THE WAY STATION (1982)
Acrylic on Illustration Board - 20” x 30”

It should come as a surprise to no one that I just love painting textures. 1/3

#horror #illustration #darktower #stephenking #rolanddeschain #jakechambers #gunslinger

THE DARK TOWER (2004)
Acrylic on Panel - 30” x 40”

After illustrating THE GUNSLINGER back in 1981, it seemed only natural that I return to close this epic series that spanned three decades. 1/3

#fantasy #illustration #stephenking #darktower #rolanddeschain #donaldmgrant

THE GUNSLINGER ON THE BEACH (1982)
Acrylic on Board - 28" x 18"

The winter months of 1980-81 were tough. My wife and I became parents with the arrival of our daughter in November, and I needn't tell anyone who has children what that means in terms of lifestyle changes...like lack of sleep. 1/3

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower #gunslinger #rolanddeschain

IT WRITHED IN THE EMBERS (2025)
Acrylic on Canvas - 7” x 10”

This began with leftover paint smooshed with a palette knife onto canvas that I was mixing colors on. The orange and black immediately suggested a campfire.

When I stumbled on the scrap a year later, I thought of The Dark Tower, so I rescued the canvas and sketched in Roland with paint that I had on hand. 1/2

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/2025-leftover-4/

#horror #stephenking #thedarktower #rolanddeschain #mordred

THE DARK TOWER: THE LONG ROAD (2009)
Acrylic - 30 1/2" x 22"

I've revisited the Dark Tower many times in my career and with each trip to Mid-World I find myself a little farther down the road in my own journey. 1/3

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower #rolanddeschain

LEGENDS: THE GUNSLINGER (1998/2000)
Acrylic on Watercolor Board - 36" x 24"

Stephen King doesn't describe the tower in the early books of the Dark Tower series, but many of the main characters experience dream visions of the object of their quest. 1/3

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #stephenking #darktower #gunslinger #rolanddeschain

THE GATE OF ELURIA (2014)

This was originally created for a title page in THE LITTLE SISTERS OF ELURIA. I left the area under the gate blank for the title lettering, and later it seemed the perfect entry point for Roland. 1/2

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/dark-tower-gate-eluria/

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #darktower #rolanddeschain #stephenking

THE GUNSLINGER: OUTSIDE ELURIA (2005 / 2019)
Acrylic - 20" x 30"

Every time I think I'm 'done' with the universe of the Dark Tower I get called back again...and I go, eager to see if I can hit closer to the mark this time. 1/2

#fantasy #fantasyart #sff #illustration #gunslinger #darktower #rolanddeschain #stephenking

THE DARK TOWER: KA-TET (2003)
Oil on Panel - 28" x 18"

Throughout the Dark Tower series, Stephen King portrayed Roland's group of fighters known as the Ka-Tet as a circle. 1/2

#horror #horrorart #fantasy #sciencefiction #sff #illustration #darktower #stephenking #rolanddeschain #eddiedean #susannahdean #jakechambers #oy #billybumbler