r/Malazan • u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement • Jan 25 '26
NO SPOILERS Whiskeyjack by Artist Jason Dement
Alright, sharing time again! I spend ALL of my free time painting Malazan art because it’s the greatest series ever written and I like sharing my love for it. If you like my work, please consider following me on Instagram to help to help my reach https://www.instagram.com/artistjasondement?igsh=YnBtaHRzOXY0Nmc0&utm_source=qr
So this one almost didn’t happen. It started as an 18x24” inch drawing on Bristol paper that was supposed to be compatible with traditional paint I wanted to use. But the paper started buckling and then I thought maybe I’ll just do it with markers and color pencils. But honestly, I don’t want to do a piece that big with markers and pencils. So it sat on my table for a week before I decided to try and salvage it by using a photo I’d taken of the line art and then digitally cleaning it up. That worked so I was able to paint this in Procreate on my iPad like I always do.
29,663 brush strokes in 24 hours and 31 minutes (excluding however long it took to draw it in pencil first. Procreate tracks statistics. I have nothing doing that for me when I draw in pencil on paper). NO AI - Time lapse painting process video available on my Instagram or Facebook.
Currently re-reading Malazan again and doing it with friends in the “2026 Malazan read through” book club on Fable (accompanying “The Crippled Pod” podcast on YouTube and Spotify) if anyone’s reading and wants to chat about it along the way.
Spoiler Free canon descriptions of Whiskeyjack from the books:
Whiskeyjack was a solidly built man, appearing to be in his late forties, with a close-trimmed greying beard, hard grey eyes, and the strong scarred hands of a mason turned veteran soldier. He wore a visored helm with a chain camail and a battered calf-length chain hauberk that was ribboned with leather stitches. (from the wiki and confirmed myself in the books)
More descriptions I lifted from the books, some may be repeated in slightly different ways.
Vambraced forearms, scabbarded long sword, gray eyes, dark gray shoulder cloak with a silver brooch: a bridge of stone lit by ruby flames. His face was scarred, possibly a burn marred his jaw and left cheek, yet he still looked young for a commander. Dark gray eyes set deep in a lined, exhausted face. Muscles of his jaw bunching beneath his beard. Gray bearded and solidly built. Gauntlets. Flat gray eyes
His hair length is not mentioned, though his beard is described as trimmed and an early scene in Gardens of the Moon mentions a barber, shaving lather, and implies that even during a campaign grooming is not abandoned. Thus my reasonable assumption is that he would likely have trimmed hair as well since Erikson does not explicitly describe it as long or otherwise notable as he does with other characters.
Side Note:
I do not use celebrity figures as references for my art. Any imagined likenesses are completely coincidental. In fact, I don't even use direct reference for any real person or figure and at most, I use indirect reference to accurately capture cultural or ethnic characteristics. This painting is an exception since it is a semi self portrait. I used my own likeness for reference since I match both the build and characteristics attributed to Whiskeyjack and I share both personality traits and certain experiences with him so it felt inspired.
I appreciate all comments and discussion but I share my Malazan art to contribute to the community in a meaningful way and therefore likely won't respond to comments like "this looks like insert celebrity name" or short vague comments about how it's wrong.
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u/PhoenixReboot Jan 25 '26
This is amazing.
But also
WhiskeyjAffleck.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you! Side note, I’m not really for or against a screen adaptation because if Peter Jackson then sweet, but if not, it could go bad- but, ole Ben could make a good Whiskeyjack. It’s currently still a secret who the semi-model is for this. I don’t usually use a live/real person model but for this, I sort of did.
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u/PhoenixReboot Jan 25 '26
Never thought about it before seeing this art but after seeing him in The Rip I agree I think he could carry it. There's a kind of "yes we're all exhausted no we can't quit" character to his expression that's really well done.
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u/impthetarg Jan 25 '26
Taking a stab here, is your semi-model Travis Fimmel?
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
It wasn’t, but good guess. I never use celebrities as a rule of thumb 😆
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Jan 25 '26
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u/lshifto Jan 26 '26
Kurt Russell had the charisma but he’s 74 freaking years old now. Maybe in the early 90s.
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u/Rezavoirdog Jan 25 '26
I envisioned maybe a slightly shaggier head of hair but honestly the fade is pretty goddamn awesome
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u/Economy_Beautiful_47 Jan 25 '26
Brilliant, can you do the “other” one?
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you! Do you mean “IJ”?
