PHASE ONE TEES NOW AVAILABLE AS WALL ART
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
FREE GoK Wallpaper
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
NOT LONG NOW!
After lots of planning and recruiting and many an hour sweating over blank pieces of paper, the long realised and long awaited Game of King’s second phase is quickly approaching a release date.
The logical conclusion to the Game of Kings first stage where 10 artists created two armies consisting of 16 characters all based on pieces from the game of chess.
The artists all from Red Bubble who between them had sold thousands of t-Shirts not only here but through Tee Fury, Design by Humans and various other sites produced an eclectic array of soldiers and generals, nearly all somewhat other-worldly and beastly.
The success of the first phase and the development of the pieces/characters gave way to an actual battle.
A Game of Celestial Kings who battle great armies drawn from all over the universe for their own pleasure.
Based – once again – around a complete game of Chess,, complete with notated moves. The battle draws on the flawed strengths of an expelled Angel who has discovered a loophole to get back into Heaven and a Warrior race who have held the battlefield for centuries and have immersed the game totally into their culture.
Each move represents a story of the battle and culminates in an epic conclusion that even the Celestial Kings never foresaw.
Drawing on the massive talent pool on Red Bubble new artists were invited to join, many fans of the artists and concept from the first phase.
These eleven talented people bring the total involved in the project up nearly two dozen.
Many of the new inductees were of an illustration background and were well suited to the Phase Two brief of large Wall Art – Posters depicting the scenes of the battle.
Phase Two is a much more ambitious and daunting task compared to Phase One with over 40 pictures being considered and produced.
The genre is strictly Fantasy but is spread out using sequential works, using panels depicting scenes to large specific scene pieces of art
The artists involved have managed through their effort and unbridled talent to convey strong emotions, from pity to anger to remorse in their work and the colours seem to burst out the artwork and assault your eyes with hidden small details that it is too much to take in on the first view.
To add yet another dimension to the Phase, the first Phase storyline has been drawn as sequential comics to show off the talent of the more busier members.
This is a project of huge scope.
We’re talking Magnum Opus here folks.
Keep your eyes peeled because it’s all happening very soon and to celebrate the Game of Kings Group will be taking on new members to share the creative process and have a glimpse into what has been transpiring for the last 18 months.
The Group will also be offering prizes and exciting challenges.
Game of Kings
A Folly amongst almighty beings.
With additional behind-the-scenes content from:
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Works in Progress - Storyboard
Short storyboard section featuring black and white Works in Progress by various artists from the Game of Kings Project.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Sunday, December 12, 2010
MERRY CHRISTMAS ALL
A collage of upcoming images and models based on the Steam engines: a.k.a Queens Rook and pawn designed by sjem.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Entry
This is the last sequence before the start of Phase Two of the Game of Kings story: The Battle.
When the White King eventually emerged from his campaign tent, the whole army seemed to sense his arrival and a sudden hush came over all those assembled.
He walked over to the Bishop Angel – who gave no acknowledgement – stood next to him and stared in the same direction.
As if following some unspoken order the rest of the army stared off in the same direction in total silence.
In a matter of seconds the cloudless mid afternoon lilac sky deepened to a dark purple and a mist formed unnaturally fast, making the area above and around them seem encased in fog.
As quickly as the fog appeared it withdrew, but in doing so revealed that the landscape had changed. The mist still swirled and lifted, hiding the sky.
Before them lay a field as flat as a table, covered in lush green grass, kept liked a mowed lawn which stretched to the horizon where it too became engulfed in mist. Behind them the lush lawn did the same but in this direction to only a distance of about two hundred metres.
A glance to the left and right held the biggest shock, for the lawn was bordered on either side by steep rocky outcrops that rose to peaks concealed/hidden by the mist.
It didn’t take long for the experienced Generals to realise they were bound in, trapped one could say.
The army was in danger of breaking ranks when the White King announced “Calm” and when he had his army’s full attention declared: “Behold your opponent!”
As if by divine decree (and who said it wasn’t) at a distance of about four hundred metres away the field began to shimmer with light. Most of the army members shielded their eyes but the light dimmed as quickly as it had appeared – revealing another army.
Even from such a distance, they appeared a mass of darkness and flame and unholy noise.
The collective thought going through the mind of every member of the army of the White Wing, other than the King and his Angel themselves was: “What in hell are we fighting?”
Three leaders’ thoughts, although also in unison, were nothing short of treasonous.
The Skeleton General, the Equilord and the mighty Rock Titan no longer believed they could put their trust in their leader for this battle.
Monday, October 11, 2010
INTERVIEW WITH MATHEW DUNN
He is the man in the gas mask whose work ethic can never be questioned.
Fresh from exhibitions, books and toys we interview Mathew Dunn the very popular Melbourne artist.
Where you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?
I stumbled across GoK shortly after joining RedBubble. I was blown away by the complexity of the project and immediate thought ‘The people in charge of this must be completely unhinged!’ (a suspicion verified as fact once I got to know those in charge). Artistic collaborations of any kind are always exciting to watch and participate in, and when it carries the themes and approach of GoK then it’s even more exciting.
Tell us a bit about yourself
Influences, ambitions, hopes and dreams.
