I have been a fan of Boris Valejo's art since I first saw his work when I was about thirteen. I had seen good artwork before, but I believe Boris to be the best at what he does. His attention to detail and his knowledge and depiction of muscles simply cannot, or at least, has not been matched or surpassed. He has drawn the cover art for some of the Conan novels and Advanced Dungeons and Dragons modules.
Boris Vallejo is the son of a well know layer in Lima, Peru. In his early years he wanted to become a concert violinist, not a painter. He to took violin lesson for seven years but later decided to study medicine. At that time the violin was put back in its case.
After two years, however, he changed his mind again and applied to the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes, an art college, where he received a five year scholarship. It did not take him long to win a much sought-after gold medal for his excellent works. He was 16 years old when he got the offer to study in Fiorentina, Italy, a big dream to many, but he refused the offer. Vallejo quickly gained in confidence as an artist, and in 1964 he put together a portfolio with some of his works and emigrated to the States.
He was hoping for a more rewarding career than he could ever have had in Lima. He went with no more than a few dollars in his wallet, and a very poor languageskills. He had no friends but he met a fellow-countryman at a restaurant in Bronx, New York. He knew that his money would only last to the end of the month, so he needed a job quickly. His newfound friend got him a job, a job as an illustrator in the advertising department of a chain store, after six month he was transferred to the main office, where he also met Doris, his future wife. 
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