Let's take a trip back in time to when chainmail bikinis and Conan rip-offs were socially acceptable.
A time before "realism" and Wayne Reynolds fucked things up.
Is that from any particular setting?
>>35459483
Both are from one of the AD&D Forgotten Realms Monstrous Compendiums
>>35459386
>when chainmail bikinis and Conan rip-offs were socially acceptable
The 80s are always socially acceptable.
Old times were better. Nowadays all fantasy art looks like it was taken from a video game or a comic book.
>>35459680
>Kitiara
>Barbarian
wut?
>>35459816
I enjoy this.
I got b& for posting off-topic the last time I posted this pic
>>35459483
First is a monstrous compendium book
Second is Old Empires from the FR.
>knock knock motherfucker
Last one from OP
It's an original Cledwyll. Overly endowed and scantily clad. Yes, definitely a Cledwyll.
>>35459816
>"Guys, guys! The photographer is here, get in position!"
>"Dammit Larry, why do you always get to be in the front? I don't even get to look at the camera."
>>35462019
>Conjure booty, level 3 spell
>>35459511
>>35460458
I think the original art was the cover from the novel, Song of the Saurials.
>>35462019
>disregard bitches, acquire mana
>>35459386
>Song of the Saurials
I'm holding this book in my hands right now. I saw the thumbnail and grabbed it off of my shelf. Also:
>Filename
I can't really put my finger from it, but I always get a sense of mystery and emotion from this art I don't get from modern fantasy for some reason
This thread has some MAJOR BOOBAGE
>>35464914
For me, a lot of older art just sparks the imagination more. It's like there's more of a story hidden in the picture that draws itself out the more you look at it. Sometimes it's as if pieces are drawn intentionally "weird," like they aren't supposed to make total sense, just to get your mind wandering.
Hey guys what's going on in this thread?
>>35459529
She looks like the thief from Shadow over Mystara.
>>35465778
why is one of them wearing a chessboard?
>>35465855
He IS the chessboard. It's Death vs. Life, and the prize is a pretty girl with a nice big ass.
>>35465631
That image is most likely the basis for the thief
>>35465879
No, it's two neckbeards playing Broadsword 4000 while a fake geek girl tries to impress them with her self-bondage skills.
>>35465778
Is this somehow related to the kansas song play the game tonight?
>>35459386
Some "realism" is ok. Any campaign with humanoid triceratops mages would not be one I'd play for long. There's pulp fantasy and then there's saturday morning cartoons.
Does this count? I have more.
>>35459816
those liches are nice im more a fan of warcraft style floating lichs but blizzard seems to be the only ones that do that but these are good examples of this type
I love old 80s and 90s art, especially on books. Those books I'm always going to end up picking up.
>>35460206
jeez the mods were being fagoty there
>>35460233
dat filename
>>35468075
yes that counts
>>35468359
theres been a lot of great filenames from this thread
>>35468291
>Oh God
>That book
>All those childhood boners
>Why anon
>Why must you remind me
And no, I don't know why Planescape was full of antisemitic caricatures.
>>35460206
Is that River Song in elven form?
>>35468562
childhood boners are best boners
>>35468741
>>35468649
Please no more of this.
>>35468761
That is actually 80s-90s fantasy art straight out of an AD&D adventure module from TSR.
>>35468761
why not whats the problem anon
>>35468562
New topic: Piers Anthony is a paedophile. Discuss.
>>35468831
I wish this was photoshopped
>>35468963
oh god
>>35468963
i think i prefer the other cover
>>35468998
who is Herdantes tho? and why do they care what colour he is?
>>35469019
oh god my sides
>>35460687
Takhisis holds Raistlin captive in the abyss.You can do it Tas and Usha.
>>35469019
what if thats what it was origionaly called but then somebody mistook it for her panties and they rolled with it
>>35467484
who let you in here?
>>35468963
>>35468998
Mela, like all merpeople, is able to turn into a full human so that she can walk on land. To follow "landbound custom", she finds clothing and shoes (conveniently growing on trees, as is common on Xanth). Of particular concern is which panties to choose - after all, there is significant interest in the color of her panties. After trying on dozens of pairs, Mela finally decides on plaid (the color she would choose was the subject of an Impossible Question that the Demon X(A/N)th asked the Good Magician Humfrey in Question Quest).
>>35469085
It still does not change the fact that it is about the worst title for a book ever.
>>35469135
The plot seems worse than the title at this stage
Every time I almost consider reading some Piers Anthony something like this pops and makes me nope out.
>>35469205
hell the tittle is auctualy kinda cool
>>35469205
It is a long running Fantasy series, the plot being bad was a given. Series that go on past 3-5 books tend to be really bad.
>>35460466
Knock knock.
Who's there?
SKELETON!
