David Griffith Illustration

Tha Work Thang #29: Hostile Acquisitions.

2012-02-10T18:00:00.003Z

Here are some weapons illustrations that I drew for, "Hostile Acquisitions" a Warhammer 40,000 Roleplay supplement for the Rogue Trader game produced by Fantasy Flight Games.

We have the Stutter Las, Boarding Gun, Eldar Firepike, Eldar Chainsword and Dark Eldar Splinter Cannon.
Images are the copyright of Games Workshop 2012.

Tha Work Thang #28: Merchant of Venus

2011-12-15T14:56:00.004Z

Greetings and Merry Christmas to all in the Blogreadingaverse!! Hope you all have a very happy yuletide.

I recently had the great pleasure of working on Fantasy Flight Games new edition of "Merchant of Venus". A Sci-fi boardgame of interstellar wheeling and dealing.

I designed the little spaceship that you move around the board and worked on 35 full colour paintings to be used on the game cards. It was great to work in a more whimsical and sci fi style than the usual gritty fantasy art and I was very pleased with how they turned out.

The game is not due to be released until 1st quarter 2012, so I can't show you anything yet I am afraid.

Tha work thang #27: What have you been doing?

2011-09-26T22:25:00.004+01:00

*
Well, I must have been up to something in all this time of not blog posting so I best update on what I have been working on. Lots and lots of equipment illustrations for Fantasy Flight Games that's what. Spanning their Warhammer 40k range of Roleplaying Games, "Black Crusade", "Rogue Trader", "Dark Heresy" and "Deathwatch".

Below are some of the recent or upcoming publications that I have got some piccies in. I will endeavour to show some pieces from these books for you all soon.

Tha work thang #26: The Spider Gods Bride.

2011-09-16T14:48:00.006+01:00

Greetings everybody, I have returned from the Ether or whatever and bring you tidings of new work (gasp! shock and awe!!) This piece is for Mongoose Publishing's fantasy offering, "The Spider God's Bride".

A collection of ten blood-red sword and sorcery adventures, inspired by the pulp era tales of Robert E. Howard and Clark Ashton Smith. Venture in the footsteps of Conan the Cimmerian, Satampra Zeiros of Uzuldaroum, Imaro of Nyumbani, and other fabled thieves, reavers and slayers!

http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/the-spider-god-s-bride.html

It was a great piece to work on, a crazy battle scene with our heroes in the foreground fighting against overwhelming odds.

The image is the copyright of Mongoose Publishing 2011 and may not be reproduced without their permission.

From the Sketchbook: Draenei Paladin.

2011-04-12T10:32:00.001+01:00

Here is another World of Warcraft character I've painted, fully digital done in "Adobe photoshop elements 2" no less. This time a Draenei Paladin with some insanely big shoulder pads. Dynasty eat your heart out.

From the Sketchbook: World of Warcraft Characters.

2011-04-06T14:15:00.004+01:00

Here are a couple of pieces done over the last couple of days whilst waiting for a paid assignment to come in. Two of my Warcraft characters, a Human Rogue and a Dwarf Hunter. Really pleased with how these turned out and I've got plenty more in the pipeline. Incidentally, if anyone fancies commissioning one of these for their own characters, drop me an email and we can talk about rates ;)

Tha Work Thang #25: New Website!!

2011-02-26T10:45:00.002Z

I have a new online portfolio for your viewing pleasure at www.davidgriffithart.com
And about time too!

From the Sketchbook: Goblins!

2011-01-12T12:03:00.003Z

Inspired by the new Cataclysm expansion for World of Warcraft , I've been enjoying playing the new Goblin race. So I got out the sketchbook and put down a few Goblin concepts of my own.

Tha Work Thang #24: Happy New Year!!

2011-01-01T15:00:00.004Z

A warm welcome to the New Year! I am off to a good start in my effort to up my blog post count for the coming year.
I have a few pieces to show from a couple of new books out from Fantasy Flight Games.
First we have two pieces from, "Blood of the Martyrs" a source book for the Dark Heresy R.P.G.
Some Shrine World badges and the Obsidian Skull. Images are copyright Games Workshop 2010.

