Is Larry Elmore still popular?

Desdichado · Sep 15, 2005

madelf said:
That's a bit of a jump isn't it?

No, it's a bit of an in-joke.

WizarDru · Sep 15, 2005

madelf said:
That's a bit of a jump isn't it?
:\

Well the terms anime and videogamey are thrown around, often by people who don't really know that much about either. That's more of why I was curious how you defined it...some folks have claimed that all the illustrations in 3e were all anime-styled. But then, when presented with specific examples of how they were ignorant of how diverse anime (and moreso manga) can be artistically. Which isn't to say that there aren't lots of anime style-tropes to reference...just that some D&D isn't a place I'd reference as being influenced by it.

Pants · Sep 15, 2005

Joshua Dyal said:
Pants, the more I read of your posts, the more I'm convinced you're a guy I'd like to game with sometime.

Can't get much more praise than this

Any chance you'll be making the Chicago gameday? Looks like it's shaping up for Nov. 12th.

I'd love to go sometime, but I know that sometime in November I'm taking a family trip down to Florida. Don't know when though.

Guilberwood · Sep 15, 2005

Just wanted to say I love Elmore's work.

His Dragonlance art was the main reason I started to read the novels and then playing in the setting in the first place.

Damm, just looking at them when I was 12 made me wanna play in Dragonlance!

Some classic pictures, like the cover of "Dwarven nations of Kryn" and "Sturm's death" are just amazing.

I think no other setting has such a trademark as Dragonlance and Elmore's drawings.

So, if the question is if people still like his art, then I'd have to say YES!

madelf · Sep 15, 2005

No, it's a bit of an in-joke.

Okay. It sounded a bit accusatory, but I'll concede I could easily have misinterpreted it - apparently not being in on the joke, and all.

Well the terms anime and videogamey are thrown around, often by people who don't really know that much about either. That's more of why I was curious how you defined it...some folks have claimed that all the illustrations in 3e were all anime-styled. But then, when presented with specific examples of how they were ignorant of how diverse anime (and moreso manga) can be artistically. Which isn't to say that there aren't lots of anime style-tropes to reference...just that some D&D isn't a place I'd reference as being influenced by it.

Ah, I can see the reason my comment would have confused you.

I certainly don't think all the illustrations in 3e are anime-styled. Generally speaking I wouldn't say any of them (that I've seen at least) really are heavily influenced by it. It's just that take on the elves that reminds me of some anime stuff I've seen.

buzz · Sep 15, 2005

Joshua Dyal said:
Someone needs to page buzz -- I can't believe he hasn't responded yet!

Oo! Thanks for cluing me in, JD!

Anyway... I don't like Elmore's work; ditto Parkinson. That latter-day 1e and 2e was flooded with theirs and similar work was just one of the reasons I switched to Rolemaster, CoC, and HERO back then. (Brom and the Planescape artists were nice exceptions of that era.) To me, it's all stuff that belongs on the side of custom vans with King Diamond blaring on their cassette decks.

Chainmail bikini cheesecake and "raiding the B-movie wardrobe room" fantasy trappings is a sure fire way to keep me away from a product.

I loved the *real* original masters: Trampier (THE master), Otus, Dee, Roslof, Jaquays, Sutherland... And I love the 3e "dungeonpunk" era. Lockwood, WAR, Wood, and many of the others I see in Paizo mags are just plain awesome. Andrew Hou, Kalman Andrasofsky, Chuck Lucas, James Ryman, etc. And the faux-Anime art used in the Exalted line... I don't care for the game, but, WOW.

But... I know I'm the minority. Flame away. I'm just glad that we're currently in an era of RPG art that I really like. I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

Aus_Snow · Sep 15, 2005

Elmore has never been one of my favourite D&D / fantasy artists, but he's my no means the worst, IMO.

I'd rather see his work than say, Baxa's. (No offense intended, btw.)

Neo · Sep 15, 2005

Im no professional artist, I merely draw for fun and distraction, so although I know what I like I would never see fit to make comment on a "proven" professionals style, or technique.. as I am not qualified to make such judgements..

I do know I like a lot of Elmores art though, and I would agree to the statement that there is a "sameness" to his works, but I do not see that as a bad thing, indeed for someone who is comercial I think it is important as its his "noticeable" style that lets us look at a picture and say "yup its an Elmore" and that keeps him in mind.. which no doubt helps to keep him in work, so kudos to him!

Some of my favourite Covers of old have been Elmore covers and as has been echoed here numerous times his Dragonlance works were stunning.

MaxKaladin · Sep 15, 2005

So much of the more recent art just seems too "edgy". I suppose that's a lot of the problem with "dungeonpunk" for me. I want more classical looking art. There's an artist named Edmund Blair Leighton who painted in the 19th century who had a style I very much like. That's the sort of thing I like.