The Test

“The Test” — Early Digital Illustration by Stan Watts

The Test is a standout piece from a pivotal transitional period in Stan Watts’ career, created as he moved from traditional paint to the emerging world of digital illustration. This artwork was originally commissioned as the cover image for the groundbreaking publication SKEPTIC magazine, accompanying a feature on the complexities and controversies of IQ testing.

The composition places a lone figure beneath the bright beam of a mock interrogation lamp, set against a patterned background derived from a standardized IQ test. Blending satire with psychological tension, the scene humorously invites the viewer to decide whether the character is a bright bulb, a dim bulb, or completely burned out. The expressive pose, dramatic lighting, and clever symbolic elements showcase Stan’s ability to weave narrative depth into a single moment — even as he experimented with new digital tools.

This illustration represents an important bridge in Watts’ artistic evolution. Digital art was becoming a mainstream request in the graphic world, and this work reflects both the industry's shift and the artist’s willingness to adapt while preserving the high-level rendering, storytelling, and drama that defined his earlier painted pieces.

Printed as a high-quality fine-art reproduction, The Test is a perfect addition for collectors who appreciate conceptual artwork, psychological themes, and early-era digital illustration.

• Originally created as a cover illustration for SKEPTIC magazine
• Blend of satire, storytelling, and early digital rendering
• Background motif includes authentic standardized IQ test elements
• Represents a key transitional moment in Stan Watts’ digital evolution
• High-quality fine-art print with vivid, archival-grade detail
• Ideal for collectors of conceptual, retro, and psychologically driven artwork
• Exclusive to the Stan Watts Collection

A clever, dramatic, and thought-provoking piece — marking Stan Watts’ early entry into the digital age.