Storn's Fantasy Art, Comics and Doodles

[Storn]

I have a longtime Fantasy game that used Fantasy Hero at times, although right now, it is using Savage Worlds. I'm also in a 4x a year game, a fantasy world of a different sort using Eden Studios Unisystem. And I woke up in the middle of the night with a story of a fantasy comic in my head that had to be put down on paper. It has nothing to do with any of the games I'm in, but it is still fantasy imagery.

Maybe some of you can find some use for it.

Here is my first page of my webcomic idea.

http://www.stornc.rpggallery.com/new%20off/New%208.07.03/Page%201%20loRes%20F.jpg

[Storn]

Here is a further experimentation in digital over pencil. This was another one of those scenes that woke me up in the middle of the night. And I just had to put to paper.

[Storn]

And here is my PC for the excellent, once in a while game, that my friend Matt is running called Chalice. Chalice is THEE city and my D'artagnan stand-in Stefan is about to embark on some really dangerous political adventures.

[Storn]

This is the Maltese Cross. She is actually in my Malta campaign, which is Dark Champions in a Champions Universe... but she looks like a fantasy character... so here she is.

[Storn]

This dude was a request from Matt for a tall, dark swordsman... looks like it could be the Cross's brother. I have no idea who the image is going to eventually be in Chalice, I probably won't like the answer.

[Herolover]

Great art. Keep it coming.

[keithcurtis]

Nice stuff, Storn. I am currently ga-ga over my new tablet. I do have a Comment and a question.

Comment: I don't like the typeface on the webcomic. It's thin and spidery and difficult to read. It detracts from the beautiful art.

Question: Are you crazy? Where do you get the time for fun stuff?

Keith "Livin' on 5 hours of sleep" Curtis

[Storn]

Originally posted by keithcurtis
Nice stuff, Storn. I am currently ga-ga over my new tablet. I do have a Comment and a question.

Comment: I don't like the typeface on the webcomic. It's thin and spidery and difficult to read. It detracts from the beautiful art.

Question: Are you crazy? Where do you get the time for fun stuff?

Keith "Livin' on 5 hours of sleep" Curtis

I know, I know... I'm getting lots of flak on the type. I'm seeking alternatives... just please understand that the webcomic is a work in progress.

[James Gillen]

Originally posted by Storn
Here is a further experimentation in digital over pencil. This was another one of those scenes that woke me up in the middle of the night. And I just had to put to paper.

Is the grey Orc-like figure of the same race as the Evil Horde on the Fantasy HERO cover?
And is he also part of the webcomic storyline?

JG

[Storn]

Originally posted by James Gillen
Is the grey Orc-like figure of the same race as the Evil Horde on the Fantasy HERO cover?
And is he also part of the webcomic storyline?

JG

Not intentionally. And probably not. Just a seperate image.

[Tim]

WOW! :eek:

[Storn]

Here is Spar, the young loremaster from Sembia. A great character by the newest gamer in our extended group, Chris. I got the illo ready for the game coming this weekend. Enjoy.

[Lezentauw]

I am very impressed with the pictures that you have shared with us.

You have made me long for the days of drawing...

[Storn]

Now. This is a doodle. So all ye art directors out there, this is not indicative of the finals that I can do. This was a quickie 10 min doodle at the last minute for a squire Npc for Roland, Purple Dragon of Cormyr.

But I always kinda liked it. So, I colored the silly thing. Squires seem like a fairly common archtype, maybe someone can get some use of it. Anyway, Tal here has become more important of an NPC as the story unfolds. Time he got some color treatment.

enjoy.

[tkdguy]

Thank you for sharing your art with us, Storn. Is it okay if I borrow some of it for visual aids? Strictly personal use, not commercial, I promise.

[Storn]

Originally posted by tkdguy
Thank you for sharing your art with us, Storn. Is it okay if I borrow some of it for visual aids? Strictly personal use, not commercial, I promise.

That is precisely why I post it. If you have some use for it in a private game, swipe it!

note: if folks want it for a website or publication, I should be consulted. Just so y'all know, I have no problem with my artwork on websites as long as I get credit and there is a link to my homepage. It is advertising that has paid off for me in the past.

[Alcamtar]

Very nice, all of it. I wish I could do a 10-minute sketch that looks that good. :-) Also I love black & white, and your pencil sketches are great!

FWIW, I like the typeface on the webcomic, it's easy to read on a computer screen. Overly artsy fonts on webcomics are hard to read and distract from the art.

Mike

[tkdguy]

Thanks Storn, it's much appreciated. Just wanted to make sure you didn't mind.

[Fitz]

Good stuff as always, Storn.

Do you do very much colouring work digitally, or do you stick primarily with traditional media?

[Rick]

You've done it again, this why you are favorite RPG artist currently works your work is as always superb.

[Storn]

Originally posted by Alcamtar
Very nice, all of it. I wish I could do a 10-minute sketch that looks that good. :-) Also I love black & white, and your pencil sketches are great!

FWIW, I like the typeface on the webcomic, it's easy to read on a computer screen. Overly artsy fonts on webcomics are hard to read and distract from the art.

