Heavy metal and horror work. (update: 5/25/12)

[Dusty]

Updates on Page 4 - 5/25/12!

Personal Piece - "Nigh":
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/nigh_01.jpg

Album art for Six Feet Under - "Undead":
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/sfu_undead01.jpg

Album art for Dawn Under Eclipse - Universus:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/universus.jpg

Album art for Behold! The Monolith - Defender, Redeemist:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/Redeemist_Final_full.jpg

Album cover for "Unblessing the Purity" by Bloodbath:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/unblessing.jpg

Album cover for "The Fathomless Mastery" by Bloodbath:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/fathomless1.jpg

Humwawa, Lord of Abominations - Personal project.
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/humwawa.jpg









1394731

[Jacob Kobryn]

Freaking cool Dusty!

[keith_v]

Really beautiful painting. Great use of reds in the face.

[Dahami]

The style reminds me of the concept art of the LotRO orcs. Something about the way the eyes and color is handled.

[El Jeremie]

Cool stuff. Really creepy.

[Duman]

I have to say, its about time you shared this with the rest of the world. And boy is it worth sharing. I have always liked the creatures designs, but am pleasantly surprised at how you did the mist. It works really well.
Well done!

[Dusty]

Duman: Well, I toiled over the mist for awhile...not to mention Nov/Dec I hardly worked on it at all, haha. Thanks for keeping up on it in the WIP thread!

keith_v: Thanks! I'm glad you like that aspect...the entire time I change the colors up a lot, but I knew I wanted the mouth area to be striking, so I'm happy I achieved that.

Everyone else: Thanks so much!

-D

[Duman]

Believe me, the pleasure was all mine.


Now lets see some more.

[mtedore]

Great work!

[ColumbusSage]

what!

[MoonVisionStudio]

Excellent! Great color and subtle details.

[Jacob Kobryn]

Have you done any more album covers? I thought that bands would be leaping all over you after the Bloodbath ones.

[Dusty]

Have you done any more album covers? I thought that bands would be leaping all over you after the Bloodbath ones.

I've had several bands contact me, but I think they expect a little bit cheaper work and haven't written me after I tell them my rates. I'm comfortable with that, though, as I don't feel that my rates are all that high.

There is one major black metal band that I have been talking to that tentatively wants to work with me, but no new album from them for another year or so...so it's the waiting game on that one.

Overall, I am eager to do more, but at the same time...I only have enough time for so many (which is why I keep my rates where they are at). The day job and wife time restrict me from being able to bang these out in a week, so my spare time is valuable.

-D

[rapxic]

great work man , i just love the detailing arounf the face so much, lighting goes so well there , i didn't even realize ya planned a focus, good stuff man

[Jacob Kobryn]

Emperor? ;)

[Dusty]

Emperor? ;)

No, but I wish.
They aren't even a band anymore, are they?

[Jacob Kobryn]

No. :( That's why I thought it would be really amazing. They always have awesome album covers too.

[Dread_Reaper]

After months of watching this thing evolve, its finally finished! I love it Dusty, this is one of my absolute favorite pieces to come through CA. Well done mate!

-Dread_Reaper

[Lotet]

so THIS is how it turned out! sweet, I think it whould have been better of with the background that u had in ur initial sketch though, it felt a lot more grounded, but are really good piece never the less, keep it up :yayca:

[Dusty]

Yeah, I changed that because I thought the trees were a bit too busy in the other one. They looked a little bit too "Spooky Old Tree with the Berenstain Bears" if you understand my reference (if not, google it)...and the foreground tuft of grass and whatnot just got in the way of the mist/breath that I was trying to accentuate.

Either way, though, I appreciate the crit...backgrounds are my weak spot still, so I like to know opinions on that stuff.

Thanks!

[rambangbang]

Wow! H.P Lovecraft, love it!

[Joey-b]

Hey man, just noticed this, this turned out wonderfull. thanks for sharing the whole process

[cmoreland]

Dusty, meet id Software...id, meet Dusty. :)

/hey, a guy can dream

[SteevDragon]

Holy Crap! That is terrifying and incredible! I read about ole humwawa, but didn't know anyone could flesh him out in such detail! A great work of art!

[Dusty]

Thanks for the comments, guys. :D

cmoreland: Haha, the lead designer for Doom 4 is actually a good friend of mine...unfortunately, I have no plans to move to Texas any time soon. ;) I'm sure they've got the kickass design department quite covered, though.

