Rafael Kayanan

Rafael Kayanan (born September 13, 1962, Manila) is a Filipino-born naturalised American comic book artist.

Biography

Since 1983, Kayanan has illustrated for every major comic book publisher. His most notable work has been on Marvel Comics' "Conan", Acclaim Comics' "Turok" and DC Comics' "Firestorm". He also inked the Eisner-nominated series "Chiaroscuro: The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci" for Vertigo Comics.

Kayanan has illustrated and developed concept designs for comic book, film and game companies. [Lambiek] During the late 1990s, he was the creator and art director for Cross Plains Comics featuring the "Pulp magazine" characters created by Robert E. Howard. Kayanan also developed concept designs for Nintendo's hugely popular "" video game. He currently continues to do work for Topps Cards on licenses such as "Star Wars" and "The Lord of the Rings".

Other titles he has worked on include: Conan, Spider-Man, Star Wars, John Rambo, , Turok, Firestorm and Batman. [Zablo, C.]

Kayanan's art is known for its rapid tempo, storytelling pace and layered depth. Much thought is evident in the choreography of dynamic action on every page. His slick and precise usage of shadows to define anatomy and emotion is as proficient as any of the longtime masters of the craft. [Moy, A]

Kayanan is also a master-level edged weapons (knife, sword, tomahawk) expert and instructor in Sayoc Kali. This rare combination of a visual and martial artist, has led to projects which utilize both skills to illustrate fight storyboards for a film. Kayanan choreographed and trained the actors, in William Friedkin's "The Hunted", starring Benicio del Toro and Tommy Lee Jones. [Van Wicklen, T: The Hunted, pg 30. Black Belt Magazine, 2003] He also trained actor Sam Rockwell for director George Clooney's film, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Kayanan was a development artist, fight trainer and weapons consultant for Paramount Pictures adaptation of Edgar Rice Burrough's "John Carter of Mars".

Most recently, Rafael Kayanan was an illustrator for the Spider-Man Broadway musical directed by Julie Taymor with music created by Bono and the Edge.

His most recent comic book work is issue 39 of Dark Horse Comic's "Conan" title.

Bibliography

Acclaim/Valiant

*"Turok" (1998 as artist)
*"Turok: Tales of the Lost Land" (1998 as artist)
*"Ice Age on the World of Magic: The Gathering" (1995 as artist)

Cross Plains Comics

*"Robert E. Howard: A Short Biography" (1999 artist)
*"Robert E. Howard: Myth Maker" (1999 artist)

Dark Horse

*"Star Wars: Chewbacca" (2000 artist)
*"Conan" (2007 artist)

DC Comics

*"America vs. The Justice League" (1985 as artist)
*"Babylon 5: In Valen's Name" (1998 as cover artist)
*"Batman: Legends of The Dark Knight" (1999 as artist)
*"Fury of Firestorm" (1982-1984 as artist)

First Comics

*"Michael Moorcock's Hawkmoon" (1986-1988 as artist)

Marvel Comics

*"Amazing Spider-Man" (1999-2000 as artist)
*"Conan the Adventurer" (1993-1995 as artist)
*"Savage Sword of Conan" (1993 as artist)
*"Moment of Silence #1" (2001 as artist)

Topps

*"Jurassic Park" (1994 as sketch card artist)
*"Frankenstein" (1994 as sketch card artist)
*"Star Wars Clone Wars" (2004 as sketch card artist)
*"Star Wars Heritage" (2005 as sketch card artist)
*"Lord of the Rings Evolution" (2005 as sketch card artist)
*"Lord of the Rings Masterpieces" (2006 as sketch card artist)
*"Star Wars 30th Anniversary" (2007 as sketch card artist)

Vertigo

*"Chiaroscuro: The Life and Times of Leonardo Da Vinci" (1993-1995 as inker)

Filmography

*"The Hunted" (2003)
*"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2004)

References

External links

*lambiek [http://lambiek.net/artists/k/kayanan_rafael.htm Rafael Kayanan] . Retrieved March 28, 2006.
*albert moy [http://www.albertmoy.com/ArtistGalleryRoom.asp?ArtistId=492 Rafael Kayanan] . Retrieved March 28, 2006.
*mark ou [http://www.afn.org/~afn31010/rafkayanan.html Rafael Kayanan] . Retrieved March 28, 2006.
*craig zablo [http://www.stallonezone.com/raf_firstblood.htm Rafael Kayanan] . Retrieved March 28, 2006.
*brian barenio [http://www.maarte.org/articles/article.php?article=artistKayanan.html Rafael Kayanan] . Retrieved March 28, 2006.
*imdb [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1145595/ Rafael Kayanan] . Retrieved March 28, 2006.
* [http://www.toptwothreefilms.com/films/aidc/bts/interviews/f20041001/index(2).html Interview with Top Two Three Films]
*SCC [http://www.sayoccombatchoreography.com/rafbio.html Rafael Kayanan] . Retrieved March 28, 2006.
* [http://www.sequentialtart.com/article.php?id=498 April 2007 Interview with Rafael Kayanan for Sequential Tart Webzine]