Description
“The comet’s tail spread across the dawn, a red slash that bled above the crags of Dragonstone like a wound…” — A Clash of Kings (Prologue)
After seeing the season finale of HBO’s “Game of Thrones” I was inspired to revisit my Harbinger wallpaper and create a new version for fans of the series (and myself) who are waiting impatiently for season 2. This one depicts the blood red comet that hangs ominously over all of the happenings in Westeros during the second book.
The blue Harbinger was the first wallpaper I worked on after a long, very arduous, hospital stay in 2009. Reading “Clash of Kings” during that time was truly one of my few joys at the time.
I had originally posted this in my Pickle Jar, but the reaction was so positive that I decided it had earned a place in my gallery.
Valar Morghulis!
Betty [lifer] –
I still love this wallpaper, originally before reading the inspiration was Song of Ice and Fire, it came across as the comet in the North from the Black Company, especially as it was called Harbinger in the book. Might be something others would be interested in as well.
Joe –
I’m only just reading “A Clash of Kings” now (having never seen the HBO series) and, being fully aware of the existence of “Red Harbinger”, I came here to check the notes and see if there was a connection. Well whaddya know! 🙂
Ryan –
Sometimes it is easy and sometimes it takes a couple of hours but I think the title is very important. I have an English degree and I was a writer before I was a visual artist. That part of my creativity comes out in the naming process I guess.
Scott –
Just a point of curiosity..how do YOU come with the names for all your creations??!! Bye the bye..I think your work is EXCELLENT!!!!
Kurt Abele –
I was looking at this before I read the notes on it and my first thought was the comet in Clash of Kings! Thanks for bringing that to life!
Jim Wilson –
NICE! There is so much more from the book that could inspire more paintings. Keep up the great work & I to am dreaming of part 2 coming out.
Patrick –
This is better than the original Harbinger. I think it is the use of red and the red lighting on the trees. Very lovely.
Peter –
It seems that many 5120×1600 resolution links point to 5120×1440 Ryan. The same goes for this one and Riverbend. Awesome wallpaper, but my dual 30″ are asking for native 5120×1600
Raquel –
This is so unbelievably beautiful! I’m picturing the night that Dany looked up into the sky and saw the red comet, and lit the flames.
“And for the first time in a hundred years, the night was alive with the music of dragons.”
David M –
I think this is the best version of Harbinger to date. Great work.
Fumigator –
I really like this piece. I was worried the comet would be split badly between my two monitors but it manages to make it to the right monitor enough to not distract. This is good enough it just uprooted interopposite which I didn’t think was going to happen this soon!
And, I now have a new trilogy to read on my bus ride to work (I hadn’t heard of Song of Ice & Fire before)!
Geo –
Something about the choice of colors, the shading… I don’t know. Perhaps those posters who are professional artists can give the proper terms. But whatever it is, it just WORKS, and works WELL. I like the look of this more than any wallpaper I have ever downloaded here, in all by 3 years of membership.
Jenanne –
I love this — and you did it so fast! And thank you so much, Ryan, for beginning work on the “Enshrouded” multiscreens. I can’t wait!!
PaulXX –
I have so much fun sharing your stuff through my monitor at work. I get many comments. This one will be sure to generate some good ones. BTW I was buying myself a new iPad2 at the local Apple store last weekend (happy Father’s day to me lol) and when the staff saw my “Highland Summer” iPhone backround they were blown away that that was a render, and started to show it around! Keep up the good work!!!!!
Chris M –
I’ve gotten wallpapers from here since 1998, and you make ’em better than anybody I’ve ever seen. Thank you! =D
Chris B –
My picture of the comet wasn’t quite as amazing as this, but I’ll take yours any day 🙂
I’m honestly not sure which I like better, kinda puts me in mind of Frost:
Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction ice
Is also great
And would suffice.
Tyler –
Scary how similar our posts are, and at the exact same time…
Max –
The light source aside, this scene looks incredibly real. I don’t know if it’s just the change in lighting, you tweaked the scene settings, or I just never noticed it in the original blue version, but it’s amazing nonetheless.
