@Aenor I liked your post. All of the styles being discussed in this thread still get "done" by illustrators but I think what gets chosen by art directors is just going to be more WoWish, if they think it is more contemporary.
Contemporary here is the key word because they want new customers to see D&D as part of today's and tomorrow's market.
For sure. The company in question hires artists to paint pictures that fall within their selected style. I'm sure Elmore & Co. groaned many times in the past: "Aw man, not another bikini-picture?" Too bad the current style is plain horrid (in my eyes). It's just trying to please every single popular trend from WoW to anime. Market research is an abomination that needs to go.
Yeah, in the end the thing I'm railing against is the style not the tool. That being said I doubt I'll ever get totally behind digital art. It's purely a matter of taste. For example I _love_ traditional hand made matte paintings in movies. Even (or should I say especially) when they were clearly not real. It's like someone painted reality, if that makes any sense. Digital visuals just feel incorporeal and sterile. But that's just me.
@Aenor I get what you're saying. And for me digital art looks somehow, realer and more colorful than standard painting. You can also tell when you can't see actual brushmarks, that the work is digital.
Here's an example of the "realer and more colorful"
But there are artists whose work fools the eye. This... is a pencil drawing. This is a digital painting. Both appeared to be photos at first look, to me.
Sure, painting software is a tool. The end result isn't merely artistic choice though, but the skill and experience that enables the artist to make those choices. Anyone could produce a digital image that looks like a digital image, but achieving photorealism or realistic painterly effects still requires the requisite skills.
Style is also a problem, some artists are slaves to it and it isn't a choice. I've known people who could do great cartoonish drawings, ask them to do something else and they'll still have the same style.
Here, since we all seem to posting pictures we like, and think are good examples of fantasy type stuff, lemme do so as well. These are works by friends and people I respect. (no i am not posting my stuff) Also, might I suggest linking back to the artist if you are gonna post their work?
Guangjian Huang - http://www.hgjart.com - 100% digital artist - major inspiration to me with his lighting and color keys. I do not care for the faces on his humans though.
I remember my days in oil painting... Sadly, some burglars decided I didn't need me oil studio anymore, and liberated me of the whole damn thing. I havent touched those paints in years. Think I moved on. Perhaps not.
@Moomintroll, during a move, we had a break-in. We were robbed of all of the china I had inherited from my late mother, my entire collection of swords and knives, our dragon statues, and my art studio. At the time I had multiple easels, finished paintings, canvases, paints, brushes, and myriad tools that I had invested a lot of money into. When we returned, only a few torn scraps of paper remained with some broken drawing pencils. The police never resolved this so it has taken many years to rebuild my supplies.
Aside from that... I do not paint in oils anymore, but I do pastel and colored pencil paintings. I am training myself with markers as well as digital painting. I still hope to achieve the level of mastery that I have seen here, but motivation and morale have been very low as of late n_n;
John Howe Does anyone know what he uses? I always assumed acrylics and inks, but I don't think I've ever heard anything definitive, maybe I'll go check out his website right now!
the 70s art was ok, but I felt the 80s art was the highest peak of DnD having their own image. 90s art was doing pretty well, but enter early 2000s the art took a different direction of being more generic type style.
I guess in a way I'm alittle worried of DnD losing it's image all together, yeah I'm aware it isn't just the art that's the problem.
Btw I'm surprised how fast this topic grew lol, I just now checked on this.
I guess I was being alittle prejudice against Digital Art, it can make some really great things. To me hand-drawing is becoming less common in the entertainment world, it can produce sketches that digital art can't capture, it's hard to explain, I'm not sure how to explain it.
It would help if you posted some examples of the art you DON'T like, OP. I'm having trouble thinking of the last official D&D art I saw that was "too cartoonish."
It would help if you posted some examples of the art you DON'T like, OP. I'm having trouble thinking of the last official D&D art I saw that was "too cartoonish."
Half the artwork in 3rd edition and it's sub-editions (not all of it was bad to be fair) and mostly all of 4th edition
Cartoonish? Looks pretty excellent to me. The difference is it's just smoother and not as grainy as the older stuff. It's called a lack of JPEG compression and better resolutions.
John Howe Does anyone know what he uses? I always assumed acrylics and inks, but I don't think I've ever heard anything definitive, maybe I'll go check out his website right now!
I love this picture of Elminster the Grey!
