Ineffective Voulging
*eyeroll*
Choose the better illustrator
Edited for the benefit of pedants
Edited for the benefit of pedants
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Illustration deathmatch
- Thread starter Ineffective Voulging
- Start date
DangerousPuhson
My my my, we just loooove to hear ourselves don't we?
Otus has a quaint unique style, while Easley's work looks like the cover of every single Adult Fantasy novel ever written (i.e. generic, albeit talented). I give it to Otus.
That being said, two options to choose from isn't exactly what I'd call diverse choice. What of Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson, Wayne Reynolds, Jim Rolsof, David Trampier, or Tyler Jacobson? There are a LOT of illustrators in the space: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_role-playing_game_artists
That being said, two options to choose from isn't exactly what I'd call diverse choice. What of Larry Elmore, Keith Parkinson, Wayne Reynolds, Jim Rolsof, David Trampier, or Tyler Jacobson? There are a LOT of illustrators in the space: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_role-playing_game_artists
The Heretic
Should be playing D&D instead
Erol Otis, easily. His stuff is unique.
The coolest thing ever would be for Erol Otis to illustrate the works of Clark Ashton Smith. That would rock.
The Heretic
The coolest thing ever would be for Erol Otis to illustrate the works of Clark Ashton Smith. That would rock.
The Heretic
The1True
8, 8, I forget what is for
Caldwell is way worse for that, but yeah.
DangerousPuhson
My my my, we just loooove to hear ourselves don't we?
You should make your own poll... with blackjack, and hookers.
Ineffective Voulging
*eyeroll*
Elmore, Reynolds, Jacobsen: all shit
DangerousPuhson
My my my, we just loooove to hear ourselves don't we?
You must be very fun at the parties you don't get invited to, Voulging.
Ineffective Voulging
*eyeroll*
Elmore fans dont deserve eyeballs
The1True
8, 8, I forget what is for
Screw you, Snarfquest was awesome! You're probably a Caldwell lover (the Rob Leifeld of the D&D world).
The artists they contracted for the Scourge of the Slavelords compilation adventure (Ron Lindahn & Val Lakey Lindahn) were hot raging garbage. I'm having trouble thinking of worse, really.
Beoric
8, 8, I forget what is for
Lots of fanservice in Snarfquest. Elmore is like Frazetta-lite </ambivalent>.
As impractical as Reynolds' art is, it always makes me want to play. It's like a Pavlovian response, and I don't get the same thing from most of the other artists. Trampier also often did this for me. Outside of them, it's more individual pieces, like A Paladin in Hell, than the artists' work as a whole. Otis' work never did anything for me, except when the subject was supposed to look like a Lovecraftian horror.
As impractical as Reynolds' art is, it always makes me want to play. It's like a Pavlovian response, and I don't get the same thing from most of the other artists. Trampier also often did this for me. Outside of them, it's more individual pieces, like A Paladin in Hell, than the artists' work as a whole. Otis' work never did anything for me, except when the subject was supposed to look like a Lovecraftian horror.
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Ineffective Voulging
*eyeroll*
I didn't bother to insult Caldwell fans because surely there aren't any.
DangerousPuhson
My my my, we just loooove to hear ourselves don't we?
Hey, here's a fun idea Voulging: be better.
Ineffective Voulging
*eyeroll*
Id prefer not to.
The1True
8, 8, I forget what is for
I prefer Parkinson for his textured oils, but I'll allow that his pen & inks weren't as strong.
Ineffective Voulging
*eyeroll*
Hot take: Holloway does great comic action scenes but rather dull monster portraits.
squeen
8, 8, I forget what is for
I can't put into words why Holloway was such a massive turn-off for me. Not cartoon-y enough for comedy, too muddy and dorky for horror. Massive turn-off in the 2nd wave D&D products.
Beoric
8, 8, I forget what is for
My sentiments exactly.
What Trampier and Elmore did/do well is creatures in motion. Their subjects are off-balance in a literal sense, in the way we are all off-balance between one stride and the next. Like, walking is controlled falling until you stop yourself with the other leg. Most other D&D art looks posed.
"Comic" does a lot of the heavy lifting here. As actual action scenes I find them lacking (see above).