Chris Trefz Art Blog

The land is plagued by eldritch abominations spawned by the blackest of magic. Only one warrior has the skill and ferocity to send these nightmares back to the pits of Hell from whence they came, and his name is Conan! Newly completed artwork of Conan the Barbarian doing battle with a monster inspired by John Carpenter's masterpiece, "The Thing". Conan the Barbarian, also referred to as Conan the Cimmerian, is a fictional sword and sorcery hero who first appeared in pulp magazines. Since then, he has been transformed into books, comics, movies (including Conan the Barbarian and Conan the Destroyer), television shows (both animated and live-action), video games, and role-playing games. The character was developed by Robert E. Howard in 1932 for a collection of fantasy tales that appeared in Weird Tales magazine. Conan, a fictional character created by Robert E. Howard, first appeared in the 1931 short story "People of the Dark" as a heroic black-haired barbarian.

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 illustration of the Neomorph from Alien: Covenant (2017). This creature was an endoparasitoid extraterrestrial species encountered by the crew of the USCSS Covenant. While they share some characteristics with the Xenomorph XX121, most notably their process of gestating inside a living host organism and their elongated heads, they are otherwise quite different. Neomorph from Alien: Covenant. David: "No one understands the lonely perfection of my dreams. I found perfection here. I've created it. A perfect organism." Initial linework for Neomorph.

New art by Chris Trefz, of Leeloo: The Iconic Savior of The Fifth Element and Her Captivating Journey Leeloo from the movie "The Fifth Element" Introduction: In the vibrant and imaginative world of The Fifth Element, a character emerges who has captured the hearts of fans worldwide: Leeloo, portrayed by the talented actress Milla Jovovich. With her striking appearance, enigmatic origins, and pivotal role in the film's narrative, Leeloo continues to be an iconic figure. In this article, we explore Leeloo's significance in the movie, delve into fan theories about her origin, uncover interesting anecdotes from the cast and crew, and admire the captivating design and costumes that brought this beloved character to life. The Savior of Humanity: Leeloo plays a central role in The Fifth Element as the supreme being and the key to saving humanity from an ancient cosmic threat. She is the embodiment of the Fifth Element, representing love, compassion, and the power to brin

Front Cover Back Cover Combined Cover Cover illustration I did for a sci-fi/fantasy novel called "Mecha: Survivor". A story about another world called Kath, that has endured 30 years of war, ever since the discovery of a mysterious energy source called distortion, which reshaped civilization. As rival nations vie for power, the delicate balance is put in jeopardy by the uncovering of a Rubian, a race long thought dead with the ability to alter the very threads of matter around them.

Pennywise the Dancing Clown from It. (updated 2/19/23) Kicking off the Halloween season right with Pennywise fanart. I'll always be a fan of Tim Curry's original performance, but I love the new Pennywise. From his creepy expressions and archaic costume, to his inhuman speed and monstrous alternate forms, Pennywise kept me on the edge of my seat throughout part 1 and 2.  See how the illustration took shape with these work-in-progress images: Line Art Flat Color Mid Shading Original final verzion

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 art of the mighty T-Rex, inspired by "Jurassic Park: Lost World" Novel. New version updated 3-23-21 This depicts a scene in the novel where a trio of would-be thieves attempts to steal an egg from a Tyrannosaurus nest. When their plan to hold the parents at bay fails, the father Rex quickly pounces and takes his revenge. See below for my development process for this image: Sketch Linework Flat Colors Rendered background Original final versio Close up of baby Rex watching from it's nest

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 artwork of one of the greatest superheroes of all time, Batman of DC Comics. Updated 3/9/2021 Illustration of The Dark Knight himself. Growing up I enjoyed reruns of the lighthearted Adam West series and was blown away by the dark Tim Burton Adaptation. But my favorite version of Batman hands down was the Animated series. Below you can see the development process: Line Art Flat Color The original finished version

New Illustration by Chris Trefz of Optimus Prime, Leader of the Autobots: A Legendary Warrior's Steely Determination. Updated 4-8-21 The leader of the Autobots himself, Optimus was my favorite Transformers back when watching the original cartoon back in the 80's. Grimlock was my a close second, given he turned into a T-Rex, and I was pretty Dinosaur crazy as a kid.  My development Process for this image: Line Art Flat Color Original finished version Introduction: The Transformers franchise has captivated audiences for decades, and one character who has become an iconic symbol of heroism and leadership is none other than Optimus Prime. From his inception in the original cartoon series to his enduring presence in pop culture, Optimus Prime has stood as a paragon of courage and determination. In this digital illustration, I pay homage to this legendary Autobot, showcasing his battle-worn yet indomitable spirit. The Original Transformers Cartoon: Growing up in th