Mike

1st. Not all my sketches look that good. There is a reason I colored that particular one... it had a charm that is perfect for the character. Most of my sketches are not worthy of show.

2nd. Givin' credit where credit is due. I did not come up with that typeface or do the lettering the 2nd go around. Steve Conan Trustum came in and helped me out. Lettering is an art form that I have not even begun to dabble in. I have no idea on how to tackle. Steve was kind enuff to step in and give that page a good work over.


Thanks Storn, it's much appreciated. Just wanted to make sure you didn't mind.

Hey, thanks for asking... I appreciate that.


Do you do very much colouring work digitally, or do you stick primarily with traditional media?

All of my cards for AEG's Legend of the Five Rings and Warlord are traditional paint. When I do inks, it is traditional.. not digital. But a lot of my character sketches and about 3/4 of my commissions are done digitally. The digital style that I have for supers in my commissions is usally traditional inking, scanned in and then the sorta slick digital color.

Fantasy commissions I tend to do "digital watercolor" over pencils. Because there is a softer feel. The web comic is that technique. I just like that it is a bit more sensative... slick is not something I want in the digital realm when it comes to fantasy art. Supers, yes.

Some of the supers that are digitally colored over pencils are my own characters, usually sketched in my sketch book at the game itself. I can't help but doodle. The reason the whole digital watercolor technique came about was that the paper quality of my sketch book is not good enough to ink on... the ink bleeds. What a mundane reason! <g> But true. I still wanted to do color for those sketches... so boom, lots of layers, multiply settings in Photoshop and I got this style out of it.


You've done it again, this why you are favorite RPG artist currently works your work is as always superb.

Good lord man, there are much more talented artists in this field than me. But still, its nice to hear.

[Rick]

Good lord man, all artist (except the arrogant ones) say that there are more talented artist out there in their paticular field, it' might even be true. I know the feeling (I'm a composer) :). But I look at your work for the type of art you do, which is one of my favorite asthetics (the clean clear lined, comic-esque style) and I can't off the top of my head think of anyone's art I like better. That's all I'm sayin'.

[Storn]

Here are a couple of new player characters to my fantasy game. This is Eric's PC, a large druidaic shapechanger type. Uses tomahawks. fun. fun.

[Storn]

The above didn't have a name yet, but this one does, Leela the archer.

[TheQuestionMan]

How do you do that .... Keep it up and we'll keep lurking .

[Storn]

Originally posted by TheQuestionMan
How do you do that .... Keep it up and we'll keep lurking .

huh? How do I do what? Artwork? Get back to me on that... and maybe I can give an informed answer.

Anyway, this is an old pic done a few years ago, on bleeding paper stock, inked on a bus, I think... but I still like it. It was dredged up because the NPC, Valiphar, emporer of Tethyr, had an important appearence in my last Savage Realms game.

[Storn]

or is that bizarre?

Anyway, prelim pencils for a bootcamp.

[Storn]

A painting of a scene that I dreamed up on the way back from the art supply store. It is Roland, Rick's PC, in my Savage Realms game, way down south... kinda fish outta water scene. But I wanted something to speak to the exploration that the game has sorta evolved into.

[shinrin]

Originally posted by Storn
A painting of a scene that I dreamed up on the way back from the art supply store. It is Roland, Rick's PC, in my Savage Realms game, way down south... kinda fish outta water scene. But I wanted something to speak to the exploration that the game has sorta evolved into.

Is he a Knight of the Purple Dragon? The symbol on his tunic looks familiar. Your Savage Realms game seems interesting, do you have any background you can share on it?

[Storn]

Is he a Knight of the Purple Dragon? The symbol on his tunic looks familiar. Your Savage Realms game seems interesting, do you have any background you can share on it?

Yes he is. Yes I do. Not much is all that original. But I really enjoy running it.

My savage realms game is Savage Worlds rule set (now, it has been Hero, Gurps, Unisystem, and several others...sorta a testing ground for systems over the years.) in WoTC's Forgotten Realms. However, much of it is quite different as I loathe a lot of D&D mindset. For the most part, I used the map of the Forgotten Realms and stole and idea here or there. I must say, with the 3rd Ed version of FR, there was a lot more that jibed with my idea of my Realm.

The last couple of adventures have been transcribed here:

http://www.peginc.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=916

My hand out to new players is enclosed in a word doc. I've had 8 campaigns within the context of the Realms.

[Storn]

So, does anyone have any good/bad comments on the History of the Realms? Incomprehensible? Stupifying? Confusing?

I would imagine that much of it IS confusing without the map in front of you. So much of what I do in the REalms is geopolitics. The lay of the land really influences what the heck is going on in trends and nation-states and lack of nations.

Anyway, getting back to pictures. I wanted a jovial, mercurial caravan leader picture for an NPC, and couldn't find one. So this is a quick sketch (about 15 minutes for those who care about such things... busts are easy).

This is Abir Tem Khaloon. "Loon" for short. He wears the 4 jewel mark of a caravan leader of Tethyr merchant class. He is young for such an important role, but was literally born into the caravan life and is quite experienced caravaner, despite his 30 summers.

