ELRIC of Melnibone Art by Jeff Dee! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

ELRIC of Melnibone Art by Jeff Dee!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
talzhemir
Apr 04, 2012 12:24:42 Back in the dark ages, TSR created the Deities & Demigods book. Mr. Michael Moorcock gave permission for the Elric-of-Melnibone mythos to be used in D&D but, at the same time, permission was also granted to Chaosium to produce the Stormbringer game. (Nothing underhanded going on; it was just an unfortunate mix-up.) The very first printings of the Deities & Demigods book contained the gods of the world of Melnibone, but then they had to be removed. (TSR was later acquired by Wizards of the Coast, of course.)

The original illustrations, by Jeff Dee, were destroyed. Now, with the kind permission of both Wizards of the Coast AND Michael Moorcock, they're being re-created.

Jeff was only 17 when he drew the originals. The new versions show a seasoned artist's precision and skill. These are not re-imaginings, however; they maintain the stylized proportions that were characteristic of Jeff's early works: long long legs with oval thighs, big hands, pointy chins, and so on. Jeff Dee's famous pictures would go on to inspire thousands of others, many of whom are professional full-time artists today.

You can also get a sense of how far PRINTING has come since those early days! The original D&D pictures were reproduced using the 'photostat' method, essentially making a photo of the art. To the artist's dismay, much of the detail was lost. You can get a sense of the difference between "art prints" versus printed material in books in the 1970's.

To show you the difference between the old and new, here's a link to Jeff's DeviantArt gallery. See what a difference 30 years makes.
fav.me/d4e41mn

Prints are being awarded to those who backed this project. If you would like to collect a set yourself, here's the link:

tinyurl.com/elricpics

#2
ADHadh
Apr 04, 2012 15:12:53 And people complain about awkward poses or anatomy in current D&D art?!
I really hope he did that just to be as close to the original as possible, because ugh. I see he got better at technicalities, but I'm not sure it doesn't make that picture worse somehow.

Sorry, but this was before my time, so I can't filter this through nostalgia
#3
jetshield
Apr 04, 2012 16:07:20
And people complain about awkward poses or anatomy in current D&D art?!
I really hope he did that just to be as close to the original as possible, because ugh. I see he got better at technicalities, but I'm not sure it doesn't make that picture worse somehow.

Sorry, but this was before my time, so I can't filter this through nostalgia

The nostalgia filter doesn't really help.
#4
homicidal_squirrel
Apr 05, 2012 17:03:51 Looks like a hippie.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 talzhemir Apr 04, 2012 12:24:42	Back in the dark ages, TSR created the Deities & Demigods book. Mr. Michael Moorcock gave permission for the Elric-of-Melnibone mythos to be used in D&D but, at the same time, permission was also granted to Chaosium to produce the Stormbringer game. (Nothing underhanded going on; it was just an unfortunate mix-up.) The very first printings of the Deities & Demigods book contained the gods of the world of Melnibone, but then they had to be removed. (TSR was later acquired by Wizards of the Coast, of course.) The original illustrations, by Jeff Dee, were destroyed. Now, with the kind permission of both Wizards of the Coast AND Michael Moorcock, they're being re-created. Jeff was only 17 when he drew the originals. The new versions show a seasoned artist's precision and skill. These are not re-imaginings, however; they maintain the stylized proportions that were characteristic of Jeff's early works: long long legs with oval thighs, big hands, pointy chins, and so on. Jeff Dee's famous pictures would go on to inspire thousands of others, many of whom are professional full-time artists today. You can also get a sense of how far PRINTING has come since those early days! The original D&D pictures were reproduced using the 'photostat' method, essentially making a photo of the art. To the artist's dismay, much of the detail was lost. You can get a sense of the difference between "art prints" versus printed material in books in the 1970's. To show you the difference between the old and new, here's a link to Jeff's DeviantArt gallery. See what a difference 30 years makes. fav.me/d4e41mn Prints are being awarded to those who backed this project. If you would like to collect a set yourself, here's the link: tinyurl.com/elricpics
#2 ADHadh Apr 04, 2012 15:12:53	And people complain about awkward poses or anatomy in current D&D art?! I really hope he did that just to be as close to the original as possible, because ugh. I see he got better at technicalities, but I'm not sure it doesn't make that picture worse somehow. Sorry, but this was before my time, so I can't filter this through nostalgia
#3 jetshield Apr 04, 2012 16:07:20	And people complain about awkward poses or anatomy in current D&D art?! I really hope he did that just to be as close to the original as possible, because ugh. I see he got better at technicalities, but I'm not sure it doesn't make that picture worse somehow. Sorry, but this was before my time, so I can't filter this through nostalgia The nostalgia filter doesn't really help.
#4 homicidal_squirrel Apr 05, 2012 17:03:51	Looks like a hippie.