Cliff Childs is a concept artist and illustrator based in Los Angeles. He studied at the Otis College of Art and Design and is, I believe, currently working with Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Childs has an approach to concept environments that stresses atmosphere, both in the sense of atmospheric perspective and in terms of mood. Even in his renderings of daylight scenes, he plays with visual sensations of moisture laden air, giving his designs a palpable feeling of distance and temperature.

He also works his lighting in a theatrical manner, focusing attention with spotlighted effects, controlled passages of color and suggestions of texture.

In addition to his concept work, Childs has done illustrations for the Magic: The Gathering gaming card series.

I didn’t see any of the latter on his blog, but you will find a lot of his concept and personal work, including sketches from life in traditional media.

Childs’s work is on display as one of the artists represented in the Painting in Pixels: An Exhibition of Concept Art currently at the Riverside Art Museum (see my recent post).