Campaign art by Malessa

Thanks guys! All this sudden attention, I almost don't know how to respond...lol. but I will.

Kilmore, I do look off of real life poses in magazines, glamor, cosmo for chicks, and I also discovered a really cool magazine called Black Belt. It has alot of action poses, which is where the 'cane fight' pic and 'small fry' were inspired from. I'm afraid I don't have much patience nor time for sketching real life. Since I'm a mom, wife, and homeschool teacher first and foremost, which keeps me on the go. Although, my hubby and I are going to try to rem to load the camera up with film and take some snap shots of potential art pieces to look from.
As far as my "eye for detail", it seems to run amuck at times, since I've yet to see a gator down here, lol...Even though my husband points one out as we are driving along....Must be the blonde coming out at these times......lol

Kilmore and alsih2o, I hope I always continue to improve. I doubt very much if I'll ever be content with my work. For the simple reason that after every pic I do, I relook at it and ask myself, 'ok, now how could have I improved it'. Then try to apply it to the next pic. I hope I never stop challenging my skills, if I did, it wouldn't be as much fun anymore.

As far as fantasy work goes, I don't want to limit myself to anything, but as of now, since my hubby and I are working on our own series of books, I'm helping Khan's Press and WoT with art, I have little time for anything else.
I eventually would like to get back into oil painting, but for now, PSP is still alot of fun.

Didn't realize I've been babbling so....oops, lol..In conclusion though, if I make the big time, what a treat it would be, if not, its been one heck of a fun ride anyway!

Thought you guys might get a good hearty chuckle at this....

As I mentioned above, I've been buying the magazine 'Black Belt', just for live action poses to help with art.
Now, you've got to picture this....Here I am, at the store, little ol' me...with kids in tow, thumbing through this magazine, and awing over the possibilities. I'm waiting at check out line, and lemme tell you, the looks of surprise and confusion, that pass ever so slightly. over the faces of onlookers can be quite amusing...Do they think I am a black belt?.....hmmmm..
Suddenly the tap on the kids hands from collapsing any and all racks of candy and misc items, get put in a whole new perspective (cat like refexes of course). I'm not the average mom or lady of sorts.. At times I can be quite mischievous and play it up a little, lol....Like in the RPG's...........
Lets hope a conversation never strikes up, or the truth will be known, and my little fun at the stores will be over....
Or do they already know I know nothing about it, and think I'm a dork?(wish I had some dice, bluff check) Either way it's in good fun..
I probably need to get out more...or less??

Just wanted to tell you that I think your work is great. I like your black and white sketches, but I have to say that the colored versions are three times as good. I wish I had the skill drawing people and other living things that you do.

Let's see some more!

Malessa's first book!

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Click here to get your copy today.
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Sprawling Shadows, Weapons: Book of Swords is exactly what it appears to be… a book of swords. Within these pages, you will find twenty four uniquely created magical swords for use in your D20 campaign. Every weapon includes full D20 statistics, all Open Game Content, which include the item’s Rarity, Properties, Damage, Critical Chance and Damage Multiplier, and Weight. Each entry also includes item creation information including Required Caster Level, Prerequisites, Market Price, and Cost to Create. The swords range from having moderate enhancements, to grossly powerful magical properties. Some have been generated randomly using the magic item creation tables in the System Reference Document, and others have been carefully crafted to fit a specific concept.

Every sword in this book has been inspired by an original, full color piece of digital artwork created by Malessa Danford. Every image is printed in its full size, which is 3 x 9 inches for the first 23 swords, and 8.5 x 11 inches for the final masterpiece. (The downloadable .zip file also includes a black & white, printer-friendly version)

Finally, each weapon in this volume is further brought to life by an exciting historical background, or carefully written flavor text. This support information is designed to give players and DM’s an insider’s glimpse into the adventure-filled world of Sprawling Shadows. With all D20 statistics being Open Game Content, the backgrounds can be ignored, and these weapons can be inserted into any campaign setting.

This first volume of Weapons: Book of Swords concentrates on longswords, shortswords, and double bladed swords. (28 pages, plus cover, ads and legal pages) At just $0.99, and just in time for Christmas, it makes a fantastic e-Stocking Stuffer!

Sprawling Shadows Globe

Hey all. I was messing around in PSP tonight, and I decided to put a little bit of detail to my globe for the Sprawling Shadows. Remember, this is an entire world made up of one enormous urban landscape. This is all done in Paint Shop Pro, with a little bit of help from a satellite image of Boston for the city detail. The original is 17x11 to make a two-page spread...

Merry Xmas All!

Here is one of my dragon sketches in color. I used him without the background in my Sprawling Shadows Book of Swords. I still have a ways to go on how I want my dragons to look, but I do think I'm progressing!

Thought I'd post this pic I did..

Here is one of the swords from my book, Sprawling Shadows; Book of Swords vol. 1.... "Halfling's Sorrow"

*bump*

Another sword..."Silken Touch"