Add this as reason #47,897,089,073,218,709th why it just sucks that Dungeon & Dragon won't grace newstands much longer ... The art just keeps getting better and better! Issue 148's art is superlative.
Sure, when I first glimpsed the cover I was thinking Jawa rather than Charon but it was cool nonetheless. The lighting, the details, the spooky "atmosphere", everything about Andrew Hou's cover art is just awesome!
But it doesn't stop there. The great artwork continues throughout the whole mag. Now, Kyle Hunter's style isn't to my particular taste but I must admit its softer edges and less stylized shading/contouring of late is much more appealing to me than his earlier work. Julie Dillon's work in the Automatic Hound is great too. I like the fact that the more you study the initial picture on pg 14, the more interesting detail is revealed. The NPC portraits (not just Dillon's work but throughout the magazine) are compelling and well-wrought. I especially like Udon's pic on pg 48 as it seemed a "snapshot" of citylife in Spinecastle, both fascinating and mundane at the same time. It is such illustrations that really help a DM such as myself draw the players (and myself) into an adventure scene. And I'd be remiss if I failed to mention the efforts of Wootten & Mahy in Wells of Darkness. The opening scene of destruction immediately draws in the viewer and the garish scene on pg 62 is just too cool for words.
By far the best illustration has to go to the Map of Mystery. I wanted to use this scene the moment I viewed it. It was exquisite and evocative with fantastic detail and "flavor". So inspiring and jaw-droppingly beautiful. Words fail...
I hope that all the artists from #148 and other great issues will continue to find outlets for their masterpieces after Dungeon/Dragon stop print publication. I definitely appreciate being able to sample their work. Thanks, artists, for helping me visualize my fantasy world and drawing me into your own wonderful imagination!
|
Thanks for the high praise, Lady Aurora! I was very proud of Traevantahl, and I'm delighted that you enjoyed it so much!
It was during the making of that map that I learned that the magazines would soon be coming to an end. I always try to make every map the best it can be, but I think that knowing that the end was near drove me to put more of myself into this one.
I was in mourning already, like everyone else when the announcement came, and I think it shows in the map. The trees were originally intended to be surrounded with leaves, but the map just didn't look right anymore when I put them in...so I left the trees leafless. The light rays, meanwhile, seemed to fit the mood, so I let them stay in the foreground.
Anyway, thanks again for appreciating the map! :) When issue #150 rolls around, I hope you'll let me know what you think of the final installments.
|
I was in mourning already, like everyone else when the announcement came, and I think it shows in the map. The trees were originally intended to be surrounded with leaves, but the map just didn't look right anymore when I put them in...so I left the trees leafless. The light rays, meanwhile, seemed to fit the mood, so I let them stay in the foreground.
Amen and good work!