Michael Dashow walrus Location: Oakland, USA Language(s):
English Member Since: November 2004 Last Updated: 16 October 2009 Portfolio Views: 203188 Chosen as Favorite: 484
I am a science fiction and fantasy illustrator mainly specializing in humorous pieces. I primarily work digitally, though also produce watercolors now and then too ('though I don't post them on CGTalk.)
My digital illustrations have graced the covers and interiors of many books and magazines. I have placed in the CGSociety Challenges a few times (Excellence Award in 'The Uplift Challenge,' 4th Place in 'The Journey Begins' and Honorable Mention in 'Master and Servant.') I was also a Top 20 Award recipient (14th place) for the 2008 Dominance War III international game character design competition. I am also a Chesley Award winner for my my cover for Peter S. Beagle's 'The Rhinoceros Who Quoted Nietzsche,' which won the Chesley for Best Paperback Book Cover of the Year in 1997, the first digital piece to ever win a Chesley. (The Chesley is given out by the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists at the World Science Fiction Convention each year.) My work has also been featured in 'Spectrum,' 'Expose,' 'ImagineFX' magazine (Britain), It's Art Magazine (France) and Fantasy Art Magazine (China)
Additionally, I've been working in the videogame industry for 18 years as an art director and artist. During that time, I've done everything under the sun: character and environment design and concepting, 2D and 3D animation, modeling, texturing, rigging, effects, and even voice acting. I spent many years working on Broderbund Software's 'Living Books' line of children's products, and then seven years at Blizzard Entertainment, working on Diablo II and Diablo III as well as a number of other projects. I designed and managed the ongoing production of all of the avatars at Meez.com, where I was the Art Director. Currently I am the Art Director at social network hi5, and also doing some work as a concept artist for Microsoft Game Studios on the side.
I live in Oakland, CA, USA, with my wife and toddler son.