[hong]

Dear Storn, please come back to the EN World art forum, all is forgiven. ;)

[Storn]

Originally posted by hong
Dear Storn, please come back to the EN World art forum, all is forgiven. ;)

I have a real problem with EN world remembering my cookies, my password and such. The reason I haven't been posting there is that I have to get a new password each and every time I want to log in. Its ridiculous.

[Storn]

Another NPC for my Realms game, Khadra, a Lost Child of the Cormanthor forest.

[hong]

Originally posted by Storn
I have a real problem with EN world remembering my cookies, my password and such. The reason I haven't been posting there is that I have to get a new password each and every time I want to log in. Its ridiculous.

This is a commonly-encountered problem. Make sure your shortcuts are pointing to www.enworld.org/forums, and not enworld.cyberstreet.com. That should fix it.

I love the pic of Khadra. IIRC I asked you some time back about doing a commissioned character portrait; what's your schedule looking like...?

[Storn]

Hong, my schedule is pleasently full, but not insane. I don't have any private commissions at the moment, so this is a good time to send one down the line.

Thanks for the tip on En World, see if that gets me in.

Edited: actually, the link you provided, Hong, doesn't seem to work for me. Says the object ain't there. Oh well.

[Alcamtar]

Originally posted by Storn
Another NPC for my Realms game, Khadra, a Lost Child of the Cormanthor forest.

Wow, I really like that. She looks like a real person, not exaggerated like fantasy women so often are. In fact, looking through Fantasy Hero, all your women have this quality.

Out of curiousity, do you work from models or photos, or "out of your head?"

As a GM I have little real need for a specific commission, but something I would love is a book of illustrations -- NPCs, castles, taverns, that sort of thing. I really like your NPCs and fantasy scenes. The details seem right to me, in a "yeah that's how I would do it too" kind of way. Anyway, an illustration book would be really cool; pictures that a GM could hold up to show players what an NPC looks like, or which provide a visual "adventure seed". I would be very happy with simple black-and-white sketches. They wouldn't need to be finished in an 'artbook' way, interior art quality or even sketch quality would be great. If the book were spiral bound so you could open it "flat" to a single page, and if each sketch were enlarged to fill a page, it would make a great visual aid. This sort of thing could make it affordable for a GM to acquire multiple NPC and adventure illustrations, be a lot cooler than "everyone flip to page 229," and give you a market for your rougher sketches. A downloadable PDF would work fine, as long as it prints with reasonable quality (sometimes PDF art looks kind of weird.) Really for NPCs that I might only use occasionally I'd much rather buy three cheap books of rough sketches than a single more expensive book of finished art (though that would be cool too).

Anyway, just an idea.

Mike

[Storn]

Unfortunately, for me figures come fairly easy and quick. Backgrounds are a grind. So a book of settings would be very time consuming, not as interesting to me personally (I always engage more if there is a figure and story involved), and I am dubious on if i would actually make any money compared to time sunk in.

As for my women in illustration... it is my intention to do romantic idealization of women (and men) but are not cheesecake.... unless cheesecake, sultry, sexy makes sense fo the character being illustrated. A succubus should be sexually seductive... a female elven warrior, not necessarily so. However, I still try to draw attractive people... it is romanticized view to be sure.

But Khadra and the women in FH are out of my head. Most of my figures are. However I do use reference sometimes.

[hong]

Originally posted by Storn
Thanks for the tip on En World, see if that gets me in.

Edited: actually, the link you provided, Hong, doesn't seem to work for me. Says the object ain't there. Oh well.

#%!&* stupid VB parsing of URLs.

Try: www.enworld.org/forums/ without the trailing comma.

[Alcamtar]

Originally posted by Storn
Unfortunately, for me figures come fairly easy and quick. Backgrounds are a grind. So a book of settings would be very time consuming, not as interesting to me personally (I always engage more if there is a figure and story involved), and I am dubious on if i would actually make any money compared to time sunk in.

A book of nothing but character sketches would be just as cool, even with no backgrounds... :-)

Mike

[hong]

Hey Alcamtar, haven't I seen you somewhere else before...?

</threadjack>

[Alcamtar]

Originally posted by hong
Hey Alcamtar, haven't I seen you somewhere else before...?
</threadjack>

Probably, 'cause I've seen you around too ;). I tend to hang out at whatever board supports the game I'm currently running. In the past I hung around DragonsFoot (as 'Mike'), the PEG Savage Worlds forums, and ENWorld. Lately I've only frequented the Hero forums.

But the name "Alcamtar the Cleaver" is from the original edition of Fantasy Hero, in the writeup of the magical dagger Demons Fang (IIRC). Maybe you saw the name there.

Mike

[Storn]

Finished Market

[Mastermind]

Is that in Halruaa?

Like the skyships...

[Blue]

Originally posted by Storn
Finished Market I'm running out of expletives. I'm left with YIKES that's cool.

[Storn]

Is that in Halruaa?

Its nothing specific... could be... could be Sundered Skies from PEG... skyships and the like are not anything new. I just have always loved them. This was for a bootcamp over at RPGnet freelance and freelancers section.

[AnotherSkip]

Originally posted by Storn
Finished Market

Aside from the red trollish thingy that could be an ED (EarthDawn) Market.....

