-By Justin Sweet
Glad to be here!
Thanks to Dan and the rest of the guys for welcoming me in to this gang of talent. Hopefully I can contribute in a likewise worthy manner.
Here’s a little background on me. I started in games 17 years ago at Interplay Productions as a concept artist. My first job was illustrating an opening movie for a game called Dragon Dice. I was hired to do several black and and white images depicting elves, dwarves, dragons etc. I was contracted to do them at a whopping $100.00 a piece. I was thrilled to get paid money to draw a picture. After slogging away at these images for a few weeks they decided to change them into color. I did a few samples and they liked them enough to bring me in and hire me. God bless those folks for giving me a chance. I learned a ton there. Interplay eventually split into different divisions and I ended up working in the one called Black Isle Studios. I spent the next several years here as a concept artist and even a stint as Art Director.
Several years ago I left interplay and began a free lance career illustrating books, games and such. A few years ago I was brought on by Grant Major, production designer for THE LORD OF THE RINGS, to work on The LION THE WITCH AND THE WARDROBE. This started my involvement in film as a concept artist which has taken over as my primary work for the last few years. Recently some of the films I’ve worked on are, THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, THE RANGER’S APPRENTICE, CIRQUE DU FREAK, THE GREEN LANTERN, JACK THE GIANT KILLER, PRINCESS OF MARS, 47 RONIN, THE AVENGERS, SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN, and recently a live action adaptation of Frank Frazetta’s FIRE AND ICE directed by Robert Rodriguez.
Presently I’m illustrating 10 paintings for George R.R. Martin’s SONG OF ICE AND FIRE. This project will give me a chance to break out my oils. Nothing like playing with real paint! I’ll post some of this along with other works as i go.
Here are a few images from some of the films and games I’ve worked on lately.
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| Voyage of the Dawn Treader |
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| Jack The Giant Killer |
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| Green Lantern |
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| Rift characters |
Dang, my heart just dropped reading that Mr. Sweet has joined the ranks of Muddy Colors:) You guys are racking up an All Star team here:D
Justin, I'm one of Marshalls students at TAD and I really enjoy the assignments you do. I'd love to hear some inside thoughts the pros and cons of the industry, what a beginner could expect, what parts of the movie production you are brought in and what assignment exactly you do there? If in some future posts you'd have time to answer such questions you'd bring greatly appreciated clarity to students aiming for career path such as yours.
Great post and thank you for sharing your amazing work Justin:)
Couldn't be more thrilled to have one of my favorite artists joining the blog. Hope to hear more about what it's like working in the film/gaming industry.
Awesome to have you here! I've been a huge fan of your work since the start of my career.
I've been working in the games industry as a concept designer / illustrator for the past four years and I'm looking to get into the illustration business as a freelancer at some point. If you could share how you made the switch I'm sure it would help a lot of people like me.
JUSTIN SWEET, I WANT A CHILD FROM YOU
:'D
In other words: I love your art man.
Welcome aboard, sir! Looking forward to reading more from you!
Way back when in 1989 at Noreascon 3, I bought a piece of art, a triptych done in solid black on cream which showed a sea monster in the left frame and a dragon ship in the right.
I love your oils and those sweet little watercolors you did some years ago. That painterly quality gives you work that rich quality. Thanks for sharing here.
wohoo!
Your work is so full of scribbly, scratchy, searching emotion, very excited for all future posts!
darn, now that is great news! been a huge fan for many years, mr. sweet.
Glad to have you here, too. Your work has astounded me for years, and I'm glad you can contribute to this incredible blog. It just keeps getting better, and the addition of you, Justin, proves it. Welcome aboard.
Big big fan, looking forward to your future posts.
WOW! a great addition to the Muddycolors, so many uber talented artists are now here in MC! been a huge fan of your works Mr. Sweet!
-Jasf
nice! been a big fan of your artworks since Icewind Dale!
“a live action adaptation of Frank Frazetta's FIRE AND ICE directed by Robert Rodriguez”
SAY WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT?
Hi Justin, I've been a long time fan of your work! I've always thought your style would be perfect for Song of Ice and Fire which are some of my favorite books, so the fact that you're working with another creative I greatly admire blew my mind and of course, gets me SUPER excited! Can't *WAIT* to see what you come up with, and congratulations on your success!
Welcome Justin!!!
Awesome stuff! Can't wait to see how that Frazetta movie turns out!
Love your work Justin, the way you capture mood with colour is inspirational