And lastly an Ork Roc , a jumble of buildings and tech and weapons built into and onto an asteroid. This one is from," The Frozen Reaches", a sourcebook for the Rogue Trader R.P.G.

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

2010-12-19T10:04:00.005Z

Season's greetings folks! It must be that time of year again as I have found myself doing something art related for the local infants school Christmas Fayre.

This time I was asked to do a Christmas themed cut out face board, like those you see at the seaside, where you put your face through the hole and it joins on to an amusing body.

So a 4ft by 4ft board was procured and the fruits of my festive labour were as thus, modelled by my three little urchins.

Happy Christmas!

Environmrnt No. 5: River Delta

2010-12-03T16:53:00.005Z

Despite the fact my nose is streaming like a tap, I've finished the last enviro of the week. I guess all those walks in the snow lowered my resistance to the cold germs going around. Nevermind, must soldier on.
So this was another green one, I didn't want to go for a tree themed piece again, as I stared at it I could see little islands surrounded by water emerge.

I worked in some sand coloured paint for where the little rivers would flow and gave a little more definition to the islands.

Then it was just a matter of putting in the water, adding a few highlights for reflected sun and voila, a river delta. I like this one, the fact that it has a different perspective to the others is a plus as well. In review, I think it was a worthwhile exercise this week. It has given the blog a focus and made me write each day, so it is something I will keep doing. I think for the next weekly project I will come up with a creature that would live in each of the five environments presented this week.

Environment No. 4: It's bleak up north.

2010-12-02T16:32:00.006Z

Just a quick one today folks. No more than a few minutes on this one. The snow has been falling steadily all day and night and we now have a lovely blanket of white.
Did I mention I like the snow? Might have something to do with the fact I don't have to travel to work and there is a sizeable shop just round the corner so I don't have to venture far for provisions.
The kids were off school today and have seized control of the computer and my attention for various projects and homework, so not much chance of any work getting done.

Anyway, this was the yellowy one and as snow was on my mind I went for a snowscape. (By the way,"Never eat the yellow snow.") A tree lined pathway to a snowbound city.

Enviornment No.3 : When all hope is lost.

2010-12-01T10:46:00.003Z

Well, we did get some snow, had a good snowball fight with my son Robin after school yesterday. The kids were a bit miffed that they had to go to school this morning though.
So, on to day three of the enviros. No process shots for this one as it took shape really quickly.
Starting from the green/blue texture I could see waves, really big waves. The darker marks on the left I thought could be a ship caught in the storm.
So I just darkened the swell of the waves and highlighted their crests. The ship was laid on with the brush tool set to multiply (incidentally, all these pieces have been done in Photoshop elements two.) The little lifeboat in the centre was put in to add some pathos to the scene, the brave souls have escaped the stricken liner but have little chance in the wrath of the sea, hence the title, "When all hope is lost." As regards time spent painting for atmosphere gained, I am pretty happy with this one.

Environment No. 2: The Forest Road.

2010-11-30T14:33:00.009Z

Oooh, the snow has finally made it to Essex today, so far though it is kind of wet and lame, hoping for some of the good stuff overnight. On to todays enviro. This was the purple green one and it stirred in me images of Mirkwood from the Hobbit so I started off in that vein.

I started putting in some shadows to create the forms of the trees, and lighter areas for the grassy bank over to the right.

Continued building up the forms and the contrast.
Then I added a road in to lead viewers into the picture, the sunlight streaming through the leaves was added last. I think the final result is a little more friendly than what I was originally going for. More like the Night Elf lands in World of Warcraft, but still quite pleased with its atmosphere.

Environment No.1 : Lake Castle.

2010-11-29T13:46:00.005Z

So, to kick off environment week I started with this texture and it said to me trees and mist and water. I wanted to try and keep a watercolour feel to the piece and so worked on building up the trees quite subtley. I felt it needed a focal point and so put the castle in the lake.

I was pretty happy with the feel of the piece and didn't want to be to precious about it, so to finish off, I adjusted the contrast to give it a little boost and enlarged the castle, as I felt it looked a little puny before.

After I had finished, I was playing about trying to make it look more misty and after having whacked the contrast right down this night time version sort of evolved from it. Changed the season from Autumn to Winter, added a mysterious light to the top castle window and voila same piece different mood. Check back in tomorrow for the next one.

