Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Julie Dillon

@juliedillon.bsky.social

31K followers 1.1K following 530 posts

Artist in the PNW. She/Her. Previous clients: WotC, Simon & Schuster, Tor.com, Macmillan Publishers, Llewellyn Worldwide, Dark Horse Comics [email protected] https://linktr.ee/juliedillonart

linktr.ee

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Pinned

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · Oct 17

Hello BlueSky! :) My name is Julie Dillon,and I'm a freelance fantasy artist living in Portland, OR. I like making character focused illustrations that touch on mythological and fantasy themes.
Instagram: @juliedillonart
website: www.juliedillonart.com
email: [email protected]

A minotaur with a sword sunk in his chest and several cuts on his body, but from each cut flowers and flower petals flow instead of blood. His face looks sad and pleading, and he raises a hand as if to fend off an attacker.

A king and his knight steal a quiet moment away together in a hidden alcove. The king leans in for a kiss and the knight subtly draws him close. The yearning is palpable, haha.

Medusa stands proud and regal atop the stone statues of many soldiers that she's petrified.

A sad selkie woman floats below the water, tenderly embracing one of the seals that swim around her.

24 270 1.4K

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Elsa Velasco @evelasco.bsky.social · 1d

Hi again #PortfolioDay!

I'm Elsa, book cover illustrator focused on fantasy, sci-fi and horror. I have a soft spot for symbolism, as well as themes of identity and connection. Currently available for freelance work!

💼 elsavelasco.com
✉️ [email protected]
Other links: linktr.ee/evelasco.art

Drawing of a brown-skinned androgynous person with long straight black hair looking back at the viewer. They have a handkerchief in one hand, and are sweating under the sun. In the background there’s the shape of a crowd with banners and strange musical instruments, congregated around the huge arch of a gate, for which the keystone is being set in a ceremony.
This piece is an illustration for the first chapter of Ursula K. Le Guin's The Left Hand of Darkness

Illustration of a long-haired man sleeping. There are worlds melting in his hair, the skyline of Portland before him and Mount Hood in the background. This piece is an alternate cover for The Lathe of Heaven by Ursula K. Le Guin

Illustration of two hands reaching for each other. One of them is darker than the other, and they both have cracks that glow with light. Between them is a glowing star, and they are surrounded by a swirl of darkness and light, that remind the night sky and snow.
It is an alternate cover for The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. Le Guin

Illustration of a naked androgynous figure in a cave surrounded by black monsters that remind marine creatures. The person is drawing on a book while looking and touching the monsters. The person has a hole in the chest, filled by a glowing speck of light. They also have glowing eyes, as do the monsters.
The person's n1pples are censored due to BlueSky consistently flagging the image as adult content.

31 89

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Jana Heidersdorf @checanty.bsky.social · 1d

Hello #PortfolioDay 👻
I'm Jana, illustrator of everything hauntingly beautiful--nowadays mostly books, though.
Happy to take on one more project this year 📚

Portfolio: janaheidersdorf.com
Contact: [email protected]

Cover illustration for May The Dead Keep You by Jill Baguchinsky (portrait of a red haired girl with a half decayed woodpecker covering half of her face. I swear it looks really cool.)

Spooky illustration for a short story featuring a house that is also the body of a ghost boy. The boy is trapped and reaches out to his crying mother outside.

Cover illustration for Don't Let The Forest In by CG Drews. Portrait of a blond boy with slashes obscuring his face. Through the openings thorny vines and roses grow.

A serene, pale face surrounded by lots of worms and insects.

7 110 330

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · 22h

I just finished this up in a SmArtSchool mentorship class with Sam Weber. 😊 The assignment was to create an illustration with an original character, and I went with my current D&D character 😅

A woman with a shaved head in gold armor stands among dark briars. The briar thorns pierce her armor and skin in a few places, and she hangs her head in a defeated posture.

19 200 1K

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · 20h

It's my third time taking his class, and each time he's helped me kinda get my creative compass realigned; he's really good at encouraging experimentation, based around what aspects of artmaking one is excited about instead of what one feels one "should" do. :)

1 3

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · 22h

I just finished this up in a SmArtSchool mentorship class with Sam Weber. 😊 The assignment was to create an illustration with an original character, and I went with my current D&D character 😅

19 200 1K

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · 22h

No one wants or needs this.

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Bad Hand Books @badhandbooks.bsky.social · 23h

COVER REVEAL! World War Z meets The Dark Crystal. Coming in 2026. Art by @juliedillon.bsky.social. Layout by @toddkeisling.com. Written by @mmdaviesostrom.bsky.social.

Pre-order: badhandbooks.com/preorders/6y...

1 6 27

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · 1d

Thank you! I’m taking Sam Weber’s Smart School class, and he suggested looking at the sketchbook as an overall exploration, and it’s been kind of fun to just draw whatever and see how the overall themes morph from one to the next 😊 (instead of worrying about making each perfect)

1 3

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · 1d

A few of the daily sketches from my sketchbook this week 🐦

A sketch portrait with figure with an ornate halo crown and necklaces; two birds with their wings tucked in flank either side of their face.

