Chris Trefz Art Blog

Clash of Titans: New Illustration by Chris Trefz of  Godzilla vs. Ghidorah. Freed from his icy prison and fueled by hatred for his ancient rival, King Ghidorah awakens, ready to once again challenge Godzilla for the title of King of the Monsters. Introduction: In the realm of epic cinematic showdowns, few can rival the intensity and scale of the battle between Godzilla and King Ghidorah in the 2019 film "Godzilla: King of the Monsters." As a fan of monstrous clashes and the awe-inspiring world of kaiju, I was inspired to create an illustration that captures the moment when Ghidorah emerges from the ice in the Antarctic, ready to face off against the King of the Monsters himself. In this blog post, we'll delve into the plot of the movie, explore the design and significance of Ghidorah, and uncover the inspiration behind my artwork. The Plot of "Godzilla: King of the Monsters": "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" is the sequel to the 2014 film "Godzil

Updated 4/5/23 Part two in this awesome clash between two Ray Harryhausen monsters from the old Sinbad movies. As seen here in part 2, the Dragon from The 7th Voyage has dealt a lethal blow to the Centaur from The Golden Voyage in front of the Fountain of Destiny.  In the previous entry, I asked people to let me know in the comments who they thought would win, and everyone called it correctly, so good on you for knowing your monster lore. Original version Work in progress images: Sketch Line work Flat colors Chris Trefz, Digital Art, Sinbad, Ray Harryhausen, Dragon, The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Centaur, The Golden Voyage of Sinbad, The Fountain of Destiny

New Illustration by Chris Trefz of Sinbad's Legendary Clash: Centaur vs. Dragon Updated 04/05/23 New artwork showing a clash between two Ray Harryhausen monsters from the old Sinbad movies. Seen here battling in front of the Fountain of Destiny, is the Centaur from Golden Voyage, and Dragon is from the 7th Voyage.  My development Process for this image: Detailed Sketch Mapping the shading Original final version Introduction: In my latest commission, I had the thrilling opportunity to illustrate an epic battle between two iconic creatures from the classic Sinbad movies created by the legendary Ray Harryhausen. In this awe-inspiring artwork, the majestic Centaur from "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" clashes with the fearsome Dragon from "The 7th Voyage of Sinbad" in a moment of epic confrontation, set against the backdrop of the mystical Fountain of Destiny. The Sinbad Movie Franchise: The Sinbad movie franchise holds a special place in the hearts of fantasy film

New artwork based on the Elder Things, an alien race from HP Lovecraft's Novella, "At the Mountains of Madness". Final Image “I am forced into speech because men of science have refused to follow my advice without knowing why. It is altogether against my will that I tell my reasons for opposing this contemplated invasion of the Antarctic—with its vast fossil-hunt and its wholesale boring and melting of the ancient ice-cap—and I am the more reluctant because my warning may be in vain. Doubt of the real facts, as I must reveal them, is inevitable;” ― H.P. Lovecraft, At the Mountains of Madness Published in 1936. the story details the events of a disastrous expedition to Antarctica, and what is found there by a group of explorers led by the narrator, Dr. William Dyer of Miskatonic University. Throughout the story, Dyer sheds light on previously untold events in the hope of deterring another group of explorers who wish to return to the continent. These events include the disc

New artwork of Batman's reptilian foe, and DC Comics supervillain, killer Croc. "Bein' a reptile man ain't pretty. But it's got its upsides. Like having the strength of a crocodile, for instance." Continuing my series of Black & White renditions of characters from Batman: The Animated Series, with Killer Croc. Waylon Jones, aka Killer Croc, was born with a genetic abnormality giving him reptilian skin. In Miami, Florida, he worked as a sideshow performer when he was younger. Once he had joined the Wrestling Federation, he went by the ring name "Killer Croc" and rose through the ranks to win the championship. He had the reputation of being "the meanest guy in the Wrestling Federation."

