Behind-the-Illustration: The Gold Wyrm

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Aaron McConnell

The Great Gold Wyrm is the world’s protector and the inspiration for holy orders of paladins and independent heroes. Although the Gold Wyrm’s physical form seals the gap that prevents the Abyss from erupting into the world, its dreams and the agents it employs still move through the world, helping those who will fight and even die for what’s right.  –From the 13th Age icon teaser description

The Great Gold Wyrm brought to life by Lee Moyer’s mastery of digital painting.  This was another one that floored me when I first saw it.   You’ll notice that the painting really goes beyond my  pencil drawing (below).  It’s not just thousands of scales for vanity’s sake, though.  I’m sure  in the modern world of dragons there are those who have their scales multiplied to fulfill some concept of beauty, but the reason the Gold Wyrm has this many scales is simply because he’s a dragon of gigantic proportions.  A little gnome could probably strap a saddle on one of those scales for riding…or rather he could try.

*Here’s a bonus sketch for everyone who has been tolerating my corny commentary in these posts.  Thank you for not breathing fire on me:P

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Behind-the-Illustration: The Crusader

Posted on June 19, 2012 by Aaron McConnell

The Crusader is the armored fist of the Dark Gods. So long as followers of the gods of light stay the hell out of his way, the Crusader turns his wrath against the demons that would destroy the world his own gods want to rule. Follow the Crusader if you must win at any cost.   –From the 13th Age icon teaser description.

The Crusader digitally painted by Lee Moyer.  I’m going to let the images do the talking this week because Lee and I are busting our humps* to finish the interior art for 13th Age, now available for Pre-Order.

*Oh, you didn’t know I have a hunchback?  It’s common among illustrators.  And that structure behind the Crusader…that’s my studio.

My pencil drawing:

My thumbnail sketch:

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The 13th Age [Pre-order] is Here

Posted on June 14, 2012 by Aaron McConnell

The 13th Age is Here.

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Behind-the-Illustration: The Three

Posted on June 13, 2012 by Aaron McConnell

The Three were among the first dragons to walk the world. The Red is a living engine of destruction. The Blue is a sorceress, perhaps even the original mother of all sorcery. The Black is queen of shadows and assassins. Unlike the Great Gold Wyrm, who must fight alone, the Three have learned to join forces.  –From the 13th Age icon teaser description.

Behold The Three digitally painted by Lee Moyer.  Not only are these mamas ancient, they are also enormous.  Look for the Where’s Waldo Priests for a sense of…”scale” (sorry).  This behind-the-illustration post gives you a much closer view of those guys, but they are ultimately inconsequential in comparison to the awesome majesty of The Three!

My pencil drawing (after receiving Lee’s request for plenty of “crunchy pencil detail.”)  You’ll notice that my choice of color for the dragons was different than the final.  Decisions, decisions – all part of the process!

And here’s the promised closeup of our dark priests, Larry, Curly and Moe:

As an extra bonus here’s an early thumbnail where I happened to accidentally not draw most of the dragons’ anatomy.  Hmm…you’d think I was hesitant to draw thousands of scales or something.  I haven’t confirmed this with Lee, but looking at this image and the final, it’s my guess that he may have appropriated this version of the Blue sorceress dragon in the final.  Ah, Process, you are the Black dragon cloaked in vague shadows until you strike as quickly and decisively as a deadly assassin!

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Behind-the-Illustration: The Diabolist

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Aaron McConnell

The Diabolist controls fiends and tampers with forces even the Archmage avoids. She likes her victims screaming and her chaos pure while claiming that the demons she summons would otherwise overwhelm the Great Gold Wyrm who seals the Abyss. There are two differences between her and her demons: First, she likes keeping destruction personal rather than universal. Second, she’s capable of kindness, so long as it comes as a great surprise. –From the 13th Age icon teaser description.

Lee Moyer’s deliciously diabolical digital painting of The Diabolist (in a sense 3D;)

My pencil drawing:

Early thumbnails included demons in the shadows of the Diabolist before we decided on a graphic background suitable for a most notorious Icon.

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