Next week is Environment week.

2010-11-26T14:44:00.006Z

From Monday I am going to try and do an environment each day till Friday. I want these to be loose, quick environments, as sometimes I can get bogged down in the details and lose the feel of the piece. I have taken a basic texture and am going to see what comes out of each as the mood takes me. The textures you can see here:

So, check back in next week and see what I come up with.

Tha Work Thang #23: A few pieces.

2010-11-24T09:04:00.008Z

As promised, here are a few pieces from some of the books I have worked on recently. In descending order. We have three equipment pieces from the DeathWatch RPG by Fantasy Flight Games; the Relic Blade, Tri flame vambrace and Skapulan Bolter. Images are copyright Games Workshop 2010.

And two pieces from Cults of the Young Kindoms from Mongoose Publishing, an Elric of Melnibone adventure showing an Evil Temple and Elric conversing with a water elemental. Images are copyright Mongoose Publishing 2010.

Tha Work Thang #22: Where have you been?

2010-11-18T12:52:00.003Z

Hello all! or to paraphrase Jack Nicholson in the Shining, "Really sorry for neglecting my blog. My bad." (I think that line is in the movie, either that or, "All play and no blogging makes Jack a dull boy.")

Anyhoo.... just an update on what i have been working on recently. I will put up some images from these books when they are released, a couple of them are out now. I had a nice browse through the Deathwatch R.P.G. in Waterstones the other day, very nice book. (cough....comp. copy...cough.)

This has nearly all been interior black and white work, there was a colour piece in there somewhere.

So, in no particular order we have, "Blood of the Martys", "Edge of the Abyss", "Rites of Battle",

"DeathWatch", "The Frozen Reaches", all for Fantasy Flight Games.

Then we have, "Cults of the Young Kingdoms" and "The Abiding Book" for Mongoose Publishing.

Well, I must say, it's nice to be back. We must do this again sometime soon!

Tha Work Thang #21: And whilst we are on the subject...

2010-05-31T20:20:00.008+01:00

Here are a few pieces from recently released products. Firstly some starship designs from "Lure of the Expanse" a supplement for the Rogue Trader R.P.G.
We have "The Ordained Destiny." "The Wotan."

and "The Nihontu" an oriental inspired ship.

Images are the copyright of Games Workshop 2010.

Another piece for Rogue Trader, this time from the "Ascension" supplement showing Kasrkin power armour.Again copyright Games Workshop 2010.

On to some pieces from Goodman Games, first two are from Level Up Issue 3, showing the Knave class, and some bad dude servants of Amon.

The last piece is from "Azagar's Book of Rituals" and is called Consort Paradox.

Tha Work Thang #20: Caves of the Crawling Lord

2010-05-31T13:45:00.005+01:00

As promised, here is the cover art for Goodman Games' Dungeon Crawl Classics adventure,"Caves of the Crawling Lord". You can see here the initial sketch as well.

Image is the copyright of Goodman Games 2010.

Tha Work Thang #19: Tzzzzzzzt.... computer online

2010-05-11T12:18:00.002+01:00

Bzzzzzt.....hypersleep reanimation sequence initiated.......subject now online.......resuming normal service....bzzzt.

Wow! Has it really been that long? A blog with no blogging, disgraceful I tell you!

Well contrary to popular opinion I have not fallen off the face of the planet and have indeed been working away on this and that. So a little update is in order.

For Fantasy Flight Games I have been doing interior art for the new "Deathwatch R.P.G.", also,"Winds of Magic" for the Warhammer Fantasy R.P.G.

Some space ship profiles for "Lure of the Expanse", a supplement for the Rogue Trader R.P.G.

and some equipment pieces for "Ascension", a supplement for the Dark Heresy R.P.G.

As well as work on a couple more unannounced books.

For Goodman Games I have some pieces in the latest "Level Up" magazine, Issue 3.

And my cover art for, "Caves of the Crawling Lord" a Dungeon Crawl Classics adventure, has just been previewed on their site. ( I will upload a proper picture of it, need to get it off my old hard-drive.)Cheerio for now!

Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas Everybody!

2009-12-23T14:26:00.003Z

Wishing a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to Everyone!

