COMING SOON! -- Archetype Anthology: A Dozen Archetypes for D&D 5th Edition on Kickstarter! From dual-wielding tempests to planar explorers -- a softcover collection of new archetypes for your 5th Edition game!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Mercurius" data-source="post: 8117744" data-attributes="member: 59082">I'm not a fan of the second picture, mainly because the face of the elf, but it seems that the OP either simply prefers more realistic art and/or confuses realism with quality. Todd Lockwood is a very skilled technical artist, but some--including myself--feel that his art is somewhat flat, lacking a sense of magic and mystery. I still enjoy looking at it, but I generally prefer artists that are both technically proficient and add their stylistic quality. Wayne Reynolds is a good example of this: very skillful, but has a very distinct style: A gonzo vibe that is obviously strongly inspired by comic books and extremely detailed.The first picture is well done and I like it overall, but like Lockwood's work, it doesn't have that "extra something" quality that the best fantasy artists have. What I mean is a feeling that the art is more than its sum of shapes and colors. Think of the dynamism of Frank Frazetta, or the gothic gloom of Gerald Brom.My current favorite RPG artist is the Symbaroum guy, Martin Bergstrom (renamed to Martin Grip, presumably to differentiate himself from another artist named Martin Bergstrom). Technically proficient, extremely atmospheric, and just awesome. Also, Simon Stalenhag - the artist who does the covers for Forbidden Lands. I also love Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, who is better known for non-rpg art but has done some game art.</blockquote>