EMMANUEL SHIU: Dragon Surgery

Editorial is open for submissions: [email protected]

by EMMANUEL SHIU

A Bit About Me

I was involved in a motorcycle accident at the age of 18 and suffered a spinal cord injury that left me unable to walk. I’m now 53 and have been wheelchair-bound longer than I’ve been able-bodied. Now, before you start to feel sorry for me, you should know that this injury does not define me. That’s not to downplay the physical and emotional anguish that was my reality for years — but it also sparked a burning desire to do something with my life. It came in the form of art school, where an interest in working on games eventually led to my introduction into the film industry. Before I knew it, I was working on Star Wars at Skywalker Ranch. Talk about having your career kick started! Since then, I’ve gone on to work on many film and game titles, most recently, completing the upcoming Matrix 4.

The Piece

Dragon Surgery 

Trying to save an endangered creature, particularly one of this magnitude, is no mean feat. It requires a full team of experienced medical staff working around the clock in this painstaking 36-hour transplant surgery, their fatigue and drained energy clearly visible. The fate of the species’s survival rests completely in their hands. Hopefully she pulls through but either way , she’s the last of her kind.

Inspiration

A lot of my work is a reflection or expression of my injury. All of it has involved thought and soul searching. Dragon Surgery draws upon my own 10-hour spinal cord surgery. I remember reading the surgeon’s report while lying in the hospital bed I spent months in during recovery. I imagined what I must have looked like unconscious on the table surrounded by a skilled yet exhausted medical team. I wanted to depict the raw, authentic grittiness of the facing life or death daily, which echoes the overextended front line staff battling the global pandemic today.

Technique 

This painting took me many days to finish due to the modeling, shading and lighting. You will see in the close-ups how intricate the detailing is. My process usually comprises beginning with sketches, and once I have a strong enough idea, I block out the model in 3D and proceed with shaders and lighting. I finish the final step in Photoshop, where I paint as needed. I’ve included a wireframe of the scene in 3d for you to see some of the intricacies that go one behind the scenes.

I hope you enjoyed the back story to Dragon Surgery. Please visit my page to see the painting in full screen — it is best viewed on a large screen as there are so many details.

https://superrare.com/emanshiu
https://twitter.com/emanshiu
https://www.instagram.com/emanshiu/