JOSEPH ZHOU
Joseph Zhou is a freelance illustrator based in Voorhees, New Jersey, who specializes in science fiction illustrations and fantasy artwork.
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CREATIVE STATEMENT
My interest in dark fantasy art began at a young age when I started playing games like Magic: the Gathering, Diablo I and Baldur’s Gate I. I also discovered books like The Dark Elf Trilogy and The Coldfire Trilogy. Over the years, my expertise in fantasy illustration has developed due to self-learning. As an illustrator who specializes in dark fantasy illustration and concept art, I focus on the contrast between beauty and the macabre. I nurture this focus by consuming a lot of dark horror films, playing a lot of fantasy-based games, and reading fantasy novels. What I love most about fantasy is its ability to bring real-world concepts to readers/viewers in novel situations. To create a successful dark fantasy illustration I believe it’s important to show a narrative to the viewer that prompts intriguing questions from the viewer about the characters and setting as much as it’s important to reveal information about them. For me, the two most important qualities of a successful fantasy illustration are storytelling and composition. To maintain my skill set, I think about the craft and storytelling of image-making on a daily basis.
Q&A
What super power do you wish for?
Teleportation—it would be really cool to be able to go anywhere and see anything.
What is your favorite show or film?
I really love the Alien, Saw, and Hannical franchises.
Which do you prefer: outer space, deep sea, or fantasy lands? Fantasy lands (obviously).