CREATE EPIC ARTWORK FOR AN RPG COVER

Antonio De Luca shares the key elements that went into crafting an attention-grabbing Gandalf piece

- Antonio De Luca

I was given an exciting challenge by Free League Publishing for this piece, created for The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying game. Interpreting a beloved character like Gandalf is a massive artistic responsibility that pits you against a wealth of wellestablished imagery. It's complex to be both innovative and respectful.

Fortunately, Tolkien's work has a lyricism free from the excesses of other fantasy universes, which teams up well with the stylistic research I've been carrying out over time to bring aspects from traditional painting aesthetics into the digital world. On one hand, I wanted to suggest a fairy tale atmosphere, suspended in time, drawing inspiration from the great Alan Lee. On the other, I wanted to breathe in drama and intensity.

The difficult part is to harmonise the ingredients: composition, light, colour, acting and body language, and of course brushstrokes upon brushstrokes. I love adding symbolic elements that nod to the theme of the journey, such as the mystical value of the portal or the barn owl messenger. Even the little lizard you can see in the bottom corner has a meaning linked to the immortality and rebirth of the character. And finally, what could be more heroic, and satisfying, than painting a rearing Shadowfax?

How I create...

AN EVOCATIVE FANTASY IMAGE

1 Strong thumbnails

One of the key aspects of a cover is visual impact. Offering the essential elements of the image from the start encourages readability and grabs attention. That's why I often use effective silhouettes for my thumbnails, simple but capable of showing the image's strength.

2 Colour sketch