I’ve been drawing for as long as I can remember, and my love of comics matches that time frame. Influences range from 70’s cartoons and horror/exploitation films, through to a wide range of artists including Henry Darger, Mike Mignola, Ashley Wood, Kent Williams, Dave McKean, Gary Gianni, John Paul Leon, Jeff Lemire, and many many more. My hopes and dreams are varied, but often circle around the subjects of comics and toys. Some of those dreams have come true, those that remain unattained are worth chasing to the ends of the earth for however long it takes.
Is there anyone or anything you want to flog?
I’d suggest everyone go to the GoK page to check it out, then go and check out the individual folios of every artist involved. The talent is inspiring. Then when you’re done with that pop over towww.matthewdunnart.com and say hi ;-)
Sunday, October 3, 2010
INTERVIEW WITH DAMIEN MASON
A prelude to the Game of Kings Project Phase Two
Damien Mason has been a popular member of Red bubble and great addition to the GoK line up. Damien is a web and flash developer as well as being pretty handy with certain pieces of cutlery.
You can see more of Damien here on his blog and his website
Were you aware of the GoK project before you were invited to join and what is your opinion of the collaboration?
Yeah of course I was aware, is anybody not by now? I thought the individual pieces were brilliant, some of them especially blew my mind with their creativity and visual perfection. I’m not sure I fully appreciated how they all worked together up until now however.. I don’t particularly want to use the word “Epic” but holy shit.. epic.
Tell us a bit about yourself. Your Influences, ambitions, hopes and dreams.
Okay.. I’m nearly 30, married, have a son who’s nearly 2, live in Radelaide and play with Japanese swords on a weekly basis. My influences are many and varied, from comics and animation to random awesome art I happen to stumble across online or in the street. My goal is to always improve. Yes, I’m like a character from Japanese comics. Call me Naruto.
Long term, I’m looking to get my art up to a point when I’m happy with it and then maybe have an exhibition. I’ve got plans to sell some signed prints as well, and one day I would love to design a few toys. Maybe illustrate a kid’s book. Generally create something worthwhile and leave some kind of legacy when I go
.
Is there anyone or anything you want to flog?
These are what I’m currently working on some special A3 prints
Monday, September 27, 2010
INTERVIEW WITH AUSVEN
One of the joys of the second phase is being introduced to people you weren’t really aware of and then being blown away by their extreme talent. One of these characters is ausven.
Ausven has brought a wonderful new dimension to the group and works seamlessly with others while having a distinctive style that makes you look several times to catch the detail you missed the first time you marveled at his work.
A hard working champion and a joy to work with.
What do you think you are going to bring to the Game of Kings Project?
I was aware of the project prior to being invited onboard.
I had began some correspondence with Si regarding his work ad became aware of it through him. I am a big fan of chess, although Ii don’t play so much now but the combination of the game and my other love of comic/fantasy art led to my secretly yearning that there would be a second project and Ii would be asked to be on board – and here I am!!!
Your opinion of the project so far?
I think….no…check that…I know… phase 2 is going to be something very special and very different to Phase 1. The scale is totally different, every image has the potential to be an absolute epic.
When Ii first received the scenes I would be illustrating I thought….shit….where do I start? But having battled on with thumbnail after thumbnail I have managed to complete my first piece and am chuffed with the outcome, I’m thinking so far so good.
A quick run down of your influences and achievements here on Red Bubble and the outside world?
I grew in London and have always loved comic and fantasy art, I used to play the Steve Jackson Fighting Fantasy role playing books and Dungeon and Dragons game with friends as a kid. In fact the first novel I ever read was the Hobbit when I think I was around 11 – so that kind of paved the way for my love of Fantasy. I used to collect Marvel comics avidly, and would always be in awe of artists such as Art Adams, John Byrne, John Romita Snr and Jnr, I guess these were major influences in my style today.
For several years I tossed and turned with what Ii wanted to do with my life, I have always loved my art but was put off pursuing comic and fantasy based stuff for a while after attending formal art school, formal training kind of beats the comic/fantasy style out of you. Instead Ii focused solely on my painting for a few years – my paintings tend to be more abstract.
However, Red Bubble has played a major part in re igniting my fire for the comic and fantasy art and the talents such as Si Sherry, Matt Dunn and Sturstein have really been a great encouragement for me. Once again I am thriving on what Ii am doing and because I am working along side such talents I am being pushed to move forward and drive my ability to new highs….which is very cool.
If you check out some of my earlier designs such as Si Fi Tragedy and compare it to later works such as The Colonial you can see how far my style has progressed over a year or so. And not just the style but also the technique and know how – I am really pleased with this and again I have the RB posse to thank.
I am now preparing a new portfolio to get out there to promote my comic/fantasy art and hope that this time next year I will be able to pretty much support myself working purely as an illustrator instead of a 9 – 5 with a lil illustration on the side.
I am now at a stage in my life where if I don’t make it happen I’m concerned I never will.
Anything you wish to flog?
Anyone or anything I want to flog? Do you mean sell? In Britain flog is slang for selling something. Or do you mean flog as in hit repeatedly with a length of knotted rope?
I’ll answer two in one – I have a length of rope with a knot in it I would be happy to sell to anybody who will use it to repeatedly hit the last two British prime ministers with.
Thank you for having me – not literally of course.
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