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The Seattle Prize · 2025–26 fellows

Posts

147 posts from the studios this year, newest first. Scroll back in time; tap a post to open it.

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June 20264 posts

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Jun 22, 2026

Continuation of the initial block-in The First Horseman · the making →

Studio post by Nick Eisele

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Jun 19, 2026

Attacking the canvas with paint. Going bold blocking in with a mix of direct application as well as some loose washes of color like an ebauche.

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Jun 19, 2026

Charcoal block-in using soft vine charcoal. Using a simple crisscross grid to help me place the important elements. I plan to paint directly over the vine charcoal without any sealant. Allowing the drawing to wipe away as I go and letting me adjust and redraw as needed. My goal…The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Jun 19, 2026

Color studies. Taking Inspo and color notes from some of my favorite Miyazaki Films. Keeping the 60/30/10 rule in mind.The First Horseman · the making →

April 20263 posts

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Apr 23, 2026

Composition variations. I did these by digitally painting in photoshop. Using my own references and poses to build the composition from scratch. The composition is getting close, but it needs more. More dynamic movement and energy. Time to experiment and solve this problem. Not…The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Apr 23, 2026

Gathering boat loads of references from hiring models and capturing my own photoshoots, to searching out images of armor, castles and all things medieval.The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Apr 23, 2026

Here is the general composition agreed on. In order to sell the idea I used my photoshop skills and a collage of AI generated images as well as hand painting digitally over the image to create this mock up. With the project approved, The next step is to rid the image of AI and…The First Horseman · the making →

March 20264 posts

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Mar 23, 2026

One of my favorite parts of painting, rendering a still life. Listening to an audio book and plugging away for countless hours modeling the light, form, and subtle variations within the patinas and textures of the objects. Maybe 75-85% complete on this section. I want to make…Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Mar 23, 2026

The most difficult section of this painting has been these legs. I have been pushing and pulling the lights and darks with several glazes and half-pastes to better show the form as well as pushing them back into space to not draw as much attention. My model only had tattoos on…Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Mar 23, 2026

After a long break working on the horseman ideation, I am jumping back into the Momento Mori painting to finish it up. Here is my second pass on the hand. Ring needs adjustment but other than that I am very content.Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Mar 10, 2026

To better help familiarize my self with the colors of the future scene and to get comfortable with the nuances of Jackson's face, I started a small study of Conquest wearing a crown. Painting always gets me in a meditative state and it puts me in the mindset to think through…The First Horseman · the making →

February 20266 posts

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Feb 27, 2026

Welp... I have sold my soul and resorted to the use of AI. Shown here in these 3 images are only a selection of the AI slop I have generated and tore my eyes out sorting through over the past few weeks. Trying to get a better visual based off my ideas and compositions. It is…The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Feb 27, 2026

While refining the idea and composition of this painting. I have been spending some time studying my new references and some horse anatomy. Thank you to local sculptor, Elijah Evenson, for hooking me up with anatomy books and resources. I look forward to studying the workings of…The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Feb 27, 2026

Venturing out during several of my personal weekends, I sought out Horses to pose and photograph. It is not an easy task getting up and close to horses without connections. I am very thankful to both fellows Emma Garay and Agustina Forest for going out of their way and asking…The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Feb 27, 2026

Sifting through the photos I took of Jackson. I decided to do some quick studies of a few. The expression in this painting will be important. A dashing smile? A stoic stare? I can't decide.The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Feb 27, 2026

Since the beginning of the idea of painting conquest, way back before the fellowship even started, I knew Jackson Wrede was the man for the role. He has that vintage old Hollywood Handsomeness. A strong presence with a charming smile. The Goal for illustrating Conquest is to…The First Horseman · the making →

Progress on The First Horseman

Nick Eisele2025–26 fellow · Feb 27, 2026

Here is a collection of some of the thumbnails created to illustrate Conquest. A Heroic and Charismatic King mounted atop of a white steed. A crowd of townsfolk are enthralled in celebration at his presence. In the distance looms foreshadowing. Which of these compositions catch…The First Horseman · the making →

January 20264 posts

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleJan 29, 2026

This is my first time painting tattoos on skin. I have a plan but it is a bit of an experiment. My aim was to block in the skin and form first, then glaze the tattoos over the skin later in the process. I am happy with how it turned out but it still looks too fresh. I will continue to paint into the designs and skin with both glazes and direct paint to create a more natural feel that also matches the paint quality and style of the painting in whole.Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleJan 21, 2026

The portrait is coming together nicely. Now that it is close it is time to move on and work out the Jacket, Watch and Hand. Then back to the still life. Painting is a slow but rewarding process.Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleJan 8, 2026

Detail shots. At this stage everything is still a semi-rough block in. I have been spending more time on the portrait of the older man. I want to make sure he has the most contrast and detail in the painting. Once I am content with him, I can move back into the still life and background and bring it up to the same level or keep it more loose. I do not want the still life to steal attention or focus from the man.Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleJan 4, 2026

Moving on to the next stage of my Momento Mori painting. Setting up a Still Life scene and blocking it in. I am looking forward to the challenges of painting these old 18th century books I found in a local bookstore around the corner from the studio.Momento Mori · the making →

December 20251 post

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleDec 12, 2025

Chipping away at the portrait in my first painting. Picking up tricks from Emma and Daniel and premixing my skin tones. A technique I have disliked in the past but it is growing on me. Especially now that I am working at a larger scale. For the next week I will keep adding layers of paint, correcting the drawing, and perfecting the transitions and edges within the forms.Momento Mori · the making →

November 20253 posts

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleNov 25, 2025

My favorite part of the painting process, the block in. No expectations set, just slinging paint and building form.Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleNov 20, 2025

I don't usually start with charcoal, but given the scale of this painting, I wanted to make sure I placed the figure correctly in the composition before starting my block in with paint.Momento Mori · the making →

Progress on Momento Mori

Nick EiseleNov 19, 2025

Canvas prep! Stretching and toning complete. Finally time to paint. This will be my largest painting to date. 36 x 40 in.Momento Mori · the making →

Showing 25 posts by Nick EiseleSee everyone's →

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