A figure embraces a heron; the heron wraps its neck around their head. Both are half submerged in water, with plants emerging from the water.

3 46 190

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Babe&Oak @babeandoak.bsky.social · 1d

Hi #PortfolioDay

I’m Élle • Freelance illustrator & surface pattern designer

Specializing in detail heavy B&W work & passionate about occult history, horror & symbolism

Open for work in publishing, book covers, TTRPGs, private & commercial commissions

✉️ [email protected]
🎨 babeandoak.carrd.co

Altar prayer card for the goddess Diana. A rectangular card has a black border with parts of the Orphic hymn for Diana surrounding it as a border in white text. In the bottom right are twin arrows over a crescent moon representing her and Apollo. In the bottom left and top right are white outlined 8 point stars. Inside the border is a marble shockwave black and grey pattern with white outlining that forms an arch at the top with lining to look like columns on both sides. In the middle is a stag skull with painted antlers of a diamond and star pattern. Behind the skull are smaller 8 point stars and cloud ripples. Above the skull is a scraggly branch of queen Anne’s lace with small dots above. In the top corners are two constellations for Sirius as her hunting dogs and Roman numerals for 13 and 8 for the date of the Nemoralia festival.

Victorian Ward - Black and white illustration of a Victorian wall with a scarab ward framed. The border of the whole piece is a torn paper. Inside is Victorian black and white striped wallpaper with damask type filigree in the black and smaller stripes and speckles in the white with small vertical black stripes on either side. In the damask pattern are slightly abstract symbols of infinity, an hourglass and other resurrection symbols. In the middle is an ornate rectangular frame framing a large scarab beetle with its wings out. On its wings are celestial symbols like Jupiter, stars and the moon. Around the scarab are peony flowers and branches of a tree branching towards the top left with a vine white line swooping in an out and around the frame in the same direction. The scarabs body is engraved like metal with filigree. Behind the scarab in the frame is grain shading grey over black.

Dark Vibrations - Inktober 2022 black and white ink illustration. Plain rolling hills lead to the door of a building with a large central spire and a small covered porch. To the left side of the building is a three facet bay windows and the other windows have ornate stained glass. On top of the central spire is a lighting conductor in the shape of a 5 point star. In the highest window of the spire is stain glass in the shape of an eye. Converging at the start is a large vortex spiraling and expanding through the whole sky. The vortex is pulling party’s of the building up towards it and cracking parts of the wood and foundation. The vortex is casting light and highlights on the building and the tress behind it. Converging towards the building is a circle of 12 white bird silhouettes.

16 250 750

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Angela R. Sasser, Fantasy Artist, Geek, Gamer, Comics Fan @angelasasserart.bsky.social · 1d

I’m still open to commercial work & am particularly interested in ccg, card decks, & ttrpgs rn. I’m esp passionate about myth, folklore, gothic horror, & Fantasy.

Dream clients would be Magic the Gathering, D&D, World of Darkness, & Exalted.
#portfolioday #illustrator

Angela R. Sasser, Fantasy Artist, Geek, Gamer, Comics Fan @angelasasserart.bsky.social · Apr 8

#PortfolioDay I'm Angela, an #Illustrator from ATL, Georgia specializing in elegant dark art. Currently seeking cover, TTRPG, Tarot, CCG/TCG, & Horror clients.

Commercial inquiries only. See my abbreviated portfolio here:
portfolio.angelasasser.com

Network with me here:
www.angelasasser.com/links

A montage of the best art from Angela R. Sasser, featuring surreal, elegant, dark imagery of demigods, tortured heroes, fantastical pirates, and tarot figures.

9 17

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Antonieta Muñoz Estrada @mariadrawss.bsky.social · 1d

If you disable this on Pinterest, all AI content will not appear when you search. 😉✨️ #kidlit

7 82 170

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Kaylee's Boyfriend @megsyv.bsky.social · Jun 16

Artists Meeting Artists

20 840 3K

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Long_Painter @longpainter.bsky.social · 1d

Dreamscape

3 83 410

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Nathan Fowkes Art @nathanfowkes.com · 1d

The KickStarter is live!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/190...
Our big fat beautiful book, Designing Imaginative Environments is a deep dive into the world of
environment design for storytelling.

26 93

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Blue Heron Farm @blueheronfarm.bsky.social · 2d

Happy Indigenous People's Day

BOOOOlioraptor, PhD (spooky version) @biblioraptorphd.bsky.social · 2d

Janet saying: Fun fact: Columbus is in the Bad Place
because of all the raping, slave trade, and genocide.

