What 3e / D20 artist doesn't do it for you?

[Psion]

So, whose artwork could you really live without in the realm of 3e/D20?

Edit: This should be taken as a "taste survey" and not an "artist slamfest."

Eric asked me to put up references to the artists' work:

Wayne Reynolds: Signs his work "WAR". Did many WotC items, including much of Sword & Fist, and Tome & Blood. Examples:

• S&F 5 (elf monk doing flying kick... very cool)
• S&F 40 (man throwing dagger)
• S&F 61 (minotaur overbearing fighter)
• S&F 82 (tree fort)
• T&B 29 (lab), 68 (spellsword), 69 (true necromancer)
• OA 37 (bladedancer & bear warrior), 148 (bog hag), 152 (dokufa), 183 (shadowlands oni), 189 (pennaggolan)
• MotP 96 (Slaad & Gitzerai), 178 (inevitables)

Arnie Skewel: You know all those sketches in the background on the into page for all the WotC 3e hardbouds? Those are Arnie Skewel. Also has some color work in 3e hardbonds, like MotP 31 (planeshifter) and OA 114 (snake darts).

Dennis Cramer: Much of DotF (67 - Master of Shrouds), Enemies & Allies (25 - clerics, 49 - pale grin) , and Hero Builder's Guidebook. Was also responsible for the notorious "gory halfling" pic in Dragon.

David Roach: Here and there in 3e. Much of RttToEE (the half-dragon dinos, don't have a page number), Song & Silence (15 - spymaster, 19 - thief acrobat), MotP (200 - petitioner).

Toren Atkinson - signs pictures "macbin", various d20 products, including some of Green Ronin's: Legions of Hell (27 Iblis, 37 Naamah, 48 Vuall)

Todd Lockwood: Lots of 3e stuff, mainly color stuff. Song & Silence (cover), Tome & Blood (cover), MoF 41 (deep dragon), 43 (shadow dragon), all the dragons in the MM.

Sam Wood: Various 3e & D20 stuff: MoF 39 (brown dragon), 42 (fang dragon), 59 (draegloth), PHB (iconics - Nebin, Vadania, Hennet), Legions of Hell (15- chamagon, 17 - darksphinx, 23 - hadriel)

Jeff Easley - covers, mainly, including Enemies & Allies, Sword & Fist, and I don't have it handy but I am betting Hero Builder's.

 

[EricNoah]

Ooh, can't do this uninformed. I'll need some samples.

 

[WanderingMonster]

Artists are pretty "hot-to-trot". Buy them dinner and any of them will do it for you.

 

[RangerWickett]

Scott Fischer. I really don't think he knows his proportions very well.

And I loathe the cover artist for Mongoose's books. It's done with moderate competency as far as proportions, but the layout and design is just atrocious. All the pictures are busy with too much stuff in the background.

 

[Melan]

Fischer! Fischer! Fischer!

 

[Davelozzi]

Ooh, can't do this uninformed. I'll need some samples.

I'll second that motion.

 

[Sodalis]

sardinha

in MoFaerun- he/she did the one funny lookin plant monster that flies and has a large maw....it looks like a flying green leech...

pretty much little to no imagination (and no much detail

i gues sthat is why you fail to put him in the list- not worthy.



[opinion]and if anyone votes for reynolds- they need o have their glasses renewed. he is the best artist of the lot followed closely by lockwood...

 

[FDP Mike]

I voted for Roach, but I just as easily could have voted for Cramer. Somehow, while their art is not necessarily bad, I just don't like the overall feel and presentation of their work . . . and doubly so when set next to the work of Lockwood or WAR. It's kind of a feeling of simplicity, but also -- for me -- a sense that I've seen their style(s) before, while other (newer) artists express some special energy and "edge" that feels more "heroic." (Well, if any of that made any sense . . . .)

My favourite, bar none, is WAR! Good to see him get a Dragon cover -- and for him to get the proper credit.

I'm also liking very much the work of Jason A. Engle (from Dragon mostly, I think). Very atmospheric and haunting.

Oh! And I can't forget Brian Leblanc's covers for FDP! Some of the best out there! (Sorry, Psion, couldn't go without getting in that plug . . . . )

Very intriguing poll, by the way.

 

[Psion]

I voted for Roach, but I just as easily could have voted for Cramer.

You weren't limited to one vote.

My favourite, bar none, is WAR! Good to see him get a Dragon cover -- and for him to get the proper credit.

I'm also liking very much the work of Jason A. Engle (from Dragon mostly, I think). Very atmospheric and haunting.

Engle does more Dungeon, but yeah I'm right with you. He also did the cover to Arcana: Societies of Magic (which just so happens to be my Avatar pic on realmsofevil.net)

 

[Henry@home]

Reynolds, Cramer, and fischer all have the "cartoony", half-finished look that I dislike in my art. I dislike artwork that does not depict a scene, but rather what the artist is "thinking" about a scene.

For this reason, Easley, Lockwood, and Swekel float my boat - I prefer "photographic" art.