My first waifu. Damn you Bargle for taking her from me.
>>35469422
Wizards:Always Assholes.
>>35469439
hey i take offence at that
>>35459681
Is that supposed to be Drizzt in the front?
>>35469644
Then maybe you should tell the mages guild to stop putting that on their business cards.
>>35469725
that may be a good idea auctualy i will bring that up at the next meeting
>>35469681
I read that book, yes that's Drizz't, other two guys are Wulfgar and Bruenor Battlehammer.
>>35459681
>that flimsy looking hammer
>that dark skin instead of black skin
>those ridiculous tiny horns on their helmets
>that hilarious wolf head on that guy's chest
>that lack of tracks leading back behind them
>WRAP THAT CLOTH AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN TO MY LEEEGS EVERYONE MUST SEE THE MUSCLES
>that amazingly tall dwarfstill 8/10 and much better than Skyrim
This was definitely fantasy art for me at the start of high school
>>35470167
>>that flimsy looking hammer
you mean halfway realistic?
This thread might be what I want.
I've been looking for pictures that sort of fit a 'crystal ball, astral stairs into space, wizard' sort of theme. I don't know if any of you guys knows what I mean but does anybody have any pics of that sort of style?
>>35468291
>is this nigga serious?
>>35461556
>I DON'T HAVE ANY EYES, DAMMIT!
There were giants in those days.
*Bumping*
>>35459784
Where is this from?
>>35475330
According to google, a comic series called Melting Pot.
>>35463555
I do not want to be the broken feet ninja, though.
>>35475330
>Where is this from?
The first hit when you search the image on Google.
I wish I could remember which run it was (it must have have been something from the 80s judging from the art and coloring) but one of the Red Sonja comics by Marvel had her in a regular chainmail shirt but still no pants, just fur panties and boots, I always thought that was look was way hotter than the chainmail bikini. Sort of a mix between the barbarian princess and girl-next-door on a lazy afternoon.
>>35459816
>you came to the wrong neighborhood, motherfucker
>>35475472
>>35461986
Yesssss
Perfect
>>35465778
They look a bit like Magicka wizards.
>>35469681
Yes. When I first read the book, I thought Drow were supposed to just be black elves.
Was this originally the case, or...?
>>35475762
Nope. When they first did drow, they literally just inverted the standard elven colouring like a photo negative. Pale skin, dark hair, green eyes became black skin, white hair, red eyes. Because they were the inverse of standard elves.
capcha: estedfj negative
>>35459386
>hating Reynolds
I know 80s fantasy art has it's charm, but IMO so does WAR.
One thing for sure, his characters aren't stiff. They look like they're acting, not posing.
Hey guys I heard this was the thread for popular 1980s fantasy artists
>>35475830
Those cheating bastards.
In that case I present my new homebrew fantasy races, the Bluebeings from the Lands of Sepia.
>>35475892
80s furries were awesome. 90s and 00s ruined them.
>>35475892
God damn it... who's the artist and did they do anything explicit.
>>35475355
>>35475979
Fuck yeah Usagi Yojimbo.
I get urges to re-storytime the whole thing on /co/ again every once in awhile.
>>35476025
We're Knights of the Round Table
We dance whene'er we're able
>>35476025
>6034
So that was the number of the set with ghost I had.
I loved that mini set.
>>35464914
>I can't really put my finger from it, but I always get a sense of mystery and emotion from this art I don't get from modern fantasy for some reason
New art tends to be technically better but it's so fucking BLAND. It's easier to see adventure in something if there's something incongruous about it.
Look at this: >>35459519
And tell me you don't wanna know what the fuck is happening there.
>>35464914
The 80's were all about style over substance, and money flowed like water.
The 90's were all about 'muh sad' and the flow of money was reduced.
>>35476584
>what the fuck is happening there.
Looks like abizarre adventure.
>>35465333
It's basically us all being nostalgic about incoherent character designs and shitty worldbuilding, but I can't help myself.
>>35459559
>>35459635
Do we even have a mod?
It's also pretty weird seeing how this style of art is way better than the WoW art in 4e DnD. I guess the 80's made up for the lack of common internet by having awesome art...
>>35460567
What the hell is that thing on the left?
>>35465855
It's a new take on the playing chess with death trope.
This time it's Death playing chess with Chess.
>>35476767
>What the hell is that thing on the left?
It's Beta Ray Bill.
>>35476449
I'd be terrified if I was surrounded by armed midgets too.
Is that what it's like being a giant monster surrounded by armed humanoid adventurers?