[Storn]

Here is one player character in the more elf centric part of my campaign. Very fast sketch.

[Storn]

And here is the other 1/2 of the party.

[Storn]

A recent NPC addition in my Realms game.

Has anyone ever thought how hard it is to draw a female gnoll? Damn tough, let me tell you. Just a quickie doodle.

[Steve Trustrum]

Storn, I can't believe you still have the old version of your web comic up! SHOW OFF MY LETTERING, MISTER!!!! :D

[Storn]

Originally posted by Steve Trustrum
Storn, I can't believe you still have the old version of your web comic up! SHOW OFF MY LETTERING, MISTER!!!! :D

Sorry steve, here is the version that you did the lettering on. folks, Steve was quite nice and did a great lettering job on my webcomic page here...

[Storn]

Here is a private commission for Rob Young, a roguish fantasy character with blue skin and dubious parentage.

[TheQuestionMan]

Heh Storn , what's with the curled left hand . Looks awkward . Do you think it's possible to Post all the forums you post on instead of your fans posting them :)

[Vanguard00]

Originally posted by TheQuestionMan
Heh Storn , what's with the curled left hand . Looks awkward

Look again, QM. He's holding a pair of stiletto-like knives, probably for throwing.

[Storn]

Do you think it's possible to Post all the forums you post on instead of your fans posting them

huh? Not sure what you are asking.

I post to RpgNet often, Peg's Savage World's forums a bit, here on various Hero forums... occasionally on En World, Mutants and Masterminds, now the Conan forum over at Mongoose...

Often its the same artwork, trying to advertise as widely as possible... so I don't think you are missing much.

[Storn]

This is an important NPC, Falanna Duarnan, in my Realms campaign. If you've been following my blog-thread on the PEG boards, Falanna is the betrothed to Daerinel... adn Daer is in a bad way these days. Falanna is making the trek from their homewoods to the new Myth Drannor to take care of her beloved.

She is a captain in the White Order. The heavy, royal troops of the Chondalwood.

[JakSpade]

OMG, I love the art, Storn... my campaign art folder is chocked full of Storn Cook art. My players love to see your characters when I show them. Of course, when I usually show a picture of an NPC, it means they'll be around for a while... very cliche', I know... :D

I'm hoping to commission a couple of characters from you myself as soon as I get money.... :D

Jak

[Storn]

This sorta falls under the fantasy catagory. This is a cover sketch for HInterwelt Games's upcoming PDF Future Skien... barbarian tribes fighting Giant Robots of the Machine Lords in a dark future.....mmmmm....pulpy!

[shinrin]

Originally posted by Storn
This sorta falls under the fantasy catagory. This is a cover sketch for HInterwelt Games's upcoming PDF Future Skien... barbarian tribes fighting Giant Robots of the Machine Lords in a dark future.....mmmmm....pulpy!

Way cool! But why is the drawing on an orange background? Makes it kind of hard to see the drawing.

I noticed a familiar theme to a previous drawing you posted. That being the head of a stone statue jutting out from the sand. The previous drawing you posted was that of the Purple Dragon Knight. Both statues are different but both seem to have Asian Indian influence in their design.

[Storn]

Way cool! But why is the drawing on an orange background? Makes it kind of hard to see the drawing.

The board is actually a tan. But when I punched up the light pencils, as I tend to have a light hand, it moved from tan to orange.

But I thought it might interest a few folks the next step in the cover. This is the underpainting, and I think it will be easier to read.

[Storn]

I did more work on this piece.

[Killer Shrike]

Solid work on the market square. Dont care for the 3 eyed ogre thing though -- it reduces the pics reusability as a generic backdrop.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
The board is actually a tan. But when I punched up the light pencils, as I tend to have a light hand, it moved from tan to orange.

But I thought it might interest a few folks the next step in the cover. This is the underpainting, and I think it will be easier to read. The center of gravity is odd on this picture.

Stylistically it works, but it pulls my eyes all over the page. They end up on the wrecking ball arm in the dirt, leaving a huge open gash of dead space from the upper left corner to the wrecking ball. Also leaves the cat and arch out in the cold -- the eye gets sucked away from them entirely to the point that they might as well not even be there.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
This is an important NPC, Falanna Duarnan, in my Realms campaign. If you've been following my blog-thread on the PEG boards, Falanna is the betrothed to Daerinel... adn Daer is in a bad way these days. Falanna is making the trek from their homewoods to the new Myth Drannor to take care of her beloved.

She is a captain in the White Order. The heavy, royal troops of the Chondalwood. Looks good but her lower hand looks superfluous, kind of just hanging there. Needs some more weight to ground it into the sword. colors good, perspecitve good, face good but kind of bland -- eyes look a little unfocused, making her look blind or in a trance.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Here is a private commission for Rob Young, a roguish fantasy character with blue skin and dubious parentage. Not liking this pic. The bg doesnt suit, and is too bland, the characters face looks pinched, and the pose makes him look like he's falling over.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
A recent NPC addition in my Realms game.

