Featured Artist - E.J. Mickels II

ResAliens (RA) is pleased to interview E.J. Mickels II (EJ) - aka Hisart - in order to showcase some great fantasy art while getting to know the creator of our early March cover, "Reclaimed" (see the wood carving to the left & below).

E.J. is a "born-again-biker-artist" and is happily married with six kids. With past stints as a tatooist and welder, as well as four years in the USAF, E.J. is currently a substitute teacher in Summit County, Ohio, and teaches art to those who want to learn. As you'll find by exploring his website, Hisart.us, E.J. simply likes to create things!

RA: You have quite a variety of art, styles, and media. What all do you specialize in? What's your favorite medium?

EJ: My favorite medium? That's a hard one, the short answer would be ... whatever I'm holding in my hand at the moment! I really just like making art and it doesn't really matter what I use to do it. Sometimes what governs the material/medium that I use is ... do I want to clean up afterwards or not!

RA: Tell us about your wood carving, "The Mask of the Reclaimed."

EJ: Well, as you can see in the cover image this sculpture is made of nine pieces of Fir wood laminated together. It was inspired by tribal masks and measures 11"x18"x6" and is finished in layers of linseed oil and oil paint, to achieve an aged look. The final finish is a satin polyurethane. He has an aged, hard look that still draws my eye.

RA: How long have your been working at your craft? What got you started?

EJ: The phrase that sums it up is, "His talent, His art, His way!" - and you can see in the middle where I got the name Hisart from. I see it as a gift/talent from God, so I was born with it. I did a charcoal drawing of a German shepherd when I was five or six that is framed and hanging in my parents house. I started pursuing art when I went to college and realized just how much I loved doing art, so I changed my major to art.

RA: As a result, you do a lot of covers for Christian publications...

EJ: This illustration was done specifically for the Christian speculative novel, Seven Archangels: Annihilation by Jane Lebak published by Double-Edged Publishing. It was constructed completely in PSE2.

RA: Where do you find your inspiration? How do you go about creating a piece?

EJ: Inspiration surrounds us, everything has the potential of triggering something in our mind. Some pieces are chosen, like doing an illustration, the story points the way to the final piece. Sometimes the material itself points the way, many of my carvings are inspired by something that is triggered by what I see in the wood. Sometimes it's another person's artwork, I see a piece and think how I would have done it instead. When I draw, sometimes I just scribble a line and then look to see what I could make of it, like looking at clouds.

RA: Another cover, this one for a zine...

EJ: This illustration was created specifically for the March 2007 issue of The Sword Review with the image of the Sword in mind. It was rendered completely in PSE2 as well. I tried to get the feel of an elder swordsman, someone with some time under his belt. He is scarred and battle-hardened, but by no means any less dangerous. Something has brought him to the ready, but what?

RA Note: E.J. has done a number of covers for DEP's various magazines including 'MindFlights' and 'Fear & Trembling' - in fact, here's another interview at F&T about his work, 'The Cyclops,' that I think readers will be interested in as well.

RA: What are your thoughts on the interplay between faith and art? Is there a difference in your mind between Christian art and art by Christians?

EJ: No, not really. We create from who we are, from the sum of our experiences. I am a Christian and I am an artist, neither can I separate from who I am. I think the difference is the focus of the artist as they create, if I'm focused on Christ as I work on my art, then the world sees it as Christian art. On the other hand, I as a Christian have done artwork that was about critters and creatures and things, so the church says it's not Christian art. It's all about the focus. Michelangelo was a sculptor and a painter, but he was also a devout Christian, the world does not say he was a Christian because he has had such an influence in the world of art, and the church really doesn't claim him because he did art of naked people.

RA: Wonder if Michelangelo would have been better received by the church if he'd done welding face plates instead?

EJ: (silence)

RA: Alrighty then. Last question. Where can fans find more of your work to admire or purchase?

EJ: Hisart.us is the main site. I have a blog at Sword and Pen and a CafePress Store as well. Anyone is welcome to contact me through my website if they are interested buying a piece or have me make something for them.

RA: Thanks E.J. for being a part of our zine. We wish you God's best as you create for His glory.

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Discuss this artist and his work now at ResAliens Forum at SFReader.com.

