Michael WhelanJun 23

THANATOS (1983)
Acrylic - 24" x 36"

Just before beginning this painting I broke my right hand—my painting hand!—and I found myself forced to function with my fingers, wrist, and arm immobilized in a cast. Determined not to let the injury stop me from painting, I employed several tricks to circumvent my temporary infirmity. 1/5

Show threadMichael WhelanJun 23
First, I took a paintbrush with me to the doctor's office so that the cast could be molded around my hand holding the brush. That way I could still paint large areas with that hand. Then I relearned how to paint with my left hand. Although I am not ambidextrous, I had done some left-handed artwork before and I managed. 2/5
Show threadMichael WhelanJun 23
The most interesting trick though was devised by my good friend John Crawford, who is a top-notch engineer. John masterminded a radio-controlled, solenoid-operated airbrush for me, which allowed my left hand to work the air brush strapped to the cast on my right arm! 3/5
Show threadMichael WhelanJun 23
However there was one hitch...the crystal in the transmitter was set on a frequency that allowed interference from local CB traffic, and at times my airbrush would mysteriously sputter into life and begin spraying on its own! 4/5
Show threadMichael WhelanJun 23

Cover illustration for ON A PALE HORSE by Piers Anthony (Del Rey) 5/5

https://www.michaelwhelan.com/galleries/thanatos/

Show threadcalsnoboarderJun 23
@MichaelWhelan It’s really awesome discovering that a major portion of the science fiction and fantasy books I read in my youth, books I chose because the artwork spoke to me, were created by you. Thank you for helping build my love for storytelling.
Show threadMichael Whelan
@calsnoboarder 😊 🙌
Jun 23 at 3:54pmWeb