Archive for the 'Keith Parkinson' Category

The Art of the Dungeons & Dragons Fantasy Game (TSR, 1985) (Part Two)

Published May 7, 2015 Clyde Caldwell , D&D , D&D Art , Denis Beauvais , Keith Parkinson , Larry Elmore , Robin Wood 8 Comments
Art of D&D078

Art of D&D079

“Death to Intruders!” acrylics, by Keith Parkinson

Art of D&D080

Music Lover,” oils, by Robin Wood

Art of D&D081

Art of D&D082

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“Motherhood,” acrylic, wash, and color pencils, by Denis Beauvais

Art of D&D084

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“Teamwork,” oils, by Larry Elmore

Art of D&D086

“Castle Caldwell,” oils, by Clyde Caldwell

Sources, from top to bottom:

Dragons of Doom (front cover) Endless Quest Book #13 by Rose Estes (1983)
Sabre River (front cover) Adventure Module CM3 by Douglas Niles and Bruce Nesmith (1984)
Dragon #97 (front cover) (May, 1985)
Dragon #98 (front cover) (June, 1985)
Dragon #92 (front cover) (December, 1984)
Dragon #78 (front cover) (October, 1983)
Poster designed exclusively for Sears (1984)
Castle Caldwell and Beyond (front cover) Adventure Module B9 by Harry Nuckols (1985)

The Robin Wood painting is my favorite by far. It’s the first cover she did for Dragon magazine. In the book she says:

I’ll tell you the reason I don’t like to paint dragons—all those scales! I thought I’d never finish! There are five layers of paint on each scale…

She has more to say here.

Beauvais is another favorite of mine. His color schemes and more abstract style set him apart from the reigning realism of the day.

Part one is here.

D&D Cover Art: Desert of Desolation (1982 – 1983)

Published March 1, 2013 D&D , D&D Art , D&D Modules , Jim Holloway , Keith Parkinson Leave a Comment

Pharaoh FC 1982

Pharaoh BC 1982

Oasis of the White Palm FC 1983

Oasis of the White Palm BC 1983

Lost Tomb of Martek FC 1983

Lost Tomb of Martek BC 1983

desert of desolation 1987

desert of desolation-2

The Desert of Desolation series included Pharaoh (1982), Oasis of the White Palm (1983), and The Lost Tomb of Martek (1983). They were all written or co-written by Tracy Hickman, who co-wrote the original Dragonlance trilogy. The exotic, uncanny module covers are by Jim Holloway.

The modules were released as a compilation, “reworked to fit into the Forgotten Realms setting,” in 1987. The compilation cover is by Keith Parkinson, whose first work for TSR appears to have been interior art for Oasis of the White Palm. Parkinson, with Larry Elmore and Jeff Easley, did much to define the polished, epic look of D&D in the mid-’80s. Here’s a painting I remember well. (See more cool Dungeon covers here.)

dungeon parkinson

Parkinson died of leukemia in 2005. He was only 47.

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