Oh, the guy is actually a gal? My bad. In a kind of life imitating art moment, I find I'm having that same problem out in the real world as well, these days.
Nice nod to the Flame Princess cover, but I have to agree with biopunk: needs more cobbles. Also garbage in every corner. Cities = filth, albeit not in a DnDWPS ways.
Its interesting that both you and Zak crave female protaganists for your covers and imaginations. I myself see women as a lower form of hero than the hobbit, that is, not entirely credible even in a fantasy environment and think it is unsportsmanlike to humiliate monsters by having ladies (or hobbits) get the better of them.
I like it. Zak's style is pretty distinctive from what I still associate with D&D (Elmore), in a way that even the LotFP cover wasn't. Dark, washed out, brooding... Oh, and a flail! We don't see flails in most RPG art.
Mmm...cover art should make the onlooker intrigued, pique interest, buy product. I'm not too sure this piece does any of that. Cover art shouldn't turn off the casual onlooker from buying it. This piece does that for me.
I love it! ...the flames coming off the peryton's candlelabra/horns are inspired... I'd like to see less of the 'paint by numbers' approach to fantasy illustration and I don't care if it's supposed to be a city or a forest of wierd trees or natural stone pillars. The buildings/pillars reming me of Max Ernst 'frottage' art (which is perhaps a good association due to your porno connections)... but your are more square --- like old Max was trying to do one of his frottage paintings on an etch-a-sketch. Add in some dirigibles and she could be whacking Perytons in Blade-Runner city.
Kent: You are trying too hard to be a 'provocateur' and instead just are coming off as a douchebag.
I have to join the group that can't tell what's happening in the action. I still can't see a peryton shape in there, even though I know what I'm looking for now. True, my vision's not that great any more, though.
limpey, you can call me what you like so long as you use the correct grammar. Also consider that 'douchebag' is only effective among American preteens.
I'll agree that the picture doesn't say "city" in the generic sense of "city," but it definitely says "City of Vornheim." But I would think that; I've read the book.
Zak's been making updates to the pic and posting them on his blog. Here is the latest, and larger than I posted.
I love the expression on the adventuress and the flames especially. I also love the flail.
I wish the Peryton's maw and talons were more distinctly represented, but on the other hand the ambiguity can invite closer inspection of the whole picture (drawing the eyes into the background towers etc) which is an effective strategy.
I get this funny Leiber's Nehwon vibe from it, the sort of strange thing that you could expect to be happening in soot encrusted old and dirty Lankhmar. Warrior fighting something conjured by sorcerer.
man am i so not getting this picture. i can't make heads or frigging tails out of what is happening except some goth kid has a mace that he/she is swinging at what i first mistook for king kong's hand. it leaves me frustrated and squint eyed trying to figure out wtf is going on. definitely not an image that invites a purchase.
Think I'm gonna change her shoulder
ReplyDeleteA purple-mohawked guy pinned under a log taking on a baby peryton? I hope he wins...he could use a meal.
ReplyDeleteIt's kinda hard to see what she's fighting. Lots of grays mixed together. But it's still really cool looking.
ReplyDeleteI like the style (kinda reminds me of old Gormenghast covers)... but I'm confused about what is going on there.
ReplyDeleteOh, the guy is actually a gal? My bad. In a kind of life imitating art moment, I find I'm having that same problem out in the real world as well, these days.
ReplyDeleteOverall I think it's great, but I do think that the coloration makes the monster's muzzle/ear/horns blend into the surroundings too much.
ReplyDeleteI'm not getting a strong sense of "city" with this...
ReplyDeleteNice nod to the Flame Princess cover, but I have to agree with biopunk: needs more cobbles. Also garbage in every corner. Cities = filth, albeit not in a DnDWPS ways.
ReplyDeleteI like the flail a lot!
ReplyDeleteFantasy tenement skyscrapers in the background? Candelabra peryton?!
Vornheim...where everyone sensible stays inside after a snowstorm on account of the monsters that hunt folks that are slowed down by it...
Terrible use of colors. I'm going to echo the can't see what the hell is going on crowd.
ReplyDelete@Chris:
ReplyDeleteI think it was the lack of seeing any of the rooftops on the buildings.
Their absence makes them look too much like tree-trunks or stones, and gave it a more wilderness-than-civilization appearance to me.
@Zak or Jim:
Is this piece cropped, or is it the original?
I also can't tell what that thing is doing very well.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting that both you and Zak crave female protaganists for your covers and imaginations. I myself see women as a lower form of hero than the hobbit, that is, not entirely credible even in a fantasy environment and think it is unsportsmanlike to humiliate monsters by having ladies (or hobbits) get the better of them.
ReplyDeleteI like it. Zak's style is pretty distinctive from what I still associate with D&D (Elmore), in a way that even the LotFP cover wasn't. Dark, washed out, brooding... Oh, and a flail! We don't see flails in most RPG art.
ReplyDeleteLike the cover, and looking forward to seeing the final product. Oh, and buying it too :)
ReplyDeleteMandy!
ReplyDeleteMmm...cover art should make the onlooker intrigued, pique interest, buy product. I'm not too sure this piece does any of that. Cover art shouldn't turn off the casual onlooker from buying it. This piece does that for me.
ReplyDeleteI love it! ...the flames coming off the peryton's candlelabra/horns are inspired... I'd like to see less of the 'paint by numbers' approach to fantasy illustration and I don't care if it's supposed to be a city or a forest of wierd trees or natural stone pillars. The buildings/pillars reming me of Max Ernst 'frottage' art (which is perhaps a good association due to your porno connections)... but your are more square --- like old Max was trying to do one of his frottage paintings on an etch-a-sketch. Add in some dirigibles and she could be whacking Perytons in Blade-Runner city.
ReplyDeleteKent: You are trying too hard to be a 'provocateur' and instead just are coming off as a douchebag.
I have to join the group that can't tell what's happening in the action. I still can't see a peryton shape in there, even though I know what I'm looking for now. True, my vision's not that great any more, though.
ReplyDeleteIt just doesn't say "city" to me. I, too, had a hard time distinguishing the creature from the background.
ReplyDeletelimpey, you can call me what you like so long as you use the correct grammar. Also consider that 'douchebag' is only effective among American preteens.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteCorrect grammar or not, I find the use of "douchebag" to be especially effective when Kent insists on making comments like he was 12 year old :)
ReplyDeleteI'll agree that the picture doesn't say "city" in the generic sense of "city," but it definitely says "City of Vornheim." But I would think that; I've read the book.
ReplyDeleteZak's been making updates to the pic and posting them on his blog. Here is the latest, and larger than I posted.
I love the expression on the adventuress and the flames especially. I also love the flail.
ReplyDeleteI wish the Peryton's maw and talons were more distinctly represented, but on the other hand the ambiguity can invite closer inspection of the whole picture (drawing the eyes into the background towers etc) which is an effective strategy.
I adore the high-contrast, graphic shadows.
I get this funny Leiber's Nehwon vibe from it, the sort of strange thing that you could expect to be happening in soot encrusted old and dirty Lankhmar. Warrior fighting something conjured by sorcerer.
ReplyDeleteman am i so not getting this picture. i can't make heads or frigging tails out of what is happening except some goth kid has a mace that he/she is swinging at what i first mistook for king kong's hand.
ReplyDeleteit leaves me frustrated and squint eyed trying to figure out wtf is going on. definitely not an image that invites a purchase.
now, the vornheim map on zak's blog intrigues me and sucks me right in! that map hints at massive insanity!
ReplyDeleteThe whole cover in printed product looks so cool. In the printed version the picture quality and coloring is way better in my opinion.
ReplyDelete