Arik Roper Arik Roper
Arik Roper

New York City-based artist Arik Moonhawk Roper illustrates fantasy art in full washes of color or in limited colors for black light posters, books, and shirts. He has illustrated a handful of covers and articles for Arthur magazine, and he also frequently gets commissions from musicians that find his art to evoke exactly the right visual mood for their music.

Arik Roper Arik Roper

Below is a motion graphics exercise that Roper created in After Effects using his own artwork and music by Steve Moore. It’s the opening credit sequence of a fictional film, A Maze of Death. In the opening seconds, you get the sense of how Roper’s atmospheric, dark artwork could work perfectly in an animated setting. Just seeing it slide around a little set to music clearly establishes a specific tone, and although it runs a bit long for something that doesn’t have a pay off, it remains an interesting experiment. Maybe there is hope for the film being produced so we can watch it; after all, Hollywood studios have built films off of flimsier concepts before.

Arik Roper

See more work from Roper on his website and blog.

Arik Roper Arik Roper Arik Roper Arik Roper

Chris McDonnell

Chris McDonnell’s recent animation productions include segments for Tour de Pharmacy (HBO), Lady Dynamite (Netflix), Comedy Bang Bang (IFC), Kroll Show (Comedy Central), Mike Tyson Mysteries (Adult Swim). Chris’s books include Steven Universe: Art & Origins and Adventure Time: The Art of Ooo, Sasquatch’s Big Hairy Drawing Book, and Unfiltered: The Complete Ralph Bakshi. He works from his studio McD Workshop and teaches animation at The University of the Arts and Moore College of Art & Design in Philadelphia.

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