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Faraer
Great Reader
3308 Posts |
 Posted - 12 Aug 2006 : 20:20:04
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Here's an interesting article on the differences between American and British cover art.
For my tastes there has always been too much art of Realms characters, and not enough of places and landscapes. I do (and I'm British) prefer to imagine characters for myself, to a point, but also, character illustration is so personal to particular artists that most Realms art of figures I just don't imagine as existing in the Realms. For a while, Dragon covers were almost all posed 'aren't I cool?' glamour shots of people, rather than people acting in situations in places. That kind of art is particularly unsuited to the Realms, which is about groups and societies -- the 'me me me' egotists are villains.
I find it amazing that there still isn't a single officially published illustration of (somewhere as 'iconic' as) Shadowdale. I want to see big, lush landscapes, and I can then imagine my and others' characters in those landscapes. ('I want to go there!', rather than 'I want to know [or worse, be] him/her!')
Just as I can write in British and American English but not Canadian, I wonder how Canadian jackets differ.
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jmf
Acolyte
USA
18 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2006 : 20:44:43
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| i perfer american myself but i really would like to see more background. |
new too forgotten realms help me |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36877 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2006 : 20:45:49
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That's part of why I've not liked the artwork in a long time... Look at Larry Elmore's stuff. Sure, he's got the glamor shots, but at the same time, he pays a lot of attention to the scenery, and makes the area the characters are standing in seem as real as the characters themselves.
One of my favorite pics by him, and the one occupying the center spot on my living room wall, shows a young man and a young woman crossing a series of stepping stones across some body of water. A large serpent-like creature is rearing out of the water. The young man is holding up a glowing amulet in one hand, and his other hand is linked with the girl's.
I've no idea who the characters are. I don't know what setting it is, I don't know what the situation is (beyond the obvious). But when I look at the picture, I know there's a story there. And that potential story fascinates me. It's a large part of why I like the picture. It's not the image itself, it's the story behind the image.
Taking a quick glance at Larry Elmore's website, I see a lot of other images like that. Even those that have the action poses and that I know the story for, the background scenery is still an important part of the overall image, and adds to the overall picture. Here's some at random:
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co223.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co179.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co084.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co027.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co005.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co009.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co029.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co150.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co015.htm
http://www.larryelmore.com/popups/color/co054.htm
Some are FR, some are DL, some are from other settings. But all of them show the surrounding land, and in some cases, the landscape makes the picture work so much better that it otherwise would have. |
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Rinonalyrna Fathomlin
Great Reader
USA
7106 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2006 : 22:15:58
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
For a while, Dragon covers were almost all posed 'aren't I cool?' glamour shots of people, rather than people acting in situations in places. That kind of art is particularly unsuited to the Realms, which is about groups and societies -- the 'me me me' egotists are villains.
Interesting point. But then again, I have to admit that I kind of like glamour shot style photography (and hence, artwork), and as far as I can tell, a lot of people in both America and Britain like that style as well (or at least, it's everywhere in the visual media).
Still, I agree that I'd love to see more landscape-style pictures. |
"Instead of asking why we sleep, it might make sense to ask why we wake. Perchance we live to dream. From that perspective, the sea of troubles we navigate in the workaday world might be the price we pay for admission to another night in the world of dreams."
--Richard Greene (letter to Time) |
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Wandering_mage
Senior Scribe
688 Posts |
Posted - 12 Aug 2006 : 23:14:48
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quote:
[i]Originally posted by Faraer
I find it amazing that there still isn't a single officially published illustration of (somewhere as 'iconic' as) Shadowdale.
I was reading up on Ed and THO's 2004 Q&A and interestingly enough Ed referenced an English Forest/Park in West Central England (at the time I wikipedia'd it)  and I got to see what Ed knows that the Dales woodlands look like. It's a March 2004 reply. Check it out friend. Cheers.  |
Illum
The Wandering Mage |
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Jorkens
Great Reader
Norway
2950 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 04:31:19
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I agree with Farear to a point if we are talking of covers, but more when it comes to interior art of gaming products. Volos guide to all things Magical was the nearest thing to the kind of illustrations I would like to see. Although Fabians work in Forgotten Realms adventures would be my all time favorite, but his style is a little to personal to be used in general. But even these two were to character focused. I would like to see landscapes, commoners houses. No more armor or bad fighting poses.
When it comes to the covers I prefer the old 2ed material, or more generally, the american style of the late 70's and early 80's. When I imagine the realms, its the style of Elmore, Parkinson and the rest of the old illustrators. |
Edited by - Jorkens on 13 Aug 2006 04:55:22 |
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GothicDan
Master of Realmslore
USA
1103 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 04:58:15
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| I really liked Elmore's and Parkinson's works, too... |
Planescape Fanatic
"Fiends and Undead are the peanut butter and jelly of evil." - Me
"That attitude should be stomped on, whenever and wherever it's encountered, because it makes people holding such views bad citizens, not just bad roleplayers (considering D&D was structured as a 'forced cooperation' game, and although successive editions are pointing it more and more towards a me-first, min-max game, the drift away from 'we all need each other to succeed' will at some point make it 'no longer' D&D)." - ED GREENWOOD |
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The Sage
Procrastinator Most High
Australia
31799 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 05:03:23
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I love Elmore's art -- his DL works are part of what made those earlier books such a treat for me to read.
I've also enjoyed his work on the Sovereign Stone setting as well. |
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Zhoth'ilam Folio -- The Electronic Misadventures of a Rambling Sage |
Edited by - The Sage on 13 Aug 2006 05:04:59 |
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Conlon
Learned Scribe
Canada
132 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 05:23:06
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quote:
Originally posted by Faraer
Here's an interesting article on the differences between American and British cover art.
