Then, sometime in 2006, several years after our last involvement, David seems to have reached a creative tipping point. Works from that period on show a seamless integration of styles and a fully developed awareness of depth and proportion and lighting. You can tell that he's still using the same combination of traditional techniques and photorealism, but the two styles have met in the middle, creating works which are realistic but clearly original and stylistically coherent. Many of these are just magnificent, such as Queen Cinderella (above and left) and Valkyrie Maiden (to right), with subtle shading and use of light and a kind of altered realism which is very effective at making the fantastical seem real.
In his latest works David seems to have come full-circle, moving through digital art and returning to traditional media, but bringing his new techniques with him. Some of his most impressive new works, for example Circe the Enchantress (to the left) and Athene (top right), are done entirely without digital modification, in pencil and oils on canvas, respectively. That he is able to work in both digital and traditional formats and produce such similar results is a truly remarkable commentary on how completely his skills have matured and what a great command he has over his tools. I find "Athene" to be particularly impressive, with the realism of the figure softened enough to fit with the more painterly background, and a really excellent recreation of the style of the pre-raphaelites, resulting in a work which reminds me a lot of the work of Sir William Russell Flint.
When browsing David's art, be forewarned that he does take the occasional foray into the "chicks in chainmail" genre in the tradition of Frank Frazetta and he does have a fondness for beautiful and scantily clad women. The site even includes a section of erotic pin-up art, though he seems to have removed some of the most provocative images. There are also some disturbing religious themes if that kind of thing bothers you - both from a pagan and Christian perspective. He's been very productive in the last few years and has managed to do detailed illustrations for the major themes of Greek, Celtic, and Norse Mythology plus Arthurian legends and elements of other mythologies as well, all included on his website. In addition, David has extensive samples of his fairy and fairytale illustrations included on the site, as well as articles on his technique and some of his subject matter and even a set of short art lessons for beginners.
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