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Dragonspell

"Dragonspell", 2017 William O'Connor

Dragonspell-detail

Recently I completed work on a personal painting for the upcoming IX artshow in Reading PA.  Below are a series of work in progress images that show the various stages of development of this large oil painting.

I hope to see many of you at IX where I hope you will stop by to see Dragonspell in person and get to meet old friends and new!

Thanks.

WOC

Dragonspell. Pen on paper 4"x12"

Dragonspell. Color Comp 8"x21" Acrylic

Dragonspell. Stage1

Dragonspell. Stage2

Dragonspell. Stage2

Dragonspell. Stage3 detail

The Mysteries of the Moonsea

William O'Connor

 

Recently I was asked in an interview which of my hundreds of D&D illustrations I was the most proud of.  In my reflection, I contemplated that I began working for D&D in 1994 and have made art for  Editions 2, 3, 3.5, 4 and 5.  Hundreds of illustrations, book covers, mini designs, concept designs, card art, and board games. To try to narrow it down to just one piece is difficult.  

I could've chosen my first or the one that earned me the most awards, or has the most likes on social media, but I decided my favorite was the cover for the 3rd Edition  Forgotten Realms adventure  The Mysteries of the Moonsea (2005).  This painting stands out in my memory for several reasons.  The design of these Forgotten Realms covers were unique in that they were long narrow horizontal compositions that needed to wrap around the book spine.  I had seen a couple already done by other illustrators and was eager to try my hand at it.  Working in such an unusual format was a huge challenge, and I love challenges.   I had designed and drawn and had approved the sketch by the art director in late 2004 with every intention of painting it traditionally in oil.  I calculated that the painting would need to be  about 48" wide to accommodate the detail I had planned, and I was trying to plan my attack and set up my studio and easel to handle a canvas that large.  

In January 2005 I purchased a new iMac upgrade to a powerful flatscreen model and it changed my life.  Within a couple of weeks I had a stylus and was quickly learning to paint in Photoshop and soon was delivering digital paintings to my clients.  I had never done a painting this big however, and I had never delivered a digital bookcover to D&D before.  I remember I talked with Todd Lockwood and my Art Director asking for some advice, and I settled that I would paint Moonsea as a digital painting.  

The results for a first attempt at a large digital painting were better than I hoped, but of course I look back and I see all the things I would have done differently today.  This was a learning painting and I think that's what I love about it.  All my favorite painting are the ones where I learn from them.  I think that is the challenge of all art, to learn and grow as artists.  Being an artist is a process that evolves one painting at a time.  

Enjoy

WOC

Fantasy Character Workshop #007

William O'Connor

Working as a fantasy illustrator for over twenty years I have created hundreds (maybe thousands) of fantasy characters.  When I was a student I would draw the characters of all the players in my gaming group.  later working for various games I would be commissioned to illustrate and design characters from stories.  As an artist many of these commissions became derivative to the point of becoming boring (Dwarf Fighter with an Axe, Elf Ranger with a Bow, etc.)  so I strove to change things up and make sure that I was always coming up with new combinations.  I created my Random Character Generator. (attached below).  This was based upon the appendixes that were listed in the back of the D&D Dungeon Master's Guide when I was a kid.  I started using this generator routinely, and still employ it when creating characters and when teaching character design to students.

This series is intended to use my generator to create characters on a regular basis to share the process with you.  I will try to be as faithful as possible to the attributes that are created, as the series is meant to challenge my skills, and make the characters as difficult as possible.

Enjoy

WOC


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Fantasy CharacterWorkshop #007 

Race: Half-Elf

Gender: Male

Class: Barbarian

Armor: Platemail and Small Shield

Weapon: Pick

Missile:  Crossbow

Motiff: Wolf

Equipment: Hat, spurs, wand, journal

Another fun juxtaposition of elements I never would have come up with on my own.  The half elf is not a race that one commonly associates with barbarians, while plate mail and a pick is not the kit commonly used to arm this class either.  I was able to use the randomly generated motiff of the wolf as the unifying element both with the hide cape and small shield that would give the character a more tribal aesthetic, while the pick became more inspired by an American Indian war club rather than a European military pick.

Thanks.

WOC

Fantasy Character Workshop #006

William O'Connor

Working as a fantasy illustrator for over twenty years I have created hundreds (maybe thousands) of fantasy characters.  When I was a student I would draw the characters of all the players in my gaming group.  later working for various games I would be commissioned to illustrate and design characters from stories.  As an artist many of these commissions became derivative to the point of becoming boring (Dwarf Fighter with an Axe, Elf Ranger with a Bow, etc.)  so I strove to change things up and make sure that I was always coming up with new combinations.  I created my Random Character Generator. (attached below).  This was based upon the appendixes that were listed in the back of the D&D Dungeon Master's Guide when I was a kid.  I started using this generator routinely, and still employ it when creating characters and when teaching character design to students.

This series is intended to use my generator to create characters on a regular basis to share the process with you.  I will try to be as faithful as possible to the attributes that are created, as the series is meant to challenge my skills, and make the characters as difficult as possible.

Enjoy

WOC

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Fantasy Character Workshop #006 

Race: Dragonnoid

Gender: Female

Class: Paladin

Armor: Splintmail/ Large Shield

Weapon: Rapier(Fire)

Missile:  xxx

Motiff: Pegasus

Equipment: idol,

After a bit of a break for the holidays and to meet some important deadlines, I've returned to my Fantasy Character Workshop.  This one was unusual and exemplifies what I enjoy about these challenges.  A dragonoid female character wielding a large shield and a rapier.  Usually these hulking figures are depicted as brutish warriors using weapons such as clubs and battle axes, so the thin blade of a rapier as well as the more graceful design of a female paladin was a refreshing mash-up.
I drew from the "steed" list for a coat of arms motif on the shield.