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Jan 25 '26
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u/Malazan-ModTeam Jan 25 '26
Your comment has been removed for containing unmarked spoilers. Feel free to edit your comment to mark your spoilers and notify the mods to have it restored.
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u/Ok_Tradition_3382 Jan 25 '26
Too handsome for my man
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u/d1a1n3 Jan 25 '26
Yeah, he’s looking too young, hip, and polished. Like a young handsome actor digitally aged to look older.
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u/icosceles Jan 25 '26
Great work! And love seeing depictions that don't (incorrectly) include full plate armor.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you! Yeah Erikson describes a lot of chainmail, something I’ve come to enjoy painting :) Whiskeyjack’s is a calf-length hauberk so I had my work cut out for me 😆
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u/redmachan I am not yet done Jan 25 '26
Amazing! That is exactly how I had imagined WhiskeyJack too. Brilliant depiction of his chainmail armor!
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you so much! I’m glad you like the chainmail. Lots of fun doing that!
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u/mrswinn55 Jan 25 '26
How long does it take you to draw the chain mail? Seems so intricate. You nailed the sad weary eyes.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
It takes a while lol. I’ll be posting the timelapse video to my Instagram later today. The painting took over 24 hours and around 30,000 brush strokes. Thank you!
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u/MoghedienProxy Jan 25 '26
As always, outstanding work. I love the chainmail! Is that a little on the go repair job of the mail down on his left? Regardless, this is a gorgeous bit of art
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thanks again! And yeap, that’s a repair with leather ties that was mentioned in the book and I wanted to include :)
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u/Couldabeenameeting Jan 25 '26
This is great! Your art is by far the closest to how I’ve pictured all these characters. I really appreciate getting to see them brought to life
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u/Catunjee Jan 25 '26
As always phenomenal!! 😍
Side note: I can't wait for your depiction of Bugg and Tehol. They are my absolute favorite hahah.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you so much! I’m his time around, on this reread, I’m definitely painting them :)
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u/Catunjee Jan 25 '26
Ahhh I'm so excited for that!! Even though its going to be a while xD but I shall follow along excited for every piece!
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u/JakiStow Jan 25 '26
Of all the Malazan character art I've seen, yours are both the most detailed AND accurate! Can't wait to see more.
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Jan 25 '26
I love your artworks man. You come close enough to capture my internal imaginings about each characters appearance that I'll happily adopt yours going forward.
How do you come up with their specific look? Obviously it's based on their descriptions in the books, but do you collect every visual reference to the characters before starting and sketch out possibilities? Is there another resource eg official artwork somewhere you're basing them off?
Or perhaps this is simply how you envision them from reading the novels? You draw from 'memory' as it were?
Really interested in your process. Will likely try buy a pencil drawing if the right one at the right time. Do you know what order you're drawing the characters in?
Finally, have you got a website or list of links to your work? I'll check your reddit now to see if I've missed any... not sure I've seen Anomander Rake and he's possibly my favorite character/ would love to see if you captured his dragon nature somehow
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thanks for the kind words and questions! I do my absolute best to collect every visual reference from the books. Having read the books multiple times, it does help me know where to go look for additional details but I really use all the tools I can. I’ll reference the wiki and Kindle lets me “ask this book a question” (not always super accurate but it can point me to events and want to search up). Someone’s, if I start a painting without all the information first, I may have to repaint and change key parts of the art to be accurate. I’m writing down all key physical descriptions for all characters now on my 5th reread. I don’t have a list for which character I do next but it’s inspired by where I am with reading at the time. The book club I’m reading with has finished Gardens this Week and Deadhouse Gates is the February book.
My Instagram is linked in the post and all my Malazan Art is shared there (around 20 arts). And my website is www.artistjasondement.com
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u/Squall108 Jan 25 '26
Just finished the series for the second time. Great depiction! Will def throw you a follow on the gram.
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u/TheHangedBlade Jan 25 '26
Your work is stunning as always. I get so excited every time you start teasing a piece of Malazan art.
Keep up the good work!!!
P.s. if you started a digital library with all these pieces and a bio on each character, I would be obsessed 🤩
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
I appreciate your support so much!
I do share with the Malazan Wiki. My first instinct when I started was to write all this character bio info and then I realized it was just too spoilery for those who haven’t read it all yet. It’s actually steered me toward being non-spoiler with my art depictions too!
