For Whom the Bell Tolls

It's been a long month or so of deadlines and constant painting, and in that time I noted the passing of some notable people, and as I worked I pondered a bit what their lives meant to me.

In order: Gary Gygax passed away, he of Dungeons & Dragons fame. Many, many hours were spent playing D&D in High School until I met my now-wife and somehow the campaigns all fell apart. Which is not a value statement on D&D though it marks a common joke--I really loved the game and with more hours in the day would've wanted to continue DM'ing, but you know...love....

Good times

Within not too long college came upon me and my group and the life that followed never again allowed for the coordinated time to get the group together. Somewhere, I still have our character sheets. What was poignant was hearing of his death as I worked on illustrations for Dungeons & Dragons. Not only was he a significant contributor to my youth, but the game he created is also currently providing me both employment and food on my table. So here's to you Gary Gygax.

"I'm sorry Dave, I'll have to put you to sleep now."

Next up, Arthur C. Clarke, who at 90 outlived most of his peers from the Golden Age of SF. Books by himself, Asimov, Poul Anderson, Bradbury and other giants made up a lot of my reading through my early 20s after which work and other interests dominated my time. When I was a kid I watched 2001 and fell asleep. I read the book in High School and loved it. I then decided to re-watch the film with my new love of the book in mind...and fell asleep. I know 2001 is supposed to be a classic of film making and all, but its languorous pace just gets to me. Childhood's End was another great title, and I always loved his short stories, including "the Other Tiger" and its multiverse implications. I think I'm a sucker for these metaphysical fictional exercises since Asimov's "the Last Question" ranks as my favorite of his short stories that I've read.

The last death I'll take note of here is that of Herb Peterson. Mr. Peterson was the creator of the Egg McMuffin, whose Sausage-with-egg variety is one of my favorite breakfast items. Herb's invention is the most enduring in my life, as I have eaten these tasty sandwiches from before D&D through now.

Blast From the Past

When I began Exit Within, there was a loud voice in my head that told me it would be a fun diversion that might last a few months, but that I'd just let it go pretty quick. Now, that voice was apparently wrong, but I can see now where it came from. Last week I was rooting around some really old files, found a text file, and opened it.

Apparently, back in Feb. 1996 I was still getting the hang of Windows 95, and had picked up a book of some sort to help me along. I guess I had read a tip about creating a journal in a text file by starting a .txt file and making .LOG the first line. Thereafter, Notepad automatically timestamps entries. I used this as the basis for starting a private journal about my work. Scrolling through, I made various entries through August of the same year, then gave it up.

What was so fascinating was that I had completely forgotten I'd done this. I don't have any memories of typing these entries. It's as if I'm reading the missives of an alternate self who did the same things I did, which is a very strange feeling. In it, I detail various boring facts about my work schedule and day, complain about stuff, and aspire to greatness. One thing is for sure--being a private journal, I made no attempt at being either impersonal or interesting--even to myself!

So, what was the state of things just over 12 years ago in 2/96?

O Brother, Where Art Thou?

• I was 21 years old
• I was working on sketches for the Iron Crown Middle-Earth card game and having a frustrating time of it.
• I was faxing in sketches. I can't even recall how long ago I ditched my fax machine.
• I had just done a study for "Eclosion" which was not realized as a final painting until 2002, and in a very different form. At the time it was being presented as a potential cover for AEG's now-defunct Shadis magazine, for which I did 2 covers back in the day.
  
• I had just gotten approval on "Floodwater Dam" from Magic: the Gathering Alliances. That first version was a tall painting and I hated it so much that I started over, producing the published piece. The first version was probably drop-kicked in two.
• I was talking to apparently all my Art Directors on the phone. Since then I've gone entire years without talking to my Art Directors on the phone. Weird.

There are some interesting things in these entries, and though I won't bore you to further tears with their minutia, there are nevertheless some thoughts to mine and re-present here with 12 years' hindsight and experience added to them.

For the Alliance!

Just over a week ago I had the opportunity to sign on the occasion of the release of the World of Warcraft "Art of the Trading Card Game" book. I've been blessed with many opportunities to sign at various events, and a level of career that has allowed my work to be appreciated to where signing is even a possibility. But, I didn't think I'd ever sign at a Barnes & Noble.

Yet, there I was, sitting on the 2nd floor of a B&N in So Cal, signing copies of the absolutely gorgeous WoW artbook. And I don't just say that because they are my client--this is one seriously awesome book for fans of the game (online or card) and fantasy art in general. I only have one image in this volume, as I only had one image in the Art of Magic the Gathering a number of years ago.

So it was a little surreal to see the event sign outside the store:

For the record, Justin Sweet was not able to make it. A real shame.

I got my coffee at the attached Starbucks, as I tend to do when at any B&N, milled around the language section for awhile with a friend, and greeted the other artists as they arrived. I'm good friends with Ben, Terese and Tom already, and it was great getting to know Blizzard artists Glenn and Sam, particularly because my work on the WoW license involves Glenn quite a lot. We sat down and passed books along the assembly line. We were a little worried that the turnout might not be very good, particularly because a big WoW event was happening for the card game the same day. But turnout was fine overall.

L-R seated: Glenn, Ben, moi, Terese, Tom's arm

The best was yet to come--dinner at Bucca di Beppo, where I was really able to catch up with them all over heaping plates of food, as well as with some other Upper Deck friends, old and new. I had a great conversation with Blizzard artist Glenn Raine, discussing the finer points of the Blizzard art style which was immensely helpful, and which I look forward to implementing soon.

Oh yeah, and lest you think I just paint for the game:

Booyah.

Whiteback Sketches pt.2

I'm so swamped I almost, I say almost, missed this week's entry. But I'll make it quick. I've done a few more "pilot" white-back sketches, so I'll share them here.

Drawn on the backs of: (L)Faith Healer and (R)Stoic Ephemera

One of the challenges will be if I'm asked to draw on a piece that does not lend itself readily to this sort of riffing off the main illustration on the front. Such was the case with the request to draw on the "Giant Fan" card from Unglued. I considered something with a...giant air fan, the kind that is featured on the joke-card itself. But with the Super Bowl still recent memory (though I did not watch it), I had a better idea--I picked up a Licid creature off the front illustration and:

Get it? A Giant(s) Fan...oh, nevermind.