I came across Chris Polasko's art a little while ago via someone else's journal features (yes, I do read them! ) and was immediately fascinated by the colours and fine detail in his intricate work, in which I was able to identify the suggestion of a style that, as a child I had very much admired - that of Arthur Rackham! I hope you'll enjoy what I've found for you this week. Here are some words from him...

Short Biography from Chris Polasko

Beginnings

When I was 3 or 4 I received a book called 'The Romances of King Arthur', I couldn't read yet so I just looked at the pictures... They were done by Arthur Rackham! From that moment on I wanted to draw like him.

During those younger years I would say I was greatly influenced by the likes of Frank Frazetta, any of the Pre-Raphaelites (especially Waterhouse), and of course Arthur Rackham.

Also, my mother was a musician and painter. My father is an excellent draughtsman.

I now have a BFA from the University of Arizona.


Influences and Inspirations

If you look at my work you can see elements of Bosch, Rosetti, Gustave Moreau, Alan Lee, and many others; which probably comes from being an art history minor and absorbing their work for a number of years. But after college I became more influenced by literature and finding new ways of seeing/thinking that are unique only to myself. What I mean is, I still wish I could paint like J.W. Waterhouse, but if I suddenly could, I would become only a clone of that artist and I might never realize my own vision.

I am inspired by Fantasy, dreams, faery tales...

I'm always inspired to think that I'm about to create something that does not or cannot exist, but perhaps should. To paraphrase Albert P. Ryder: 'I'm like an inch-worm at the end of a branch, turning and twisting in the air, reaching for something that is not there.'

I like there to be a lot to look at in my pictures and hopefully a lot to think about as well. Concept can be important, but often times I don't even know what I'm painting until its almost done! I like there to be a story or at least, look like there is one behind the image.


Techniques

I primarily work in oils. I use a glazing technique which is time-consuming but allows for greater detail and a luminosity that can't be achieved any other way. Sometimes I'll thin the paint and use it almost as I would use watercolours, building up layer by layer of paint/glaze/paint/etc. Using this technique also allows our eyes to do some of the colour mixing. For example, if I paint an area blue, then a layer of glaze over that, I can then use transparent yellow over the blue giving the appearance of green.

I use Photoshop to crop and resize.


Three Favourite Pictures

'Alone': It was a personal piece and very therapeutic. The original is 8ft long and is almost entirely a large cityscape which was very fun to do. I love creating environments.

'The Sorcerer Fox': I like the overall design and the characterization of the fox's face. Although still very tight, the inking was done rather loosely (for me)and fast.

'Armored': I loved working on this from concept to completion. The image also inspired me to write and illustrate 'Armored & Enamored'. So a lot was born from this single image.


Advice to Aspiring Artists

Put very simply... Perseverance!


The Future?

I'm still very experimental but I'm tightening up on the commercial side to pursue storybook illustration and character design for films and games.

A Sampling from Chris's Gallery

Pictures from Armored and Enamored Series



(Chris's gallery is so far quite small, but well worth the time spent viewing his wonderful pieces of art! I hope you'll agree, and add him to your , just as I was compelled to do on encountering this experience!)


<sub>(I have carried out a series of interviews, and hope to continue to do so. If you have never seen any of the previous ones, please click HERE and you will see links to all of them listed in my journal. Some were carried out with `DWALKER1047 also.)

Here is a stamp for anyone who has been interviewed by me to use on their journal or shoutboard if desired...



Or if interviewed by both of us...</sub>