Chris Trefz Art Blog

New Artwork by Chris Trefz, in Honor of Memorial Day: Remembering the Sacrifice Final Image New artwork, done in honor and remembrance of the military men and women who shed their blood and lost their lives in the line of duty, for America, and for freedom, thank you. Work-in-progress image Introduction: Memorial Day, a significant national holiday in the United States, holds deep cultural and historical importance. While it has evolved into a day of relaxation and celebration, it's crucial to remember the true essence of this day and pay tribute to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. In this article, we explore the origins and significance of Memorial Day and reflect on the meaning behind a powerful digital painting that symbolizes their valor and the preservation of freedom. Origins and Significance of Memorial Day: Memorial Day, a significant national holiday in the United States, holds deep cultural and historical importance. While it ha...

New Artwork by Chris Trefz, in Honor of World Turtle Day: Celebrating These Marvels of Nature. World Turtle Day is an annual observance held every May 23rd. It began in 2000 and is sponsored by American Tortoise Rescue. The day was created as a yearly observance to help people celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats, as well as to encourage human action to help them survive and thrive. My development Process for this image: Lineart Basic Colors Introduction: World Turtle Day is an annual observance dedicated to raising awareness about turtles and tortoises and promoting their conservation. This special day, celebrated on May 23rd each year, aims to highlight the importance of these remarkable creatures and the need to protect their habitats. In this article, we will delve into the origins of World Turtle Day, explore its goals and celebrations, and discuss the cultural and environmental significance of turtles. Additionally, we will delve in...

New artwork by Chris Trefz, done for May the 4th (be with you), Star Wars Day 2023: Honoring the sci-fi Masterpiece created by George Lucas. Happy Star Wars Day, May the Fourth be with you! The scene here depicts the tragic lightsaber battle between Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, and his fallen apprentice, Anakin Skywalker, against the dramatic background of the fiery planet, Mustafar, as seen in Episode III, Revenge of the Sith. Star Wars Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated on May 4 each year to honor the George Lucas-created Star Wars film series. Since the franchise started in 1977, awareness of the day has rapidly increased through the media and community events. The pun "May the Fourth be with you"—a variation of the Star Wars slogan "May the Force be with you"—is where the date got its name from. Despite the fact that the holiday was neither established or recognized by Lucasfilm, many fans of the franchise have opted to observe it. Since then, Lucas...

New Artwork by Chris Trefz, done for "Alien Day": Celebrating the Sci-fi, Horror Masterpiece by Ridley Scott In honor of Alien Day, here's a depiction of her royal highness herself, the Alien Queen. As seen in the sequel, Aliens, the Xenomorph Matriarch sits perched upon her egg sack, surrounded by her terrible children awaiting fresh hosts to continue their lifecycle. Inspired by Ridley Scott's cinematic masterpiece, Alien, the date April 26th was selected in honor of the infamous planet the creature was found on, LV426. Scott also directed "Blade Runner", making him one of the most influential moviemakers in the sci-fi genre. Alien Day is accompanied by celebrations aimed not only to appreciate science fiction but also to educate people about it. The day provides science fiction lovers with the opportunity to partake in everything sci-fi. It is spiced up by organizing sci-fi competitions for interested persons to win alien collectible and wearable prizes...

New Artwork by Chris Trefz, of The Feaster Bunny: Celebrating the Easter Holiday with a Horror Twist Here's some new artwork taking a humorous horror twist on Easter's normally cute holiday mascot. Be sure to leave out a glass of milk and a plate of raw meat for the Feaster Bunny. Listen for his howls in the dead of night as he rampages from house to house leaving a basket of monster eggs for all the good little boys and girls. Happy Easter! Here's a Short Story based on the artwork: Once upon a "Feaster's Eve," a young boy named Tim lay awake in his bed, his eyes wide open in the late hours of the night. His heart raced with anticipation, for tonight was the night he hoped to catch a glimpse of the legendary Feaster Bunny. Throughout the year, Tim had been extra good, and in preparation for the Feaster Bunny's visit, he had diligently left out the bunny's favorite treats: a plate of raw meat and a glass of spoiled milk. Tim had a special reque...

A jolly Leprechaun here to wish you a happy Saint Patrick's Day, just be sure to stay away from his pot of gold. The Feast of Saint Patrick, also known as Saint Patrick's Day, is a religious and cultural event celebrated on March 17, which is the traditional date of Saint Patrick's death. Saint Patrick is the main patron saint of Ireland. Early in the 17th century, Saint Patrick's Day was declared an official Christian feast day. Today, it is commemorated by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Lutheran Church, and the Anglican Communion (particularly the Church of Ireland). By honoring Saint Patrick and the introduction of Christianity to Ireland, the day also honors the history and culture of the Irish as a whole. Celebrations typically include parades and festivals open to the public, as well as the wearing of green clothing or shamrocks. Historically, the Lenten prohibitions on eating and drinking alcohol were eased for the day, which fostered and s...

