Conan and the Queen of the Black Coast 1989

Ken Kelly's "Conan and the Queen of the Black Coast" is rendered in a bold, airbrush style that gives it that classic fantasy paperback vibe. The airbrush is interesting because, as a technique, it tends to erase the hand of the artist. But look closer and you’ll see the artist's hand. In the craggy rocks on the left, Kelly teases out a whole range of grey tones, using careful gradations to create depth and texture. These stand in contrast to the smoother skin tones and the wispy clouds in the background. I love the way he plays with the contrast between these surfaces. For me, this piece speaks to the ongoing conversation between realism and stylization, especially when we consider other fantasy artists like Frank Frazetta. This is a painting that embraces the power of suggestion. It knows it's not trying to replicate reality, but rather conjure a feeling, a mood, and a story.