Aries the Ram 1987

Boris Vallejo made this incredible painting, "Aries the Ram", in 1941. Look at how Vallejo uses a limited color range—mostly earth tones with some blues and grays. For me, that limited palette is where the picture really starts to come alive, like mixing blood and dirt, you know? I am really drawn to the texture of the ram's horns. You can almost feel the ridges and curves, and that tangible quality makes the whole piece feel really present. It's like Vallejo is reaching out to us, almost taunting us to touch it, or dare I say... taste it? In a way, it reminds me of Frank Frazetta, another master of fantasy art. They both share this ability to create worlds that are both larger than life and deeply personal. And that's what art is all about, right? It's a conversation, an ongoing exchange of ideas, and sometimes, just a damn good excuse to get weird.