New Chris Trefz artwork based on the Weird Fiction Story, "The Festival", by the master of horror and creator of Cthulhu, HP Lovecraft. Updated 4/16/23 Here's another quick illustration inspired by my favorite HP Lovecraft quotes. This one is from "The Festival", written in 1923. Story synopsis: The narrator explains that he is part of a long lineage of people and every one-hundred years, a family member must venture forth to this place to take part in an ancient festival tied to Yuletide (which coincides with Christmas Eve). He journeys to this strange town wherein he finds it particularly quiet and haunting. The narrator soon realizes the town conceals a terrifying secret beneath its surface, as does his family lineage. Read the Story at:  https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/f.aspx Original image, which had a less intense green glow. Chris Trefz Art, Science Fiction, Horror, Fantasy, Weird Fiction, Cthulhu, Weird Tales, The ...

Good luck tonight, Eagles! The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs have punched their tickets to the Super Bowl 2023, which will be played tonight at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale, Arizona. The Eagles, led by Jalen Hurts, defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game to advance to their first Super Bowl since winning the Lombardi Trophy in 2017. I'm not a big sports fan myself, to be honest, but I have to show support for the home team when they make it all the way to the Super Bowl. So, fly Eagles fly! Update: Sadly the Eagles did not take home the trophy this year, but they played a good game. You can see my development process below: Lineart Basic Colors Basic Shading New art by Chris Trefz in honor of the Philadelphia Eagles heading to the 2023 Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.

New Illustration by Chris Trefz brings to life a chilling quote from HP Lovecraft's "The Rats in the Wall". I decided to try integrating more typography into this piece, by using one of my favorite quotes from author H.P. Lovecraft, from his story, "The Rats in the Wall". Here's a quick synopsis for those not familiar:  In H.P. Lovecraft's novella, a New England man returns to his ancestral home in 1920's England only to realize his family's cannibalistic history. Distraught by the revelation and driven insane by the scampering sounds of rats between the house walls, he commits an unthinkable act. Read the story at: https://www.hplovecraft.com/writings/texts/fiction/rw.aspx Also check out other great works by the author like, "The Call of Cthulhu" and "The Shadow Over Innsmouth". 

New illustration by Chris Trefz celebrating the winter season with a horror twist. Here's one last speed painting to wrap up 2022. Celebrating the winter season with a monstrous snowman who roams the fridged streets at night, devouring those lacking in holiday cheer.

New Illustration by Chris Trefz of a Winter Wonderland: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Introduction: As the snowflakes fall gently from the darkened sky, I bring you seasons greetings with my latest digital illustration. In the scene above I strove to capture a winter wonderland, where a frozen lake shimmers under the moonlight, embraced by snow-laden evergreens and majestic mountains. Amidst this magical setting, groups of joyous ice skaters gracefully glide across the glistening ice, while Santa and his reindeer soar through the night sky, delivering Christmas cheer. This artwork, a departure from my usual science fiction and horror themes, encapsulates the essence of the holiday season with a touch of my own unique style. About the Art: The centerpiece of this picturesque scene is the frozen lake, its glassy surface reflecting the tranquil beauty of the night. The snow-draped evergreens create a serene atmosphere, casting elongated shadows under the moon's soft glow. Tower...

New Illustration by Chris Trefz, Turkey Surprise: An Alien-Inspired Thanksgiving. Here's some new artwork I created in celebration of the Thanksgiving holiday, inspired by the movie Alien, and the hilarious Farside cartoon by Gary Larson.  Here's a Short Story based on the artwork: My wife had just returned home from the supermarket with everything we needed for tomorrow’s Thanksgiving Day feast. “That’s a big bird,” I remarked hefting the turkey breast from the trunk of her car. “That must have racked up the bill.”   “Don’t worry about the bill, dear,” my wife assured me. “It was free. The store was having some kind of holiday promotion for this new brand, Weyland-Yutani meats.” “Never heard of them,” I replied. “But you can’t go wrong with free, I suppose.” The following morning my wife asked me to stuff the turkey before it went into the oven for cooking. After taking another sip of coffee, I put my mug down to oblige. After removing the giblets, I began to take han...