Megastructure 12 Nicoll-Dyson Laser

Speculative Fiction Reviewer James Davis Nicoll first proposed the Nicoll-Dyson Laser as a weapon where the satellites of a Dyson swarm surrounding a sun act as a phased array laser emitter capable of delivering their energy to a planet-sized target at a range of millions of light years.

The laser could do anything from wiping out the atmosphere on the target planet to cracking the planet in half depending on the focus of the beam (a collimated beam would be the diameter of the Dyson sphere used to generate it, whereas a focused beam could be more concentrated). Other factors that could effect the beam’s intensity include the size and energy output of the sun surrounded by the Dyson Swarm, the efficiency of the swarm’s solar energy conversion, and the amount of time the laser was pointed at the target planet.

Inc Coral Desert Wandering 15

Landis and Inc trying find shelter before the final rays of sun sink below the horizon. Continuing to refine my more painterly style.

Monolith!

So big announcement time! I have started a new full time job as a Senior Concept Artist at Monolith Productions in Kirkland WA! If you don't know Monolith, they have been around for the last 25 years or so, and some of you may have played their critically acclaimed videogames "Middle Earth: Shadow Of Mordor" and "Middle Earth: Shadow Of War". I've started on a new project with an amazing team of people who have been tremendously supportive in this transition.

I have enjoyed tremendously the last 20 years in California, the last 17 of which I spent in San Francisco, but over the years housing has just become far too expensive, traffic has become pure gridlock, and the once thriving SF film and videogame industries are now a tiny fraction of their former selves as those companies have gone out of business or moved the bulk of their work to tax incentive rich countries.

I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Seattle, as well as being a naturally beautiful city, the area has a lot to offer compared to SF. Housing is less expensive. It has a thriving videogame ecosystem with dozens of companies. And you can buy housing in good school districts within a short commute to those companies (minimizing your time on the crowded highways). In the last few years I've seen a lot of artists from the entertainment industry trying to find a better quality of life, moving from the overcrowded population centers, and now it's our turn! I will always love the San Francisco Bay Area, but it is time to move on.

I am so excited to be working at Monolith, the team is great, the project is cool, and I look forward to making lots and lots of art!

17th Annual VES awards

So I am honored to be nominated for a VES (Visual Effects Society) award in the category of "Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project" for my work on the Underminer Tunneler vehicle in Incredibles 2. Congrats to my co-nominees Philip and Kevin, and congrats to the other nominees!

https://www.visualeffectssociety.com/post/17th-annual-ves-awards-nominees