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ukitakumuki — Black Library: Trials of Azrael
Published: 2013-11-07 11:12:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 95883; Favourites: 2329; Downloads: 0
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Check out the audiobook here! : www.games-workshop.com/gws/cat…Illustration © Games Workshop
Art director/producer: Karen Miksza
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This is probably the first time I've heard of a writer wanting to edit his script to include details inspired by the cover artwork! Truly honoured... now I have to get the audiobook by C Z Dunn to hear for myself if it did happen
The brief was pretty epic in a sense, with two titans of the 40K universe facing off- Khârn the Betrayer versus Commander Azrael of the Dark Angels aboard a navy vessel, a trail of bodies and carnage left in their wake.
The first thing that came to mind compositionally was a hangar or bridge of sorts, something to frame the action and provide some context. The idea of pillars came to mind, I suppose in way of visual metaphor for the 'trials' or general hardship that Azrael would endure in this story. The action would come to an end, literally at the stargazing port on the bridge, the reflected light of a nearby moon cascading through the, well, not-so stained glass (I wasn't emotionally prepared to paint a nightclub scene). To top off the drama with a bit of ridiculousness, a short firefight that happened moments before has caused a large breach in the hull, which is another excuse for the floating robes and flying debris
Finally.. I get to imagine space marine thruster packs put to good use! Here's a interesting side story of mine to go with this image and why Azrael in particular was particularly... challenging.. for me to illustrate: www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbi…
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Comments: 89
Whoa so you're the man behind this wondrous Artwork??? Being A DArk Angel player, I love how you made Azrael real
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Hold up! Azrael held his ground against Kharn? KHARN!? The guy who singlehandedly fractured the world eaters in a blood rage? The guy who's killed so many things he had a device installed in his helm to count them? The greatest of the blood God's mortal champions?! That Kharn?!
At Any rate, this piece is fantastic, it feels like they like both the betrayer and the death angel slayer everything in their path and are ending this combat one on one, the greatest of the lion's angels against the strongest son of the red angel. Awesome.
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Yeah, THAT Kharn 
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Stunning! Truly a moment frozen in time.
I don't have the words...
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I was slightly disappointed by the audiobook because this scene doesn't happen! Kharn kicks Azrael's ass something fierce and Azrael runs away.
No seriously, he throws chairs and tables at Kharn and runs away. Their duel was all of 2 mins long and Kharn spent the rest of the book chasing Azrael, basically telling him the book can't continue unless the dark angel comes back...but he never does and the book kinda' just ends.
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Awesome! And we mean that in the "this is a truly awe-inspiring piece of work" and not "Hang ten, dude!"
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This is one of the most epic pieces of Warhammer 40k artwork there is at the time. Even with only two characters alive and in action, it still breaths "Epic". Spectacular work!
P.S. On the subject of influencing the script - Graham McNeil stated in his introduction to the first Ultramarines Omnibus that he created one of the main characters (namely, sargeant Pasanius) after he saw the cover art.
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wow you have some of the best WH40k stuff in your gallery I have ever seen!
as a fellow Warhammer 40k illustrator I would love to see some progress shots
cheers
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this is by far one of my favorite azrael pics ever!!!!!
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Amazing as always. Reminds me some of your older stuff.
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I must thank you for painting a bullpup bolter. I have another scifi weapon to covet now.
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AAAARRGH WTF man!? this is beyond top-tier pro level skill!! Holy Emperor your art is startlingly awesome! Why aren't you anywhere in GW's artbooks? The world's definitely not fair!?
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Absolutely amazing! Simply awesome! Totally badass! Emperor bless you, ukitakumuki
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Is that an officer of the fleet, with a sword through his head?
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Who will win? 'Cos I'm voting on the red guy.
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Very interesting bolter pattern. Probably more than slightly heretical, but who cares?
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Considering the audio dramas protagonist is Azrael, it's obvious he needs to have the upper hand. Would you have prefered creating artwork with Kharne having the upper hand?
On the critique side, all i have to say is that artwork like this is what sticks with the universe and helps create the atmosphere of the lore itself.
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Awesome but a painting? :S those pillars look very 3d rendered xD
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That plasma pistol don't really look like plasma pistol for me. Looks more like a bolt-pistol or even a bolter.
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It looks fine to me. Bear in mind its being cut in half
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Yeah, but second half is on picture too and it still don't look like "plasma part")
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I dunno man, looks like it could be plasma pistol to me.
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Looks like the Berserkers face is getting squished xD Great work
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The favorite button cannot be hit enough on this incredible work of art
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I think my heart stopped for a few seconds when I saw this.
I must see this fight go down.
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The only possible critique I might direct at this is that it looks like you made the cooling part of the plasma gun look like an ammo counter.
Other than that, it looks absolutely fantastic. This is probably one of the best WH40K pieces I've ever seen.
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hmm... woops, that's the magnetic accelerator coils, but my point still stands xD unless the weapon is damaged somehow, of course.
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Is that a bullpup bolter? Are those a thing in the lore?
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