Should there have been a roll of drums?

Well, as mentioned last post, went to see the film 'Death' , at BAFTA, a small independent piece by the excellent Martin Gooch who wrote, directed and did all the jobs that nobody else was available for, and we had a good time, both watching the film, which features my work in the titles and in a couple of scenes, and meeting others.

Now this is where I was wondering if there might have been a roll of drums, or at least a crack of thunder [it rained enough] when I introduced myself to that doyen of gaming Ian Livingstone. Who, along with Steve Jackson, created the Fighting Fantasy series and launched a lot of happy people into the world of roll playing gaming certainly in this country.

As it turned out there was no roll of drums, or thunder, but in the ensuing din around we had a nice conversation, in which he voiced his surprise that we'd never spoken to each other face to face. I had intended to start with a quip about, 'Dr. Livingstone I presume',  but in all the turmoil of reaching him through the packed room .... forgot. I also met his lovely wife, and lad, and she very kindly took our photograph, which Ian has passed on and I post below.

So for all those that wanted to see us together.... there you have it, and who knows maybe we'll work together again in the future.

As mentioned, it was good evening, and day, for caught a 'free' rehearsal of Beethoven's 1812 Overture at the local church of St. James. Most interesting to see how the conductor chose what to emphasis and of course there was the flying baton.... But we're only now recovered from travelling under London, via Piccadilly, would you believe ... Never again on the underground. It's too much walking and climbing for two old dears.

Now I cannot go without posting a couple of other pictures, thanks to the incomparable Andy these come from Blacksand Advanced Fighting Fantasy.

 Also a couple of old White Dwarf magazine pieces [ If I've posted these before my apologies].

Right that's it for now. Next time, some new work.

How to rough it ... an example

Thanks to Atom, I'm going to post one of my rough sketches for an image I did for Le Grimoire's Lone Wolf .. http://www.legrimoire.net/images/russ-nicholson.htm though the rough went through various changes, including 'corrections' from the client it was actually completed using a graphic tablet.

development of rough sent to client before changes made primarily to street detail and size of central heroes

Below is a copy of the final piece the original and the final piece used.

Other little jobs included this 'Kurtok', for New Zealand, and a few more Spurgers for Space madness.

A harbour from ye old Fabled Lands ...and a Kabuki theatre.

Now some real old pieces, that last appeared in the American fanzine, Copper Toadstool 5, published in 1979.

For those that missed it [cough] you'll also see I can now be found on facebook but don't expect anything to exciting. Blogs are it see....

Finally, a couple of Spacey bits to add to my space posts ... and to whet any appetites for such ... added again, because he wanted to see roughs. Though no claims the final work will be much of an improvement. lol

Till der next time .... before I moves to Gobsville [oooh, dats a secrets]. Don't sent roun' der bozys, please.

Addition ... Sebastien Boudaud, editor extraordinaire [Le Grimoire] , friend and other titles to numerous to mention, has kindly posted on facebook an interview I had at last years Monde de Jeu . Having listened to it after a year ... I realise it leaves a lot to be desired [cough] and memory is not my strong point as me ol' mother would say. But for those interested who have not heard it ....hear it is: http://www.scifi-universe.com/fiche_actu.asp?id=10234.

ALSO ... Do check out http://www.ancientblades.com/ where David Chandler has set up his own web page and which features the work I did for his Free City of Ness project.

lastly ... Amused to see that http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=110723238706&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT   has had no takers. 

10/9/11 ... Now it has ..... don't know what to think, to a private amusement. Though in one respect it's nice. 

Only connect.... links to other news and stuff

OK, This post is just a little delayed it should have happened a few weeks ago, but other stuff [as happens] got in the way.
Still better late than never. Lots of things out from listening to me prattle on at 'Monde de Jeu' in Paris earlier this year with Lone Wolf creator, Joe Dever, and a Le Grimoire, of whom I was a guest, who posted a YouTube clip which among other things, shows me signing books [I know you can't wait... but, on the other hand, if you want to see me draw...]. To stuff about The Fabled Lands 're-launch' in book form, and also, as a new iPad game from Megara Entertainment.


http://fabledlands.blogspot.com/2010/12/fabled-lands-players-call-to-arms.html

http://megara-entertainment.com/ 


http://www.scifi-universe.com/fiche_actu.asp?id=10234 Features Russ rabbiting ...

Interview with Joe Dever and Russ Nicholson [part 1/ 2/ 3] by the excellent Paul Gresty and Sophia Ehrsam at Monde du Jeu


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68JxOPBTJqE&feature=related Part 1


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm7leSTI9-o&feature=related Part 2


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0V18Q5xkUc&feature=related Part 3

No dialogue on the next, but you can watch me scribble ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41XtLrAFO7E

I'll add a disclaimer to some of my chatter ... I had nothing prepared [almost] and having cringingly watched some of this, after some passage of time, I realise my memory, et al, is based on what I thought at the time and nothing else.


