So what's new?

Having delved into the distant past in the last two posts it's time to look to what is happening now. Well, simply I'm busy with a range of different projects, all with differing schedules, most of which I cannot mention at the moment except to say they are nicely diverse and include work for new games, a record cover, a map and a book cover. 

Fine and good but what can I post? Well here is a selection from at least one new job as well as a couple of oldies to end with.

I recently completed a few pieces for RuneQuest: Monster Island, which comes out next year. See the site for more details. 

 http://www.thedesignmechanism.com/news.php
Having trouble 'uploading' so if the next are oldies you've seen before ... my apologies.

This last was a sort of 'redo' of old pieces showing of examples of my work and to act as banner [I believe] for Bambooraven many years ago.  

Sorry for short post but who knows next time...:)

Thanks for being there.

Now ... back to the drawing board. 

Postscript: Forgot [busy, busy, busy] to mention that one of the games is related to the excellent AFF first brought out by Graham Bottley, and will appear in France soon with some additional work by myself. For those interested the link is 
 http://fr.ulule.com/defis-fantastiques-le-jeu-de-role/
and Graham is soon to bring out the second AFF book in the series and will be at Dragonmeet 2012 http://www.dragonmeet.co.uk/  I had hoped to be there but as I've mentioned; I'm busy, busy, busy ;)!

Also, if you've the time do check out Dave's latest Fabled Lands blogpost about Abraxas.
http://fabledlands.blogspot.co.uk/

Now, once more to the draw mobile! 

Even further back ...

Even although the Fantasy Magazine Anduril 6 is dated 1975, I'm well aware, looking at several pieces of my artwork, kindly used by John Martin [editor and publisher], they in fact date much earlier [in some cases].  

My work had appeared on some comic fanzines covers before this, but Anduril 6 was, I believe [but my memory can be suspect], my first Fantasy cover, certainly my first front and back cover. 

 

And also my last ... [laugh] for a variety of reasons.

One of the characterisatics of these pictures used in the magazine is a slight attempt to do varying styles; I've picked out the 'best' to show you here.

Inside the front cover illustrating a poem about Bilbo in Mirkwood we find a slightly different stylised piece.

The next are two spots, I suspect the latter was originally a rough which I never 'tightened'. As some of you have suspected, even commented upon, on occasion I have, as many artists [if I'm allowed that conceit] have done, reused an idea. This is more apparent in my younger days and less [I hope] as I've aged [grin]. But if you disagree ... don't tell me; I'll just sulk.

It was this type of work that failed miserably with publishers in the 1970's. It was considered to be derivative and not very original ... does wonders for your confidence, and was one of the reasons I decided to become a teacher. 

The next are for a story featured in the magazine.

One of my favourite characters, whose stories I read in the 60's into the early 1970's, were the adventures of Fafhrd and the Grey Mouser by Fritz Leiber. Here is one of my pictures I used to illustrate an article about them. 

Lastly, her is an other set of pictures for a fun story which I was allowed to experiment with in terms of layout. 

Before anyone asks .. I'm not sure where the originals are or even if I still have them. 

So there we have it. What other news?

Finished my first record cover, which was most enjoyable. Still a couple of bits to complete for that project but it progresses well. Finished five pictures for a new Runequest project ... more detail when I can, and about to start some new jobs, including ... [sound of drums] a book cover. It has an open deadline so it may be a while before I can post more about it. 

Thanks for being there.

Back in the mists

There was once, back in the 1970's, a very good British Fanzine called Anduril: Magazine of Fantasy, by John Martin, which twice asked me to contribute art for a variety of projects in issues 6 and 7. It wasn't very prolific really, there was a three year gap between the two, and sad to say I think it passed into Fantasy history after number 7, but it was a beautiful production printed on first class stock and in terms of my early work one of the best to display my work.

I sadly have no access [as far as memory serves] to the original artwork but I do have a copy of each. So let us start with sadly, the last ... No. 7, which within a nice David Lloyd cover front and back, shows several examples of my work. 

Inside the front cover is my drawing for the poem Denethor.

So, let's start there.