Has anyone ever thought how hard it is to draw a female gnoll? Damn tough, let me tell you. Just a quickie doodle. Very solid piece, but a counter diagonal background piece would have grounded her into the scene a little better. Like the face -- difficult to do snouts, but it works here.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
And here is the other 1/2 of the party. (daerinel lores.jpg)
This rocks. I like the blurred approach -- makes the piece more distinctive and stand out in memory. Really liking this piece.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Here is one player character in the more elf centric part of my campaign. Very fast sketch. (anax lores.jpg)

Eye line a bit off, but I love the feel of this pic. I must say, I like your sketches and "soft edged" pieces better than your finished work in a lot of ways. They feel more smooth and have a better flow. Your finished stuff feels a little stiff at times. The sketchy/blurred approach really seems to work well with your "open" styling.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Another NPC for my Realms game, Khadra, a Lost Child of the Cormanthor forest. Very nice. It all works 100%

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Anyway, getting back to pictures. I wanted a jovial, mercurial caravan leader picture for an NPC, and couldn't find one. So this is a quick sketch (about 15 minutes for those who care about such things... busts are easy).

This is Abir Tem Khaloon. "Loon" for short. He wears the 4 jewel mark of a caravan leader of Tethyr merchant class. He is young for such an important role, but was literally born into the caravan life and is quite experienced caravaner, despite his 30 summers. Very solid pic that can do duty for a lot of different things. Wizard, Bard, Psionicist, lots of reusability. Very personable looking, with a lot of character. A very "warm" drawing. Well done.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
A painting of a scene that I dreamed up on the way back from the art supply store. It is Roland, Rick's PC, in my Savage Realms game, way down south... kinda fish outta water scene. But I wanted something to speak to the exploration that the game has sorta evolved into. His head looks kind of off shape-wise, and he doesnt quite seem to be attached to the terrain around him. The background looks pretty decent however, and the details on his uniform are pretty good.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
huh? How do I do what? Artwork? Get back to me on that... and maybe I can give an informed answer.

Anyway, this is an old pic done a few years ago, on bleeding paper stock, inked on a bus, I think... but I still like it. It was dredged up because the NPC, Valiphar, emporer of Tethyr, had an important appearence in my last Savage Realms game. Excellent. Your sketches continue to blow me away. This is a great bust. Will be used......oh yes, it will be used ;)

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
The above didn't have a name yet, but this one does, Leela the archer. Mostly works, but the fletching should be slightly higher so she can sight the shot along the shaft of the arrow. But archers are hard to draw, so a very minor kibble ;) Otherwise pretty solid.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Here are a couple of new player characters to my fantasy game. This is Eric's PC, a large druidaic shapechanger type. Uses tomahawks. fun. fun. Most excellent. Reminds me of a PC of another player from years ago -- a throwing axe master.

This is a great pic; the character looks different from most of your other figures, different body style, and a certain brooding menace suggested by his hulking shoulders.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Here is Spar, the young loremaster from Sembia. A great character by the newest gamer in our extended group, Chris. I got the illo ready for the game coming this weekend. Enjoy. Very nice. Another excellent character sketch; evokes a lot about the figure depicted.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
This is the Maltese Cross. She is actually in my Malta campaign, which is Dark Champions in a Champions Universe... but she looks like a fantasy character... so here she is. Wow. This is really top-notch -- Id put that against the best work of any of the top artists in the industry. Great job.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
And here is my PC for the excellent, once in a while game, that my friend Matt is running called Chalice. Chalice is THEE city and my D'artagnan stand-in Stefan is about to embark on some really dangerous political adventures. Like everything except the face. The cocked eyebrow + grin makes him look too feline. Its distracting. Plus the right eyebrow lifts your eye off the upper left corner of the page, right out of the fantastic detail contained in the costume and weaponry. If his brow were furrowed a bit in focus, or if the left eye brow were cocked (EDIT: instead of the right) in counter point to the grin on the right it would work better IMO.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Here is a further experimentation in digital over pencil. This was another one of those scenes that woke me up in the middle of the night. And I just had to put to paper. Hmm. My eye goes right to the elaborately detailed forward knee and stays there. Maybe a little reflected light on the faces of the foreground figures would help pull the eyes there.

[Storn]

Thanks K.S., for all that time.

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Storn
Thanks K.S., for all that time. No worries; I was bored at work and killing the last half hour ;)

Actually, Ive followed your artwork casually over the years, and I have to say that you are the most improved artist I am aware of in the industry, which I know must sound like a backhanded compliment, but really is meant in the best possible way.

IMO most of the gaming artists dont grow much AFAICT; their artwork isnt majorly different from year to year. You keep trying to push your personal envelope, and that says a lot about a person.

The cover of Champions is what made me go "hey, wow -- this is Storn? Nice!"

So basically, I guess Im saying, keep up the good work, it is appreciated. :)

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Killer Shrike
The center of gravity is odd on this picture.

Stylistically it works, but it pulls my eyes all over the page. They end up on the wrecking ball arm in the dirt, leaving a huge open gash of dead space from the upper left corner to the wrecking ball. Also leaves the cat and arch out in the cold -- the eye gets sucked away from them entirely to the point that they might as well not even be there. Actually looking at this again, it occured to me that it might be meant as a book cover, with the robot filling the front panel and the cat on the back, allowing a lot of white space for fluff text and the "V" of white space coming in on the spine.