620 1.6K

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Trans Ferdinand: Robot Princess @emdashreed.bsky.social · 2d

can confirm, I switched and it’s better than Spotify

🏳️‍⚧️ Josephine Riesman (Horrifying) @josie.zone · 2d

SWITCH TO TIDAL TODAY

YOU CAN TRANSFER YOUR PLAYLISTS WITH THE LINK BELOW

IT IS EASY, THE SOUND QUALITY IS BETTER, THEY HAVE MUSIC VIDEOS, AND THERE'S NO GESTAPO ADS

tidal.com/transfer-music

Ben Hart, Gender Archivist @pavlovforgoths.com · 2d

Found out that Spotify is running ICE recruitment ads, if you need another reason to quit using it.

3 21 99

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Catsuka @catsuka.bsky.social · 3d

"The World of the Dark Crystal" documentary (1983, 1 hour) is available for free on Youtube.
>> www.catsuka.com/breves/2025-...

33 1.5K 3.9K

Reposted by Julie Dillon

parker parrella @parkparr.bsky.social · 2d

Haze on Two Horizons, 2023

A rectangular painting of orange and blue foliage layered as if double exposed. Above the plants a red sun with a large, pale yellow halo partially obscures a second sun behind

6 210 620

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Oni @onidraws.bsky.social · 4d

I'm sad to see a lot of artists I know saying it's super hard to get sales. And it really is. So I wanna promote them here again.

Go check them out and buy or tip them if you can. This is the non-US shops list but I'll post other lists as well.

Oni @onidraws.bsky.social · Sep 11

I made a pack for non-US artists shops!
Let me know if you want to be added (with a shop link) or removed!

go.bsky.app/KgkXQns

19 280 330

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Athanaca @athanaca.bsky.social · 3d

Iridescent black🖤

#bird #raven #birdart #animalart #digitalart #illustration #birdwatching #crow #original #colorful #avian
#feather

A raven with colorful reflections on its feathers

43 1.9K 5.7K

Reposted by Julie Dillon

naomi @mimimaruuu.bsky.social · 4d

Huntrix based on Klimt’s Water Serpents

#KpopDemomHunters

22 930 2.5K

Reposted by Julie Dillon

HolBolDoArt🏳️‍🌈 @holboldoart.bsky.social · 4d

🎂 It's my special cake and candles day you all have to be nice to me because it's been QUITE the year 🎂

So share some of my paintings??

In the pew-lined interior of a dim medieval church lit by rows of candles on tall staffs and pale sunlight coming through a window, a tall humanoid crow figure with flowing black robes and a glowing yellow eye stands beneath an ornately carved semicircular arch in Norman Romanesque style. On the wall surrounding the arch are many colourful murals depicting more humanoid crow figures with halos, carrying various items including swords, spears, harps, and chalices.

A painting set in a cosy shady woodland clearing on a sunny summer's day. In the centre of the frame, two figures sit on a fallen log mostly hidden by vegetation. The figure on the right has wavy blonde hair down past her shoulders, and wears a flowing white floor-length dress with long sleeves, with delicate lacework around the cuffs and neckline. She looks into the distance with a contemplative, sad expression. On her lap rests a small green book, covered by both of her hands.
The figure on the left sits leaning with her head against shoulder of the other figure. She wears a similar dress but simpler, and in a dark slate grey. Her hair is dark and straight, and flows down her tilted face, and she looks off towards a nightingale bird perched on a nearby branch. She raises a hand towards the other figure as if to get her attention.

Both figures are surrounded by various flowers. On the left of the frame are many spires of foxglove flowers in vivid pink and white, interspersed among green stinging nettles. On the right are the purple flowers of monkshood/wolfsbane.

Wrapping around the figures is a clear stream flowing from a distant pond that descends in a series of steps. Around the stream are many small mossy rocks, and shoots of dark green dog's mercury.

Above and behind the figures and flowers are two trees; on the left is a weeping willow with dangling dark green leaves. On the right are the branches of an old ash tree.

A snowy scene in which a humanoid figure in long black robes with the head of a rook stands in a churchyard holding a long spear. By its feet is a red fox. Both are flecked with fallen snow. Around them are many weathered snow-covered graves. In the background is a medieval church of warm coloured stone with large rectangular windows and a battlemented parapet topped with pinnacles. Behind the main body of the church is the tower with clock face and belfry. Behind the church are tall but bare trees dusted with snow. More snow falls in the air.

44 340 880

Reposted by Julie Dillon

Nicole 🪲 @fossilforager.bsky.social · 5d

Whale Fall pin 🦀🐋🦑

A photo of a large gold-plated enamel pin photographed on top of a lichen-covered rock. The enamel pin features a whale skeleton covered with various deep sea creatures, such as octopuses, hagfish, a giant isopod, a crab, and chimaeras.

46 480 1.8K

Julie Dillon @juliedillon.bsky.social · 6d

Yeah! Each time I've taken it he's helped encourage me to experiment more with my art and dig a little deeper into what inspires me vs. just working what I feel like I *should* be doing (which is a constant challenge, haha)