The Science Fiction and Space Art Page
of
Randy Asplund

See below for the Artist's Statement
Legendary
Space Encounter
Ensamble
Legendary Space
Klingon
Battle Cruiser
Kor'Toh
Uss Enterprise
N.C.C 1701
Klingon
Battle Cruiser
Amnok
Click any of the above to see the Legendary Space Encounter series,
a Plastic model kit Diorama by AMT/ERTL






Knights of
Thunder


The
Keveron

Battlestar
Galactica

The Young
Explorers

The Africa
Nebula






Arakeen
Intergalactic
Strip-Poker


Behind
The Stars

The
Crystal Lake

USS Enterprise
N.C.C. 1701-B






A Race With
The Angels


Balshrom
Corporate HQ

Moonflower
Klingon
Bird of Prey

Earth's
Hope



Babylon 5
Starfury

BSG Cylon
Base Star


Winged
Orpheus

The
Intruder

The Portrait
Nebula





A New Dawn
The Artifact
Planer E-Ar.124
USS Voyager
N.C.C. 74656

P.O.T.
Spy Cutter





7 Days On The
Moon


Realm Of The
Emperor

Bosheegh
Minor Planet
Short-Line
Loco

Ferengi
Prize




Deadalus Class
Starship
J-Class
Starship
Klingon
Battleship
Antares Class
Starship
Aurora Class
Starship





Melee 2300
Romulan
Doomsday


A
New Star

Runabout
Rio Grande

Klingon D-7
Battlecruiser

IMP E-3
Impossible
Alone


24th Century
Medicine

Technofish
Naga D


Gorn
Battlecruiser
U.S.S. Ranger
Orion
Scoutship
Fleetship
Beowulf
Freighter


Science Fiction Artist's Statement

    Welcome to Science Fiction and Space Art  page. I do most of my SF and Fantasy paintings and drawings on commission for publication and have illustrated Star trek, Star Wars, Battlestar Galactica, Dune, Babylon 5, and other topics for my clients. My work has appeared on books, top SF magazines like Amazing Stories and Analog, on model kit covers, merchandise packaging, and collectible card games (CCGs).

    I have always loved good stories of fantastic things, and embraced the notion that science and technology have an awesome power to shape our lives and our culture. To me, the art of Science Fiction is an exploration of this potential and a peek at what the future might bring. With that glimpse of what could be, we can consider better what should be. Science fiction has been used far more by our society to predict social trends and cultural changes than most people really realize. It has also been used as satire to comment on contemporary politics, and human abuses, as well as to show us heroes to be held as role models. Science Fiction is a safe way to look at ourselves because the fantastic nature of the story distances us as outside viewers while allowing us to observe and consider the concepts.

    I love to let my mind race through the ages, to visit strange worlds, and to try to envision what might be out there amongst the stars. To me, Science Fiction art is the ultimate tool of creation and thought because there really are no limits. No context is bounded, and so the imagination is completely free to roam. But it is not in me to be haphazard with my visions. I often paint the details so that the viewer can believe that they are looking at something that could be real. To me, a Science Fiction painting is a story, and I believe a story is most successful when the audience finds it easy and compelling to suspend their disbelief. I like to paint many of my works realistically so that the viewer feels comfortable participating in the vision.

    Not all of my Science Fiction art is for publication. When I can paint subjects from my own inspiration I usually find myself using my art to express concepts with some kind of message. This may be a comment on political or cultural issues, or the suggestion of a "what-if" situation to be considered by the viewer. For example, my painting The Young Explorers is based on a true story of how my nephew, growing tired of his third birthday party, eventually climbed into his little electric car and drove across the field and into the woods. It occurred to me that if he was comfortable doing this on his third birthday, he must have been doing it as a two-year old! And then I thought how in the future parents might be buying "smart" buggies for their children that would be able to walk into a forest with the whimsical push button direction of an even younger child. The machine might walk through any terrain while being smart enough to stay in the family's own back yard.The painting is about how in the future children will be learning to interface with technology at even younger ages, and how parents might tend to allow machines to take charge of their kids rather than taking the time to be with them themselves. Will the ultimate toy/babysitter remove the parent from the responsibility of participating in their child's formative years?