Peter Mohrbacher

Empathy

“Papa. Papa, please come. Snake!” the young boy in the clearing exclaimed.

At the alarm of his son, Enoch rose from his repose against a tree, tossing his books into the grass, each volume a different color and now open to the sky.

“Get back!” The sharpness of Enoch’s tone or movement triggered the snake’s response. It uncoiled, launching itself toward the boy.

Enoch snapped a hand around the snake, just under its bulbous head. Its body thrashed and ...

Empathy - Detail Phase

Starting with a strong sketch meant that getting the values laid down was quite easy.

Having strong values meant laying down the color was very easy.

Having strong colors meant that scraping in detail has been a breeze.

There is little different across this version of the piece and the final because I needed to change so little in order to get what I wanted out of it. Permitting myself to work from a sketch that I felt strongly about had a cascading effect that made the enti...

Empathy - Color Phase

The original version of Hesed was very gloomy and oppressive. I wanted to take this incarnation in a more hopeful direction.

To me, the islands in this painting represent the isolated islands of consciousness that we all exist on. Hesed looms over it representing our desire to connect across the expanse between us. He is like a light house that signals the proof of life outside ourselves. Evidence that the sensations we feel do not belong to us alone.

Empathy - Value Phase

For the past several years I've been restricting myself to working on one part of the series at a time, switching between Emanations, Watchers and Seraphim in long runs. Over time that has felt a little restrictive but I've been sticking with it until now.

Originally I had planned on creating a new incarnation of Shelegiel, Angel of Snow since it was both thematic for December and the last Seraphim that only has a single illustration to date. After a couple failed attempts at starting i...

Why Gabriel was late and 2020 changes

I mentioned it in the work in progress posts for Gabriel last month, but I was doing that piece in collaboration with Procreate. They had approached me to create a piece to promote the new version of their software and I obliged because they were giving me total creative freedom. 

In situations where a client allows me to make whatever I want, I have charged for the work as both a commission and here on Patreon. The Zodiac series was done this way without incident and Gabriel was s...

Legacy Print - December 2019

Continuing with the reissue of Angels of the Zodiac, this month's print is going to be Hamaliel, Angel of Virgo

As always, if you subscribe before December 20th to the $30+ reward tiers, you'll get a signed copy in the mail.

Ascendant Rewards + Discount Code

All the digital rewards for Gabriel, Archangel of Strength are now available for download on Dropbox. Follow this link to get access to them: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y1fgjxjaq7s6oih/AAANfZ7OoE28FPJj5NneaQkra?dl=0 

This month's Patreon exclusive 10% off promo code is ALONE10. It's good for anything on 2019-12-22 18:41:24 +0000 UTC View Post

Final Moving Update - Shipping Timelines

Hey patrons,

I'm coming to you for the first time from my new home office! The multi-month process of relocating to Florida is finally complete now that all my family's belongings have been delivered to our new home. From here on out, things seem like they are about to settle down and get a lot easier. There's just one last push to clear up our work queue.

I got everything ready to ship October's print rewards at the usual time last month, but I didn't realize I missed the narrow ...

Gabriel, Archangel of Strength

Gabriel is like the complex feeling of delivering bad news. It’s affecting you as much as you are affecting the people around you. It carries a dark weight, but it’s valuable. A message that needs to be delivered, regardless of its challenges. 

Gaberiel, Archangel of Strength - Detail Phase

This is the point in this painting's life cycle where I finally get to dig in on it. The rendering of the simple cloud backgroud, the subtlety of variation between edges, it's all about the little things that bring it together.

I'm making a couple of late in the game changes to accommodate some composition choices, but it's all helping to serve the piece, so I don't mind. One last change I'm going to make before totally locking this down is the flow of the body. I want to exaggerate the...

Gabriel, Archangel of Strength - Color Phase

I decided to keep things real simple for myself on the color choices this time around since I'm in such unfamiliar territory with the colors.

White, black and gold leave a strong impression without having to do too much fiddling around. Their lack of distinct character leaves room for the values and design to play a larger role in the painting. Subtle choices with texture and lighting become bolder in this context.

If you are trying to attract the eye, you get to choose how you d...

Legacy Print, November 2019 - Hesed, Emanation of Empathy

I'm reaching waaaaay back into the Angelarium catalog to bring back the second ever painting I completed for this series in its modern form.

To get a signed 12x18 photo print of Hesed, Emanation of Empathy, you need to sign up for the Legacy print tiers or the True Emanation tier before the new painting is posted November 30th.

Gabriel, Archangel of Strength - Value Phase

Compared to the original attempt of this piece, I'm much happier with this sketch. I've never painted an angel with their arms folded, so I thought it would be fun for that reason more than anything.

The Archangels seem like they should be the most powerful and least human among the Seraphim, but my intuition made me want to create this figure feeling much more relatable in its posture. Gabriel is related to both power and communication, so I thought it would be fun to create a piece wh...

Gabriel, Archangel of Strength - Failed Version

This month, I'm doing something a bit different. The software company Procreate is paying me to work with their program this month instead of my usual tool of choice which is Adobe Photoshop.  I normally don't do commissions since you Patrons pay me so well, but in the rare instance where I'm able to create Angelarium paintings without restriction or sacrifice, I treat the commission money like an extra pledge to the campaign.

This was my first attempt at painting a finished piece ...

Playmat Vault Opening - Any Suggestions?

Hello Chosen,

It's that time of year again, so I'm opening up the vault of retired playmat designs.