SteevDragon: Thanks! He's a little obscure, so it's nice to see someone familiar with it. Glad I realized it well! I'm actually considering doing his brother, Pazuzu, next depending on whatever paid projects I have coming down the pike.

-D

[Devlyn]

I like this a lot - 5 stars.

[Sesaka Hinotama]

Scary mouth with all of those entrails. I saw the progress and from all of the effort, you did good!

[Dusty]

Updated the thread with my latest album cover for the band, Behold! The Monolith.

I also consolidated my work into one thread for easier management on my part. I see others do the same, so I figured I might as well.

Thanks for looking!
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/behold.jpg

[The Acidraptor]

That is so tight!!! Hope they make the final cut...

[andyhunt]

Oh HELL yeah. That album cover is awesome. On Humwawa, I love the way you painted the vapors coming out of it's mouth. Fantastic stuff.

[Dusty]

Acidraptor: Final cut? I might have worded something wrong, but all of these (other than Humwawa, which is a personal piece) are official, so nothing needs to make any final cut. :D Either way, thanks for the comment!

andyhunt: Thanks, man! I'm pretty happy with the breath, too. I must have studied Jeff Easley's paintings for days trying to figure out the method to his madness.

-D

[Dusty]

Pazuzu, Lord of Fevers and Plagues, Dark Angel of the Four Winds
with rotting genitals from which he howls through sharpened teeth over stricken cities…."

- William S. Burroughs, Cities of the Red Night


http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/pazuzu.jpg

Reference and information:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/pazuzurelic.jpg
http://www.archaeowiki.org/Pazuzu

[Dusty]

This was made for the Minnesota Metalfest this year for use in posters, T-shirts, and online advertisements (this is why the background is black, btw).

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/metalfest_final.jpg

[evolvingeye]

Rock. On.

[doctor-trone]

haha,no comment

[Dusty]

evolvingeye:
Thanks! \m/

doctor-trone:
Well thanks for the bump, but comments would certainly help...positive or negative. I assume you are reacting to Pazuzu?

I was merely trying to be as accurate as possible according to his description in mythology.

-D

[Dusty]

This is a T-shirt design for a band that I did. Can't say who *quite* yet, but I'm fine at least posting it.

Concept is entirely the bands, execution/pose/design by me.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/band.jpg

[Dahami]

Cool! (In a creepy, Hell-ish sort of way.)

[10thWay]

I'm speechless, veeery good work, I particularly like Lord Humwawa.

[Dusty]

This is a T-shirt design for a band that I did. Can't say who *quite* yet, but I'm fine at least posting it.

Concept is entirely the bands, execution/pose/design by me.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/band.jpg

As it turns out, Six Feet Under liked it so much that they decided to use it as their album cover:

http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/reviewpics/sfu_gc3.jpg

Next on my plate is an album cover and interior artwork/layout for the deathcore band, Whitechapel.

[Bel696]

Nice works!
Very inspiring, especially since I want to design album covers too btw how did you get in contact with the bands, like did you send your portfolio to them or did they seek you out?

[JFierce]

That first pics freaking me out, makes me think of an evil furry cult
Overall cool stuff though

[Shinn]

Your Unblessing the Purity artwork is freaking amazing, one of the best artworks Ive seen here, seriously amazing work.

[Dusty]

Bel696:

It starts the hard way...emailing any band you can find an email address to. In the case of Bloodbath, I actually entered a contest that they had a few years ago to design their EP cover. Now, I don't normally do free work, but to be honest I was in quite a slump that year, so I figured it'd be fun and it'd get me off my ass. Well, I won and that and while I didn't get paid for it...it's been worth it because they paid me to do their following LP and they told me they'll likely have me do their next album as well. From then on out, it has been a combination of emailing, getting contacts, and also people writing me as well that liked my previous work.

The trick is to not get discouraged by lack of response from bands. I probably sent off 50 emails and I got back 3 replies and only 1 job. But that was worth an afternoon of emailing, you know? Also, another tip is if you actually find an email of a band member such as guitarplayer@band.com, you will have more luck talking to than person that labels or management. Bands typically pick their own covers, so getting a hold of them directly is key.

Hope that helps!

JFierce
Er....thanks? I think?

Shinn
Thank you!

[Fytte8093]

Awesome work. I have a friend who loves Whitechapel, make us proud :skull:

[Dusty]

Here's what I've been up to for the last couple months. Was supposed to be for a popular metal band but the label wanted to go in a different direction so it won't be used.