New Artwork of Krampus: Unleashing the Mythological Menace "He came not to reward, but to punish. Not to give, but to take." - Omi Engel, Krampus (2015) Introduction: In the realm of folklore and mythology, creatures of darkness often lurk, captivating our imaginations with their enigmatic nature. Today, I am thrilled to unveil my latest artwork—a black and white drawing of Krampus. Join me as we delve into the origins of this mythical figure, explore his menacing appearance, and discover the enduring fascination surrounding Krampus in popular culture. The Krampus Myth: A Dark Twist on the Holiday Season Amidst the joyous festivities of the holiday season, there exists a chilling counterpart known as Krampus, "The Shadow of Saint Nicolas." Originating from the Alpine region of Europe, Krampus is a creature deeply rooted in local folklore, adding a macabre twist to Christmas traditions. While Saint Nicolas rewards the good, Krampus emerges from the shadows to p

New art of King of the Monsters, Godzilla, the legendary reptilian star of Japanese studio, Toho. Updated 3/30/2023 This illustration depicts a colossal snake that arose from the depths of Lake Michigan and does battle with Godzilla in front of the Chicago skyline. The scene was based on the new composition "Godzilla in Chicago" by Michiru Oshima.  I had free range to choose which of the many versions of Godzilla I used, so I went with the GMK design, from the movie, Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack. A bit of a mouth full to say, but great flick with awesome creature designs, and an absolutely vicious take on Godzilla. The Sea Serpent was a brand new creature created for the music with no established design. For inspiration, I looked at real-life animals like the anaconda, which spends a lot of its time in the water, the moray eel, and a sunfish for its spikey fins. Work in progress for a new commission I'm working on. Sketch

New Artwork Based on The Primitive War: An Experiment Gone Wrong Unleashes Dinosaurs Amidst the Vietnam War. Finished new commission based on the novel "Primitive War". The story is about soldiers who encounter living dinosaurs during the Vietnam War. In this scene, Russian soldiers have killed a baby T-Rex and brought it back to their base. The parents end up tracking the soldiers back to their base and exacting their revenge. This illustration depicts the Mother Rex, I'll be doing a follow-up commission of the Father Rex bursting through the compound wall. My development Process for this image: Sketch Line Work Flat colors First take on the feathers texture.

New Illustration by Chris Trefz of The Loch Ness Monster: The Titanic Underwater Terror That Almost Made it to The Silver Screen.   Nessie - Unmade Loch Ness Monster movie Here's a commission I received to illustrate Nessie attacking a Ferry. This is one of many scenes from an unmade movie planned in the '70s, which would have seen a collaboration between Godzilla's own Toho studios, and England's Hammer Films.  The plot would have been rather tragic, Nessie was originally a peaceful creature, but when exposed to some nuclear waste, grows larger and more vicious, ultimately needing to be destroyed. The movie had some exciting scenes planned, including this one, where the creature leaves the Loch and proceeds to overturn the Woolwich Ferry as it rampages through the Thames River in England. My development Process for this image: Nessie Line art Rendered Nessie head. Detail shot of sinking ferryboat. Detail shot of Woolwich cityscape

Zagotas is an original Kaiju design I was commissioned to draw.

New Artwork of Titanosaurus: A Deep Sea Threat Unleashed Upon the World.  Titanosaurus from the Godzilla series. Introduction: In the realm of giant monster movies, "The Terror of Mechagodzilla" stands as a thrilling sequel to the epic battle between Godzilla and Mechagodzilla. This sequel not only brought back the mechanical menace for a rematch, but it also introduced a formidable new foe for Godzilla to face: the fearsome Titanosaurus. In this article, we delve into the origins of Titanosaurus, his powers, and the inspiration behind my latest artwork featuring this aquatic monster. Unleashing Titanosaurus: Titanosaurus made his debut in "The Terror of Mechagodzilla," a 1975 film that continued the saga of the King of the Monsters. This prehistoric creature, like Godzilla, hailed from ancient times, lurking beneath the depths of the ocean. With his unique appearance, Titanosaurus captured the imagination of audiences. His red and black skin, along with the

New Illustration by Chris Trefz of The Facehugger from Alien: Prepare to be Gripped by Terror, literally. Finished illustration of the Facehugger from the Alien Facechise. I always found these guys creepy, so spider-like, but at the same time with those disturbingly human-like fingers. And the way they rush forward, single-mindedly, to grab hold of your face and all the terrifying things that proceed from there. My development Process for this image: Lineart Flat colors

New Illustration by Chris Trefz of  the Mighty Mosasaur: Unleashing the Ancient Predator  "Beneath the glassy surface, a world of gliding monsters." Decided to illustrate the Mosasur, having seen that the creature is coming back for Jurassic World. My development Process for this image: Line Art Flat Color Introduction: In my recent digital illustration, I had the thrilling opportunity to bring to life one of the most fascinating creatures from Earth's prehistoric past: the Mosasaur. Inspired by its appearance in the movie Jurassic World, I sought to capture the essence of this remarkable predator in its natural habitat. Join me as we delve into the real-world facts surrounding the Mosasaur, its role in the Jurassic World franchise, and the creative process behind my illustration. The Real-World Mosasaur: The Mosasaur, scientifically known as Mosasauridae, was a group of aquatic reptiles that roamed the seas during the Late Cretaceous period, app