Actually, that's the cover of the compilation I own, so I have a profound fondness towards it.
Comments
Okay, check that... actually he shares the crown with quite a few others, including Clyde Caldwell.
Contemporary here is the key word because they want new customers to see D&D as part of today's and tomorrow's market.
I think the Warhammer Online artwork reaches something of a compromise.
For sure. The company in question hires artists to paint pictures that fall within their selected style. I'm sure Elmore & Co. groaned many times in the past: "Aw man, not another bikini-picture?" Too bad the current style is plain horrid (in my eyes). It's just trying to please every single popular trend from WoW to anime. Market research is an abomination that needs to go.
These are all digital art. Many of them look just like actual paintings. It all depends on the effect the artist wants to achieve.
Yeah, in the end the thing I'm railing against is the style not the tool. That being said I doubt I'll ever get totally behind digital art. It's purely a matter of taste. For example I _love_ traditional hand made matte paintings in movies. Even (or should I say especially) when they were clearly not real. It's like someone painted reality, if that makes any sense. Digital visuals just feel incorporeal and sterile. But that's just me.
Here's an example of the "realer and more colorful"
But there are artists whose work fools the eye. This... is a pencil drawing.
Style is also a problem, some artists are slaves to it and it isn't a choice. I've known people who could do great cartoonish drawings, ask them to do something else and they'll still have the same style.
These are works by friends and people I respect. (no i am not posting my stuff)
Also, might I suggest linking back to the artist if you are gonna post their work?
Guangjian Huang - http://www.hgjart.com - 100% digital artist - major inspiration to me with his lighting and color keys. I do not care for the faces on his humans though.
Stjepan Sejic - http://nebezial.deviantart.com/ Uses mudbox/zbrush with photoshop (awesome dude)
Devon Cady-Lee - http://gorrem.blogspot.ca/ I love the not too realistic faces, mixed with the sweeping stokes, digital as well.
Nat Jones - LOL had to post my boss, i mean COME ON, Nat works equally digital and traditional.
I have more I could post but I do not want to take over the thread, just add to it.
Donato Giancola
As far as I remember, a genuine oil painter; his method is quite well publicised I think.
Justin Gerard
Watercolourist who enhances his paintings on the computer.
Painting is can be so wonderful and awful all at once
Oh to be a child again, painting and drawing for hours on end, devoid of self criticism.
Aside from that... I do not paint in oils anymore, but I do pastel and colored pencil paintings. I am training myself with markers as well as digital painting. I still hope to achieve the level of mastery that I have seen here, but motivation and morale have been very low as of late n_n;
Tablets would seem to have the advantage of not requiring a studio and not needing to continuously tidy up, practice practice I guess.
Does anyone know what he uses? I always assumed acrylics and inks, but I don't think I've ever heard anything definitive, maybe I'll go check out his website right now!
http://planescape.mort.net/factions/pgp_018_01.png
http://planescape.mort.net/factions/pgp_016_01.png
Haha, I also love Michael Whelan, to boot:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_5KUXuvrUWFE/TJTqcA2eKSI/AAAAAAAABFI/0cBcTepWyR4/s1600/Michael+Whelan28.jpg
http://www.saviourbehaviour.com/compassionforyourself/Michael_Whelan_Arrival.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g42/Firnafth/DragonwithMaiden.jpg
the 70s art was ok, but I felt the 80s art was the highest peak of DnD having their own image. 90s art was doing pretty well, but enter early 2000s the art took a different direction of being more generic type style.
I guess in a way I'm alittle worried of DnD losing it's image all together, yeah I'm aware it isn't just the art that's the problem.
I guess I was being alittle prejudice against Digital Art, it can make some really great things. To me hand-drawing is becoming less common in the entertainment world, it can produce sketches that digital art can't capture, it's hard to explain, I'm not sure how to explain it.
Half the artwork in 3rd edition and it's sub-editions (not all of it was bad to be fair) and mostly all of 4th edition
example of cartoon looking Orcs
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_KezhQ6waZT0/SW2p_42TO8I/AAAAAAAALTs/6HAjwYy45nI/s320/4theditionorcs.jpg
I know there was some good drawings for Orcs somewhere on the net, but I'm problems finding them when it comes to earlier editions.
Actually, that's the cover of the compilation I own, so I have a profound fondness towards it.