Behind the Cover: David Palumbo

[reviews_and_ramblings]

As far back as I can remember, I wanted to be an artist. As a child, I enjoyed reading comic books that my father gave to me and watching hours and hours of science fiction movies. Not surprisingly, the subject matter of my drawings was mainly monsters, robots, superheroes, and spaceships. My mother and step father, both being fantasy artists themselves, were very encouraging and supportive for me to develop my skill in drawing and allowed me to start taking life drawing classes as early as twelve years old.

For several years this was the focus of my artistic study, until graduating high school and moving to Philadelphia to study traditional painting technique at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art. Though the Academy emphasized classical style and subject matter, I retained my interest in illustration and began applying myself to both fields. These years of training were augmented by private studies with my parents, as well as occasional sessions with Burt Silverman.

 
Eight of Swords

 
Page of Cups. Oil, 12x18, 2008. Client: Imaginistix/Heavy Metal Magazine

 
Sword of Legends, 2006. Oil, 18x27. Featured in Spectrum 14

 
Battlemage. Oil, 12x18, 2007. Original available, POR

 
Forty Miles of Bad Road. Oil, 9.5x13, 2007. Original Available, POR

After leaving the Academy, I focused on my fine art and portraiture for the next year or two. I was already showing with a Philadelphia gallery (where I continue to show work) and doing the occasional illustration whenever a job would turn up. When not preparing for a gallery show, I persisted in illustrating fantasy and science fiction scenes and refining my portfolio, steadily building towards a career in freelance illustration. Since 2006, illustration has been the main focus of my efforts. Being able to make a living through painting is really all I could ever hope for, and at this point I can’t imagine doing anything else. If those paintings happen to include monsters, robots, superheroes, and spaceships, so much the better!

As a freelance illustrator, I have provided artwork for book covers, collectable card games, comic covers, album covers, film posters, magazine covers, advertisements, and film preproduction and have had my artwork appear in such publications as Spectrum, Heavy Metal, ImagineFX, and 2D Artist Magazine.

My past client list includes Acclaim Entertainment, Black Library, Heavy Metal Magazine, Night Shade Books, Pyr Books, Riley Films, Science Fiction Book Club, Solaris Books, Upper Deck Entertainment, and Wizards of the Coast.

Exhibitions in 2008-2009
2009: Nesting, A.Okay Official, Chicago, IL
2009: Waiting for the Train, Artists House, Philadelphia PA
2008: Small Works, Artists House, Philadelphia PA
2008: Young Guns, Io Gallery, Cornwall CT

http://www.dvpalumbo.com/

Comments

[kassa-rvws.livejournal.com]

Wow, another stunning artist. I'm especially impressed with the battlemage picture. It's always a shame to see such talented artists struggle with how to make a living doing what they love and are so incredibly talented at.

[elisa-rolle.livejournal.com]

Yes, he is. I can only wish that featuring these artists, especially young, can give them a bit of visibility. Elisa