The Borisography: O

Of Men and Monsters
Of Men and Monsters, Boris Vallejo CD1
FAT 46
WOB.13
1982-Jul
1997-Jun		 Book cover for Of Men and Monsters by William Tenn (Ballantine Books, 1975.)

Painting undated.
Off to Battle (2017)
Standing Tall, Boris Vallejo 2019-Jan Although it is featured in the 2019 Fantasy Calendar it was clearly not painted for that purpose. The proportions of this painting show that it was painted for another reason since, as well as being cropped on either side, the top had to be stretched to produce the square calendar image.
The Offering (1999)
Etruscans, Boris Vallejo SG.051
CD2
Imagstx.139		 Cover art for the novel Etruscans by Morgan Llywelyn and Michael Scott (Tor Fantasy, 2001.)
The Offering (2011)
The Four Elements, Boris Vallejo 2016-Mar Although this painting was used in the 2016 Fantasy Calendar I'm fairly sure it was not painted for that purpose.
Ogun (1996)
Ogun, Boris Vallejo '96 This portrait was painted for the X-Men Fleer Ultra: Wolverine trading card set.

Originally Ogun, a ninja and martial arts master, was Wolverine's mentor. He later became a villain resulting, ultimately, in his death at the hands of his former pupil.
Old Spice (1)(BJ)
What Courage Smells Like, Boris Vallejo Artwork for an Old Spice ad by Boris and Julie. In the published version What Courage Smells Like was changed to The Scent of Courage.

Although it is signed it is undated. Since it was first published in February 2012 I would guess that it was painted in 2011.
Old Spice (2)(BJ)
The Smell of the Wild, Boris Vallejo A second promotional piece for Old Spice, see What Courage Smells Like for the other one, but this time the painting is unsigned as well as being undated.
Old Style Beer (1984)
Old Style Beer (original), Boris Vallejo A promotional piece for Old Style Beer, it carried the tagline 'Conquerers Do It With Style.'

Boris subsequently overpainted the crates, cans and company logo and the painting became Two-Headed Beast.
Olympians (1988)
Ralf Moeller and Gary Strydom, Boris Vallejo This was another promotional piece for or about Mr Olympia XXIV using, this time, Ralf Moeller and Gary Strydom as models. I'm afraid that I don't have any information as to how it was used.
The Olympic Torch (1985)
The Torchbearers, Boris Vallejo B1.01
CD1
Portfolio 1
1987-Jan		 Painted for the 1987 Fantasy Olympics Calendar.
The Omen II
Damien, Boris Vallejo Advertising artwork for the movie Damien: Omen II (20th Century Fox, 1978) which, you won't be surprised to learn, is the second film in the series. It stars William Holden, Lee Grant and Jonathan Scott-Taylor all of whom are identifiable in the painting.

The painting is undated but as the movie was released in June 1978 it, too, was probably painted in that year.
On the Attack (2004) (BJ)
On the Attack, Boris & Julie 2006-Mar This painting was used for the month of March in the 2006 Fantasy Calendar.
On the Lookout (2000)
Come What Will (drawing), Boris Vallejo SG.F2
Sketch.135
Ult_Ill.026		 I originally thought this was the preliminary artwork for Come What Will but I was puzzled as to why it was finished to such a high standard. However, according to Ultimate Illustrations, the explanation is that it is actually a commissioned drawing based on the painting.
On Top, Alone (1994)
Bred for War, Boris Vallejo BJ.37 Cover art for Battletech: Bred for War by Michael A Stackpole (Penguin/Roc, 1995.)
Onslaught (1991)
Onslaught (1991), Boris Vallejo B2.33
CD1		 Cover art for the video game Onslaught by Hewson Consultants. The game was originally released in 1989 for the Amiga so I imagine this design was intended for a later release on some other platform.

Because of deadline pressures, Boris found himself having to use a female model for both figures.
Onslaught (1996)
Onslaught (1996), Boris Vallejo MM96.32 Painted for the Marvel Masterpieces '96 trading card set.

This character made it's first appearance in the May 1996 edition of X-Man so was virtually unknown at the time of painting.
The Ophiuchi Hotline
The Ophiuchi Hotline, Boris Vallejo B4.70 An early work for Dell Books: The Ophiuchi Hotline by John Varley, published in 1977.

Painting undated.
Opium Dream (1981)
Opium Dream, Boris Vallejo BJ.16
Mirage		 Painted for Mirage.
Opposites Attract (1984)
Opposites Attract, Boris Vallejo '95 One of three paintings for the Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (skybox, 1995) trading card set. They, together with three paintings from Julie Bell, formed the Holochip Etched Foils chase card set.
Orca / Orca: The Killer Whale
Orca, Boris Vallejo Promotional artwork for the Paramount Pictures 1977 movie Orca starring Richard Harris, Charlotte Rampling and Will Sampson (who also appeared in White Buffalo which featured a Boris poster too.)

The movie was relatively successful but my impression at the time was that it was, like a number of other movies, piggy-backing upon the earler success of Steven Spielberg's Jaws from two years earlier. Having said that, I can't say anything bad about the movie simply because I don't remember it – perhaps that alone is sufficient commentary!

Another undated painting but probably from 1977 based on the film being released in July of that year.
Orion (1984)
Orion, Boris Vallejo Book cover Cover painting for Orion by Ben Bova (Tor Books, 1985,) the first book, and Boris' first painting, in the series.
Orion and the Conqueror (1993)
Orion and the Conqueror, Boris Vallejo BJ.51
Dreams.087
FabFant.066		 Cover art for Orion and the Conqueror by Ben Bova (Tor Books, 1994.)
Orion in the Dying Time (1989)
Orion in the Dying Time (1989), Boris Vallejo B1.32
CD1		 This is the cover painting for the hardback version of Orion in the Dying Time by Ben Bova (Tor Books, 1990.) See below for the paperback version.
Orion in the Dying Time (1990)
Orion in the Dying Time (1990), book cover B1.32
CD1		 This is the cover painting for the paperback version of Orion in the Dying Time by Ben Bova (Tor Books, 1990.)

An image of the original artwork is not available because Boris later modified it, by the addition of a robotic figure, to create Vampire Robot.
Orpheus and Eurydice (1991)
Orpheus and Eurydice, Boris Vallejo BJ.42
Ladies		 Illustration for the story of Eurydice in Ladies.

Greek Mythology: Orpheus was a warrior and musician with a voice of surpassing beauty. When his wife Eurydice met an untimely death, he charmed Hades himself into letting him lead Eurydice back to the world of the living.
Out for a Walk (2009)
Out for a Walk, Boris Vallejo 2011-Nov A painting from the 2011 Fantasy Calendar,.
Outlaw of Gor
Outlaw of Gor, Boris Vallejo 1983-Jul Cover art for Outlaw of Gor by John Norman (Ballantine Books, 1976.)
Over the Hill (1990)
Underberg, Boris Vallejo BJ.81 Commissioned by a German company which flew Boris to Germany to discuss the concept over dinner.

The product itself is a herbal, digestif bitter made by the swiss company Underberg AG.
Oz Wonderland Chronicles (2006)
Oz Wonderland Chronicles, Boris Vallejo Dland.178 Cover art for the comic/novelette Oz Wonderland Chronicles #2 by Ben Avery (BuyMeToys.com, 2007.) The painting shows the lead characters Dorothy and Alice with the Wicked Witch in the background.
Page last updated: 2024-01-20