Art in the new book - the best yet?

[Sanai]

My favourite pieces are on pg 9, 29 (that wight king), 31 (BANSHEEE!), 35 (its the old blanche style, but it looks great on that skeleton), 38/39 (the grave guard and black knight, they look just so damn baddass), 42 (that crypt horror with a spear, looks unstoppable), 49 (the classic zombie dragon artwork, its oldschool, when they basically copied it into a model I was happy in my pants), 55 and 58 (Isabella and Kemmler look amazing), the vampire on pg 62 wearing the nightshroud (his cloak is eating those men at arms!)...

Overall, I like most of it.

 

[WarlikeRogue]

Love the new art work, the added colour to the Vampire Court pic just re-enforces it as my favourite piece of artwork, but in saying that I love the new double spreads and the GG against dwarf piece.

 

[Pietr Von Carstein]

I was going to give the book a bit of a read today, but I ended up spending about 20 minutes staring at the double page mannfred (isnt that mannfred?) vs skaven battle.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

On the Zombie Dragon?
I assume so, its the same style armour and lets face it, if we had a Vampire who has been kicking Skaven A**e for years it is Manny.

"Get off my warpstone you damn dirty rat!"

 

[FirestormXL]

Ew, I was going to say it's the worst. They reduced some of the beautiful visuals to oil paint quality... nothing strikes fear into me like oil paints(peh)

 

[Vallasch]

My favourite has to be the Vargheist picture, as it reminds me of a Spawn comic i had when i was a kid. I like the gangly but obviously powerful/ferocious look. Strangely it's the bright red manes that really make it pop, which was a part i disliked on the models. I blame the Eavy Metal painter.

I just wish the damn heads on the models looked like that, with the distended jaws. I'm not sure if they even have fangs! :mad2:

 

[Sception]

This contrast in colour also leads the viewer/reader's eyes straight for the main object of focus: The Vampire Count. He looks very gothic, has a very commanding look about him, and he's just bloody enough without being excessively gory. Oh, and he's holding a bat. He summerizes the core of what it is to be a badass vampire.
The vampire's anatomy does seem off here and there, and this is probably caused by the rather peculiar pose(likely pushed to it's limits, or a tad beyond) while wearing very ornate heavy armor.

That's just the thing though - its proportions are off. Its pose is awkward. And it doesn't come off as powerful or dangerous or intimidating. And the face? Not so great. Yes, the stark white field draws the attention to the central figure, but when that figure itself isn't impressive the whole piece just falls on its face. I'm not opposed to the concept, and if it were better realized I would like it better then the last books cover as well. But it wasn't better realized. So I don't.

 

[Wallach]

Eh was a bit meh for me, Warhammer art in general is too exaggerated and over the top, to me it just seems like they're trying to cram too much into one space. Plus it was just the artwork from the last book but with colour.

 

[Vallasch]

This contrast in colour also leads the viewer/reader's eyes straight for the main object of focus: The Vampire Count. He looks very gothic, has a very commanding look about him, and he's just bloody enough without being excessively gory. Oh, and he's holding a bat. He summerizes the core of what it is to be a badass vampire.
The vampire's anatomy does seem off here and there, and this is probably caused by the rather peculiar pose(likely pushed to it's limits, or a tad beyond) while wearing very ornate heavy armor.

That's just the thing though - its proportions are off. Its pose is awkward. And it doesn't come off as powerful or dangerous or intimidating. And the face? Not so great. Yes, the stark white field draws the attention to the central figure, but when that figure itself isn't impressive the whole piece just falls on its face. I'm not opposed to the concept, and if it were better realized I would like it better then the last books cover as well. But it wasn't better realized. So I don't.

Hmm i wouldn't say the cover is terrible, although it's the one i like the least of all of them so far. The thing i think is off is that the backdrop is much too light, which is the antithesis of vampires. It would be better with a night sky in the background.

Plus to me it looks like the vampire is saying, "Aaaaggh! There's a bat on my hand! There's a bat on my hand! Get it off! Get it off, before it gives me rabies!" :tongue:

 

[Count Darvaleth]

The front-cover guy is just really pissed that the bat spilt his jam sandwich all over his forearm.

"You did WHAT?!"

EDIT: Oh post 2,000. That happened fast. o.o

 

[Raizi]

I am built somewhat backwards it seems as I find the cover art OK. It's not great, but it's not that 'meh' either IMO.

My biggest problem is with the inside artwork. Most of the new images are done hastily and the old inked ones should have stayed in torpor and forgotten. The thin layer color over them doesn't improve much the fact that they were mostly shabby doodles to begin with. (look at the zombie, for example)

Some good ones are still there though, Mortis Engine and Coven Throne have nice looking art.

I miss the moody, dark art from the 5th edition vampire counts book and in 7th too there were some pretty neat artwork, mainly the ethereals.

 

[Wargamer]

I am built somewhat backwards it seems as I find the cover art OK. It's not great, but it's not that 'meh' either IMO.