Also available from Dragon Warriors ....
http://dragonwarriors.wetpaint.com/photos/album/184028/Golden+Dragon+4
http://dragonwarriors.wetpaint.com/page/Illustrators
Which also features really nice new colour artwork from Jon Hodgson - see more at his blog: http://jonnyhodgsonart.blogspot.com/


There are of course other projects I've been busy with but till they are printed, etc. cannot say much at the moment.


To finish, this is an old experimental piece for one of the British Fantasy Society zines a good number of years ago.

I'll try and post a few more pics, etc. before the week is out, and the year ..sigh [doesn't time fly]. Now, if it would only warm up or I could buy a Lottery ticket that means we could have central heating installed... [all say ..aah]


Hope you all had a good time over Christmas .. my best wishes to you all and to your families.

Pen & Brush

So, what about pen and brush? The problem is as much about where to start.

What is relevant? I suppose the best way is to 'show' examples of different work, in different mediums, and on occasion, different genres. Certainly different Fantasy RPG genres.

This post will appear in 'parts' as I find time to show work examples over the coming days.

Over the years I have used a variety of media in  both black & white and colour, but the mediums I intend to discuss are mostly to do with print reproduction. In days of yore, pre-computer generated art the most common tools for B/W artwork was traditional dip pens, brushes, pen and brush combined or technical pens and occasionally felt pens. The artwork was generally done at 1 and a 1/2 times reproduction size [though their were exceptions] and on good quality Bristol board of various types. In some ways it was the board used that could make the difference to the quality of the image and it was something everybody strived to find. Today, a lot of those boards, and the companies that produced them [certainly in the UK] appear to have 'gone', mores the pity.

Of course the paper chosen for the books also has a huge 'effect' on the quality of reproduction. No matter how 'good' your work, if it's printed on upgraded toilet paper ...

OK. Let's look at a few pieces - it is not necessarily what I'd qualify as 'good' work but it does 'show' examples of different types of B/W work. Here we have traditional 'dip' pen and ink.

This particular illustration was produced for a 'different' game book by Puffin back in 1987. There were two books produced in the series Robin of Sherwood and each book tied in with the television series. The most amusing thing I can remember from this particular job was Puffin wanted any character that appeared in the Television series to be drawn as accuratly as was possible in the illustrations, but at the same time, also made me sign a contract with a disclaimer that basically stated I was not allowed to show an accurate likeness as I could be sued and in the wording of the contract Puffin denied all responsibilty. Simply put - match any TV actors likeness [if they appeared in any illustration] but not so anyone would say, 'that's so and so!'  Luckily, they hardly featured in the pictures I had to draw.

As an aside - note [if you're not already aware] the choice of scene to be illustrated is very rarely the choice of the illustrator.

A couple of examples of technical pen now. Over the years I've used a variety of makes, and pen sizes, My favourite pen [sadly long gone] had a nib that was so 'worn', it had a bevelled point, which made using it a pleasure.

In the following, each of these examples show a slightly different approach to the use of pen though some would say, 'in your dreams'.

This first was done for a short story in a Fantasy anthology. The next for one of the FF fiction titles I worked on.

The next for one of the later FF game books.

 Next another game book.

 And the last [for present] two showing different 'styles' from The Fabled Lands series.

Lastly, a quick mention about Citadel Miniatures, which had a nice little mention, or at least a 'dwarf' figure did, in Daddy Grognard's excellant blog. The mention of the figures reminded me that some of the earliest figures are actually based on my some of my drawings. They kindly sent me a sample at the time and somewhere in my 'attic' there they still sit.

Next post will contain some old pieces .... and other stuff.

Worlds

Worlds. One of the interesting aspects of drawing is to attempt, when possible [as some illustrative tasks demand otherwise], to 'flesh out' the subject of the picture to show something of the 'world beyond'. I'm not professing to be good at it, but it's something I like to do.

After the Fabled Lands series was cancelled by Macmillan [Pan Books] after only six titles, instead of the planned twelve, Dave Morris and Jamie Thomson decided to look for other directions. Dave has since gone on to, among other things, work, with Leo Hartis,  on his graphic novel Mirabilis - Years of Wonder, and his Fabled Lands  blog site.

One of the earliest creations that Dave and I worked on as a possible game scenario was The Shadow King, and I was given the task of roughing out [and they are rough, lol] a few scenes to show the world of the Shadow King, which was to be set at the turn of the 20th Century in an alternate London.

The other world scenario was that of Abraxes, the Fabled Land. Abraxes was, as you'll see from the map that I drew from Dave's rough, a large island where different peoples lived. The key cities of each race had its antecedent's in races that once inhabit our own world. Thus there are hints of Egyptian, Assyrian, Toltec peoples, among others.

Here is the map of Abraxas - The Fabled Land, and a few of the sketches I created to try to visualise the land of Abraxas.

I also had to come up with the creatures [from Dave's written descriptions], and create my own costume designs, and so on, that would inhabit this world.

Before finishing, a special mention for Andy, who has gone to all the trouble of identifying the published source of the illustrations I have posted on line to date.