Homage: 1988
Subscribers get an exclusive early look at the completed cartoon homage to Jeff Easley's cover for "Greyhawk Adventures."
While talking with Matt Forbeck during episode 15, I began work on a cartoon homage to the classic Greyhawk Adventures hardcover—another one by the great JEff Easley. I’ve always found this image to be as mysterious as it is thrilling. A warrior riding a griffin over a mist-shrouded wasteland, while some kind of bat-winged creature lurked menacingly on a mountain peak in the background. But like so many of Jeff’s paintings, the closer I looked at it, the more I found.
The sky is filled by dark roiling clouds, lightning crackles behind the demon, and some kind of glowing bird is circling the mountain.
What’s more, when I found a file of image as it appears in the prints that Jeff sold, it became clear that some color shifting was done for the book cover. The sky is red, rather than purple, and more of the blasted landscape is visible. The creature on the mountain now seems more clearly draconic, and the warrior’s glowing sword shines with a brighter, purer light. The griffin itself has more of a fiery, almost elemental motif.
As with many pieces of homage artwork, I took liberties with my interpretation. I think my drawing draws as much from my memories of the book itself as it does from referencing the cover or the original art. In the end, there are some things that a master artist working in oil paints can do that a cartoonist working in line drawing and flat colors has to admit he’ll never be able to replicate.
Even having completed the drawing, I can’t say I completely understand everything that’s happening in this tableau.
As a subscriber to this newsletter, you’re seeing this art 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).
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