A Daily Jaunt Through the Planes (of my past)
No, my dear old gaming fans, your eyes do not deceive you. This is a tiefling which was sketched yesterday and inked today.
I am not working for TSR/WotC/Hasbro, in fact; I am drawing and inking away on the upcoming Spiderwick book, A Giant Problem. Part of my routine, when I am on such an intense deadline (and this is one), is “warming up” with some sketching to get my brain-eye-hand-coordination up to speed before I begin the final illustrations.
And I’ve been feeling a bit nostalgic. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of my farewell to the Planescape role-playing-game (my last book was the third Monstrous Compendium in 1998). As I have said before, I really enjoyed working on that game – despite the insane deadlines. Children’s stories were always my big career goal, but my involvement with Planescape helped me understand how to visualize and build a fantastic world for characters to dwell.
So, over the next week or so, as the urge hits me, I’ll revisit some of the old people and monsters that I drew all those years ago…and I hope you’ll enjoy them.
This gal was actually transfered from the original 1996 sketch. I made some obvious changes as I inked her with a Hunt 102 nib and FW ink – the same medium that I used back then.
First off, I actually have her doing something. In the original she was just posing, as I likely copied the pose from a fashion catalog – which I used often in those days. Here, she is holding out her necklace and casting some no-good-spell. Also, I hinted at the shadiness of the area she is hanging out in by scribbling in some “Wanted” posters. Her look and attire, as it was then, was inspired by Pris, Daryl Hannah’s character in the 1982 film Blade Runner.
PS–Let’s see if anyone can remember what book this gal is from…I’ll send a set of my d20 character sheets to whomever posts it first:)
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She looks like the Tiefling entry from the Planescape Monstrous Compendium I…
I loved the work you did for Planescape (and the older 2nd edition AD&D Monstrous Manual).
That´s Kylie from, unless I miss my guess, Uncaged: The Faces of Sigil. Where´s her pet ethyk? (:
Yes, big Planescape fan.
http://pics.livejournal.com/etherlad/pic/0003z43w/g40
I’m not sure which book, but I can tell you this: PLANESCAPE RETROSPECTIVE OH BOY!
Planescape was one of the best settings ever, largely in part due to your artwork.
That’s Kylie the tout from Uncaged: Faces of Sigil (p56)! Awesome.
I always loved the planescape setting,
one of the things that made it most unique for me was your artwork.
i haven’t looked through my planescape books in a while actually.
now im feeling nostalgic too.
-=R286=-
Nice work Ian! Looks like your correct answer was posted first. I’ll shoot you and email and get your address for the d20 sheets.
Fret not fellow Planescapers, I’ll find more goodies to give away during the week:)
Yay! I cant wait for the new Spiderwick books.
Is drawing Merfolk hard?
I hope we get to see a new one in colour in ‘A Giant Problem”!!
Well good luck with the art!
Yes Campbell, the merfolk are a bit complicated to render. They do make an appearance in the new book, but not in color…
She somewhat looks like a pirate!
Thanks Tony for everything you did to the Planescape set and it’s flavour!
Here in Argentina you have some fans of your artwork!
Bye! Keep drawing!
Oh Tony, you have made my year…Planescape, how I miss it. I’m going to go get all my old books out now and look at all the pictures for a couple hours…*happy sigh*
I miss you too BTW, and I hope you and Angela are both well.
Drop me a line sometime if you get a chance, I still need to send you pics of those two paintings framed like I promised all those ages ago and I need to know what addy to send em to.
Yours,
Thor from Milwaukee
Thanks for making Planescape what it is/was. Your art is great and really set the atmosphere in the setting. They don’t make ‘em like they used to.
Good luck with your projects. (and don’t stop warming up with Planescape art please)
Tony, you defined Planescape (and Changling:the Dreaming).
Good luck on the Spiderwick stuff; I think your style suits it perfectly.
Hi. I am one of the new generation illustrating the upcoming Planescape books. There’s a call for artists
Anyway, I will have one of my pieces in the books, and here’s a link. You’re a huge inspiration to me.
Planescape Functional Wings: http://pegacorna2.deviantart.com/art/Planescape-Functional-Wings-125304567
Warmest Regards,
Stephanie Small
Very cool Stephanie! Love the palette!
Very cool Stephanie,
I especially like the palette of the modron. Best of luck!
Hi Tony,
I have to admit that your art was the main reason I got into Planescape, and into D&D in general. I had been introduced to the game by friends, and cousins, but it wasn’t until I found the PS boxed set at my cousin’s house that I became obsessed. I bought every book and boxed set they came out with, and even found some books where you had done the art for the Dark Sun setting. To this day your original art is some of my favorite. My sister and I would spend hours copying your art from all of the old D&D books. I’m happy to see that you are becoming more and more commercially successful, and I have hopefully added to your pocket by buying almost everything you come out with. Kudos to you sir, and thanks for helping to build a young man’s imagination!
Hi James,
Thanks for the kind note. It truly means a lot to me. And you should know that I refined my drawing skills by copying out of my old D&D books. They are such troves of imagination and I am happy to have been a part of them.
Tony,
While I was fascinated with the Outer Panes via MMII’s modrons as a four-year-old in 1980, your work actually cemented my love for the Planescape setting. I grew up with some of these bizarre creatures always sitting in the back of my mind. After seeing your artwork in the Planescape boxed set, I was hooked. When I think of the setting and its other-worldliness, your art is what comes to mind. I can’t imagine what a place looks like without invoking your style.
Despite being thirty-four, I find that your illustrations continue to delight me and have a tendency to bring out the child in me when I spy your work in a book store.
Thank you so much Richard, I still love that I was a part of D&D and the Planescape line. Being a part of that really informed how I create new worlds for my books.
…and I did love drawing those modrons:)
I’m a part of a thriving online gaming community, and you’re something of a cult figure among us thanks to your Planescape work.
Wouldn’t it be taking it too far if I asked if you could maybe do some simple sketch Planescape-related commissions for us for any price you name? What if I say “pleeeeease”?
I’ll see what I have in my old files when I return home from tour, Dan…
Actually, I thought that maybe you could sketch something not overly complex by our requests…
Hey Tony, as one of the managers of the Official Planescape site let me first thank you for the work you’ve done in bringing our favorite campaign setting to life!
What sort of fee would you want in order for me to get the rights to use these new PS sketches on my campaign wiki (Linked as my website) . It is not for any profit, just personal use and the entertainment of the PS community (I hope).
Thanks!
Hi Loki,
Feel free to use the images. Just credit me and add links. have fun!
Hey Tony! I’m just barely coming across this page but I have to agree with all the like-minded individuals who’ve already posted. A game like Blood Wars would have never held my attention were it not for the abundance of your artwork. Whenever I wander through Barnes and Noble and a book cover catches my eye I always know your style whether I’m familiar with the book or not, you just have a way of drawing things with boyish charm, elusive mystery, or just that general Oh hell! What’s going to happen next!” feeling.
I’m happy your art has created the life you love, but Planescape…nothing will capture my imagination like that world…
Best of luck to you, friend.
Damon
Thanks for being a fan all these years, Damon. I truly appreciate you being along for the whole ride:)