 Next up: I was given the opportunity to come up with my interpretation for some illustrations to represent L. Frank Baum's The Wizard of Oz. I'd seen the film but was not really familiar [at that time] with the books but relied on the article and other bits of info sent me by Ben Indick, the writer. I wanted to capture a 1930's Art Deco look especially with the motive of the 'Z' symbol and had a lot of fun creating the overall 'look'.

 The next was for an article on Tolkien again by Ben Indick.

Finally, the inside back cover - an oldie but I hope you'll agree a goody dating from 1975.

So that was the work for Anduril 7 originally published in 1979. Amusingly, on eBay, just this past week, it was on offer with a starting price of £22 pounds. But on sale, I see, in the States for over £200 and up. Did anybody bid on the eBay offer? Nope. Makes you laugh. 

Next post, after a few days, and some feedback that you'd like to see the work, will be the work for Anduril 6 most which dates back to 1975.

Thanks for being there.

The horror of it all...

A short quick post today, primarily due to being busy at the moment with some work, the 'tax man', some work, getting my accounts in order, some work, the accounts need doing, sorting out a fee, some work, get on with those bloody accounts!

Bet you can't guess which is both the most pressing, and the least prepared ... sigh. But then on the other hand lets ignore all that and post a couple of pics.

See! I can get my priorities right.

The first relates to the the last piece of work ever commissioned by Games Workshop from me, which through a long and protracted argument about the fee resulted in it all ending with a phone call from the owner [?] managing director [at the time... no idea if that still applies ... it was so long ago] who decided, as I would not agree to what they wanted, I would never work for them again and so it has been.

A piece for White Dwarf magazine

This all made more amusing in a cynical sort of way by two letters from Games Workshop just recently. Apparently, according to the nice letter sent, which was quit complimentary about my work for Games Workshop, they had 'lost' contract copies of my signing over the rights to my work and they'd like me now to re-affirm the rights by completing a draft document sent by separate letter.

I have not replied to either letter, especially as when I originally did the work I never signed over rights to my work in the first place, and this goes back to the 'Warlock' and 'Doctor Who' games they produced.

Anyway here is the piece ... with apologies for the picture quality.

So what was the disagreement about? Well, it was along time ago [over twenty years at least] and I can only put my version of things.

The original brief was basically for a huge complex double page battle scene and the fee was £200. But although the fee was not much I wanted to produce a scene as complex and as large as I could. So I drew the original A2 [approximately] in size and sent it off. A few days later I received a phone call from somebody at Games workshop telling me in effect they loved the piece but felt only the left side was what they wanted, and I said, 'fine, not a problem'.

LEFT SIDE

I was then told, 'But because we want to only use the left side we will only pay you £100.' My reply in effect went as follows. 'That's ok, but you cannot use the right side as well.' To which I was informed that, 'no, they could use the right side as well'. I pointed out that the fee was then being reduced by half and I could not accept that, but I would accept the half fee offered but only for the use of the left side. So, in my opinion, if Games Workshop wanted to use both halves [that is the full picture] then they should pay me the full fee agreed, to which the reply was, 'no, as they only wanted to use the right side of the picture'. Thus the argument started, which resulted in several phone calls from a variety of senior members of staff until it reached, as I've 'said' the 'top'. 

LEFT SIDE - NOT WANTED

So, there you have my two-pennies worth. I'd put a lot of time into this picture, even trying to match the regiments involved to Game Shop figures offered at the time. But felt, though I did not object to them apparently not liking the left side of the picture I drew, I was not going to allow the to 'use' of any, or all, of that right part without payment. What you all think of the matter I do not know, and I it would not surprise me if GW have a different take on events, but as said, this is my story.  

But what of 'the horror of it all'? 

Well, besides doing fantasy and science fiction work I have lesser known reputation for horror, and although elements crop up my liking for Ghost and Horror stories is rarely allowed to flourish. I'm not really into the slasher work especially of films like 'Saw' et al, but occasionally a story is offered where I can indulge my 'Grand Guignol' ways. Though rare as I do suffer nightmares [laugh ... or should that be cackle!]. 

Anyway Micah Nathan, American author asked me to contribute an illustration for his latest book, 'Jack the Bastard', which I was pleased to do and here it is.

