![Arik Roper](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-3-1280x600.jpg)
![Arik Roper](https://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-3-580x326.jpg)
Artist of the Day: Arik Roper
![Arik Roper Arik Roper](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-3.jpg)
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](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg.jpg)
![Arik Roper Arik Roper](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-1.jpg)
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 Arik Roper](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-2.jpg)
See more work from Roper on his website and blog.
![Arik Roper Arik Roper](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-6.jpg)
![Arik Roper Arik Roper](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-5.jpg)
![Arik Roper Arik Roper](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/jpeg-4.jpg)
![Arik Roper Arik Roper](http://www.cartoonbrew.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/8078401482_22766c5153_b.jpg)