If thats the case then this piece works when considered in split format, though the lunging hero kind of blends in w/ the bot a bit.

[shinrin]

Hey Shrike, are you in competition with someone to be a Quadruple Millenial Master? ;)

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by shinrin
Hey Shrike, are you in competition with someone to be a Quadruple Millenial Master? ;) Not sure what you mean? :confused:

[Korvar]

The number of posts, I think :)

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Korvar
The number of posts, I think :) Ah; Well, I just paged backwards thru the pics, and when I looked at one I quoted the original post it was in for ease of reference.

[Trencher]

I like all your pictures in this thread but I must disagree with Killer Shrike your finished work are much better than your sketches. My favourite picture is the one with the purple dragon knight and the statue head, the statuehead is especially good. It is a pity that you don’t like drawing background's because you do it very well. I also think that you are very good at drawing women. For the history of the realm I thought that it was okay but you should have focused more on describing the players actions and the consecveces of their adventures.
And I like the 3 eyed troll. :)

[Killer Shrike]

Originally posted by Trencher
I like all your pictures in this thread but I must disagree with Killer Shrike your finished work are much better than your sketches. My favourite picture is the one with the purple dragon knight and the statue head, the statuehead is especially good. It is a pity that you don’t like drawing background's because you do it very well. I also think that you are very good at drawing women. For the history of the realm I thought that it was okay but you should have focused more on describing the players actions and the consecveces of their adventures.
And I like the 3 eyed troll. :) And thats the beauty of Art Appreciation. We can all appreciate it differently ;)

[Trencher]

That is certainly true. Guess we both like Storn's art, not very surprising since we both play hero games and therefore automatically have good taste. Not like those d20 players :)

[Storn]

This is Garreth. A.k.a "that blue skinned freak". One of Rick's PCs in the Realms and probably the most important. Son of Elminster and Mystara (her mark of 7 Stars plain to see), goddess of Magic, raised in a pocket dimension... his curiousity is only matched by horrible color and fashion sense.

But recent events have made him more serious, more aware and more responsible. HIs burden is heavy and the future is most uncertain.

[tkdguy]

The stars look more like diamonds, but I like it.

[Storn]

Here is a private commission from Hong, his character in a d20 game...not quite sure of the campaign world, might be their own. Anyway, here she is.

[Enforcer84]

Looks Awesome!


I like the armor and Crossbow especailly for some reason. They have an organic feel to me.

[Storn]

Here is HInterwelt's Future Skien cover finished. The pencils were posted a while back.

[Enforcer84]

/Thundarr the Barbarian Joke
Where's Ookla? :)
/End Thundarr the Barbarian Joke

[Storn]

Here is a commission from JDettman. A greenish gnome. Thief/rogue type.

[Storn]

Cranking thru some of my own artwork for my own game. Which I'm running this week.

First up is Eltherion, Sentinel of Lethyr Forest, one of two of the last of his/her kind. This is one of Eric's PCs... who is being dusted off after a long hiatus. And brother to one of my games GREAT villains...Lotholis (who, btw, is the lich looking dude on my website under "doodles".)

2nd, is Methamere Dray. Harper and spy. Leading the current expedition to find a means to bringing down Lotholis. And before anyone accuses me of not doing my homework on flintlocks/muskets... it ain't one. My Realms has "guns"...but they don't work under gunpowder models. They accomplish the same thing, throw a bit of lead downfield and hurt something...but it is tweaked to represent the world a bit tighter.

[Rage]

Cranking thru some of my own artwork for my own game. Which I'm running this week.

First up is Eltherion, Sentinel of Lethyr Forest, one of two of the last of his/her kind. This is one of Eric's PCs... who is being dusted off after a long hiatus. And brother to one of my games GREAT villains...Lotholis (who, btw, is the lich looking dude on my website under "doodles".)

2nd, is Methamere Dray. Harper and spy. Leading the current expedition to find a means to bringing down Lotholis. And before anyone accuses me of not doing my homework on flintlocks/muskets... it ain't one. My Realms has "guns"...but they don't work under gunpowder models. They accomplish the same thing, throw a bit of lead downfield and hurt something...but it is tweaked to represent the world a bit tighter.
Very very very nice. I am always impressed

[Tim]

:king: Storn

:hail: :hail: :hail:

[tkdguy]

Very nice, as always. I notice your characters are in Faerun. Do you use AD&D 2E, d20, or Hero in this campaign?

[zippercomics]

Storn, I just wanted to say what I'm sure you've heard a billion times before (and I'm also sure you'll never get sick of hearing); that's some seriously great stuff. I enjoy the sense of style and the realism that gets put into the art you do. The fact that the art seems born of personality, not a wardrobe description. Neat stuff, very inspiring. As always.

Keep it up, man.

Ry Stevenson

[Storn]

Very nice, as always. I notice your characters are in Faerun. Do you use AD&D 2E, d20, or Hero in this campaign?

None of the above. I have used Hero and I have used d20. But my system of choice for THIS campaign is Savage Worlds.