Featured Artist - Max V. Nimos

This issue's interview features Max V. Nimos - an artist, a photographer, and author residing in Texas. ResAliens (RA) is grateful to Max (MVN) for the opportunity to interview him and showcase some of his visual pieces. We at ResAliens are excited to discover artists committed to quality science fiction and fantasy artwork.

RA: Max, how would you describe your genre and style?

MVN: Ever since the beginning my art had one foot in the science fiction genre while the other foot was all over the place. As far as my style goes, I would loosely describe it as "super-reality", in other words, a fictitious image that looks like it could possibly be real. I also try my best to be as technically accurate and scientifically plausible whenever possible, a habit probably stemming from my engineering background.

"Illegal Alien" © Max V. Nimos
This is a satire about the paranoia
projected by our strong, powerful leaders.

RA: How long have you been creating art?

MVN: My analog art began when I was a child and by the time I was 17 I spent more time drawing than doing school homework. I still don't know how I ever managed to pass all my classes. My digital art began on my first computer in 1987, but really took off in 1998 when I got a new computer, new software, new inspiration and new motivation.

RA: What is your preferred medium and what program do you use to create your artwork?

MVN: I started out with pencil and pen, then migrated to acrylic on canvas, and now it's all digital. Although I do most of my modeling and texture mapping in Softimage XSI, I still use Bryce for my final renders. I find it very user-friendly and a pleasure to use. An image editor for postwork, and a digital camera for texture collecting completes my set of tools.

"Orion Gorge" © Max V. Nimos
This was just a random inspiration; it's a scene
of a famous vacation spot on another planet.

RA: You've written a novel, Maxandria. Tell us about this project.

MVN: Well, since you bring it up, Maxandria began in 1999 as a fun, innocent little project to show off my art to my friends. But then, after a series of ideas and inspirations, it quickly evolved into a story, and by 2002 it became a novel which I've been tweaking and refining to this day. It's a mystery/adventure story for all ages consisting of several underlying themes that range from simple human survival to cosmically deep concepts. I can't give away too much, but the story is basically about an ordinary family that becomes lost at sea and stumbles upon the residence of some extraordinary people. Hopefully I will get it properly published before I get old.

"Horseman in Peril" © Max V. Nimos
With this one I wanted to see if I can put together a
quick, fun image using some of the wonderful Daz models.

RA: Any recommendations for upcoming artists or novelists?

MVN: If you love being creative but think your work is not very good, keep working at it and someday you may surprise yourself. You are never too old to learn.

"Christmas Under Saturn" © Max V. Nimos
This image is about our future explorers that
decide to celebrate Christmas away from home.

RA: Thanks again, Max, for sharing your time and gifts with the readers of ResAliens. Fans can find more of your art and photography to admire or purchase at...

MVN: www.maxvnimos.com

Featured Artist - Crystalwizard

In this issue, ResAliens (RA) is pleased to interview artist, author, editor, and fixer of computers, Crystalwizard (CW). She created the cover art to go along with her "silly fiction" piece, Too Many Crooks. Thanks for joining us!

"Too Many Crooks" © Crystalwizard
RA: You go by Crystalwizard. Share with us the story behind that name.

CW: Many years ago before the moon was created...well maybe not that long, but back in 1980, I needed a name to sign onto a BBS with. There's never been a word that actually meant me, even though my mom hung one on me when I was born. What means 'me' is sort of a mixture of a sound and a feeling. Crystal was the closest I could get to the sound and wizard came as close to the feeling as I could get. I've been CW or Wiz, since.

RA: You're a writer, an artist, an editor. What other creative hats do you wear?

CW: Name something and I probably wear it. I'm a photographer, I fix computers for a living, I publish Flashing Swords and run Cyberwizard Productions and if I list everything, you'll be out of space ;)

"Dragonmage" © Crystalwizard
RA: How long have you been writing, and what's your favorite genre?

CW: I've been telling stories since I could form words and push my toys around on the floor. I've been putting them on paper since high school, when I decided that there wasn't anything being published that I wanted to read...so I'd write it, then I'd have it to read. I don't have a favorite genre, that depends on my mood.

RA: Tell us about Flashing Swords and what you do there. Any major projects in the works?

