November 2004 – Muscle-bound rocket jockeys wielding flame-throwing chainsaws and fetching space bunnies menaced by slimy alien creatures — these are just some of the denizens of artist Scott Boilard’s fantasy world.

Born and raised in Worcester, Boilard’s earliest influences were leagues of comic book illustrators, in particular Frank Frazetta (1928-) of Conan the Barbarian fame.

At the Art Institute of Boston, where Boilard earned a B.A. in Illustration in 1998, he stuck to his fantasy images and worked many of them into his class assignments. He took the required sculpture and printmaking courses, but his goal was to learn to paint and become a graphic artist. It was not until he took art history that he became inspired by more traditional artists like Austrian Art Nouveau painter Gustav Klimpt (1862-1918).

Upon graduation Boilard sought work as a free-lance illustrator for books, but was unsuccessful. However, he did get the occasional opportunity to design for start-up companies, magazines and ad agencies.

One such opportunity arose when a machine parts manufacturer wanted to present one of its widgets in a ‘50s style sci-fi poster. The company gave Boilard a blueprint schematic that he turned into a 3-D flame-belching rocket about to blast off into outer space. This image was then blown-up into a 9-foot tall poster and used as the centerpiece for the company’s trade show display.

To make ends meet and keep himself in paints, Boilard worked at the area’s largest art supply store, C. C. Lowell on Park Ave. Last year, he began to work as a graphic artist for Checkerboard in West Boylston. There, along with a team of five other artists, Boilard uses computers to design custom stationery and wedding announcements. He finds no conflict with this work and his own personal painting — days he’s on a computer, nights he has his oil paints, brushes and canvas.

Boilard’s ideas come to him at odd times. To capture them, he has dozens of small sketchbooks scattered around his house, as well as a couple in his car. A few quick lines and notes help jog his memory when he gets in front of his easel. His only problem now is remembering which sketchbook a particular drawing is in.

Boilard says he will continue to paint in a representational style, although his images have moved away from the sci-fi aspect of fantasy into the more psychological and enigmatic. One of his recent works, “Stations,” shows a crouching nude woman hovering over a misty background filled with Italianate architectural elements. Another as yet unfinished work is composed of many nude figures lying under what appear to be tree trunks. Unlike his earlier work which depicted a subject acting in a scene, his recent paintings leave the viewer to develop their own story line.

Considering himself a late bloomer, Boilard is just now beginning to show his work in earnest. He has participated in all three stART on the Street festivals and its related group-show fundraisers. This past July he had a one-person show at the Bijou Community Cinema. He’s currently working on a number of pieces for his latest show that starts on November 20 and runs through December at Village Art, 1 Ekman Street, in Quinsig Village.

Along with a dozen or so new works in oil, Boilard will include a series of modestly priced laser prints of his paintings. As to why he’s printing these small versions of his oils, Boilard says, “Many people like my images, but they don’t want them hanging over the mantelpiece. My work is not traditional home decoration.”