![129158 [Tenacious Baloth]final2.jpg](https://i.imgur.com/Pt7Y3DT.jpg "129158 [Tenacious Baloth]final2.jpg")
>>35476584
Basically new art almost always has a lot more art direction and micromanaging involved, and some times that can lead to bland designs or art that doesn't feel as inspired and spontaneous. A lot of the retro art we love really is kind of dumb, but it just has that certain spark to it. It's not the different medium, it's the lack of direction.
Today Wizards doesn't just ask some guy to paint "an awesome monster" there's already a whole bible with guidelines.
As someone who is heavily involved in art for the entertainment industry, I have to disagree that vintage art was better, it's just that nobody remembers all the shitty stuff from back then, it's all just people reposting stuff by the same 10 artists and comparing it to the worst from a bajillion contemporary ones, without remembering all the absolute shit that also got produced back then.
There's a lot of contemporary stuff that looks really great too.
This thread is my childhood and the books i threw away.
>>35464914
That's because its the first. The ones afterward are usually just copies of it in another style.
>>35476993
>the books i threw away.
Almost as bad as burning books
>>35476993
I've still got several cardboard boxes full of them sitting in my parents' basement.
>>35476949
I hate how so many modern artists try to draw monsters realistic and biologically feasible. So many monsters today just look like exotic animals. Takes the fun out of it.
>>35477053
It's even simpler then that; while modern fantasy art often has better skill, it's always just....people standing there looking pretty, with barely any landscapes to speak of, or with a landscape filled with no people (or tiny dots where people are supposed to be), because the artists can either draw landscapes or people but not both.
In classic fantasy art shit is GOING DOWN; there's a landscape, it's go people in it, the people are doing things, stuff's about to happen or IS happening, that sort of thing.
It gives it a sense of dynamism, of action and life that gets you pumped for ADVENTURE!
Everything by this guy
http://www.clydecaldwell.com/pages/gallery.html
>>35477783
The main thing for me is that they normally have tonnes of detail- or at least, more than the average art piece nowadays.
>>35477815
Modern art is painted on computers, and artists take tons of shortcuts like >>35477783
said
>or with a landscape filled with no people (or tiny dots where people are supposed to be)
Modern artists churn out speed paintings that contain visually pleasing focus characters but lack depth otherwise.
>>35477036
>IHadTheseToys.jpg
Me too bro. They came out the same year as MASK, didn't they?
>>35477783
>>35477907
Pay more money get more art. Now the hot artists can't charge what they used to so they charge less money for simpler art.
Modern artists are often paid less due to competition. If I wanted art, I could spend one afternoon seeking out commission rates and then pick the one that was the best mix of price vs quality.
Back then, if you wanted good art for your project, you only had what was local, or what was known nationally. Rates were higher simply because the competition was harder to access.
>>35459718
I love the looks of pre-digital chrome.
>>35478305
That's the one thing I've always hated about this kind of art, actually. It always reminds me of the plastic toy guns/robots/spaceships I used to play with, which kind of ruins it for me.
>>35476747
>incoherent character designs and shitty worldbuilding
Even hose kind of opinionated value judgements are part of the micromanaging that >>35476949 mentioned. You can't be over the top or absurd or silly without somebody criticizing it for being unrealistic. It's not bad and we shouldn't think of it as bad, even ironically.
>>35475355
>>35475373
Damn I forgot how kick-ass old school toy art was
>>35477688
Some would say it's the other way around.
Monsters that look completely impossible dumbs down the settings for some people, since it's obviously not trying very hard to feel believable.
To each his own.
>>35477783
There's so much wrong with this post that I barely know where to begin.
There are tons and heaps of classically trained artists with wide skill-sets that use digital because it's just more convenient, like how acrylics are less time consuming to work with than oils are.
The reason you say that there is more going on in a lot of vintage art is not because modern artists can't do backgrounds or detail, it's because a lot of vintage fantasy art pieces where just created by the artist for fun, rather than for one specific purpose.
You get a very different result if you just have a guy painting a painting during several sittings without anyone telling him what part to focus on or restricting him, than if you ask an artist specifically to "draw a creature like this, doing this specific thing, that's the focus, the rest doesn't matter and shouldn't distract" Which is exactly what happens in 90% of art that's purpose made for a game for instance.
Back in the day people went around finding existing art pieces to use for book covers or to license for use in their games or whatever as well as commission art, today it's purely commissions almost all the time.
Every thread like this brings up how ignorant some people are in what's involved in digital painting. Yes, it's a lot more convenient than mixing paints and setting up your canvas, but there's still a person there drawing the lines and laying down the strokes. There's no photoshop button that just says "finish the art" And a lot of people use both mediums without any important difference in result. Yes, there are tons of shitty digital artists out there since it's so accessible compared to getting into oil painting, but there are tons of amazing ones too.
>>35481525
So... the guy was wrong because he listed what is fucked up with creating fantasy art and you are right because you show us how it's great that those pictures are now full customer desire made by mindless drones doing it for 20 bucks a piece, 10 bucks for additional character? That's your point?