Enjoy

WOC

   

Fantasy Character Workshop #004

William O'Connor

Working as a fantasy illustrator for over twenty years I have created hundreds (maybe thousands) of fantasy characters.  When I was a student I would draw the characters of all the players in my gaming group.  later working for various games I would be commissioned to illustrate and design characters from stories.  As an artist many of these commissions became derivative to the point of becoming boring (Dwarf Fighter with an Axe, Elf Ranger with a Bow, etc.)  so I strove to change things up and make sure that I was always coming up with new combinations.  I created my Random Character Generator. (attached below).  This was based upon the appendixes that were listed in the back of the D&D Dungeon Master's Guide when I was a kid.  I started using this generator routinely, and still employ it when creating characters and when teaching character design to students.

This series is intended to use my generator to create characters on a regular basis to share the process with you.  I will try to be as faithful as possible to the attributes that are created, as the series is meant to challenge my skills, and make the characters as difficult as possible.

Enjoy

WOC

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Fantasy Character Workshop #004 

"Gladiator of the Frost Dragon"

Race: Half-Elf

Gender: Male

Class: Gladiator

Armor: Chainmail

Weapon: Rapier(Frost)/Mace

Missile:  Blowgun

Motiff: Dragon

Equipment: Rope, Coffer, Award, Flute

This was a direct study of the generated character.  Sometimes you need to keep it simple and tell the story using the details you're given.  In this case, with a dragon motif and a frostbrand rapier I thought of a large frost dragon skull helmet, but then I realized, that would hide his racial identity.  So I went in the opposite direction and shaved him bald and painted a white dragon on his face.  much scarier.  Fighting two handed would make him quick so the chainmail became a gladiatorial tunic that would allow for free movement.  The award for his victories is attached to his shoulder.

Note: This sketch was a test for my brand new Wacom tablet.  Taking some time to get all the new buttons and preferences just the way I like them.  Usually, I turn off about half of the functions.

Enjoy

WOC

Fantasy Character Workshop #002

William O'Connor

Working as a fantasy illustrator for over twenty years I have created hundreds (maybe thousands) of fantasy characters.  When I was a student I would draw the characters of all the players in my gaming group.  later working for various games I would be commissioned to illustrate and design characters from stories.  As an artist many of these commissions became derivative to the point of becoming boring (Dwarf Fighter with an Axe, Elf Ranger with a Bow, etc.)  so I strove to change things up and make sure that I was always coming up with new combinations.  I created my Random Character Generator. (attached below).  This was based upon the appendixes that were listed in the back of the D&D Dungeon Master's Guide when I was a kid.  I started using this generator routinely, and still employ it when creating characters and when teaching character design to students.

This series is intended to use my generator to create characters on a regular basis to share the process with you.  I will try to be as faithful as possible to the attributes that are created, as the series is meant to challenge my skills, and make the characters as difficult as possible.

Enjoy

WOC

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Fantasy Character Workshop #002

Race: Dragonoid

Class: Fighter

Gender: M

Armor: Scalemail

Handedness: Single Weapon/Shield

Weapons: mace/shield

Missile: crossbow

Equipment: bracelet, sewing kit, food, paintbrush

Motiff: feathers

A fun challenge to do a dragon-man!  I like these guys because I love dragons, and I helped design the Dragonborn race in D&D 4th edition.  Usually depicted as brutish characters I kept with this steryotype making his costume seem cobbled together out of pieces and bits.  The scale armor helps  enhance the dragon aesthetic, but that was sheer luck of the generator.  I made the shield have a sharp, spiked silhouette that also should help enforce the dragon-esque look.  The details of the small sewing kit with scissors and the paintbrush on his belt are just fun- maybe he's an artist!, while the feather motif lent to a tribal necklace of feathers and bird skull.  All in all, an useful character that can bash skulls and mend socks.

Enjoy.

WOC

Fantasy Character Workshop #001

William O'Connor

Working as a fantasy illustrator for over twenty years I have created hundreds (maybe thousands) of fantasy characters.  When I was a student I would draw the characters of all the players in my gaming group.  later working for various games I would be commissioned to illustrate and design characters from stories.  As an artist many of these commissions became derivative to the point of becoming boring (Dwarf Fighter with an Axe, Elf Ranger with a Bow, etc.)  so I strove to change things up and make sure that I was always coming up with new combinations.  I created my Random Character Generator. (attached below).  This was based upon the appendixes that were listed in the back of the D&D Dungeon Master's Guide when I was a kid.  I started using this generator routinely, and still employ it when creating characters and when teaching character design to students.

This series is intended to use my generator to create characters on a regular basis to share the process with you.  I will try to be as faithful as possible to the attributes that are created, as the series is meant to challenge my skills, and make the characters as difficult as possible.

Enjoy

WOC

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Fantasy Character Workshop #001

Race: Human

Class: Fighter

Gender: M

Armor: Ringmail

Handedness: Dual Handed

Weapons: Rapier/ Sickle

Missile: Sling

Equipment: Reliquary, Spurs, Compass, Torch

Motiff: Wolf

As a two handed weapon wielding character, and wearing ringmail, the design of this character needs to be fairly fleet looking.  Flowing hair and cloak will help in this aesthetic.  While a slick design might be a good first thought the inclusion of the wolf motif, the sickle and the compass details made me think that this character would be more ranger-like.  The sling was tucked into his belt, the compass strapped to his wrist and the spurs, brought this Mongul-esque character into focus.