My biggest problem is with the inside artwork. Most of the new images are done hastily and the old inked ones should have stayed in torpor and forgotten. The thin layer color over them doesn't improve much the fact that they were mostly shabby doodles to begin with. (look at the zombie, for example)

Some good ones are still there though, Mortis Engine and Coven Throne have nice looking art.

I miss the moody, dark art from the 5th edition vampire counts book and in 7th too there were some pretty neat artwork, mainly the ethereals.

People these days can't appretiate Mr. Blanche's art. :/
I honestly like his art as much, if not more, than the rest. Maybe it is because I have artists in my family and have been exposed to art since I was born.

 

[Raizi]

I am built somewhat backwards it seems as I find the cover art OK. It's not great, but it's not that 'meh' either IMO.

My biggest problem is with the inside artwork. Most of the new images are done hastily and the old inked ones should have stayed in torpor and forgotten. The thin layer color over them doesn't improve much the fact that they were mostly shabby doodles to begin with. (look at the zombie, for example)

Some good ones are still there though, Mortis Engine and Coven Throne have nice looking art.

I miss the moody, dark art from the 5th edition vampire counts book and in 7th too there were some pretty neat artwork, mainly the ethereals.

People these days can't appretiate Mr. Blanche's art. :/
I honestly like his art as much, if not more, than the rest. Maybe it is because I have artists in my family and have been exposed to art since I was born.

That's nice. I didn't have any artist in my family but that didn't stop me from taking up pen and brush and start doing some of my own. Eventually I ended up in a University to study art aiming to graduate as an arts teacher for high school.

I've been debating about art for the best part of the last decade with various friends, enthustiast and professionals. The best thing I like is that everyone gets to have an opinion, there's no 'holier than thou' approach based on your background or level of professionalism. Art is for everyone to enjoy, or dislike how they please.

 

[Pietr Von Carstein]

@wargamer Blanches art is the only art in the book that I dont like. It just looks rushed to me.

 

[Wargamer]

I am built somewhat backwards it seems as I find the cover art OK. It's not great, but it's not that 'meh' either IMO.

My biggest problem is with the inside artwork. Most of the new images are done hastily and the old inked ones should have stayed in torpor and forgotten. The thin layer color over them doesn't improve much the fact that they were mostly shabby doodles to begin with. (look at the zombie, for example)

Some good ones are still there though, Mortis Engine and Coven Throne have nice looking art.

I miss the moody, dark art from the 5th edition vampire counts book and in 7th too there were some pretty neat artwork, mainly the ethereals.

People these days can't appretiate Mr. Blanche's art. :/
I honestly like his art as much, if not more, than the rest. Maybe it is because I have artists in my family and have been exposed to art since I was born.

That's nice. I didn't have any artist in my family but that didn't stop me from taking up pen and brush and start doing some of my own. Eventually I ended up in a University to study art aiming to graduate as an arts teacher for high school.

I've been debating about art for the best part of the last decade with various friends, enthustiast and professionals. The best thing I like is that everyone gets to have an opinion, there's no 'holier than thou' approach based on your background or level of professionalism. Art is for everyone to enjoy, or dislike how they please.

Sorry if my comment came off as rude. But most people I've seen don't like Blanch's artwork and it saddens me. His art style is rarely seen in illustration for wargames these days. It is very old school. Most books today are filled with very highly detailed digital art, which I like as well and has it's place. Call me old fashioned, hehe.

 

[Mad 'At]

I like Blanch's art. It is very fitting for the warhammer world I you ask me. Very chaotic, and disturbing. Also it doesn’t include those idiotic details that just make you scratch your head and wonder why the hell someone would bother to build that (I'm looking at you pirate ship watchtower).

 

[Æon]

Blanche is my favourite Warhammer artist. His artwork is brimming with personality and is a lot more interesting to me than faithful drawings of miniatures like, say, the Crypt Horror- or Corpse Cart artwork. Apart from his art in the new book, I really like the vampire on page 12 and the Krell on page 59 is pretty cool.

 

[Duke Danse Macabre]

I keep looking at the front page and you know what?
It still has not grown on me and still looks bad.

On page 6 their is an image of a vampire.
It is bloody brilliant, great detail, lots going on, troops, background, the whole 9 yards.
This would of made a great background.
On the flip side though with the new cover we can hope after all the glory supporters move onto whatever army gets a new book next we won't get to many new vampire players as the cover will put them off, great work there GW...... Always wondered how you were going to ween people off warriors of chaos.

 

[Abbysal]

Thanks Sanai for pointing out the Nightshroud imagery on page 62 as I was really looking forward to drawing everyone's attention to it as it is the most fantastic, amazing most beautiful piece of fluff based art ever!!!!! Still love ya though.

The best re-vamped artwork in the book? Easy, the double spread on page24, beginning of Undying Hordes. Very eerie and foreboding with a hint of lemon.

They should have used the Vampire Knight illustration on page 6 as the Blood Knight imagery as it's very dark, solemn and packed full of barely contained power struggling to burst free, again Amazing.:zombie:

Also let's just be thankful they didn't use Blanches sh#t on page 1 as the cover!