For my tastes there has always been too much art of Realms characters, and not enough of places and landscapes. I do (and I'm British) prefer to imagine characters for myself, to a point, but also, character illustration is so personal to particular artists that most Realms art of figures I just don't imagine as existing in the Realms. For a while, Dragon covers were almost all posed 'aren't I cool?' glamour shots of people, rather than people acting in situations in places. That kind of art is particularly unsuited to the Realms, which is about groups and societies -- the 'me me me' egotists are villains.
I find it amazing that there still isn't a single officially published illustration of (somewhere as 'iconic' as) Shadowdale. I want to see big, lush landscapes, and I can then imagine my and others' characters in those landscapes. ('I want to go there!', rather than 'I want to know [or worse, be] him/her!')
Just as I can write in British and American English but not Canadian, I wonder how Canadian jackets differ.
Well, having been birthed on Canadian soil (not directly into the dirt, of course), and being raised in the Great White North, I will answer. Naturally, the answer I provide will be politically-correct, unoffensive to all involved parties, and all around moderate in tone and content. Oh, forget it, I'll act American and tell it like it is! 
I was ushered into fantasy by DL and I can clearly remember staring at the cover art, lying in my bed, and just being swept away. Although I do enjoy some of the more character-focused art, I believe that for a book cover, a bit more focus on the setting is important. Our resident rodent of baleful forboding hit the nail on the head on why he feels the way that I do...but hey, everyone's different, so rock on Larry Elmore and rock on Todd Lockwood! |
My hopes are ashes, my dreams are dust. All my intentions mean nothing unless they are followed by action. |
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Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
USA
36877 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 06:15:43
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quote:
Originally posted by Conlon
resident rodent of baleful forboding
That's the funniest thing I've read all week!
I agree with you, though. I don't want my artwork to just be a single scene. I want it to be something that pulls me into the story and into the setting. I want more than just a moment's action -- I want something that draws me in and takes me for a ride. |
Candlekeep Forums Moderator
Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
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I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen! |
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GothicDan
Master of Realmslore
USA
1103 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 06:26:16
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| I definitely prefer the British style of art covers of the books shown in Faraer's link. Mood over realism, any day - at least for cover art. |
Planescape Fanatic
"Fiends and Undead are the peanut butter and jelly of evil." - Me
"That attitude should be stomped on, whenever and wherever it's encountered, because it makes people holding such views bad citizens, not just bad roleplayers (considering D&D was structured as a 'forced cooperation' game, and although successive editions are pointing it more and more towards a me-first, min-max game, the drift away from 'we all need each other to succeed' will at some point make it 'no longer' D&D)." - ED GREENWOOD |
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Conlon
Learned Scribe
Canada
132 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 20:15:49
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quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert
quote:
Originally posted by Conlon
resident rodent of baleful forboding
That's the funniest thing I've read all week!
I agree with you, though. I don't want my artwork to just be a single scene. I want it to be something that pulls me into the story and into the setting. I want more than just a moment's action -- I want something that draws me in and takes me for a ride.
Glad I could put a smile on your furry face, Wooly! |
My hopes are ashes, my dreams are dust. All my intentions mean nothing unless they are followed by action. |
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Archwizard
Learned Scribe
USA
266 Posts |
Posted - 13 Aug 2006 : 21:00:26
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| Some of the 3e FR sourcebook covers depict landscape scenes or panoramas, such as City of Splendors: Waterdeep and The Shining South. Those are my favorite regional sourcebook covers. A few books, such as Lost Empires of Faerun and Magic of Faerun show various characters in an action scene, those are interesting too. Those scenes make me wonder what exactly is going on, who are the characters involved, why are they there, etc. Even the main three core rulebooks made out to look like old tomes are interesting. The covers with the small portrait of a character or two in a striking pose are the type that I despise, such as all the Complete books. Cluttered battle scenes such as Champions of Ruin/Valor don't do much for me either. |
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Kajehase
Great Reader
Sweden
2104 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 11:49:44
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As a reluctant anglophile (reluctant since I've read a lot of English history it's probably not surprising that I fall in the "british" camp on this issue. I have to say that a grand panoramic landscape is preferable to an ever so glamorous character portrait for book-covers to me (as much as I love Todd Lockwood's covers for Shadows and Starlight, imagine if they instead had been a picture of Menzoberranze or Skullport seen from above, a mist-shrouded Ruathym coastline, and a an equally mist-covered [I like mist, so what?] Rashemen valley).
I have one caveat, though, once a character's appearance have been firmly established I wouldn't mind seeing a nice portrait. As long as it's not a black-haired Laeral at least |
There is a rumour going around that I have found god. I think is unlikely because I have enough difficulty finding my keys, and there is empirical evidence that they exist.
Terry Pratchett |
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Chosen of Moradin
Master of Realmslore
Brazil
1120 Posts |
Posted - 14 Aug 2006 : 13:27:37
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quote:
Originally posted by The Sage
I love Elmore's art -- his DL works are part of what made those earlier books such a treat for me to read.
And I“m another fan of Elmore“s art! I agree with the majority of the statements here, and I really will be a very happy dwarf if I see more art (cover or internal art) showing the landscapes of Faerūn (really, the internal art of Lost Empires of Faerūn is amazing - I“m still fascinated by that image of the sunken city, with a boat or ship near of a tower that stands out of the water) |
Dwarf, DM, husband, and proud of this! :P
twitter: @yuripeixoto
Facebook: yuri.peixoto |
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Realms art: (landscapes and characters)