Here is a backdrop I was volunteered to paint for my kids school Christmas Fair. It was displayed behind Santa when the little ones went to visit him in his grotto. It was fun to do but I had little time to do it due to other commitments.

Tha Work Thang #18: Skeletons and Radicals.

2009-11-30T18:43:00.005Z

Just a quick update on what I have been up to. Below is the skeletal cyclops for D&D miniatures.

This guy turned out pretty nifty if you ask me, good job the sculptor! I never know why the sculptor isn't credited anywhere?

I also have a few pieces in "The Radicals Handbook" a Warhammer 40k Dark Heresy book published by Fantasy Flight Games.

Da Life Ting #10: Cobalt Troll

2009-11-12T12:26:00.004Z

So, following hot on the heels of the silver dragon, here is my next foray into the world of sculpting. I wanted to do a monster this time and fished about for some things I could use as a base.

I found a cap for washing liquid which had a good shape for a neck and shoulders. To this I attached a polystyrene ball, ( I found these in the local craft shop and thought they would be good to model heads around.) I used a plastic lolly stick held on by a lump of super sculpey to hold the head in place. You can see these stages in the process shots.

I had no idea how this would all react in the oven, I was hoping that once covered in the clay and packing the inside of the model with aluminium foil would do the trick.

The monster evolved quite organically, I just went with what seemed troll like to me.

When he was sculpted I took him off to the oven. All was ok, no noxious fumes or anything. However, the polystyrene ball had completely vanished, leaving a hollow head. At least I could also dispense with the lolly stick now.

Onto painting, I was originally going for more of a stone colour for him, but quite liked the blue. I decided to name him a Cobalt troll because of the blue colour. So, there you have it...The Cobalt Troll!

Da Life Ting #9: Silver Dragon Update.

2009-11-05T12:21:00.004Z

So here is the Silver Dragon after painting so far. I used mostly metallic acrylic paints on him.

It's nearly at the stage I envisioned him in my head.

Da Life Ting #8: Sculpting a Silver Dragon

2009-11-01T21:56:00.008Z

This weekend I eventually got to try something that I have been wanting to do for a very long time....having a go at sculpting my own figures. Almost a year ago to this very day I had the pleasure of sitting next to Mr. Sean Green, sculptor extraordinaire at Game'08 in Manchester. I saw at first hand his fantastic models and he gave me a few great tips on modelling. Anyway, this week I bought some SuperSculpey and decided to give it a go.

Without giving it too much thought I decided to do a Silver dragons head and dived straight in, I scrunched up some silver foil into a rough dragons head and neck shape and started applying the sculpey clay on top. I got to the stage seen in the first two pictures and left it there for the night.

The next morning I was faced with the problem of the crests on the dragons head, neck and cheeks. I decided to use a card base, which i would then cover in sculpey. I had no idea if this would work or would even survive being baked in the oven.

But, eager to crack on, I threw caution to the wind and went ahead with the modelling.

I bulked up his rather skinny neck, worked on the horns, started applying ridges to the neck piece, inserted small ballbearings as eyes.

Next, I added on the cheek crests that I had sculpted seperately and went about applying all the fun detail, like eyelids and pock marks and the scales ( I rather rushed the scales, but was enjoying myself so much I just wanted to get him baked and painted up!) So below is how I decided he was finished, I thought it was pretty cool for a first go and can't wait to try another one (maybe a Red Dragon next time.)

There are plenty of things I would take more time over next time, the scales, the thickness of the neck spikes for example. With trepidation I put him in the oven and hoped for the best, and lo and behold he came out fine. Nothing broke off or burned, so well happy.

I will post again to show how he came out after being painted, and I will see if I can mount him on a little stand for presentation.

Tha Work Thang #17: Savage Encounters Miniatures

2009-10-29T10:40:00.008Z

Wizards of the Coast have started officially previewing miniatures from the upcoming "Savage Encounters" set. Three of the minis I concepted have been featured so far, first up the Grey Slaad. I like this little fella, he captures the artwork from the monster manual nicely. Next up the Death Giant:
And the Black Slaad:

Below is some of the concept artwork I submitted for each of the pieces:

Images are copyright Wizards of the Coast 2009.

Tha Work Thang #16: Rogue Trader.