>>35476767
Basically, if a shirtless guy in the same situation would not raise comment, I don't see why there being a problem. Especially as an increasing number of jurisdictions hav laws allowing women to go topless in the same way men can.
But spoilered for delicate sensitivities
I love this old shit. So much of it is cheesy as all hell, but it just evokes a more.. I don't even know, but I love it.
Modern fantasy art is so generic and just so damnasiaticI'm fucking sick of it.
It's like when everyone is trying so hard to avoid the old cliches that it becomes cliche as all fuck and the 'overdone, generic' stuff is nouveau. Or something, I don't know. But it all looks the same, like everything is so forced, like trying to force it to be 'epic'. Kind of going off on a tangent here, but I felt the same recently watching the new hobbit movie, all the camera angles, and the way shit was set up was clearly to try and force an epic feel to it, but it just made it worse because none of it was fucking epic, it was shit.
Like all these huge 'epic' monsters nowadays that are all the goddamned same. Or everything is always the same 'epic' perspective, or the same retarded scale... I notice it a lot in sci fi art too, when you have giant spaceships or machinery, the 'detail' which is essentially crosshatching just looks like shit. I think that's the problem now... For all the technical perfection there's not actually any content. Same as the goddamned newfangled web 3.0 or whatever, tons of glitz and shit but no fucking content.
Anyway, that's my retarded rambly rant, continue with the oldschool fantasy art please.
![blade_of_the_young_samurai[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/G2tDmes.jpg "blade_of_the_young_samurai[1].jpg")
>>35477804
Nice link. I like this guy's art.
The fantasy art of the (70s,) 80s (and sometimes 90s) also has the most fantastically lush and sometimes gonzo alieness to it.
Original reference for the Gods of Chaos, y'know, besides Babylon.
>>35459816
Reminds me of pic related, and it even is technically relevant, since Part 2 started in what, 1992?
>>35484434
>He-Man? Never heard of it...
>>35459386
I need to dig out my Larry Elmore artbook from Kickstarter. Got it a year ago and still haven't found the time to page through it.
>>35484198
Uh...did Nurgle's sigil actually used to be a cock and balls?
>>35484434
>>35484484
...you niggas srs?
>>35485860
I have the White Dwarf with that cover... So good.
>>35483065
>firstchildhoodboner
>>35459386
>Wayne Reynolds
For a second I thought you were talking shit about Wayne Barlowe and I got actually mad.
Just gonna throw a little bit on the pile here...
>>35487078
>>35487138
>>35487420
>>35487452
Bumping with some Boris, the singer isn't bad either. ;-)
>>35487481
>>35487644
>>35487668
>>35487668
>>35487713
>>35487739
>>35460376
Oh wow, warcraft fanart?
Let's get some Royo up in this thread.
>>35487842
That's what I thought of too.
EPIC thread!
>>35488269
>>35488287
>>35488317
>>35488343
>>35488422
>>35488470
>>35488535
Fuckin' rad thread.
>>35488561
>>35488535
With a few more skulls, that could make a great Rogue Trader image.
>>35488343
I shit you not, we had that painted as a full-size mural on the wall outside my catholic highschool science lab in the late 80s/early 90s, only colourshifted.
Have some Royo Starseige Tribes art. This guy really was the personification of 90s art.
>>35488646
I was just about to say the same thing.
>>35488605
>>35488576
It's like they purposely chose the most scenic place to do battle.
>>35488317
this is so fucking awesome
>>35474643
I refuse to believe Aegisfang is that small.
>>35488737
>>35489104
>Wolverine takes up necromancy
>>35489201
>Hey bub, I hope you like skeletons
>>35488659
i wish i had it painted in my room, this movie is simply awesome.
>>35488799
I can stare at this picture for minutes while i imagine possible backgrounds for it.
>>35489028
This style(s) gives me the biggest art boner, thank you so much /tg/
>>35489466
>>35489504never invite a wizard to your house
>>35489443
>I can stare at this picture for minutes while i imagine possible backgrounds for it
such as?
>>35459386
"Hey Gerrard, how come your mom lets you have a triple clarinet?"
>>35489724
>>35489724
If I remember correctly, he wasn't invited. He just showed up to drag the chosen residents of this world into his own to fight against awakening eldritch horrors.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/176277.The_Time_of_the_Dark
>>35459718
Fucking rad as fuck.
>>35476449
I know, I'll throw a potato at him.
>>35488979
Aegisfang IS just a war hammer, so it's a one-handed weapon still.
>>35468963
Got into trouble for reading that in class back when I was in elementary school. Had to explain to the teacher that it wasn't porn, just puns.
>>35489829
>it's a unicorn
