WINNER OF "THE EROL OTUS ART CHALLENGE" 1st Place in Color             (May 19, 2009) My name is Mark Allen and I am a 39 year old self-taught freelance artist specializing in fantasy art. I began drawing around the age of 3, and it has been my lifelong passion all the way into adulthood. This type of art is the most enjoyable for me to work in, and comes most naturally to me, being a huge fan of the swords & sorcery genre. I pull inspiration from many different artists and authors, such as P. Craig Russell, Michael T. Gilbert, Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock, Gary Gygax, Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, J.R.R. Tolkien, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Julie Bell, Simon Bisely, Brom, Erol Otus, Larry Elmore, Jeff Easley, and Jeff Dee (particularly) - all my favorites. When I was a kid in the early '80s (I was ten in 1980), the drawings I saw on the covers and interior pages of early Dungeons & Dragons books are what inspired me to draw and paint fantasy art. Those images by Dave Trampier, Jeff Dee, Erol Otus, David Sutherland III, and Jim Roslof soon had me imitating. And it was easy for me (because I'm a fantasy geek). So I've been creating scenes of wizards, dragons, and other mythical monsters ever since. I can create other subject matter, of course - but I get the most enjoyment and fulfillment out of fantasy art, so it's pretty much what I want to focus on. I use colored pencils, inks, acrylic paints, oil paints, watercolors, airbrushes, and computer software to create my artwork. My work has been used for books, magazines, posters, CD packages, T-shirts, cards, games, and much more.... even custom tattoos. I also have an extensive 16 year background in the print industry having, in that time, worked professionally for a commercial lithographic printer, a film house, a digital printer, a sign shop, and even a silk-screener, making me experienced and well-rounded in the graphics industry. My work has appeared in the publications and products of: Heavy Metal Magazine Gary Gygax James M. Ward Troll Lord Games Otherworld Miniatures Crusader Magazine Fight On! Magazine Blacklight.com Mindgene, LLC Mindforge Games New Dimension Games G.L. Giles BOS Innovations Hedonism Records ...and others.  I am represented by international artist representative, Daničle Arnaud, at Arnaud International. Check out my blog, where I'll be sharing works-in-progress, my thoughts about different things, and the latest info on what I'm up to.

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