ARTWORK FOR THE DUNGEON MASTER’S GUIDE
Mar 28th, 2008 by darlene_artist
Last week, a woman at work came in with a DMG (Dungeon Master’s Guide) under her arm and asked me if I had done any of the artwork within. She said it took a great deal of convincing to wrest the book out of her son-in-law’s hands. Only 15 years ago, he’d borrowed the volume from a friend but still intended to return it. As a “thank you,” I signed the title page.
It’s been a long time since I’d actually held a copy of the DMG in my hands. After twenty-nine years, it’s hard to remember the circumstances of my involvement, but I will do my best. I was just out of college and still very green as an artist when I first met Mike Carr who introduced me to the handful of people who, like himself, worked for TSR at a 2-story house off of
Early in 1979, I’d brought some finished artwork to TSR Hobbies for Dave Sutherland to consider. The pieces Dave selected for the DMG include the Unicorn on the title page, No Honor Among Thieves (p. 24), the Mermaid (p.180), Snowy Owl (p.183), Lost in the Briars (p.221), and the winged Demoness (p. 230). The full page illustration on page 48 may also have been among this group as well as the half-page scratchboard on page 59. At this time, Dave also accepted the Paladin and his War Horse which became the title page artwork for The Rogue’s Gallery.
In addition to the artwork above, Dave gave me some illustrations to do. Assigned artwork includes Gems (p.25), Sage (p.31), the Staff of the Serpent (p.134) and the Sphere of Annihilation (p.154). Most of the artwork originals measured around 7.5” in width, about the size of one half page. To fit into the width of one column, the artwork’s reduction was more than half. As a result, much of the fine-line details disappeared in the printing. Knowing the care I took with the details, the printed results are still disappointing for me to view, especially the Sage.
I’ve always been fond of the fat unicorn on the title page of the DMG. In fact, I still retain the original. When I initially turned my artwork over to Dave Sutherland, I must have slipped him a copy of it. I’m glad I did since it just might be the only surviving original of the DMG’s interior artwork. I’m still very fond of the image and cannot seem to part with it.
In an interim of three decades, this plumb unicorn seems to have become very recognizable, an icon of the fruitful past.
Thank you for your inspirational works. Like many (if not most) of today’s professional illustrators I am indebted to your skill and imagination. You are truly “Our Lady of Gaming”. I love my life as an illustrator and having you point the way was invaluable.
Thank you again.
Johnny
Thank You, Johnny, for your Kind Words. I am so very glad to have inspired you as an illustrator.
Your message is synchronous with an offer I received recently to develop a Sacred Art curriculum for both artists and non-artists. So, in a way, you are a messenger.
The synchronicity indicates I need to better honor all that I am and have to offer. Since few people have the background to understand what powerful spiritual gifts I hold, it’s up to me to recognize and reveal. Then, if I can pass my knowledge and experiences to inspire a new crop of artists, then my life’s work will have meant something.
After I’d left RPG, I learned the classic canons of Art and Design and received a Master’s degree from the University. After that, I followed a non-ordinary artistic path. Starting with the art of indigenous peoples—while working with found and natural materials—I began a life-long journey discovering the many different relationships between art and spirit.
My pursuit for meaning led me to explore all aspects of art and spirituality. I learned about art containing the capacity to heal, art-as-identity, sacred geometry, art-as-prayer, art-as-proportion as well as art-as-a-divine-gateway, etc…
In the meanwhile, gamers have always been able to unlock and access experiences directly through the vessel of my published RPG art. I have received so much feedback that I can no longer deny that something powerful has been happening in this direction and from the very beginning. I now realize and accept that my natural ability to psychically lock energy into my mark-making appeared first with RPG. I don’t claim all my published RPG work has this quality, but certain pieces have retained the ability to speak deeply to anybody open to the possibilities.
At this time, I also honor and give thanks all my fans who’ve already known about the ability of my art to inspire.
Bless You All!
Darlene
Hi Darlene,
I wanted to say that I really enjoy your work in the DMG as well. I also wanted you to know that even though the printing re-sizing process diminished the quality, detail and effort you put into your work, I think that the vast majority, if not all, the folks that have studied the manuals do see and appreciate the quality that’s there. Even though the end-result lost that extra work you put in, there’s was still PLENTY more of the quality to enjoy and be inspired by, as the previous post-er mentioned.
Also, perhaps you found value in knowing ahead of time what would and wouldn’t be lost in the translation in the final printing process at the time, and were able to use that extra time and effort in other ways on your later illustrations, after these experiences.
I found your work in the Deities & Demigods manual very inspiring too, even today. I love flipping through all those books, not just to re-read, but to re-view all the art for the millionth time, or so. That’s the great thing — you never stop enjoying it.
One random question about one of your pieces in the DMG (I’m not a graphic designer, by the way): Why does that illustration on page 25 “Gems” have such a different look to it, compared to all the other art in the manual — almost like a newsprint look. Was that intentional?
Thanks,
Michael.
P.S. Do you take mailed books to autograph? (return postage would of course be included)
Dear Michael,
The answer to your question regarding the “Gems” artwork is “yes.” Back in the late 1970s/early 1980s, there were adhesive-backed texture sheets available to graphics artists and illustrators. It was a matter of laying the sheets over the artwork and, using an exacto knife, cutting out the shapes. Using the sheets saved time and the labor involved in doing hatch-work.
For “Gems,” I used three different screens of grey. And you are right, after the extreme reduction, it DOES sort of look like newsprint. Unfortunately, these sheets yellow with age. Such is the case with the original art I’ve retained where I’d used texture sheets. However, the adhesive still works great.
And finally, yes, through trail and error, I learned many things about publishing and the publishing process and worked each time to improve the results.
THANK YOU for taking the Time to Write,
Darlene
PS – I’ve never been asked to autograph books through the mail but I don’t see why not. Including return postage would be a must. At the moment, I’m thinking that I wouldn’t charge anything per se, but do request a “love offering.” How much is it worth to you to have me sign your book(s)? Send books and checks payable to: DARLENE at Post Office Box 877, Mt. Gilead, NC 27306
Hi,
I was inspired by the passing of Gary Gygax to reread my Dungeon Masters Guide, a page a day, and post my response to the book as I read it. Would you mind if I hotlinked to some of the images you’ve posted here of your illustrations of the DMG? I’m describing the illustrations, but having the actual image would really add to things.
Thanks for the art and the memories!
Dear Winston,
What a wonderful idea! Yes, you have my permission to Link Away!
Darlene
[...] to her site in the ‘blogroll’ on the right-hand side of the page. Her recent entry on her experience making art for the DMG is of particular interest to my hypothetical [...]
Thanks! I’ve added it to my site.
Hi Darlene,
With regards to book signings, would it be possible to pay via Paypal or money order for both the shipping and donation together?
Great to find your ‘blog, Darlene! I actually got a chance to meet you at LGGC in ‘06; sadly I wasn’t packing my DMG and didn’t get an autograph. Any chance you’ll attend again?
Well, OK. Because you asked, I just created my first Pay Pal account. I’m not sure I understand completely how it works, but the link for Pay Pal is on this page.
[...] This was an assigned piece and was significantly reduced, resulting in the loss of much detail. As she put it: To fit into the width of one column, the artwork’s reduction was more than half. As a result, [...]
Regard
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