For people curious about the original Dark Sun art circa 1990-93 Baxa-Brom - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

For people curious about the original Dark Sun art circa 1990-93 Baxa-Brom

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
reckoneers
Oct 19, 2010 9:38:08 Hi, I see a lot of comments here about original DS art, positive and negative, and thought I might share some images of my collection and tell you about the art. Brom versus Baxa is like comparing apples and oranges. Both artists were/are extraordinary. Brom was a staff artist at TSR. A staff artist there had 1 month to produce a cover painting.
Tom was a freelance artist. He later became a staff artist with FASA.
Brom did several images for Dark Sun, well known covers mostly. Baxa did thousands of images for Dark Sun, mostly interiors.
All the images posted are of pieces of artwork that I own. Here's how the funky comic book looking illustrations were made:
1st Tom would create a tight ink.

and then ink the overlay

and then watercolor underneath

and then it was fit to print. These didn't reproduce well imo but Dark Sun was about pushing the boundaries.

#2
reckoneers
Oct 19, 2010 9:52:08 This was the original cover art for Elves of Athas but TSR didn't accept the piece (too edgy). It was later used in Broms TCG game and he modified the weapon for the TCG (added metal parts).

#3
reckoneers
Oct 19, 2010 10:09:22 After realizing the cell art wasn't reproducing so well Tom went with straight watercolors.

#4
reckoneers
Oct 19, 2010 10:26:08 These are my favorite images from the original boxed set.

#5
reckoneers
Oct 19, 2010 10:49:18 This painting is so big I can't get a straight ahead shot without lens flare. I have archival glass over it. Brom did 6 of these super sized pieces. They were intended to be used for multiple covers for different parts of each painting. I was so used to seeing the Rikus image by himself that it was hard for me to accept the entire artwork here for some time. TSR artists worked knowing that there was going to be a big logo title in there ala Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, etc... there's a lot of negative space in the upper portions of TSR paintings as a result of this.

#6
big_goon
Oct 19, 2010 12:04:10 Reckoneers, thanks a lot for sharing! We are all immensely jealous of your collection.

I'd love to be DMing a Dark Sun game with that particular piece as my backdrop.
#7
Alphastream
Oct 19, 2010 12:45:36 Fantastic. And I've always loved the chess art you have in your avatar image.
#8
reckoneers
Oct 19, 2010 13:35:42 It's a classic It's border is hand inked. Dens Chessmen covers all have painstaking details. I'm fortunate to own this one and to have held the 4th one in my hands. The only trouble with big paintings is the frames cost a grip... I'll try and post some more DS art later on. I have several hundred pieces.

#9
Silverblade_The_Enchanter
Oct 19, 2010 23:41:29 Crimson Legion has such fantastic detail
I wish WOTC or Brom, who ever has copyright, would sell high quality prints of it.
hm, can't recall if it's in my Brom art books (gave one to a pal who's a tattooist as a present)

thanks a ton for sharing!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 reckoneers Oct 19, 2010 9:38:08	Hi, I see a lot of comments here about original DS art, positive and negative, and thought I might share some images of my collection and tell you about the art. Brom versus Baxa is like comparing apples and oranges. Both artists were/are extraordinary. Brom was a staff artist at TSR. A staff artist there had 1 month to produce a cover painting. Tom was a freelance artist. He later became a staff artist with FASA. Brom did several images for Dark Sun, well known covers mostly. Baxa did thousands of images for Dark Sun, mostly interiors. All the images posted are of pieces of artwork that I own. Here's how the funky comic book looking illustrations were made: 1st Tom would create a tight ink. and then ink the overlay and then watercolor underneath and then it was fit to print. These didn't reproduce well imo but Dark Sun was about pushing the boundaries.
#2 reckoneers Oct 19, 2010 9:52:08	This was the original cover art for Elves of Athas but TSR didn't accept the piece (too edgy). It was later used in Broms TCG game and he modified the weapon for the TCG (added metal parts).
#3 reckoneers Oct 19, 2010 10:09:22	After realizing the cell art wasn't reproducing so well Tom went with straight watercolors.
#4 reckoneers Oct 19, 2010 10:26:08	These are my favorite images from the original boxed set.
#5 reckoneers Oct 19, 2010 10:49:18	This painting is so big I can't get a straight ahead shot without lens flare. I have archival glass over it. Brom did 6 of these super sized pieces. They were intended to be used for multiple covers for different parts of each painting. I was so used to seeing the Rikus image by himself that it was hard for me to accept the entire artwork here for some time. TSR artists worked knowing that there was going to be a big logo title in there ala Dark Sun, Forgotten Realms, etc... there's a lot of negative space in the upper portions of TSR paintings as a result of this.
#6 big_goon Oct 19, 2010 12:04:10	Reckoneers, thanks a lot for sharing! We are all immensely jealous of your collection. I'd love to be DMing a Dark Sun game with that particular piece as my backdrop.
#7 Alphastream Oct 19, 2010 12:45:36	Fantastic. And I've always loved the chess art you have in your avatar image.
#8 reckoneers Oct 19, 2010 13:35:42	It's a classic It's border is hand inked. Dens Chessmen covers all have painstaking details. I'm fortunate to own this one and to have held the 4th one in my hands. The only trouble with big paintings is the frames cost a grip... I'll try and post some more DS art later on. I have several hundred pieces.
#9 Silverblade_The_Enchanter Oct 19, 2010 23:41:29	Crimson Legion has such fantastic detail I wish WOTC or Brom, who ever has copyright, would sell high quality prints of it. hm, can't recall if it's in my Brom art books (gave one to a pal who's a tattooist as a present) thanks a ton for sharing!