The Quintessential D&D Artist.

[Teflon Billy]

Hmm, I misread the topic line...I thought we were looking for the quintessential 3E artist.

If I had been paying attention to the fact that it was for all of D&D I would've chimed in with Erol Otus as well.

No slight on Wayne Reynolds, who I still think does great work.

 

[Hakkenshi]

I think that in any case, since trying to choose the quintessential D&D artist would just end up comparing artists out of historical context (which won't work), perhaps it would be best to restate the topic as "the quintessential 3e artist". Less fuss all around

That seems to be what I'm getting from the previous posts

And since the 3e artists are all in the same "school" (as in, they illustrate fantasy in the 21st century), style and technique can be compared more objectively. Everyone has access to Photoshop, for example.

 

[rackabello]

Another Erol Otus fan here, though I actually hated his stuff when I was playing 1e. Now I really treasure the distinctiveness of his style. A better example than the one attached above is here. No offense to Khan, but I think the Deities & Demigods cover is a bit of a straw dog, as it's not his best work.

This takes nothing away from the other artists I dig. Indeed, it's the artists with truly distinctive styles that I appreciate the most. Other favorites include Wayne Reynolds, Lockwood, Elmore, and (dark horse) Russ Nicholson, who is for me the quintessential 1e Fiend Folio artist.

 

[Enkhidu]

Wow. Time for me to weigh in, I guess. Count me in the Erol Otus Camp, with Roslof a close second.

Why?

Because - for me, as well as many of gamers who got on board during the first printing of the 1st Ed AD&D hardcovers - it's the art that I not only think of first, but that I equate with my gaming experiences.

Do I believe that his work at the time could capture realistic scenes? Not exactly. The 3rd ed artists have, in general, done a better job with form and composition; but, to me (and let me repeat that - to me - your milage may vary), not a one can hold a candle to evoking the same reaction as those original illustrations (c'mon, what old timer doesn't remember the first time they saw Roslof's version of Thor vs the Midgard Serpent in the old D&Dg?).

MAybe it's a gamer generation gap thing?

 

[cildarith]

Erol Otus all the way. Trampier was good too.


Everyone on your list pretty much sucks rocks. I voted 'other'.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

OTUS...OTUS...OTUS...OTUS...OTUS!

 

[Desdichado]

I've been around since before 1e, but that nostalgia isn't enough for me. I like to have good-looking art as well. So, I'm all for 3e art. Sam Wood in particular, I think, epitomizes the new D&D.

Then again, I'm somewhat crotchety. I left D&D for years because I was disillusioned with it. Maybe that's why I'm so down on the art of the older books: I'm down on the older versions in general.

And DeTirlizzi (sic?) didn't do much that I like at all. A few of his girls in Planescape are good looking pieces of art, most of the rest of it I'd rather see replaced. Especially his demon artwork. I'm really surprised to see that praised several times in this thread. Between WAR and SW, the demon artwork is by far the best it's ever been.

 

[Ristamar]

Bah. This thread smacks of nostalgia. Personally, I think this is the wrong group people of to be polling, as a majority of the votes are going to be divvied according to the edition the voter first enjoyed and the artists corresponding to said edition. Better results would be acheived, IMO, by polling a group of less dedicated/passionate players. Casual gamers, I guess you could say. Show them pieces from every edition, and let them decide which ones truly exude the 'D&D feel'.

 

[barsoomcore]

Bah. This thread smacks of nostalgia.

So? What'd you expect?

Better results would be achieved, IMO, by polling a group of less dedicated/passionate players. Casual gamers, I guess you could say. Show them pieces from every edition, and let them decide which ones truly exude the 'D&D feel'.

We're not trying to settle the issue (as if), we're having fun yelling at each other. Sheesh.

Results? Who wants results? I want to see opinions, hear arguments, watch people get hot under the collar as their judgement is questioned. When I want results I'll call the Gartner Group.

EROL OTUS FOREVER!!!

 

[ForceUser]

Elmore and Easley, Caldwell and Parkinson fired my imagination as a youth. I'm bored with their art now. When it comes to art, I enjoy fresh styles and exciting innovations more than anything. My taste in fantasy art fluctuates as newer artists make their mark. Right now, I love Lockwood's work, particularly the painting on the cover of Tome and Blood. That is quintessential Lockwood to me. I love Brom's moody pieces. Wayne Reynolds reminds me greatly of comic book artists, and his clean, detailed lines and precise inks just do it for me. His pic of epic Tordek from the Epic Level Handbook is the epitomy of 3E to me - and I dig it, man. I really dig it.

To me, Easley, Elmore and the others defined 1E art. 1E is so 1980, man. To me, DiTerlizzi defined Planescape, and Planescape was 2E to me. DiTerlizzi captured everything I loved from childhood novels like A Wrinkle in Time and Where the Wild Things Are, so I enjoy his art with fondness. But in 2002, man, Lockwood, Reynolds and Swenkle define D&D to me. 3E is D&D, D&D is 3E, and these guys give it the visual impact that inspires me. I'm not afraid of radical changes to the visual portion of the medium I love. Redefine, man! Reinvent! Refocus!

Spikes and all. Fawking groovy.