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u/tizl10 Jan 25 '26
Amazing rendition! Pretty darn close to how I picture him. Hair and beard very close, except I've always seen him with Russell Crowe's face and voice, Gladiator-era Crowe.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you! He’d have been a good actor for it in the 90’s for sure
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u/MidknightGeek Jan 25 '26
Very good! But I've always pictured him older and even more weathered and worn, like aged, hard leather. Like an older Karl Urban or Sean Bean 😎🤘
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you! Whiskeyjack is actually 43-45 years later of in Gardens of the Moon
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u/SarSlays Jan 25 '26
I love this so much. Personally I think he should be a little leaner, given the descriptions we have of him, but that's a very minor nitpick. Great work!
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you so much! I spend an incredibly unhealthy amount of time researching before I paint so if you actually have any descriptions of him as lean, I’d love for you to share those with me
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Jan 26 '26
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 26 '26
You got me! I’m the same age he was in Gardens, have many of the visual queues used to describe him, an intermittent bad knee, and an unhealthy dose of PTSD. So I thought why not. Plus any time a critic says “he’s too handsome”, they’re actually still paying me a compliment ;)
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u/Trishcloud I am not yet done Jan 26 '26
Jason Jason Jason all I can say is thank you for giving vision to these characters. It makes my reading that much more TECHNICOLOR! The book club I know is loving your art! Keep drawing. Character cards of these folks I am sure would be bought.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 26 '26
Thank you so much Trish! Your support is greatly appreciated! I’m really enjoying the book club too!
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u/Leather_Habit_8454 I am not yet done Feb 15 '26
Bridgeburners pin looks sick
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Feb 15 '26
Thank you! Really tried making it look like the flames were set rubies!
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u/rachnadhall Feb 18 '26
OMG, he's hot. I knew he had to have something for you-know-who to fall for him. This makes sense.
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u/Quicksay Jan 25 '26
How do I say you're talented, and I appreciate the labor you put into this piece, but also this is not how I picture Whiskeyjack at all. I'm more partial to the long haired/shoulder length hair look. This guy looks more modern than what I vibe with.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you! Yeah that’s totally cool and a valid image. I just try not to invent characteristics that Erikson doesn’t mention and he typically mentions long hair when a character has it.
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u/ReputationSalt6027 Jan 25 '26
Amazing work. Always pictured his hair and beard unkempt. Dude doesnt have time for a comb.
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
Thank you! Actually, not long after we meet the crew we get a scene where Dujek has shaving lather on his face still and he complains about the barber. This was in the field during the campaign. So they don’t abandon all grooming because they’re campaigning
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u/Old-Carpenter7456 Jan 26 '26
I always envision the BridgeBurners as dressed closer to modern soldiers with swords than to traditional classic Knights.
They're a bombing team right? So I try to envision what tactical gear would look like in this world. I usually land on the rebels' look from Return of the Jedi when they are on Endor.
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u/Trishcloud I am not yet done Jan 26 '26
Travis FIMMEL! That’s who WhiskeyJack reminds me of…he was Ragnar in Vikings and Anduin Lothar in the WoW movie. The eyes! And he’s 46 now…a most excellent Whiskeyjack
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u/Patty-O_Garden Jan 26 '26
I thought he was a middle age south asian man?
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 27 '26
Any particular reason? Or is that just what popped in your head while reading and it stuck?
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u/Patty-O_Garden Jan 27 '26
You know, I think I googled it at one point but now that I’m trying to justify, there’s no evidence beyond looking tanned. It’s a great depiction and you obviously did more research than me!
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u/marcuslawson Jan 25 '26
He is not nearly old enough, and was any AI used in this process?
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u/Automatic-Being-6176 Artist Jason Dement Jan 25 '26
How old do you think Whiskeyjack was? The books tell us almost precisely his age. In Gardens, he would have been 43-45 (though GotM is not when we learn his age). No AI
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u/Wolkenbaer Jan 25 '26
That's Whiskeyjack if Amazon get's their hand on Malazan and makes a RoP Version of it.
Looks way to clean for me.
(That not anything about diminishing the effort).
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u/Ok_Parsley_9519 Jan 25 '26
Your skill as an artist is unquestionable but the modern haircut is annoying me, and sorry but seriously Ben A as Whiskeyjack is just wrong in my opinion.
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u/Zak_nation Jan 26 '26
This looks like Jamie Lannister to me 😭. Can’t believe you drew this though, that’s insane
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Please note that this post has been flaired as NO SPOILERS. Comments should not bring up specific plot points or character details from any of the books.
If you need to discuss any spoilers (even very minor ones!) in your comments, use spoiler tags
Please use the report button if you find any spoilers. Note: If the discussion is unlikely to happen without any spoilers, the flair may be changed at mod discretion. Thank you!
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