Old School Inspirational Art Thread

[Charon's Little Helper]

Oh, it's been a noticed trend among the art historian, and especially the photography art historian, for quite a while now. I'm just noticing its presence in professional commercial fantasy art. It is a fascinating study of either the modern mind in a highly information saturated society, or, a product of democratization & reproduction technology. (The latter follows a pattern where photography became more affordable and reproduceable from negatives, and our modern ages's correlating advance of digital arts simulating traditional art media.)

I'd say that it matches how many TTRPGs have been shifting.  They've been shifting away from exploration and towards more character customization for a long time.

Same with fantasy/sci-fi fiction in general for that matter.  Early works were largely Tolkien style journeys & mostly an excuse for showing off the cool world.  Later works are more like other fiction with the backdrop of fantasy/sci-fi.

Neither is better or worse - just different - and seems to coincide with the trend in the artwork.

[Tristram Evans]

[Tristram Evans]

[Tristram Evans]

[Tristram Evans]

[Tristram Evans]

[Tristram Evans]

[Tristram Evans]

[Voros]

I think Al-Qadim had some of the most striking art of the 2e era.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]742[/ATTACH]

And of course Brom.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]743[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]744[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]745[/ATTACH]

[Voros]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]746[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]747[/ATTACH]

[Voros]

Darlene

[ATTACH=CONFIG]748[/ATTACH]

[Tristram Evans]

[jeff37923]

See, none of this I find particularly inspirational. It does not say to me, "Worlds of adventure await!"

[Tristram Evans]

[Tristram Evans]