Oh well...at least that means I'm free of NDA, eh?

Corrupted:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/cover.jpg

Single File:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/inside.jpg

Processing:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/tracks.jpg

-D

[Dusty]

Here's a couple of simple T-shirt designs that I did for Six Feet Under for their upcoming Euro tour.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/SFU_Tshirt02.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/SFU_Tshirt01.jpg

[Duman]

Dude, that is some brutal work right there.
The piece with the wolf priest absolutely blew my mind.
Keep it up.

[Jacob Kobryn]

There is one major black metal band that I have been talking to that tentatively wants to work with me, but no new album from them for another year or so...so it's the waiting game on that one.


-D

Whatever happened with this? It's not Cradle of Gayness or Dimmu Burger or something like that is it? :nohope:

[velderia]

Sexy and creepy. :)

[Sarith]

Hail Bloodbath!

[Pavel Sokov]

congratulations on six feet under commission!
I feel like you must really be getting around in terms of death metal bands.
You gotta get a cannibal corpse commission man

[Darknale]

very nice
lots of detail, love dark concepts

[Dusty]

This piece here was done for the band, Oceano, for their upcoming album.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/contagion01.jpg

[Dusty]

Whatever happened with this? It's not Cradle of Gayness or Dimmu Burger or something like that is it? :nohope:

Jake:
Sorry dude, I didn't see this when I posted my last image.
It was gonna be Rotting Christ, but I think I had a miscommunication with the lead singer as he thought I was only able to do strictly the cover and he wanted someone that could do layout as well as cover (after all, English is his second language). He was shocked when I said I could have designed his layout as well, but by that point he had already chosen someone else for the job.

It's okay, I love Rotting Christ to death, but they basically just had a head on their cover for Aealo and that would have been rather boring to paint I think.

Pavel Sokov:
Thanks, man! Yeah, I've got a pretty good working relationship with SFU now and I'll be doing their next full-length LP next year as well. That will probably end up being my next thing that I tackle, too, actually. Sadly, Cannibal Corpse is pretty nailed down to only use Vincent Locke so I doubt that will ever happen. Sadly just for me, of course. As a CC fan, I love Locke...so I completely understand and am happy they stick with him.

Everyone else: Thank you!

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/contagion.jpg?__SQUARESPACE_CACHEVERSION=128666821 4918

[Christopher Genovese]

Great work! Love the Humwawa piece!

[Dusty]

Here's something new that I can show.
T-shirt for grindcore band, Cattle Decapitation, based off of their song, "A Body Farm".

"Forgive my humble abode
Rotting bodies clogging the commode
Please pardon the stench and the trunk of a man lying on the workbench

Out by the shed are buzzing hives made of human heads
The gestation of larvae tells us
the time of death"

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/bodyfarm01a.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/cattle_lsmock.jpg

[Maximilian S]

Wow, truly disgusting Dusty, which I assume is what you were going for. I don't mean, like, oh yuck disgusting, I mean quite disturbing. Great work.

Max

[Dusty]

Thanks, Max! Yeah, the subject matter demanded that it be pretty disgusting. The idea is that "...we see a psychotic scientist who runs an environmental laboratory or "body farm" to study the effects of exposure, time and decomposition on human cadavers right in his back yard! All for the sake of crime scene investigation, right? WRONG: He's the one providing the cadavers...". (from the press release).

[Dusty]

Seeing as the album that this piece was made for (which was made along with the ones already in this thread) is coming out next Tuesday, I'm in the clear to finally post it.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/contagion02.jpg

Just to repost the others from earlier in the thread, these 3 pieces go together to tell the story of a government-led power that creates a virus and intentionally unleashes it upon the world.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/contagion.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/contagion01.jpg

Also, you can see the album cover featured prominently on the drummer's kit in their new video:
Mlsdx_IDhwQ

The band is Oceano and the album is "Contagion". If you like bands like Whitechapel, Acacia Strain and Job for a Cowboy, you might like this band! Check it out next tuesday!

[cmalidore]

Love the reds, very post apocalyptic and gruesome :D

That crit I mentioned on twitter was to watch the stiff figures, they don't feel horribly fluid and I feel perhaps that's sucking out some of the energy. But, all in all it's quite cool. That's the sort of packaging I like to see!

