The Valkyries 1987

Boris Vallejo painted ‘The Valkyries’ with oils, and the piece is just radiating energy! It's like a bolt of lightning striking the canvas. Looking at the surface, you can almost smell the turpentine and feel the brushstrokes. The paint’s applied so smoothly it’s almost like he was caressing the canvas. I love the way Vallejo builds up the drama with light and shadow – the Valkyries look like they're glowing from within. Notice how the bodies and horses are rendered with such detail, while the background melts into an almost abstract haze. The mouths of the horses are literally spitting light, which seems so heavy-metal, so visceral. It reminds me of some of the fantastical imagery of Frank Frazetta. Like Frazetta, Vallejo isn’t afraid to embrace the weird and the wild, pushing the boundaries of what art can be. It’s a reminder that art can be a playground of the imagination, where anything is possible and beauty can be found in the most unexpected places.