1993 original mixed media painting on gessoed double thick watercolor board.
Image approx. 14 x 18 inches
Framed size: approx. 20 x 25 inches
Image used as card art for The Star Trek Master Series card #73. Captain Klaa. Four inch triple matting in black metal frame with plexiglass.
Klaa is a Klingon and a fearsome warrior. He is Captain of a Klingon Bird of Prey. In many respects, he is an honorable person. He is young and still dedicated to forging his prowess and reputation. Nothing would suit him better than to capture the Federation Starship Enterprise and defeat her Captain, the renowned James Tiberius Kirk, in single combat. In Startrek V: The Final Frontier, Klaa has the opportunity to pursue that dream as he faces Kirk and The Enterprise as the fate of two cultures hangs in the balance.
Daughter was the cover for Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword and Sorceress Vol. X. My assignment was to depict a professional warrior, admirable, but truly deadly. Unfortunately, my model had never handled a sword. She weilded it like a tennis racket. So, I put her in fencing gear and taught her about swordplay. A quick study, she was soon scoring points against me. On a break in the action, she relaxed into the pose you see, comfortable with the blade, proud of herself, and self confident. I took up my camera and said, "OK, now look me in the eyes and lean toward me. Look like you mean it." It was perfect. Jennifer, my favorite model - she always got it done.
DAW asked me to create a cover with a female Erroll Flynn: charming, cocky swashbuckling, and deadly - but definitely one of the good guys. My friend, Kelly, was perfect for the role, but she had appeared on the cover of the same series in the previous year. It seemed best to work with Kelly again but to change her appearance. I usually use reference, but this time I just winged it on the face. Many have asked whether I intended to make it look like my sister, C.J. I didn't. Not consciously. Unconsciously? Maybe just a little.
My dear friend, Barbara Higgins, is a master costumer. One of my greatest honors was when she created an epic recreation of the character from my painting, Soror Marium. She wanted to present it at the WorldCon Costume Contest, but she said she needed a male companion to escort her down the runway. So, I created Sir Hector and Friend to provide a male counterpart. In the end, the costume for this gentleman was never made, but Barb's presentation was glorious nonetheless.