Hero works really well, except I feel that its magic is a bit clunky and too defined for the magic that I want to portray... a 60 VPP always has the cap. a 40 active pt cannot really be tweaked with on the fly. Sure, it can be "pushed"...but that is about it. The flavor is not really there, it gets hidden by limitations and advantages.

Also, Hero combat is SO crunchy, it works great for small numbers...but anything more than 12 combatants really eats up time. I have a friend who could do it easily, but I'm not tthat kinda GM. Despite really liking Hero.

d20, even with a bunch of house rules, just did not work at all for me. I don't care for levels, hit points or the fact that you cannot really build the character that you want.

Savage Worlds is very fast, and fairly loose. I have to make up a lot of the magic, allowing me to get the flavor that I want in tthere. It is a snap to make up combatants quickly. I've run battles with 20+ combatants and can get close to that Conan holding off hordes kinda feel. But SW is lethal. All it takes is one good roll and PCs can easily die. They HAVE to fight smart...something I also like for this world.

[Storn]

Storn, I just wanted to say what I'm sure you've heard a billion times before (and I'm also sure you'll never get sick of hearing); that's some seriously great stuff. I enjoy the sense of style and the realism that gets put into the art you do. The fact that the art seems born of personality, not a wardrobe description. Neat stuff, very inspiring. As always.

Keep it up, man.

Ry Stevenson

Actually, you picked up on some things that are very near and dear to me. I really try to work in personality into these drawings. Everything, from hair style, body type, clothes, from the thickness of sword blade or hand gestures, to smile (or lack thereof)...should give the viewer a clue to what the character is like.

IT is why doing illos of characters in my game is sometimes easier than doing private commissions. It is because I've spent time with these characters for a bit.

But the hardest characters to draw, bar none, are my own. Because I have such a SPECIFIC notion of what they look like, it is hard to get that down on paper.

So I appreciate you picking up on that. It is something I work really hard on.

[Storn]

Here is another PC in my Realms game. This is Mahktar, one of the Kholtar Drow. {The Drow, as presented in the FR books, such as Drizz't, do NOT exist in my game, instead it is a race of "uplifted" orcs by Elves and blood magics}

Mahktar weilds the Blood Sabre... a powerful ancestral weapon that can grant him great strength, when the sabre takes life of enemies in the fury of combat.

[Rage]

So Storn, I hear that you're doing some of the art for the M&M based fantasy supplement.
Is this rumour true?

[James Gillen]

So Storn, I hear that you're doing some of the art for the M&M based fantasy supplement.
Is this rumour true?

I always wondered if that D20 System was any good for fantasy.

JG

[arcady]

My impression is no, and I'm a big fan of MnM. It has become my system of choice for supers, but I don't find it scales down well below the base PL. Even by PL8 I find it starts to lack, and the problem gets severe by PL5 - I think it was a mustake to set the Nocturnals book so low.

[Gary Ciaramella]

I think James was making fun of d20 in wondering if it were any good portraying a fantasy setting, rather than wondering about M&M in particular :)

[Storn]

So Storn, I hear that you're doing some of the art for the M&M based fantasy supplement.
Is this rumour true?

If so, that would be news to me.

Now, I have worked for Green Ronin on some of their d20 line, Witches, Nobles. I have also done some work for AEG's d20 line (Mercenaries... i think it was and a couple of Spycraft books).

But I haven't heard anything specific about a fantasy d20 line using the M&M version of d20. I've heard of some people doing it, but those were customers and fans... not Green Ronin itself.

[Storn]

Not the most exciting artwork, but perhaps useful. I did these two quick drawings of islands for my Realms game, which has taken a Privateer bent. Both of these islands were to be (and were) explored by the PCs. These by no means, are finished pieces of cartography... just quick ideas jotted down to give teh players a sense of place and a way of planning.

There was a lizard men communitiy of the horseshoe island hidden on the side not scene... a sneaky way of me manipulating the group not to explore TOO quickly. Once found through ambush, the Lizards became the subject of the first Dragonard (re: cannons) naval bombardment in Realms history. Of course, the caves made of lava flows made for good shelter... but it was quite the "colonial" moment.

The 2nd island had unusual waterspouts with corresponding whirlpools. Could there be a sea elf civilization down below? Maybe....

Maybe others can find use for these...

[Rage]

damn those rumours!

[Rage]

very useful. Now to steal the drawings! MUWAHA AHA!

[Storn]

This here commission is for WReger. Who needs to drop me an e-mail so I can send a higher dpi version to him.

But it is for a game I think is a bit like Spelljammer or Dragonstar. A 1/2 bronze dragon in the Naval service, a bit of Flashman mixed with Honor Harrington.

[James Gillen]

That one's really nice.

JG

[Storn]

I had the pleasure of playing in my friend Bob's Legend of the 5 Rings campaign... While at the table, I doodled two prominent NPCs.

[Enforcer84]

Those are some lovely ladies, Storn, the could be prominent NPCs in my campaign any time...*growl*
:D

[Storn]

Another one for Hong. An archer this time.

[Storn]

Here is a painting I did under Larry Elmore's fall painting seminar. The cliff was really there at the wonderful Doe Run Inn.

This painting is up for grabs if someone needs a highly romanticized cover.

http://www.stornc.rpggallery.com/images/artfiles/CliffLoRes.jpg

[Trencher]

That one is incredible!