[Dusty]

Love the reds, very post apocalyptic and gruesome :D

That crit I mentioned on twitter was to watch the stiff figures, they don't feel horribly fluid and I feel perhaps that's sucking out some of the energy. But, all in all it's quite cool. That's the sort of packaging I like to see!

Thanks, Chris...I completely agree with you! This project really went outside my comfort zone and it's showing a bit there. Thanks for reaffirming the figure stiffness, though. It's definitely something I am trying to work on.

[d00dlebug]

Wow there is some really twisted stuff here...it's fantastic! Keep it coming!

[Dusty]

Thanks for checking everything out, man. :)

[dudu torres]

You have really nice designs there. I see a lot of Wayne Barlowe's influence, mainly in the Pazuzu pic. Keep posting more!

[mrd33ds]

wow nice stuff man, i like the "currupted"

[Dusty]

Hey everyone,

Here's the last of anything to post for a few months probably.
The death metal band Six Feet Under really kept me busy last year with apparel as well as a DVD cover. Very thankful for that.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/sfu_dvd.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/Shirt01_low.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/Shirt02_low.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/Shirt03_low.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/Shirt04_low.jpg

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/sfu_mockup01.jpg
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/sfu_mockup02.jpg
I'll also be doing their next album cover, but that is a long way off.

[Duman]

Sweet stuff. They are all done well, but the skulls with the maggots are just awesome. Suitably dark and brooding.
The T shirts are also looking great, and thats always nice.
Keep up the good work.

[Ebagg]

Damn cool seeing so much of your work in one big CA thread dude. I'd tell you to draw something cheerful, but you work full time with me on art that couldn't be more opposite than this! Keep painting them intestines buddy!

[Jacob Kobryn]

Cool stuff man! It's great to see your career flourishing. And Rotting Christ are a good band, so that would have been cool, but whatever, eh?

[Dusty]

Cool stuff man! It's great to see your career flourishing. And Rotting Christ are a good band, so that would have been cool, but whatever, eh?

Yeah, it's no big deal. I don't really get butthurt when something falls through. I don't take it personal, you know? If it wasn't meant to be, it wasn't meant to be.

There's a lot of bands out there.

As long as someone isn't trying to be a cheap-ass, I consider all bands equal and will work with anyone, with any level of "fame". I get just as excited about working with all of them even if they have only 5 fans.

[AestheticMachine]

I love these :D It looks like a ton of fun!
How do you get work for bands? Do you need to approach them first, or is it kind of word of mouth? This looks like an interesting venue.

[Dusty]

I love these :D It looks like a ton of fun!
How do you get work for bands? Do you need to approach them first, or is it kind of word of mouth? This looks like an interesting venue.

A little of both, but I'll be the first to admit that any band that writes me first is because they own a cd that I have previously done art for. So it's not like I just have my website sitting out there in cyberspace and bands magically write me.

No, unfortunately it is indeed all about the blind email. Going to bands that you think might be a good fit for your artwork and treating it like any job interview/cover letter. You are trying to introduce someone to your art and convince them that they need you for their products.

It's not easy, I mail things out all year long and never hear from hardly anyone. Then out of the blue I'll hear from someone I wrote ages ago. Bands are really bad about writing back. But once you get a client that really likes your work, it can be worth it's weight in gold. Six Feet Under, for example, is a band I obviously have a very consistent working relationship with. He loves my work and I love working with him...much better strengthening that bond than working with a hundred other bands.

[NenadGojkovic]

Great works, the first one drew my attention the most. I love it.

[Dusty]

This was done for an Italian band called "Dawn Under Eclipse". They are still looking for a label, but they have a myspace. Check them out!

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/universus.jpg

[dem0n]

That's just amazing. That's gonna be my new wallpaper. Awesome!

[Dusty]

Thank you! I can think of no better compliment than to say "I'm going to stare at this every day on my desktop".

;)

[Rick-K]

This last one is great on so many levels! Good job.

[bullitbikini]

your work creeps me out, scares the living crap out of me, and makes me want to be better than you.... I love you sir, love you.... The Lord of abominations is especially inspring. Over the top gore and horror are not my personal strengths but I hope you dont mind me using you as a point of reference haha. Cant wait to see more work

[Dusty]

your work creeps me out, scares the living crap out of me, and makes me want to be better than you.... I love you sir, love you.... The Lord of abominations is especially inspring. Over the top gore and horror are not my personal strengths but I hope you dont mind me using you as a point of reference haha. Cant wait to see more work

Thank you!
One of these days I need to do a gore-tutorial. I have gotten a lot of questions about how I do it over the years.