For those interested check out the book, Nathan can be found at:

http://micahnathan.com/

So there you have it. So what's in the pipeline? Well a record cover [in the planning stage but well under way] and some work for 'Runequest', which is in the thinking stage. Till the next time, keep well you readers of mine. 

August again .... some newer work.

Right, this post will show some new stuff before I revert to the old [grin] again. My computer is showing its age and crashes without warning recently .... reboot, reboot my kingdom for a good reboot! So if I 'disappear' then you'll know the reason why .... the computer eat me.

First up, as someone mentioned wanting to see a little more detail of that book end paper for Goodman Games posted last time; here are the two original separate drawings for the left and the right side of the picture.

First, the left side

The Manticore rules!

 
Second, the right side

 

A couple of pics showing character sketches related to 'Dungeon World' ....

 

These two for a Mongoose Drake  project ...which appears to be in stasis {?}

First the sketch, as I know a lot of you like to see those, then a version of the final art.

Then another character sketch for the same project ....

 

Now onto some more colour work. These were done For the summer issue of the Kobold Magazine.

First a character study of a Dragonkin janissary.

Next a Dragonkin Summoner/Elementalist working in his cave high in the mountains.

 

Watercolour on board, with colour pencil highlights then 'lighting effects' added using Photoshop.  

I had one more to post, but I think I will keep that for next time .... computer permitting :).

A Promise is a ...

I've mentioned showing some very old work from the late 70's which I thought I had lost. The originals were ...... good question, but the answer is I have no idea, and although I thought all the prints long gone destroyed, when I had a partial roof collapse, which resulted in rain damage to a lot of stuff in a back room.

However, as mentioned, two examples of my version of trying to draw a set of pictures based on "The Hobbit" survive, even if in 'poor' condition, and as I keep on saying I will show them .... Well, here they are. Sadly the picture quality is also dreadful [don't ask it's cringe making to recount], but as it may be next month before I have the opportunity to re-shoot for better quality, thought it sensible to at least give you all an 'idea' of what they look like. But don't forget to squint, lean to the left, and try for a following wind to see them better.

The first is of Gandulf.

The second picture shows the first meeting of Bilbo and Gollum.

As I've 'said' these were originally drawn back in the mid to late '70's as part of a small series of A3 prints. The runic lettering is based on Tolkien's own and can, for those who want to, be translated. As can the lettering on my 'Dwarf-Land' map [see last post].

Finally, while working in Papua New Guinea in the early '80's I picked up a couple of commissions, and here below is one such example. 

The subject, if memory serves, but I'm often told it doesn't, the subject was training for the local rugby club in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. To add explanation. In PNG rugby is played as 'touch' rugby only, This is because 'proper' rugby often resulted in torn ears and worse. I only ever witnessed one such game between our college students and an other college. It resulted in a mass pitch invasion, a riot , and we staff looking to round up our students many who had to go into hiding from the clamouring mob. Why all the fuss? Our college was winning. 

Also, an end paper design from the 'latest' for Goodman Games to round up this short post.

Next some more oldies from the 1970's. Do any of you remember a very good fan magazine called 'Anduril' ?.
 

Simply ...The map of Dwarf-land

I've mentioned this project before, and have now completed the second largest map I've ever undertaken.
the map of Dwarf-Land, for Scott Driver [see link to his own blog below]. Scott gave me an excellent template to work from and allowed me the opportunity to add little bits, which wouldn't detract from his own creation, and allowed me to also add some creatures of my own to wander his vision as I saw fit. So, it was a lot of fun and although a long job [there were sixteen original panels, which then had to be scanned and 'stitched' together on the computer before completion, and this included a few minor but, I thought pertinent changes]. As I mentioned, it was a fun job, and a pleasure to work on.

See more details about the map on Scott's 'hugeruinedpile' blog.

http://hugeruinedpile.wordpress.com/ 

This is a 'short' post but thought I'd add another piece for Goodman Games and his 'Dungeon Crawl Classics'. 

 Below an 'oldie' .... I'll wait for one of you to tell me which title it was done for [laugh] as [now isn't that unusual :)] I cannot remember.

So not much to add, but there are a couple of things coming soon in the USA and I'll update to my blog when I can.

Till the next time .....