Moe Balinger

Location: US Web: http://ifxm.ag/m-balinger Em ail: moe.balinger@gmail.com MEDIA: Photoshop, Illustrator, Manga Studio

Character design and Art Nouveau-inspired line work enthusiast Moe previously worked as lead artist as a major screen printing company, designing T-shirts. He even has some experience in 2D animation.

“For a brief time in 2015 I was a character illustrator on FX’s Archer. There I learned a ton about animation and vector art,” he says. Recently, Moe’s had the opportunity to participate in a mentorship with Peter Mohrbacher, “Pete really helped me align my goals and establish a consistent style in my art,” explains the artist.

Moe’s latest work comes from a series of illustrations inspired by Arthurian legend, the aesthetic of this which is heavily influenced by dark fantasy with modern tropes.

1 Morgaine le Faye: Sorceress

“Often said to be Arthur’s half-sister, Morgaine becomes an apprentice of Merlin and an adversary of Arthur and his knights. I wanted to paint a vertical illustration to use as my convention banner. I’ve always loved floating witches and spooky ritualistic items in fantasy art. This was really fun for me.”

2 Bercilak: The Green Knight

“This image is based on the character from Sir Gawain and the Green Knight. I was inspired by brass plate armour designs from England. I wanted to capture a blend of modern and ancient aesthetic, drawing from media like Game of Thrones and Dark Souls.”

“Rather than slavishly following the classic Art Nouveau look, Moe’s put his own spin on it in these artworks. Whether that’s the result of learning from Peter Mohrbacher or just his natural development as an artist, it’s all good!” Cliff Hope, Operations Editor