The Art of Michael Whelan

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The Art of Michael Whelan
The Art of Michael Whelan
CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS
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CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS

Cover illustration for Tad Williams first Otherland book

Michael Whelan
Sep 20, 2024
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The Art of Michael Whelan
The Art of Michael Whelan
CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS
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A shimmering cascade winds through a city of radiant domes and spires all rendered in gold. Eventually the concentrated stream dissipates as it exits lower right through an ornate gate of intersecting arches. Descending from high, an animated string of human figures, varying in sequential poses, vanishes down into a large jeweled window atop the largest dome. Across the dome's facade a nonsensical string of symbols floats (a dove, padlock, ammonite, hourglass, rowboat, starfish, etc).
CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS (1996), Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 24" x 18"

A sophisticated blend of science fiction and fantasy by Tad Williams. The virtual reality storyline of Otherland offers a vast playground of the imagination. I doubt I'm alone feeling that in the right hands the series would make for a spectacular and compelling translation to film or television.

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Additional images from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS

LEFT: Detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring the central dome rendered in gold. Atop is a large jeweled window in teardrop shape. A shimmering cascade snakes around it through a variety of spires and out an ornate gate of intersecting arches. CENTER: Close detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring the gate in the lower right foreground. The gate is formed by the intersection of two parabolas, one wider and shorter than the other. It has an ornate spire rising from the top decorated at the top with a winged circle perched on a triangle. A shimmering trail snakes through and around the points of towers erected in a variety of styles. RIGHT: Close detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring a nonsensical stream of symbols including a a dove, padlock, ammonite, hourglass, rowboat starfish, tobacco pipe, trilobite, hand mirror, swimming woman, fish, pocket watch, scissors, school bus, and wavy ladder.LEFT: Detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring the central dome rendered in gold. Atop is a large jeweled window in teardrop shape. A shimmering cascade snakes around it through a variety of spires and out an ornate gate of intersecting arches. CENTER: Close detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring the gate in the lower right foreground. The gate is formed by the intersection of two parabolas, one wider and shorter than the other. It has an ornate spire rising from the top decorated at the top with a winged circle perched on a triangle. A shimmering trail snakes through and around the points of towers erected in a variety of styles. RIGHT: Close detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring a nonsensical stream of symbols including a a dove, padlock, ammonite, hourglass, rowboat starfish, tobacco pipe, trilobite, hand mirror, swimming woman, fish, pocket watch, scissors, school bus, and wavy ladder.LEFT: Detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring the central dome rendered in gold. Atop is a large jeweled window in teardrop shape. A shimmering cascade snakes around it through a variety of spires and out an ornate gate of intersecting arches. CENTER: Close detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring the gate in the lower right foreground. The gate is formed by the intersection of two parabolas, one wider and shorter than the other. It has an ornate spire rising from the top decorated at the top with a winged circle perched on a triangle. A shimmering trail snakes through and around the points of towers erected in a variety of styles. RIGHT: Close detail from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS featuring a nonsensical stream of symbols including a a dove, padlock, ammonite, hourglass, rowboat starfish, tobacco pipe, trilobite, hand mirror, swimming woman, fish, pocket watch, scissors, school bus, and wavy ladder.
Details from CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS
LEFT: An abstract digital concept for CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS. A city rendered like digital audio noise sits in a field of glossy integrated circuitry. Angled mountains point up to a sky where a human eye floats in the place of the moon. RIGHT: Ancient iconography in the shape of a human head but with a computer chip set for the eye and mouth in profile. The golden paths of circuits stand out from the ancient patina of stone.LEFT: An abstract digital concept for CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS. A city rendered like digital audio noise sits in a field of glossy integrated circuitry. Angled mountains point up to a sky where a human eye floats in the place of the moon. RIGHT: Ancient iconography in the shape of a human head but with a computer chip set for the eye and mouth in profile. The golden paths of circuits stand out from the ancient patina of stone.
Alternate digital concept and interior illustration for CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS
Book cover for OTHERLAND: CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS by Tad Williams, published by DAW Books.
OTHERLAND: CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS by Tad Williams (DAW)
Print of CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS framed with golden moulding and rust colored mat.
CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS is available as a print in our shop

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The Art of Michael Whelan
The Art of Michael Whelan
CITY OF GOLDEN SHADOWS
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Charlie Noble
Meridians: History and Science …
Oct 3Liked by Michael Whelan

Dude your art is awesome man.

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Rich Harkrader
Sep 20Liked by Michael Whelan

I LOVE your work on Tad Williams' books. I was so disappointed when I saw that you didn't do the cover to Into the Narrowdark.

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