[Dusty]

Here's my latest; A cover for the metal band, Funerus, for their upcoming album "Reduced to Sludge".

As you can see, I went fairly literal with that.

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/Reduced_to_sludge_final.jpg

[Pavel Sokov]

The Italian band's cover is really, really solid! Love it

[Emilmaxen]

Haha, your stuff is intense, I can almost smell it! Your piece for Dawn Under Eclipse would be SUCH a cool t-shirt aswell! Love it!

[Random_Hobo]

Awesome artwork you reminded me how much i love themes and things like this.

[Dusty]

New album art for the latest from Behold! The Monolith, "Defender, Redeemist".

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/Redeemist_Final_full.jpg
The characters depicted here are "The Redeemist" (top) and "The Desolizator" (bottom), both of which are featured heavily in the lyrics to this concept album.

[Dusty]

This is kind of a sketch, but I'm happy enough with it because it's the first time I have busted out real paint in a Looooooooong time. So it gets put here because I like it :)

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/watercolorbeast.jpg

[Dusty]

After what seems like a century, I finally had a break in my schedule to do a personal painting for myself.

"Nigh" - mixed media (photoshop and watercolor).

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/nigh_01.jpg

[Ccs]

You're getting a lot better with the edges in your paintings. Before they were all blurry but now some edges pop while others fall back in space like they should. The Dawn Under Eclipse blue hands guy is awesome.

[Dusty]

Thank you!

Actually, I used to intentionally blur the edges. Was an old technique that I learned back when I was a wee-photoshop-lad. Over time, I have been trying to develop a technique in photoshop that is very "anti-photoshop". By that, I mean I try to make it look as painted as possible (one-layer painting, hard edge brushes, very few - if any - PS-tools like blur, dodge/burn etc.

I personally think it has been a good choice, so I appreciate that you called that out.

Thank you!

-D

[Ryan_B]

This is kind of a sketch, but I'm happy enough with it because it's the first time I have busted out real paint in a Looooooooong time. So it gets put here because I like it :)

http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/watercolorbeast.jpg

Very cool Lovecraftian vibe. Polyps and eyeballs.

[Dr Midnight]

Wow. I really enjoy that Reduced To Sludge cover. I don't get death metal at all, myself, I'm a thrash guy... but I am a-digging the art.

[Dusty]

Wow. I really enjoy that Reduced To Sludge cover. I don't get death metal at all, myself, I'm a thrash guy... but I am a-digging the art.

Thanks, man!
I dig your stuff as well. Always loved that Repka-esque color palette you got going on. :)

[Jacob Kobryn]

That personal piece looks great Dusty, I hope the work is flowing in for you!

[Dusty]

That personal piece looks great Dusty, I hope the work is flowing in for you!

Thanks, Jake!
I'm actually slowing down a little bit as the last couple years have been a bit too much. Need to take a bit of free time to sort out my own creative needs over those of clients.

[The Gurch]

wOWEE! stunning , breath taking pictures..i have really loved looking at your work. You have some serious skillage! Gonna check out your tumblr too.
looking forward to seeing more from you.

[Dusty]

wOWEE! stunning , breath taking pictures..i have really loved looking at your work. You have some serious skillage! Gonna check out your tumblr too.
looking forward to seeing more from you.

Thanks, man! Be warned, the tumblr is totally retarded - which is exactly how I like it.

[Dusty]

Here's my latest for the band, Micawber.

The idea behind the album it is that mass consumption of media has turned everyone's brains into mush, essentially. And this "viral" outbreak is spreading every day.

So this cover was a more literal approach to the message that the band wanted to convey.


http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/micawber_viral02.jpg

More stuff to show soonish!

[Dusty]

Here's the new artwork for Six Feet Under's "Undead", which comes out in May.
Cover:
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/sfu_undead01.jpg
"Band Photo":
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/sfu_undead02.jpg

http://www.metalblade.com/sixfeetunder/

[soulburn3d]

Cool work dude, glad to see some death metal album cover artwork on here. Keep up the great work!

[Dusty]

This was just a quick thing I did yesterday while listening to the new Burzum.
http://dustypeterson.squarespace.com/storage/dark.jpg

[IIIzoeIII]

now this is some fkt up sht haha
well done though