Art of The Beast – Interview With Victor Manuel Leza

Artwork for The Beast Must Die, by Victor Manuel Leza

I am very lucky to have many talented artists produce the book covers for my Black Library work, including the art for The Beast Arises series, by Victor Manuel Leza. I particularly like how The Beast Arises has been presented as a series – it’s unlike any other Black Library work I have on my shelves, and really makes an impact when you see them all together.

I asked Victor if he would answer a few questions about his work for Black Library.

You can see more of Victor’s work at his website www.victorleza.com

Gav: The Beast Arises features 12 covers, each with a unique character – can you tell us a little about the commissioning process, did Black Library give you a list of subjects or did you pitch ideas? How has it been working with Black Library’s art and design team?

Black Library became interested in my work and asked me if I was familiar with the world of Warhammer 40K. This would be the first time that I’ve illustrated it, but I’ve followed the Universe since I was a teenager and I’m a great collector of art books and magazines about Warhammer 40K. To have a chance to illustrate it had been a desire in my mind from a long time ago. Black Library proposed the themes of each cover with a profusion of details and visual references as inspiration. They were very accurate in their descriptions; Warhammer 40K characters are filled with an iconography and very specific details. The suggestions they gave really helped my work.

Gav: As well as illustration you also work in graphic and character design and I think that shows in the sharp vignette pieces you’ve done for The Beast Arises. Combined with the minimal cover graphics, they really jump off the shelf. What was it like working on single characters rather than a whole scene?

I guess every type of illustration has its advantages and disadvantages. In an illustration of a massive battle you can feel overwhelmed by hordes of characters but perhaps the central character loses prominence. In a scene with a solitary character, the reader can better focus on the expression, dress and personality that conveys the central character. In each different design you emphasize different things but I think both are compatible and suitable for the world of Warhammer 40K.

Artwork for The Emperor Expects, by Victor Manuel Leza

Gav: Were you a fan of Warhammer 40,000 before working for Black Library? How did you first encounter the universe?

Since I was 11 years old I bought the magazine White Dwarf and numerous artistic material related to Warhammer: art books, catalogues, books about different miniatures awarded in the Golden Demon Awards… etc. Being part of this now is a great joy.

In the creative process I mix photomontage with digital painting. Photographed family and friends and especially myself to properly capture facial expressions, realistic lighting and body and hands poses. Also commonly I photograph all kinds of clothes, swords or toy guns which can then be digitally adapted to a world of epic fantasy.

Gav: What do you like most about working with the Warhammer 40,000 images?

Visually it is one of the world’s most extensive, varied and epic fantasy settings that exists. They are full off action, passion, violence, fantasy and detail. It’s great to illustrate a world that has been built by different authors over the years with much aesthetic detail. Visually it is rough and savage and I like that.

Gav: Like the story, the covers are spread across a whole range of Imperial Institutions and aliens – from Assassins to Eldar, orks to Adeptus Mechanicus. How has it been, having a whole series to illustrate? Have you got a favourite cover from the series?

I think my favorite is the huge ork Warboss for “The Shadow of Ullanor”. I always wanted to work in a big murderous ork with one of those giant claws! Each cover has had its difficulties. Especially those with characters with faces covered by helmets. I love making faces and facial expressions; but sometimes it is good to alternate with the mystery that comes with a character who has his head covered. I think that variety is good for the whole of the covers.

Thank you very much to Victor for taking the time to answer my questions. You can see more of Victor’s artwork on his website www.victorleza.com, but you can also click on the images below to see other examples of his work in more detail:

I’m hoping to interview more artists in the future, so do let me know in the comments if you’ve enjoyed this insight into the artistic process for The Beast Arises series. And if you haven’t seen it already, you can read the interview with Neil Roberts about his work on Angels of Caliban, and The Horus Heresy in general, here.

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