New Artwork of the Jurassic Park Raptor: Capturing the Ferocity of an Iconic Predator Velociraptor based on the Jurassic Park series. Introduction: Step into the prehistoric world of Jurassic Park with a new black and white marker drawing that showcases the awe-inspiring and terrifying velociraptors from the iconic 1993 film. In this blog article, we will embark on a journey to revisit the groundbreaking movie, delve into the unique traits and role of the raptors within the story, and explore the inspiration behind my artwork that aims to capture the ferocity and piercing gaze of these remarkable predators. The Jurassic Park Phenomenon: Summary of the Movie: Directed by Steven Spielberg and produced by Universal Pictures, Jurassic Park revolutionized the world of cinema when it was released in 1993. The film transported audiences to an island where dinosaurs once again roamed the Earth. With groundbreaking visual effects, a compelling storyline, and memorable characters, Jurassi

New Illustration of a Warrior Xenomorph: Unleashing the Terror and Exploring the World of Aliens. The ruthless Xenomorph from the Alien Franchise. Judging from the blood stain on its tail, this predator has already made a kill for the night. My development Process for this image: Sketch Finished line art Flat Color Early shading Introduction In the realm of science fiction and horror, the movie Aliens stands as a landmark cinematic masterpiece. Released in 1986 and directed by James Cameron, Aliens is a thrilling sequel to the iconic film Alien. Produced by 20th Century Fox, the movie takes us on a heart-pounding journey into the depths of space, where humans encounter a new level of terror. Plot of Aliens: A Battle for Survival The plot of Aliens follows the story of Ellen Ripley, portrayed brilliantly by Sigourney Weaver. After surviving the nightmarish encounter with the xenomorph on the Nostromo in the first film, Ripley is awakened from hypersleep 57 years

New Artwork by Chris Trefz of Military Experiment Gone Disastrously Wrong. Created for Deviant Art Contest based on the movie "Splice". "A secret experiment will break the laws of science and create an animal-human hybrid. In 2010 their greatest creation will be unleashed." - Splice movie tagline Here's the backstory I wrote for my creature: Subject X613 was the pride of the government's Bio-Weapons Division. Nothing like it had ever been attempted in the branch's history. The Creature's DNA was a perfect blend of earth's most resilient predators, including: Hammer Head Shark, Bat, Cheetah, Praying Mantis, and Scorpion. X613 possessed flight, incredible speed, brute strength, armored skin, and unexpected regenerative properties. The Creature's structural perfection was surpassed only by it's sheer aggression. Uncle Sam wanted me to create the most vicious killing machine the world had ever seen, and I gave it to them. Of Co

Godzilla doing battle against the air force. But unlike in the movie, it's going to take a lot more than a handful of missiles to defeat the beast. Done in a combination of pencil and digital shading, with color done in photoshop.

Unleashing Ferocity: A Color Pencil Tribute to the Celtic Predator from Aliens vs Predator The Celtic Predator from Alien vs Predator. He died pretty early on in the movie, but it was still pretty badass when he was tossing that Alien through stone walls. Introduction: In the rich tapestry of the Alien and Predator franchises, one film stands out as a thrilling collision between two iconic species: Aliens vs Predator. Released in 2004, this action-packed movie brought together the extraterrestrial creatures in an epic battle for supremacy. In this blog article, we delve into the plot of Aliens vs Predator, explore the role of the Celtic Predator, and discuss the creative process behind the character's unique design. Additionally, I'll share my personal inspiration for creating a color pencil drawing that captures the ferocity and intensity of the Celtic Predator. Aliens vs Predator: An Epic Showdown: Aliens vs Predator takes place in a remote Antarctic pyramid, where a grou

Godzilla - Fire Breath Godzilla, unleashing the fury of his breath weapon.

Updated Jan 30, 2023 A new illustration of Godzilla, blending design aspects from the 1998 American movie, and Godzilla: The animated series. To help capture the monster brawls of the animated series I depicted Godzilla here defeating a giant spider opponent.  I recently went back in and added a sky background and added additional digital shading to the original pencil shading to make the monster more three-dimensional. Original version  Chris Trefz, Godzilla, Gojira, Kaiju, Tristar, Animated Series, Giant Monster, Mathew Brodrick,