Chris Trefz Art Blog

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 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

Sketch of Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi. Jabba was my probably my favorite part of Return of the Jedi. His design was great, and he was an amazing piece of puppetry. If I remember correctly, there were 2 menu inside his torso working the arms, and third guy working his tail. As well as a 4th guy outside working Jabba's facial expressions with a remote control. I also love Jabba's attitude. Using Han as a wall decoration, making Princess Leia into his slavegirl, and trying to feed Luke to the Rancor. Jabba definitely put our heroes through the ringer.    

New artwork by Chris Trefz of the Mondoshawan: The Enigmatic Aliens from The Fifth Element. Sketch of a Mondoshawan from the Fifth Element. See how I drew this image. Introduction: In the realm of science fiction, few creatures have left as lasting an impression as the enigmatic Mondoshawan aliens from the cult classic film, The Fifth Element. With their unique appearance and pivotal role in the movie's storyline, the Mondoshawan have sparked curiosity and intrigue among fans. In this article, we delve into what we know about these extraterrestrial beings, explore popular theories about their origins, and uncover fascinating behind-the-scenes stories about their design and costumes. Guardians of the Elemental Stones: In The Fifth Element, the Mondoshawan play a crucial role as the ancient protectors of the four elemental stones representing Earth, Fire, Air, and Water. These stones possess immense power and are the key to saving humanity from an impending cosmic threat. T...

Scarecrow from Batman: the animated series. The Doctor of fear himself, they definitely stepped up the creep-factor of his mask after his first appearance in the animated series. I also liked the contrast of how intimidating his mask was compared to how weak he looked without. Nothing to fear but fear itself I suppose.

Here's the finished version of my PumpkinHead sketch. PumpkinHead is a vengeful demon from the 1988 movie of the same title. I love PumpkinHead's design, taking the human figure and stretching and distorting it into a monstrous parody. While adding demonic iconography like the pointed tip of its tail. I also like the demon's attitude. Where the movies dehumanize Jason Voorhees, by making him emotionless as he goes about his killing spree as if it's more of a chore then anything else. The inverse is true with PumpkinHead, the creators infuse the rubber costume and animatronics with life and personality by having the monster draw out his kills, tormenting his victims, and grin ghoulishly as he reveals their suffering.

Here's a time-lapse Youtube video I made recently of me draw PumpkinHead, a demon of vengeance from the the 1988 horror movie of the same name. Summary: "After his son dies in a hit-and-run accident, Ed Harley (Lance Henriksen) seeks revenge against the teenagers responsible. With the help of a local witch (Florence Schauffler), Ed summons the vengeful demon Pumpkinhead to hunt and kill the group of friends. But when Ed discovers a bond between himself and the creature, he begins to have second thoughts about employing the vicious monster, and he fights to end Pumpkinhead's murderous rampage before it is too late." -------------- Art, artwork, drawing, black and white, inktober, tradition art, sketch, markers, illustration, creature,  demon,  horror, monster, movie, pumpkinhead, Halloween, time-lapse, Youtube, video.

This is Halloween! Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, dressed in his Pumpkin King garb from the opening song.

In honor of this past Friday the 13th, I drew the madman in the hockey mask himself, Jason Voorhees. The fact that he is a silent, and invulnerable behemoth, killing with neither remorse nor glee, is contrasted by his tragic origin, making him my favorite of the 80's slasher villains.

Here's a look at my drawing desk, and supplies as I work on my next sketch. For the line work, I use Faber-Castell Pitt artist pens and Pandafly Dual tip art markers for the shading. I had been using Prisma color markers when I saw these on Amazon and decided to give them a try. Even though they are a cheaper, lesser known brand, I find I actually like how they blend better, and they had a bit of a watercolor look to them, which I like. Two things to watch out for if you try them. They soak through your paper pretty quickly when layering them on, so get a piece of Bristol board to put behind the drawing to keep the markers from staining the rest of your sketchbook or table. Also, what shade of grey they are isn't very easy to read at a glance, so to a avoid wasting a lot of time squinting at fine print, I numbered them with a sharpie.

New Artwork of Clayface: The Shapeshifting Menace of Batman: The Animated Series Sketch of Clayface from Batman the Animated Series. Introduction: In the dark and atmospheric world of Batman: The Animated Series, one villain stands out as a formidable and intriguing adversary for the Caped Crusader: Clayface. With his ability to shape-shift and manipulate his clay-like form, Clayface presents a unique challenge that pushes Batman to his limits. In this article, we explore Clayface's powers, delve into his origin story, discuss his significance as a nemesis to Batman, and uncover interesting details about his character design from the creators of the beloved series. Unleashing the Shapeshifter: Clayface, also known as Basil Karlo, possesses the extraordinary power of shape-shifting, allowing him to transform his body into any form he desires. This ability grants him incredible versatility, making him a formidable opponent for Batman and his allies. From assuming the appearan...

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...