CW: Flashing Swords is a quarterly magazine that publishes both a print (for sale) and electronic (free download on our website) edition. We publish fiction, poetry and non-fiction articles or essays with the following themes:

+ Sword and Sorcery
+ Sword and Planet
+ Heroic Fantasy
+ Epic/High Fantasy
+ Swashbuckling Adventures
+ Historical Adventure

"Golden Ocean" © Crystalwizard

CW: I'm the managing editor of Flashing Swords. That means I pay the bills and I have final say on what goes into each issue. We are working on an anthology which is due out in March of 2008. Jason Waltz is the editor in charge of that and you can find out all about The Return of the Sword here.

RA: BTW, what medium do you use to create your art?

CW: I use the computer. Now. It's all digital. Poser and Bryce are the two 3d graphic programs I use; Paintshop Pro is the 2d art program I use. I can also paint and sketch, and have done watercolors, acrylics and oils, but that's messy and costly. So I mostly stick to the computer, these days.

RA: Where can fans find your fiction and graphic arts?

CW: Go to google and search for crystalwizard and 99% of all the hits will be me. There are a couple of hits that aren't me and a couple that belong to some company that's definitely not me ;) Search Amazon for crystalwizard and you'll find all my books. Or visit the Cyberwizard Productions home page.

"Wizard's Bane" Cover Art © Crystalwizard
RA: Thanks CW for carving some time out from your hectic life to give us a picture of the person behind the artist. Best wishes in all your endeavors.

Featured Artist - Rachel A Marks

Introducing Our Featured Artist

Rachel (aka Pixydust) is a homeschooling mom to four perfect kids. She loves to ride dirt-bikes with her family and owns a quilting art business called Pixy's Garden, designing bags and other fun, crazy accoutrement's. She's also an author, a graphic artist, slush-pile reader, and co-founder and former editor of the literary zine, Haruah.

ResAliens (RA) is privileged to catch up with and interview Rachel A Marks (RAM), a busy wife/mom/editor/artist for our November issue as well as feature some of her artwork.


RA: Welcome to ResAliens, Rachel. I've seen quite a bit of your art at different zines. When did you become interested in fantasy art and what's been your journey so far?

RAM: It's funny, because both my parents have pretty normal jobs. My mom works for the city and my dad is a carpenter. But they both have very artistic bents. My dad studied art in collage a little and always held art in high regard. I grew up looking at his drawings and paintings on our walls and the walls of our friends. He was also an avid reader and my mom was a thespian in her free time (she was always dragging me to rehearsal and asking me to help her practice her lines). So, it wasn't a big stretch to see that I would end up doing something artistic.

And fantasy? Well, I guess that would be because I always have my head in the clouds. I grew up watching Star Wars, Ladyhawk, or something else just as fantastical. My favorite books as a kid were Wrinkle in Time and The Wind in the Door. I loved anything dark and tragic and as a teen would sit for hours at a time sketching out The Crow or a girl wondering a graveyard by moonlight.

After I had my daughter, though, the pencils got put aside. I just kept having little ones after that. My youngest son, Caleb, is turning five soon. When he was one I found myself feeling very antsy, so I decided to write a book - well, as we know a person doesn't just write a book - not a good one, anyway. That began a whole new journey and I suddenly found myself desperate to be a published writer. For one project I picked up my pencils to work on a character - sketch him out and get a feeling for him. From there it's been a constant struggle. You know how in the cartoons they've got the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. We'll I've got my sketch book on one shoulder begging to be used and my laptop on the other. I'm seriously bi-polar now. Luckily I married a guy who's really "down to earth" and he keeps me sane.

RA: Any interesting projects that you are working on right now?

RAM: I just finished up a project for Double-Edged Publishing. I did some illustrations for a wonderful collection of stories called, Servant of the Manthycore by Michael Ehart that will be released in November. It's turned out great and I'm really excited about all the great backing we're getting for it. Michael is an awesome writer, and I feel really privileged to have been chosen to work with him.


RA: Note - We interview Michael Ehart in Issue 6 of ResAliens. Some of his Manthycore stories can be found online at The Sword Review.

RAM: Other than that I've got a new manuscript project called, Golden, that I'm working on - and loving - you always love your newest baby best, I think. I'm in the grand editing stage of another manuscript project called, The Willow Door. But with home-schooling the four kids I kind of have to choose one thing at a time, so I'm more in pencil mode right now after finishing up the illustrations. I've been drawing a lot, trying new things, and learning loads from some artist friends. I also just raised my hand to weed through the slush at Fear and Trembling, so I'll be helping out over there.


RA: What else do you do for vocation or enjoyment?

