ULTIMATE ENEMY (1979) by Michael Whelan, cover for the book by Fred Saberhagen
(Source: michaelwhelan.com)
EPHEMEROS (2002) by Michael Whelan
Oil on Canvas - 48” x 36”
Another meditation on Prudence.
(Source: michaelwhelan.com)
THE DARK TOWER: ALGUL SIENTO (2003) by Michael Whelan
Acrylic on Panel - 28” x 18”
From his first reading of the manuscript, Michael was drawn to this scene in THE DARK TOWER VII and he knew he had to paint it. Stephen King’s description of the quiet bond between Roland and Jake was particularly compelling, as it stood in stark contrast to the violence and mayhem that occur in other parts of the story.
(Source: michaelwhelan.com)
CLIMBER (1992) by Michael Whelan
Acrylic on Canvas - 42” X 31”
This is a precursor to my Lumen series. The way to the light is a long and arduous journey.
(Source: michaelwhelan.com)
[video]
FORTITUDE (1997) by Michael Whelan
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 9” x 12”
I got to thinking of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ character John Carter of Mars….whenever it looked like the odds were hopeless and he had no options, his response was a defiant, “I still live!” As in all of the works in this series there are ammonite fossils, though this time they represent an island in turbulent seas. I know there is some symbolic significance as to why he is holding an uprooted tree, but I’ll be damned if I can remember what it is…
(Source: michaelwhelan.com)
[video]
[video]
THE GUNSLINGER FOLLOWED (2005) by Michael Whelan
Oil on Canvas - 25” x 40”
The Man in Black fled across the desert and the Gunslinger followed. The second half of the first line in the first book. The 2 characters couldn’t be in the same painting because it’s not until they are out of the desert that they come within sight of each other, so he split the sentence into 2 paintings. Michael has said that this is the closest to what he thinks Roland looks like - dogged, grim, with an indomitable sense of mission.
(Source: michaelwhelan.com)
[video]