You can then imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to work on the new publication for 4th edition D&D, and better still that I was offered two chapters starts; lovely double page spreads that I could really go to town on.
This was especially true of the first, which was the opening chapter in the book, and needed to show the legendary Liche Vecna using the book to unleash the forces of evil upon the world in all their chaotic bloodthirsty fury.
Evil Unearthed
Approx 21" x 19"
Acrylic on board.
Original SOLD
Copyright Wizards of the Coast
As I wanted to show a vast broiling battlefield I deliberately chose a restricted palette with a sickly colour range, whilst reserving the blue light to pinpoint Vecna.
The composition needed to fit within a strict template which effectively bisected the image into a left-hand third, and right-hand two thirds. This is how the mock-up looked:
The second illustration was equally enjoyable, allowing me to really sock it to one of the good guys - a Gold Dragon in it's own temple - ouch!
Smitten
Approx 21" x 19"
Acrylic on board.
Original SOLD
Copyright Wizards of the Coast
and the mock-up:
Nice pictures. I find the BoVD a very difficult resource to use as a player or DM as the ideas are quite challenging.
ReplyDeletewow those look so cool i like it!
ReplyDeleteOooh, they're so cool! I love your color choose and how you use it as a part of the composition. It's incredible how many people you can paint in a single illustration and how it still work so well. Great action too. When you paint with acrylics do you use just water as medium or somthing else too?
ReplyDeleteJohn: Thnaks. I imagine it is more diffilcult to use, but it is cool ;)
ReplyDeleteDave: Thanks a lot.
Francesco: I do enjoy the unique challenge of working on multiple figure pieces. I use gel mediums as well as water.
Cheers,
Ralph
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Oh, gel medium. Interesting. Do you use it for final touches or you plan your work like: water for "underpainting like" stage and gel for the rest?
ReplyDeleteHi Francesco,
ReplyDeleteI tend to use a bit of heavy body gel in with all my paint, but add more for a bit of texture, or very opaque areas. I have a more translucent gel which I tend to use for a glazing effect; this is handy for magical effects and the like.
Cheers,
Ralph
Thanks for sharing your knowledge. And sorry for my english. I'm improving it as well as my painting skill :)
ReplyDelete