D&D General D&D Art across the editions

[FlyingChihuahua]

No, that would be a subjective opinion.

But... but they dislike it! That has to mean something!

 

[generic]

His style isn't gothic. It's children's whimsy. Which makes perfect sense, since before doing the TSR job, he wrote and illustrated children's books. Kinda the opposite of horror books lol.

"Children's whimsy":

 

[generic]

But... but they dislike it! That has to mean something!

The sarcasm is strong is this one, please don't derail the thread.

 

[Salthorae]

"Children's whimsy":

Whimsy in the more traditional "Grimms Fairytales are really horrible things" types of whimsy perhaps?

They certainly evoke whimsy and childlike feelings for me

 

[generic]

Whimsy in the more traditional "Grimms Fairytales are really horrible things" types of whimsy perhaps?

They certainly evoke whimsy and childlike feelings for me

Well yes, that is the appeal, in a way. I objected to @Sacrosanct saying that DiTerlizzi's work was the opposite of horror and such. That was what he/she defined as "children's whimsy".

 

[Sacrosanct]

Well yes, that is the appeal, in a way. I objected to @Sacrosanct saying that DiTerlizzi's work was the opposite of horror and such. That was what he/she defined as "children's whimsy".

I said children's whimsy was the opposite of horror, because it generally is, not that his art in 2e was the opposite of horror. And that Tony was known for his children's whimy style. DiTerilizzi did children's art, and stories before working for TSR. That was his style. If you disagree, take it up with him, because that's how he described his own art on his own website (at least as of a few years ago when I last had this conversation and looked).

 

[generic]

I said children's whimsy was the opposite of horror, because it generally is, not that his art in 2e was the opposite of horror. And that Tony was known for his children's whimy style. DiTerilizzi did children's art, and stories before working for TSR. That was his style. If you disagree, take it up with him, because that's how he described his own art on his own website (at least as of a few years ago when I last had this conversation and looked).

Fair enough, I love his style regardless.

 

[Sacrosanct]

Fair enough, I love his style regardless.

I really like it when I want whimsy. Like when I read the Spiderwick Chronicles to my son several years ago. Great art.

But in the 2e monster manual? I didn't think it fit well. In fact, I didn't like any of the art in the 2e MM, not just his. Which was a shame, because it is such a great book.

 

[Hussar]

/snip

TLDR; it's hard to evaluate style that you don't subjectively like; and increasingly, people conflate their subjective appreciation of something with an objective quality.

Agree with everything you say here except for the "increasingly" part. It's always been this way. The only thing is now, we actually get to hear about it a lot more.

 

[oreofox]

Again I can understanding not liking it, but I can't understand the hate for RPG artwork that would drive you to call someone's perfectly good work "hot garbage." I don't understand your inability to separate your opinion and tastes and recognition of objectively skilled work. Once again I will note I don't like the style, but I can also recognize that is my preference and it is indeed good work.

Sorry to keep harping on this, feel free to have the last word, I don't wish to waste any more time on it.

All the art in the first post with the 5e full-page images are all well made, and I can see why some would like it and why WotC paid probably quite a bit of money for them. The artists that made those paintings are very skilled/talented people, and that skill is greatly shown in the images they created and you posted in the OP. You seem to be fixated on the "hot garbage" comment while ignoring the rest of the words I typed. MY OPINION, which is my subjective view on the art and not an objective truth, is they are ugly and not pleasing to my eyes. I do not like looking at them, hence the "hot garbage". My subjective dislike of much of the 5e art does not mean you liking them is bad. You don't like WAR's art, I like numerous pieces he has made (while disliking numerous pieces such as how a lot of his people have no wrist or hand definition other than fingers and a thumb). You aren't bad for not liking WAR's art, just like I am not superior in liking it.

Also, you are the one who seems to have the inability to seperate my opinion and tastes and recognition of objectively skilled work. I have posted 2 or 3 times now (including this post) that I KNOW the images are made by objectively skilled people, and it shows in the images that are in the PHB, MM, and DMG. I am not calling the artists unskilled hacks, because that would be a blatant lie. I am calling a large number of images "aesthetically displeasing", because they are aesthetically displeasing to my eyes.