GIFT FROM THE SEA

There are few subjects that captivate fantasy readers as much as Michael Whelan’s dragons. In total he painted 20 draconic covers, the bulk of those for Anne McCaffrey (9) and Melanie Rawn (7). Two of his later paintings were of his own imagining, created for his annual Dragons & Mystics calendar. As you would expect, they are rich in story detail despite having no book attachment. Universes await birth on the tip of Michael Whelan’s brush. Michael originally painted GIFT FROM THE SEA for his 2005 calendar, but revised the central figure for DragonCon’s 25th Anniversary in 2011, when he was the Artist Guest of Honor. The result—used for the program book and commemorative poster—brought to life a serene, sea-side ritual that is beautifully lit and intricately textured from the dragon’s scales to the crags of stone. Michael Whelan’s dragons are few and far between. Don’t miss this rare opportunity.