[Tanda]

Here is a private commission from Hong, his character in a d20 game...not quite sure of the campaign world, might be their own. Anyway, here she is.

First off I must say...STORN I LOVE YOUR WORK! he he

Anyhoo, now on to business. I am thinking about getting some of the NPCs of my Fantasy Hero PBEM game commissioned and was wondering if the 'simple' background used like on this commission for Hong would be considered an additional $50 charge?

I love the way the character stands out on the rock. However, I need to balance the look of background for the sake of being able to have two characters created.

Thanks,

Tanda

[MarioTani]

Let me say that your art is Marvelous!

I'd like to check the webcomic too but I get a 404 error:(

[Enforcer84]

Let me say that your art is Marvelous!

I'd like to check the webcomic too but I get a 404 error:(
Hit his website Storn Cook's Online Gallery (http://www.stornc.rpggallery.com/)

[Victim]

Hit his website Storn Cook's Online Gallery (http://www.stornc.rpggallery.com/)

When I check the website, I can find the first page under Fresh Art, but nothing else for the webcomic. Unfortunate, since the first page seems rather intriguing.

[gewing]

I hadn't checked the page lately.

WHere can I find out more about "luminous" looks like my kind of character. :)

[Enforcer84]

When I check the website, I can find the first page under Fresh Art, but nothing else for the webcomic. Unfortunate, since the first page seems rather intriguing.
I think that's the only page thus far.

[Storn]

Luminous was done for a M&M superlink product available at RPGnow. I think it might have been called "Luminous" but I'm blanking... the author and editor of that project does lurk on the Hero boards, maybe he will point you in the right direction.

I did one page for WildWays and while I appreciate that it is intriguing, it was such a time suck and I had paying work, that I never got back to it (I have about 5 pages scripted out and a rough outline for about 40). *Sigh* I love doing sequential art and I miss it.

[Tanda]

Hi Storn,

Just bumping this up from an earlier post Hope you just missed it, instead of not wanting to reply. LOL j/k :winkgrin:

I am thinking about getting some of the NPCs of my Fantasy Hero PBEM game commissioned and was wondering if the 'simple' background used like on this commission for Hong would be considered an additional $50 charge?

I love the way the character stands out on the rock. However, I need to balance the look of background for the sake of being able to have two characters created.

Thanks,

Tanda

[Storn]

Tanda, sorry I missed your first posting.

musta blinked on that one.

I did charge a bit extra for that background... nothing too high. Maybe $10.00, I can't quite recall.

Contact me at StornC@comcast.net Let me know what you are looking for in a background and I can be a bit more precise with my pricing. Unfortunately, I just have to say "it depends"... because sometimes backgrounds can take up more time than the figure.

[Storn]

Here are a couple of L5R sketches done at the table during play.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/Pandalores.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/GondoloRes.jpg

[RDU Neil]

So who is the Native American samurai? Looks cool... but an odd character for L5R.

[Storn]

Swords Defiant.

An image that came to me and I've worked on, off and on, for a few weeks now. I did it as a speculative piece.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/DefSwordloRes.jpg

[James Gillen]

Swords Defiant.

An image that came to me and I've worked on, off and on, for a few weeks now. I did it as a speculative piece.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/DefSwordloRes.jpg


Whoa!!

JG

[Libra]

Hello Storn. Is there anything you are not good at drawing?

[keithcurtis]

Hello Storn. Is there anything you are not good at drawing?
Flies? Water? a Paycheck?, a Bath?

Sorry, that's just too good a straightline.

Keith "drawn and quartered" Curtis

[Storn]

Im very good a drawin' a conclusion... meybe too good!!!

I tend to jump in there quickly and make up my mind very fast.


anyway...


Here is a quickie sketch for a birthday present for Nuadha (his handle), one of my fellow gamers around the table.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/RobinloRes.jpg

[Drakkenkin]

What do you normally use to color your images?

[AmadanNaBriona]

Swords Defiant.

An image that came to me and I've worked on, off and on, for a few weeks now. I did it as a speculative piece.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/DefSwordloRes.jpg

I hadn't looked at this thead in a while, but when I did, I saw this!!!!!!
And all I have to say is DAYUM!!!!!
I really like this peice. I've always admired your work, and this is my new favorite from you.
You are SOOOO repped

[Tim]

Here is a quickie sketch for a birthday present for Nuadha (his handle), one of my fellow gamers around the table.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/RobinloRes.jpg


THAT"S A QUICK SKETCH?! :jawdrop: :hail: WOW!

[Storn]

What do you normally use to color your images?

Photoshop for the commissions, watercolor-like painting via digital wacom tablet.

But below is all oil paint

It is about the upcoming cover, in progress, for Pitch Black's "Razor-Edged Arcanum". Now called Sages & Swords, name change while I was working on the piece. An short story anthology of wizards, magic and such.

If you are curious to see the process, I will repeat the link:
http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=192472

and the painting itself:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y35/Storn/SS2loRes.jpg

[Tim]

Really nice.

[DusterBoy]

I've got Sages and Swords and I enjoyed the stories. Your cover art is excellent, as usual, Storn.