Tyler –
Harbinger was always a top rated image and this one actually surpasses it in my book. There is something so riveting and even realistic about this that the first failed to fully capture. Bow down to Bucephalus!!!
Geep –
I started reading A Song of Ice and Fire after hearing about the series from you, Ryan, and I am currently on the fourth book. This looks just like I pictured the comet and boy does it look fantastic. 🙂
Haven’t seen the show yet, but I hope too soon. Great job on this! 🙂
Matt –
I like the perspective from the river… any chance of a daytime version, maybe with a planet or some other visual interest in the sky so that we can see more detail on the trees & landscape?
Jeff –
Ryan, I always thought the original Harbinger was one of your best, but I think I like the red version even better!
Thank you.
Michelle P –
I’m a huge fan of the book and TV series too. I’m so excited to see how they make the second book into the series and book 5 will finally be coming out! Thanks for the lovely ASOIAF inspired wallpaper. I’d love to see more works inspired from the books.
Jeremy –
Any chance of a green version?
Mag –
I love the red, I love the scenery and the mountains in the background. Id also love to see a summer version of this, with the crystal clear river and greens leaves everywhere. That would be beautiful.
Ryan –
Season one encompasses all of the first book. Now get watching! 😀
kellzilla –
I have deliberately stayed away from the series because I haven’t finished reading the books yet. I’m about halfway through book 3. Is it safe to watch season one?
Littlemom –
Absolutely beautiful. I really like this one.
Matt –
Reminds me of the 1950’s War of the Worlds movie.
Paul –
Tried the redharbinger13=5040.jpg but only part of the file shows up? Looks like a few others are also partial uploads?
Garrett –
Awesome as always!!! Is there anyway you could render an iPhone 4 version???
Randall –
Excellent! Thanks for doing this! I had a nerdgasm too watching Game of Thrones, which was excellent, and I’m just about to finish Clash of Kings. So thanks again, Ryan!
Tim H –
Thanks Ryan, looks amazing on my iPhone !
Anton –
i really love this new render, really cool man!
Ross H. –
I love this, Ryan!
Ryan –
I have a tech coming out to the house this afternoon to work on my Internet problem. I recommend holding off on the multiscreens for until I post that they are fixed. Sorry!
Labanimal –
Hi, sofar 3×1080 & 3×5760 files are corrupt…
Red’s not my color, but it makes sense for the scene – still one of my favorites!
Ryan –
Check the “all resolutions” link on the Pickle Jar gallery page. For now it leads to a directory containing all of the files. The iPhone 4 file, specifically, is here.
Ryan –
I uploaded the multiscreens this morning while (unbeknownst to me) my Internet was flickering on and off. I think a few of the files were scrambled. I’m going to reupload them now and hope for the best. Thanks for the heads up! Check back in 10-15 minutes and they should all be uploaded (durn country DSL…).
Jeremy –
I LOVE the color!
Eric C –
I opened the 4800X1200 Triscreen and it’s got a section that is over lapping. I looked at it one 2 different computers. Looks like the top was copied and pasted over the top with a slight off set. Ryan, you might want to double check some of your images. They don’t look right. Several of them look like a mishmash of the image. Not complaining, just an FYI.
Eric C –
I opened the 4800X1200 Triscreen and it’s got a section that is over lapping. I looked at it one 2 different computers. Looks like the top was copied and pasted over the top with a slight off set.
Tim H –
Hey Ryan I love the color. Can you add a iPhone 4 resolution? Thanks!
Gregor –
Thank you for your quick response! I found the file!
Ryan –
I need to update my Pickle Jar script to show all of the available resolutions. For now, I’ve added a simple “all resolutions” link that will take you to the Pickle Jar directory where all of the files can be accessed. They have the resolution as part of the file name so it should be easy to see what’s what. Hope this helps!
Gregor –
Hey Ryan,
is it possible to make a 1280×800 file for 13″ or similar sized laptop screens? I directly saved the 1920×1080 file for my external monitor, but it would be nice to see this wonderful picture on my laptop as well!
Ryan –
The reaction to this render has been so positive that I’ve decided it should be featured in my main gallery. Thanks everyone!