Savage Sword of Conan #10 Cover 1976

Boris Vallejo painted this cover for Savage Sword of Conan with oils, maybe in the late 70s. Look at Conan, all bronzed and rippling, standing over a snowscape littered with bones, a captive girl, and an eerie backdrop that looks like a spaghetti western hallucination. I imagine Vallejo, brush in hand, carefully building up those muscles with layers of color, really reveling in the sheen of Conan's oiled body. The paint is smooth, almost airbrushed in its effect, creating a hyper-realistic sheen. There is a theatrical intensity to the pose, with Conan’s eyes glowering out from under his horned helmet. I imagine the artist was inspired by the work of Frank Frazetta, another master of fantasy illustration known for his dynamic compositions and heroic figures. Painting is all about making these kinds of choices, isn’t it? How much detail to include? How to make the unreal feel believable? Vallejo wasn't afraid to take pulp fiction and elevate it with his technical skill. It’s a reminder that artists can find inspiration in all sorts of places, transforming the mundane into something extraordinary.