RAM: My husband is just a big kid and a huge extreme sports nut. He surfs and mountain bikes and dirt bikes. As a family we spend lots of our time at the beach or the dirt bike track, having all kinds of fun - my sons are both in love with the dirt bikes just like daddy and ride like crazy too, even my five-year-old. We all love camping. Living in Southern California makes for loads of places to plant your trailer and play.

My husband and I are the youth leaders at our church and we now drag our teen kids all over too. We have a lot of fun. We just recently went to a weekend youth conference and I had more fun than I've had in years with those kids. Teenagers keep you young.

For life it's all home-school and keeping up with dishes and laundry (yah, right). My husband's a police officer and works odd hours. We try to make sure we stay on track so we can still be with daddy on his days off.


RA: Where can readers find more of your artwork?

RAM: I have two places for my art. My website gallery, Shadow of the Wood, and my DeviantART gallery. To order prints you just have to email me through my website and I can get you whatever you want.

RA: Thanks, Pixy, for taking the time to spend with us today. Sounds like you have a busy schedule and we appreciate this opportunity to get to know you better. God's best to you in your many and varied projects.

Featured Artist - Frida M Bergholtz

Introducing Our Featured Artist

Frida is an avid D&D role playing gamer who works, creates, and lives with her husband and her dog Tellus in Malmö, Sweden. She says, "I play role playing games whenever I get the opportunity and enjoy all kinds of nerdy hobbies. RPGs are also my greatest source of inspiration. I have just graduated from my graphic design class and am now trying to get by as an illustrator."

ResAliens (RA) is very excited to interview Frida M. Bergholtz (FMB) for our September issue and feature some of her art below. She has a gallery at Elfwood and is developing her own site, so watch for that.

RA: Frida, welcome to Residential Aliens. And thank you for illustrating our cover. Coordinating the cover art with a particular story - as well as the issue's theme of relational sorrow - was a first for our zine. What inspiration did Misunderstood by Rick McQuiston provide?

FMB: I thought the story was excellent. I really liked the idea of a zombie with feelings. I tried to imagine what it would be like turning into a zombie, loosing everything you love. What immediately came to my mind when I read the story was the image of two zombies comforting each other - maybe one of them could show the other a picture of someone he knew in life. I started out drawing this but something never quite felt right. So I went for a bit more subtle approach. I hope you like it.


RA: We do! "Sorrows Never Die" is a very evocative painting. What other creative endeavors are you engaged in? For pay, enjoyment or both?

FMB: Right now I am starting a business as a freelance illustrator. So I am mostly working on my portfolio and webpage. I like to make book covers and to design company logos. In my spare time I like to paint miniatures, paint in oil, make clay sculptures ... and sing a lot.

RA: You have such a variety of styles. Tell me about Leonore.


FMB: Leonore is my role playing character. She is a sorceress, a noblewoman and a young mother. Since the world she lives in is heavily influenced by the medieval times I thought it would be fun to draw a picture of her in a medieval style. I am very interested in art history so it was a lot of fun to do.

RA: How long have you been illustrating role playing game characters? Who is your favorite?

FMB: For as long as I have been playing role playing games, so that would be seventeen years. One character that always seems to appear on my paper is Shakti. She is a hedonistic nutcase with a diabolic heritage.


RA: Describe the 2007 Gamers Fantasy Pinup Calendar project.

FMB: I usually draw my characters naked before I put clothes on them. Sometimes they never get any clothes. The rest of my all male gaming group tend to like those pictures best. So I decided to make them a calendar with my characters for a present. The general idea was to make pinup girls who seemed to have more on their agenda than posing and looking pretty. The calendar is one of my best works yet and will be available to buy.

RA: Since it is a pinup (and we're a PG zine) I won't post a sample here, lol. They'll have to settle for Brot...


FMB: I feel sorry for the readers then, Brot is not a nice fellow and he smells.

RA: Where can fans find more of your art to purchase or admire?

FMB: All I have right now is my Elfwood Gallery, but I am working on a webpage and if you check out my gallery I will let you know as soon as it is ready.

RA: That will be great. Thank you, Frida. It has been a pleasure interviewing you and showcasing your various projects. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

All artwork on this page © Frida M. Bergholtz

Comment on this interview at The Alien's Pub soon.

Featured Artist - Richard Svensson

Swedish creative artist Richard Svensson saw King Kong when he was six and his life hasn't been the same since.