In addition to the dozens of past designs, I like to add some new ones each year as well. Please drop a comment if there is one you don't see present that you would like to own! I'll be doing my best to accommodate any popular suggestions.

 https://www.angelarium.net/vault

Much love,

-P...

Ascendant Rewards + Discount Code

All the digital rewards for Sandalphon, Light in the Valley of Death are now available for download on Dropbox. Follow this link to get access to them: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y1fgjxjaq7s6oih/AAANfZ7OoE28FPJj5NneaQkra?dl=0 

This month's Patreon exclusive 10% off promo code is CHILD10. It's good for anything on 2019-11-05 17:29:43 +0000 UTC View Post

Sandalphon, Light in the Valley of Death

When we dance, we fall apart
But I won't be scared to dance anymore

When we're dead

Don't you realize, our bodies could fall apart?
Don't you realize, our bodies will fall apart?

When we dance

Sandalphon, Light in the Valley of Death - (Detail Phase)

This shot here is where this painting finally found its legs. Whew!

It's scary to not not have a piece grounded. Once a foundation has finally been laid though, the most intensive part of the work is always just ahead. Thousands upon thousands of tiny brush strokes, adjustments and a million little opportunities to stray off track.

Keeping a clear vision for how a painting is finished feels like a very specialized skill. Part of it is remembering what you are trying to do, days or...

Legacy Print - October 2019

Continuing with the reissue of Angels of the Zodiac, this month's print is going to be Barbiel, Angel of Scorpio.

As always, if you subscribe before October 31st to the $30+ reward tiers, you'll get a signed copy in the mail.

-Pete

Sandalphon, The Second Chance - (Color Phase)

Setting the Angel of Life (who is mostly monochrome) in the middle of a lifeless field of desolation is not a recipe for outstanding colors. Yet, I don't think that matters. Color is often subtle and artistic interpretation gives me the freedom to exaggerate the experience of it. In this painting, I wanted to include bands of greens, blues, yellows and reds wherever I could find a place for them, regardless of the logic. As I played with my options, I chose to apply color wherever and however...

Sandalphon, The Second Chance - (Concept Phase)

This month has been a little crazy for me, so I've been failing to post on time and I'll be packing these updates close together. The painting isn't being rushed, it's already almost done. I'm just slow on sharing right now. 

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With this one, I was originally planning on doing three figures together in the scene. The two halves of Sandalphon would be standing at the sides of their companion Azrael, Angel of Death. 

When I walked away from this drawing in the eve...

Ascendant Rewards + Discount Code

All the digital rewards for Suchlaph, Forever Changing are now available for download on Dropbox. Follow this link to get access to them: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/y1fgjxjaq7s6oih/AAANfZ7OoE28FPJj5NneaQkra?dl=0 

This month's Patreon exclusive 10% off promo code is TIDE10. It's good for anything on 2019-10-01 17:01:01 +0000 UTC View Post

Suchlaph, Forever Changing

The wind passes the grass in waves, carrying with it the seed of growth. Flowing across the landscape and burrowing into the cool soil. Plantlife seeks the sky and with it the dominion of Suchlaph expands. Let your roots settle, it is the season for blossoming.   

Suchlaph, Forever Changing - Detail Phase

Time to make a bunch of little brushstrokes? Gotta paint a bunch of rocks and clouds and water?

Okay...if I have too ;)

Store Reopened + Collectible Cards

After several weeks of trying to get Internet hooked up in the new studio space, we're finally back in action! I re-opened the Angelarium store and I've stocked it with some special stuff.

www.angelarium.net/store 

We normally only sell the collectible card decks at conventions but I'm excited about Year 2 finally getting printed and I wanted to include it online for a limited time.

Don't...

September Legacy Print - Malahidael, Angel of Aries

Now that everything is set up again, I'm going to be just realizing I never promoted which print was going to come as the Legacy Print this month.

I'm offering the special alternate colored Red Aries. It's a fan favorite! So I'm excited to be bringing it back for one more time :)

Sign up to any $30+ tier before the end of the month to get a copy shipped to you.

-Pete

Suchlaph, Forever Changing - Color Phase

I've gotten to see the most amazing cloudscapes these last few months. There was no way I was going to skip the opportunity to reference them for my next painting :) Watching the sun rise and fall over the water has been amazing.

I wanted the atmosphere to be serene and a little wistful, so instead of going with a bright blue sky I chose to give it lighting more like sunrise/sunset. 

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When I started this painting, I was going in a little bit of a different direction by...

Suchlaph, Forever Changing - Value Phase

Acolytes visit the Angel of Forests as it reclines upon the water's edge.

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It's good to be back :)

Spending so much time away from art made me seriously question whether or not I still knew how to do it. Throughout my break, I've been in situations where I'm speaking as an authority about art. Talking about a thing, but not actually doing it was making me go a little crazy. My monkey mind was beginning to tell me stories about how I'd never make another decent painting eve...

Life Update - A Brief Hiatus

Hey guys,

Lots has been happening this month. I've been getting settled down in Florida and laying down the foundation of my new life here. My time so far has been dominated by getting a new house and a new studio. 

House Hunting

The studio was supposed to get set up the first week we landed since I knew a guy who was moving out of an ideal space a the exact same time I was needing to move in. That fell through right away and all the possible follow-up options turned ...

Shateiel, Tranquil Observer

When words fail, the wind dies and the earth comes to a rest, Shateiel descends. In stillness, a new aspect of all things emerge, touched by this elusive angel. The space around it gains new meaning, held still by the grip of its presence. Fear not, it rarely lingers. It’s time to stop and take a moment.