An Interview, a Quick Sketch, and a Contest
I had a great reminisce with my old Dragon magazine editor, Wolfgang Baur, at Kobold Quarterly. We talked about my start working for TSR’s Dungeons & Dragons, my role on creating the visuals for the Planescape role-playing game…and even a little advice for up-and-coming illustrators. You can listen to the entire podcast here.
…and, because I was feeling nostalgic, Wolf coerced me into doing a sketch of my take of the AD&D Monster Manual 2′s “Quickling”, which they are giving away to one lucky visitor at their site. I haven’t drawn D&D stuff in a loooong time (and I likely won’t be in the foreseeable future), so stop by and win a sketch from yours truly. Good luck!
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Your quickling is a nasty little feller. Love those velociraptor-chicken feet! Really gives you a vivid sense of their speedy, mad dash attack.
Thanks Rone, I tried to make him less of a fast elf and make him more of a “creature”…
And it worked. I could actually freak players out with these critters.
Of course you reptilliroostered him. You are the DITTY LIZARD! Go ahead, draw a scaly balladeer. You know you want to.
Long time fan, first time commenter. I loved the interview, and plan on listening to it again to glean any hidden gems I might have missed the first time round. I know this isn’t the first time you felt nostalgic, and I hope you come down with a really nasty case of it in the near (though unforeseen) future!
Thanks for the kind words…you never know…I have a PILE of unpub’d D&D-esque sketches that were meant for a sketchbook…
Ancientish gamer here/friend of Rone/the Jade on Paizo;
I really enjoy the “gaming stuff” section of this blog and the reboots, especially the reinvisioned githyanki. Good stuff!
Nice to see one last D&D creature with that DiTerlizzi style! Brings back memories of the Jigsaw Man and Umbra.
Long time fan, first time commenter, here courtesy of your Open Design interview! Delicious work, and your work continues to be an inspiration in my own artistic meanderings. Heck, if it weren’t for your tremendously influential work on the Planescape setting, there are so many roads I would not have traveled down, artistically speaking. Your creativity just oozes off the page, and I keep hoping I can capture a bit of it for myself!
Hugs and cookies!
“I tried to make him less of a fast elf and make him more of a “creature”".
That’s why your stuff is great. Your fey look ambiguously malevolent, like the old tales, not like saccharine-sweet, cute-as-a button little chldren with pointed ears, that we see far too often.
And a big hello to all the Paizoans, who got here before me!
I like that!!!
Especially his head shape.
Hi Tony,
I actually have one of your planescape interiors (Yangol arrives at Lady Kindergas’ Garden). I love the “potential” of this piece. Somethings going to happen but we do not know what. I would like to ask if you still have some of the planescape originals? I am looking for a piece that appears very early in the same book. It has two figures standing in a bed a roses with a chest hidden in the bed of roses. I’m interested in many of the planescape interiors. Can you help me find any of the planescape interiors?
Martin
Hey Martin,
Most all of the PS original art was sold over the years at various conventions. I have a handful of favorites left in my personal collection. I’m in Florida for the winter, if I find anything in the studio when I get back, I’ll let you know.
::hands writhing together villainously::
Unleash the doodles!
Mwoo Ha Ha Ha!
There are some on my site, under the ART section (scroll all the way to the bottom). And of course, there are some when you roll the d20 too…
I would be very interested in obtaining some of those, if you’re so inclined.
Tony,
Thanks I really appreciate it. Here’s a link to a picture of the framed “Yangol” piece. It came out great. http://i449.photobucket.com/albums/qq211/prufrock15/IMG_0061.jpg
Martin
As a gaming geezer, I remember being knocked back by your Plansescape and Compendium art work way back when. It was just so utterly unlike the usual D&D style. Very inspiring then, and still inspiring today.
Thanks Tatter,
I consciously tried to do something that was different than the norm back then. I had no idea what kind of response I’d get. Needless to say, the kind words and compliments over the years encouraged my imagination and my work.
Its interesting: I was at a bookstore this weekend and was browsing through the gaming section. I picked up the latest MONSTER MANUAL and took a peek at the latest renditions of those beloved creatures. I was a bit disappointed in that they all seemed really angry and really pumped up…perhaps they are taking muscle enhancements to increase their THAC0?
Hi Toni,
If you are back from Florida, could I ask you to take a look in the studio for any Planescape artwork. I would be quite interested in obtaining some of this artwork for my collection.
Thanks
Sorry for the typo. Tony.