"Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be."
- Ophelia: Hamlet, Act IV, Scene V

The process of creation is a kind of magic, and watching an artist go through the phases from inspiration to perspiration to finished creation is to watch a spark of imagination be captured and brought into this world.

Life, it seems, does the same.

Geof Davis has been drawing since he could hold an implement of destruction. His parents didn't discourage his desire to pursue art over something "more practical"; rather, they told him that if this is what he truly wants, he had better dedicate himself to it. He graduated from Connecticut Institute of Art (CIA) in 1989 and has been a professional graphic designer for 16 years. But his love has always been illustration and the fantasy genre.

Geof started working in mediums other than ink, pencil and computer after attending the New York Renaissance Faire (NYRF) in the early '90's. There he met Lars Lunde of Lundegaard Armoury, a sword maker. Geof became Lar's first apprentice, and assisted in the design and sculpts many of Lundegaard's early pieces. It was here that Geof was first able to combine his free-hand talents with his interest in medieval history and sword & sorcery fantasy living, breathing functional art. Even today he continues to study and practice sword fighting and other occidental martial arts, as well as archery and other medieval-esque activities.

Adding another medium to his 'toolbox' he soon apprenticed for Bill Baldwin and Chip Rosien from LeatherWorx. Geof was able to quickly take his newfound skills as a leatherworker and, combined with his imagination and actual 'fighting' experience, learned to mold leather into armour for people and horses. Jousters sought out his work for their shows. LARPers begged him for props and armour that could actually be comfortable to wear for a whole weekend "campaign". Eventually, in the mid-nineties he founded Wolfgaard Armoury, where his style of leatherworking has set him well apart from others in the field.

During this time he continued in the graphics field, working as a studio artist, a desktop artist and art director at different companies. He never strayed far from his first love, however, and his published work includes much of the interior artwork in LIONE Rampant's Twin Crowns, Age of Exploration Fantasy RPG (their first pan-American release).

Recently he decided to 'publicize' his work. This desire to produce this website and gallery has been strongly influenced by the compliments of a famous artist on his work, and he has been encouraged by several others in the field as well.

One thing that comes to mind regarding his work is a quote he often uses at NYRF. Whenever a patron asks him how long it took him to carve that design in the leather, or to make that dragon helm, he always replies, "It took me 37 years to make this." It's understandable.. it took the amalgam of all his life's experiences to get to this point.

This gallery will continue to grow as Geof transfers more of his work from paper to digital media. Enjoy the work of a lifetime.

Some of those who have influenced Geof's work and life,

Art
The Masters, of course: Leonardo, Michelangelo, David, Ingres, etc. More modern influences include Frank Frazzetta (god), Brom, Michael Whelan, Hienrich Kley, & Barry Windsor-Smith.

Music
He has been (& still is) influenced by heavy metal: Starting with Iron Maiden, Savatage, Queensrÿche, etc. He has a penchant now for "progressive metal"; epic and symphonic. Bands like Blind Guardian, Nightwysh and Symphony X. Depending on the mood of the piece he's creating, he will tune in to anything from Ministry to Mendelssohn. Music seems to soothe his Muse, who can be relentless and have him up at all hours of the night, as sometimes he cannot get an image out of his head until it's on paper.

Literature
The works of R. E. Howard, John Norman, J. R. R. Tolkein, Michael Moorcock, & Edgar R. Burroughs have spun the cogs in his brain enough times that he's drawn ideas for his drawings from them. Wendy & Richard Pini's ElfQuest is a must to understanding Geof, as is J. O'Barr's original The Crow. D&D (Dungeons & Dragons), a game that he has played since the early eighties, is another medium of inspiration.