Dragon Magazine 389

http://www.wizards.com/dnd/TOC.aspx?x=dnd/4new/drtoc/389

This is a precious illustration to me. It is one of those where I took a step in a new direction. Where I took a chance and dared something out of the comfort zone, and also one , where I diverted a lot from the art description and hoped that they would go for it.

Jon Schindehette had just a week ago written an article in his blog Artorder, where he said that a good way to not get hired again, would be to stray too much from the art description. So when mailing him the sketch for this one, I was crossing my fingers that he would like the new approach...well he did, and I picked up the brushes.

In this painting I tried for the first time a zoomed out scene with smaller figures than what I am used to. I almost always focus on a main figure making a heroic portrait with a semi detailed background. I was in the mood for doing a more complex painting. also I wanted it to be more of a scene than a portrait. That is ofcause a lot more difficult, but I am glad I did. The painting shows a female wizard being hunted by Wyvern riders. ( there is one more on the rooftop ) I wanted to capture the moment where the hunter and the hunted sees each-other and the last fight begins. this is the moment that are always the most intense in roleplaying. I cannot count the times I have been in the situation where the pour wizard girl is, wounded, out numbered and without the equipment, that could safe you.

Notice the reward posters on the wall with her picture on them.

When painting the fighter I focused on making him a solid muscular guy leaning toward the heavy site, ( kind of like myself except for the muscles ) thus making him seem more real and dirty.

Mists of Zanaga

This is one of the Runebound covers I did for Fantasy Flight Games. The illustration is going to be used in a cirkular frame, but I still paint it almost rectangular. I enjoyed making up small details in the monkey-demons design. Especially the impaled body of a human king that is stuck on one of his horns, is a detail I am proud of. I looked at different monkeys to get the idea for the coloration.

Taunter and Godtoucher

Here is 2 magiccard illustrations I have been asked to upload.

Dungeon Quest

This is an illustration I did for Fantasy Flight Games. It is a classic dungeon crawl game, so the illustration had to be classic too. I really enjoyed doing this illustration. They gave me almost free hands and i came up with the idea of a wizard repelling the breath of a dragon. In the first sketches there was a figther too fleeing while the wizard was holding back the dragons fire, but the game was design to be played against each-other, not together, so I had to cut the figther.

In the game the wizard is wearing a half mask covering the left side of his face.

Ravenloft Boardgame

I was very happy to get this assignment. The painting is for a Boardgame set in the world of Ravenloft, called Castle Ravenloft.

I already knew all about the original roleplaying game and was very familiar with the cover illustration from back then. My job was to do a more modern version, while still being true to the original mood.

I have attached a version showing a lot of the referanches I used during the process.

In the end I did not pose for the Count myself, but made the pose up from my head, since the photo I took had me looking completely like an idiot - as I am sure you can tell.

Prey´s Vengeance

Here is a brand new magiccard illustration. It is one of 2 cards featuring the same 2 monsters. I think the light burning out the outline of the treetops are a nice touch. Also I played with the effect of warm light bouncing from the ground up on the tail and legs of the Baloth.

This is one of the paintings where I did not change anything from thumb to final painting. As a afterthought I see now that the yellow beast looks to much like a giant evil teletubby. Sadly it is one of my own designs. See what happens when you let me do something by myself! Gotta stop watching television with my kids.

Balor and friends

This is a cover for a Dungeons and Dragon Book. I was going to portrait a bunch of different demons having Balor as the leader of the pack. As you can see from the forst sketch his horns and face has undergone a lot of changes. Also the sketch shows how searching I am in this stage. I need a lot of trying lines to shape the form. I am not one of those who sees it in his mind first and then more or less print it out on paper ( Would be cheaper I guess ).
The colors are some of the brigthest I have ever used and the contrast almost hurt my eyes when I first started blocking in the colors. Paul Bonner, with whom I share a studio, walked by and exclaimed: "Oh my God", when he saw my first couple of layers. I do not think he meant it in a good way so turned it down a notch.