He states: "I've made a bunch of films with friends, self-published some books and just finished my first "pro" job as a prop-maker for a children's TV-show. I'm hoping to expand my creativity and find new friends through it. During the day I'm a newspaper image editor (where most of my loot comes from). During the rest of my life I dabble in stop-motion animation, work as a prop- and mask-maker for other filmmakers and for theatre groups."

And avid fan of fantasy literature, Svenson enjoys "some pretty darn good authors" like JRR Tolkien, H P Lovecraft, Robert E Howard, Clark Asthon Smith, Fritz Lieber, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Anne Rice, Tanith Lee, Clive Barker, and Stephen King. Some of Richard's favorite musical artists include Queen, Toto, ELO, BeeGees, Beatles, Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin, Uriah Heep, film music by Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams and (pre-Titanic) James Horner.

Residential Aliens (RA) has the privilege of interviewing Richard Svensson (RS) and featuring some of his art in this month's issue.

RA: Richard, you're a film-maker, author, artist, prop- and mask-maker. Is there anything else you do for fun or profit?

RS: I also work as a fighting coach/swordplay instructor for a couple of local theatre companies. Sometimes I hold classes in mask-making. Now, all of this is just for fun and self-development. I have a day job as an image editor for a local newspaper and that’s where I have my main income.

RA: I like this piece. What's the story behind it?


RS: This is the cover for the core rule book of a role-playing game a friend of mine made a long time ago. The painting is quite old as well. The game project never amounted to much but it was fun to work with. That's a swinotaur in the rear, sneaking up on our heroes.

RA: What creative outlet do you enjoy the most?

RS: Pen and ink drawing, single pictures. I've done some comics too, but I rather like putting my effort into one single image. But making films with my friends is probably my greatest source of joy (and sorrow).

Note: Some of Richard's favorite movies include King Kong (1933), Star Wars, LOTR Trilogy, Excalibur, Conan the Barbarian, Ed Wood, Superman (Chris Reeve), Ray Harryhausen's adventure epics, Errol Flynn films and "all new and old movies that provide a swell escape from the drab everyday world."

RA: Here's an illustration for a joint project with Elfwood writer Brian Buckley, "A Field Guide to Fantasy Creatures." Tell us about your current collaboration with Brian.


RS: I discovered Brian's "A Field Guide to Fantasy Creatures" on Elfwood, read it and loved it. I thought I could contribute with some pictures and that the project might result in some kind of book. Could be an e-book or a traditional self-published one. As of yet, we don't know what to do with it. I keep working on the pictures and when it's finished we'll see what happens.

RA: You also illustrated Steve Doyle's poem, "A Leprechaun's Tale."

RS: Yes, it's a familiar fairytale told from a different viewpoint.


A Leprechaun's Tale
by Steve Doyle

You'll not believe with your ears what happened to me
When I walked in the forest not far from the street.
Out for a stroll I went walking one night
And I caught for myself a terrible fright.

I decided when I found a fallen tree
To sit myself down and rest me sore feet.
So down I did sit and me feet I did rest
When there came such a sound as to scare me to death.

From behind me jumped a giant of such a great size
I could nay hardly believe me eyes!
He reached and he grabbed at me very self
I screeched and I screamed and I hollered for help!

He was after me gold, sure as I stand
But I got away, so quickly I ran.
I forgot all about me feet being sore
And did nay stop running 'til I reached me own door!

So believe me young Leprechauns when I tell ye this:
Big people are real; They truly exist!

© 2003 Steve Doyle. Reprinted with permission.
Originally posted at Elfwood.

RA: And of course, your wonderful cover art, 'Cuisine d'Ogre.'

RS: Sometimes cooking is a pain in the neck for both the chef and the meal.


RA: How can fans find more of your work?

RS: Well, I really don't know if I have any fans yet :) But if someone would like to see what I'm up to there's my Elfwood page for drawings.

My YouTube page with examples of my films and animations.

And my own web site, the Lone Animator, with images of puppets, masks and props.

Also, if someone doesn't mind that it's all in Swedish there's this children's site that I've written and illustrated. I've been working on it for seven years so there's over 1000 pages of my work (for those who can't get enough) at Unga Fackta.

RA: Well, Richard, it has been a pleasure interviewing you and showcasing your art. We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

All artwork on this page © Richard Svensson

Comment on this interview at The Alien's Pub.