Homage: 1983
For all subscribers: Your exclusive, advance look at the cartoon homage from Episode 11.
Talking with Tracy Hickman is always a treat, especially when we start looking back at “the good old days.” Tracy was involved in a bunch of key moments and industry-changing products … but one that’s easy to underestimate is the adventure module I6: Ravenloft. Of course, it’s widely known—I don’t think it’s going too far to say that it’s beloved among fandom—but its significance lies deeper than just the writing and the appeal of the vampire lord Strahd von Zarovich. In Episode 11, Tracy and I spent a good amount of time talking about the design theory and narrative theory that made Ravenloft the classic it has become … and while we did, I was drawing a cartoon homage to the gorgeous Clyde Caldwell cover painting, which ITSELF is a classic.
I’ve always loved Clyde’s work … but I haven’t spent a lot of time deconstructing or imitating it. I’m not a painter. Never have been and probably never will be … I just don’t think about art in a painterly way. But I’m only now realizing how big a mistake that’s been. Even for a “line art” kinda guy like me, there is still so much to learn from Clyde’s character design, composition, and all the details he works into his paintings. So I’m GLAD that I did this cartoon homage … and I’m looking forward to doing more interpretations of his pieces, hopefully for this series … but if not, then just for my own growth as an artist.
As a subscriber to this newsletter, you’re seeing this art three days before it is released for general consumption. You also have the option to buy an art print of this or any of the cartoon homages (and if you’re a paid subscriber, you get a discount on those purchases).
Please share this newsletter with friends who are also fans of Dungeons & Dragons. The best promotion we can get is word of mouth … and your opinion matters! Drop us a line if you have any comments or suggestions for the newsletter or the livestream shows.
That artwork blew my mind.
I got that adventure at a game store in 1993 in Auckland NZ. It was the picture that sold me.
I read it over and over again, planning it out and looking forward to the day my game group would be high enough level to tackle it.
It was run over a three day full immersion weekend In an unfinished cottage during a storm in the forested wilds of New Zealand. I was 15. It was epic. We had a Paladin, a fighter and a Wizard all 10th level. I remember the Hags the most!