Nanya, MarcSimonetti, Wakkawa, Kuroitora, and Tahra and give them some love!