Fantastic art of the fantastic

September 3, 2012 7:30 AM

Looking for examples of great science fiction, fantasy and horror illustrators and concept artists.

I'm wide open to suggestions here but preferably contemporary and those considered at the top of the game. People like Doug Chiang or John Picacio for example.

posted by fearfulsymmetry to Media & Arts (28 answers total)

Jim Burns
posted by Confess, Fletch at 7:38 AM on September 3, 2012

A couple of good Steampunk artists. (The website is well worth digging about in for more stuff)
posted by BadMiker at 7:47 AM on September 3, 2012

Ian Miller
posted by Max Power at 7:59 AM on September 3, 2012

Daniel Simon
posted by BadMiker at 8:01 AM on September 3, 2012

Greg and Tim Hildebrandt (not quite contemporary but they were heavy hitters).
posted by cog_nate at 8:02 AM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Jo Chen, who seems to primarily do cover art. (She also has some samples of her work uploaded to DeviantArt)
posted by Narrative Priorities at 8:09 AM on September 3, 2012

Michael Whelan is amazing. Probably doesn't count as contemporary, though.
posted by randomnity at 8:27 AM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

John Picacio won the Hugo for Best Professional Artist last night. It's probably not the premier fantastic art award - in his speech, he talked about how it's a bit of an odd one, actually - but he's certainly current and notable.
posted by restless_nomad at 8:31 AM on September 3, 2012

Probably the best contemporary video games artist, ArenaNet's Daniel Dociu.
posted by Bodd at 8:37 AM on September 3, 2012

Marc Da Cunha Lopes (site) (images)
posted by BadMiker at 8:42 AM on September 3, 2012

Quantic dream's latest?
posted by BadMiker at 8:44 AM on September 3, 2012

Frank Kelly Freas.
posted by Fferret at 8:52 AM on September 3, 2012

Bernie Wrightson
posted by Thorzdad at 8:54 AM on September 3, 2012

Also, her style may be more "cartoony" than you want, but Becky Cloonan has been doing great horror and fantasy comics for ages.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 9:03 AM on September 3, 2012

Zdzisław Beksiński
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:03 AM on September 3, 2012

Phil Hale.
posted by infinitewindow at 9:13 AM on September 3, 2012

I'm assuming you've checked out all the sister blogs of Concept Ships?
posted by Artw at 9:55 AM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Wayne Barlowe, especially for his Expedition.
posted by Nomyte at 10:45 AM on September 3, 2012

Josh Keyes -- www.joshkeyes.net
posted by I'm Brian and so's my wife! at 10:54 AM on September 3, 2012

I'll second Michael Whelan.
posted by peripatetron errant at 11:25 AM on September 3, 2012

You really want to check out Muddy Colors for a smorgasbord of amazing illustration - Donato, Greg Manchess, and Jesper Ejsing, among others, all post and hang out there.

James Gurney, the Dinotopia guy, is pretty awesome, and if you're looking for concept art, Jaime Jones, Craig Mullins, and Iain McCaig are all brilliant.
posted by tautological at 11:43 AM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

Charles Vess?
posted by BadMiker at 1:33 PM on September 3, 2012

Being on a Labyrinth nostalgia kick currently, I'd have to recommend Brian Froud and his family, who did a lot of work with Jim Henson.
posted by nakedmolerats at 1:57 PM on September 3, 2012

Chris Foss. He was most active in the 80s but he's still influential.
posted by elgilito at 2:02 PM on September 3, 2012

John Howe (website here)
posted by Jelly at 1:51 PM on September 4, 2012

Also, Alan Lee
posted by Jelly at 1:56 PM on September 4, 2012

Also Julie Dillon, who I can't believe I forgot before.
posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:46 PM on September 4, 2012

Stephen Gammell's nightmarish art (1 - 2 - 3) was disturbing enough that it got the popular Scary Stories horror anthologies it accompanied challenged for banning in many areas (and was eventually replaced).
posted by Rhaomi at 5:00 PM on September 5, 2012