D&D 4E What period of D&D art would you most like to see 4E emulate?

[pogre]

Since D&D is using "points of light" I want them to go the rest of the way and use early 90's Warhammer style art too. Give me some Blanche and Realms of Chaos style stuff!

 

[Deekin]

Other. 4th Ed needs it's own style. Though I do really like some of Wayne Reynolds stuff, esp. his cover on Dungeon Depicting Kyuss.

 

[DarkKestral]

I'd like to see a mix of styles that range the gamut from that of those from early D&D to modern 3.5 ed. with a whole heaping helping of something new and different. Ideally, I'd like to see an illo that reminds me strongly of the past editions, then on the next page, see one that is definitely one that has a new feel.

Stay away from the cartoonish depictions, but definitely use a combination of styles.

 

[WayneLigon]

You know a good classic artist whom we don't see enough of? Liz Danforth. Even her own site doesn't have a lot of art she did for Flying Buffalo's stuff. Most people only know her now through her Magic: The Gathering work.

 

[dougmander]

You know what I like about 1st edition art? It looks like it was drawn by people who played D&D and liked to draw pictures while waiting for their turn. The love of the game and the sense of adventure came through, even though some of the work was crude technically. Looking back over the entire life of the game, I'd have to pick Sutherland and Trampier as the greatest D&D illustrators for this reason, even though in terms of technical ability they're clearly eclipsed by later artists. When I leaf through the 1e core books and the Holmes blue book, I get a sense of excitement that's missing from the later editions.

If I was the art director for 4e, I would push for illustrators who have an instinct for showing the iconic moments in a D&D game. Fewer splash shots of characters against a white background; more scenes of an entire party fighting, looting, or exploring. Tavern scenes; city streets; gloomy tunnels. As for the look of the characters, more cake, less frosting. Make each character class really iconic and distinctive.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

One thing I absolutely DON'T want to see is a mix of styles. I'd rather see the lamest 1e/OD&D-style scrawls applied consistently than a jumble of styles cribbed from each incarnation of D&D.

Lack of clear, consistent art direction results in a product that's bland at best, visually incoherent at worst. Magic the Gathering's creative team figured this out many years ago, and they give every set clear, consistent visual cues that tie it together, even across multiple artists with significantly different personal styles. Eberron does a good job of executing a consistent style, which is one of the main reasons (along with the white, readable backgrounds and general use of white space) that books in that line are so much easier on the eyes than other 3e D&D books.

 

[DarkKestral]

One thing I absolutely DON'T want to see is a mix of styles. I'd rather see the lamest 1e/OD&D-style scrawls applied consistently than a jumble of styles cribbed from each incarnation of D&D.

Lack of clear, consistent art direction results in a product that's bland at best, visually incoherent at worst. Magic the Gathering's creative team figured this out many years ago, and they give every set clear, consistent visual cues that tie it together, even across multiple artists with significantly different personal styles. Eberron does a good job of executing a consistent style, which is one of the main reasons (along with the white, readable backgrounds and general use of white space) that books in that line are so much easier on the eyes than other 3e D&D books.

OK, I don't think you can't have a mix of styles while having clear, consistent art direction. Everything should feel consistent, but that doesn't mean you can't have some visual cues that are meant to evoke certain feelings that are reminiscent of different eras. 3rd ed. has had some great pictures that have stylistic elements that are associated with artists of earlier eras, but have an artist that is firmly grounded in the new edition's artistic 'look'. So you get the 'feeling' of an earlier era, but you also have a feeling of it belonging with the greater whole associated with that era's works. Granted, that can be hard to do. I'd rather have a wholly new style than one that's a poorly done mix of earlier ones.

 

[Bryntryst]

I voted for 3.5 mostly because I really enjoyed Reynolds', Prescott and Weis, but I really don't care as long as they put Baxa's art where it belongs...in the toilet.

EDIT: If you really want to see horrendous Baxa art at it's worst, try and find a copy of Truckin' Turtles. So bad I almost went blind.

 

[Gold Roger]

I think it should emulate the 4th edition period of D&D art.

 

[Gentlegamer]

As for me, I have always rather enjoyed the late 1st edition to mid-2nd edition style of art - the Elmores, the Caldwells, the Parkinsons, etc.

And Horne!