littlejohn's fantasy art (Updated 6/12/03)

[Kilmore]

Where'd you go? We want you back!

This stuff is really really REALLY nice! I like the way these pieces appear modern, without jarring the viewer away from the fantasy. In fact, who's to say what art would be in a fantasy world? This may well be it. I had a player who's character had strong skills in art say "I wanna paint surrealist style." In my mind I kinda revolted against that thinking... "Noo, Surrealist... Dali... 1920's and 30's at the earliest..." but decided that 1.) that could be one way to seperate my world from historical fantasy and (more important at the time but less for this spiel) 2.) it wasn't something I wanted to derail my game over.

Anyways, nothing critical to say aside from since you do what you're doing so far so well, you might want to start taking on some different challenges, such as scenery and architecture. Actually, it would be interesting to see how your style would go with more frenentic action, ala Delacroix.

And while I'm here, I'll pimp my own art thread ^_^
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=30730

 

[littlejohn]

Sorry I've been away. I finally finished a stack of illustrations I had to do. So I'm back!

Anyhow, thanks for the comments everyone.

Kilmore: I dig your thread, too. Thanks for the encouragement. I do need to beef up the architecture side of my portfolio.

Wee Jas: Thanks. I'm following the KotSQ/KoSK thread.

BigFreekinGoblinoid: I like it. Now all we have to do is get Piratecat to make an npc based on Lantana and the circle will be complete.

Chain Lightning: Thanks. I never did fix that eyeball, though.

Okay, with that out of the way, here are a few new pieces:

A random armored bear:

One of two illustrations that appear in Khan's Press' Tremon d20 supplement (please buy a copy):

A random orc:

A study for the upcoming Asgard 8 cover (yay!):

And finally, Santa Claws:

Happy Holliday's everyone!

 

[Malessa]

Wow! Those are awesome! I absolutely love the santa! Nice work Little John, Keep them coming for sure!

 

[(contact)]

Yes, I agree-- the Santa is fantastic, and should be in your portfolio ASAP.

You know what I like about the Santa that the bear (for example) is missing? It's not so 'clean'.

Digitally, it's possible to *not* make accidental marks, or if you do, to remove them completely. I'm a messy illustrator, and when I work in physical media I smudge, spill and screw-up, and it adds flavor, or drags my proccess in another direction.

Digitally, if I goof, I just ctrl-z the sucker, y'know?

So, when I look at the santa, there is a really pleasing texture accross the whole canvas, whereas the bear has these completely unmarked areas. It seems to me that the unmarked areas kind of gives the lie to the illusion of a physical media (especially the style you're mimicking-- the loose strokes and layers of transparent 'washes'). Where's the grit?

I know if I was laying a page out, I could 'sell' the piece by integrating it with the text so that it looks like it's *supposed* to 'float' on the same canvas as the type. (See also pretty much every WotC 3e book for examples.) As an art-director, I'd be fine with the bear as is.

But as just another guy looking at your new stuff, it sticks out, and I'm not fully comfortable with it. I want to be sucked in, and I want to feel like these images have some physical reality somewhere, if that makes sense.

The santa is delicous, though-- texturally. I like how you've brought the background color into Santa's foreground as highlights (esp. in his boots and shoulders). It gives him this funky transparent quality that is really appealing.

But lovely stuff, as always-- I wouldn't want my little thoughts and critiques to be interpreted as criticism. Just some ideas your new stuff brought on.

Merry Christmas, and see you after the New Year.

 

[Conaill]

Another great set of pictures, littlejohn!

Mind if I repost your Santa Claws on this thread?

 

[Knightfall]

bump

 

[littlejohn]

Knightfall1972: Thanks for the bump.

Conaill: That was totally cool of you to cross post that image. I completely missed that discussion. Sort of too late now.

Sorry I've been away.

I don't really have too much new to post. Actually, I have a ton of new stuff; but I can't post any of it because they haven't come out in the various 'zines and supplements yet.

In the meantime, here are some sketches for the cover of Asgard 8:

Hopefully, these products will come out real soon now.

 

[littlejohn]

Here are two new paintings. Please check out Sword's Edge, a fantasy fiction 'zine I did these illustrations for. Enjoy!

 

[Knightfall]

Those are totally awsome littlejohn!

When you get some time, check out my CC2 Cartography thread. Please, please an thank you (in sig).

And if you want inspiration, read this:
http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=682864#post682864

It's a month by month timeline of my current campaign year. Lots of plots and descriptive stuff.

Cheers!

KF72

 

[Piratecat]

God, those are great! I love, love, love them. I'm also deeply enamored of the armored bear, which I intend to somehow tie into my game. He's just too cool not to.