2009-10-20T11:25:00.007+01:00

I am currently working on some starship designs for an upcoming Rogue Trader supplement. The core Rogue Trader game book has recently been released by Fantasy Flight Games so I can show you a few of the pieces I did for this book. These are all item illustrations showing some of the ephemera you can equip your Rogue Trader characters with.

Digital Weapons.

Captains Baton.

Mirror Shield. Mechanicus Axe.

All Images are copyright Games Workshop 2009.

Da Life Ting #7: The Rise of the Machines!!

2009-10-17T10:37:00.002+01:00

I have a love hate relationship with machinery, I hate it and it loves to make my life a misery.
Recently our boiler gave up the ghost and we had to fork out for a new one (very expensive...ouch!), but this was the last in a line of machines that mutinied and tried to bring me down.
Over the last few weeks I have had to replace two printers (don't get me started on the lousy service I got from PC world, whom I will now avoid like the plague!), a monitor and a graphics tablet. The fridge is struggling and collecting water, tears trickling down its white goodly face. The bearings on the tumbledryer are voicing their discomfort, a nagging whine that pleads "Fix me." The car decided that it would bleed its power steering fluid all over the road and render itself inoperable just last week. This very machine that I type these humble words on splutters and coughs itself to life every morning, and I feel will soon join its brethren in the great scrapyard in the sky.
What I want is ROBUSTNESS! RELIABILITY! VALUE FOR MONEY! what I get is built in obsolescence, the shrugging shoulders of indifference, the overpriced greed of the corporate economy. Enough I say, stand up and be counted you manufacturers of machines, for one day they will rise and your greed will be your undoing! Mwa hahahaha.

Tha Work Thang #15: Hero's Handbook Tieflings

2009-09-01T10:07:00.005+01:00

Goodman Games has just released "Hero's Handbook Tieflings" and here are four images from the book representing the 'Legacies' that can affect a tieflings beliefs and personality. Avarice.

Covetousness.

Wrath.

Indulgence.

All images are copyright Goodman Games 2009.

Tha Work Thang#14: Halfling Armour and Weapons.

2009-08-19T13:17:00.006+01:00

Here are some pieces of concept art I did for Dungeons and Dragons 4th Ed. The halflings backstory was tied into their love of water and nature and their clothing and weaponry was to reflect this.

Lots of interwoven leather strips and themes of fish, birds, animals and water can be found in their look.

Da Life Ting #6: Ooh, is it that time already?

2009-08-19T13:12:00.002+01:00

Apologies folks for the lack of recent activity but the summer holidays have intervened and three expectant young children have been clamouring to be entertained. So, returning from our adventures in North Wales it is back to business.

Tha Work Thang #13: Seekers of the Ashen Crown

2009-07-27T15:22:00.003+01:00

Here we have three images produced for "Seekers of the Ashen Crown." An Eberron adventure produced by Wizards of the Coast. The images here are the "Kech Volaar" a tribe of goblins, "Fiendish Passage" and "Hive Foundation".

Tha Work Thang #12 : GHOULS!!!!

2009-07-21T13:05:00.007+01:00

A selection of Ghoulish delights for you today. These flesh eating fiends were all done for Wizards of the Coast for Dungeons and Dragons 4th Edition. Above are some Plaguetouched ghouls emerging from the ruins of Starmantle.

Next up are two images from the Monster Manual, a standard ghoul and his nastier kin, an abyssal ghoul.

Lastly, we have some concept drawings for the ghoul and a miniature turnaround for the Ravenous Ghoul from the D&D miniatures range.

Tha Work Thang #11: Crime Pays

2009-07-20T13:38:00.002+01:00

Here is another piece of cover art for Goodman Games for a book about rogues called "Crime Pays." The idea behind the cover was to represent a half orc crime lord reminiscent of the Godfather.

Da Life Ting #5: "It's my party and I'll cry if I want to..."

2009-07-08T20:51:00.003+01:00

Hit the big 40 today! Spent a lovely day with the family. Eaten too much chinese and birthday cake though!

Tha Work Thang #10: From here to there

2009-06-29T12:39:00.002+01:00

Just noticed that Goodman Games have put up the cover for "From Here to There", which I had the pleasure of painting. It's the first time I have seen it with the trade dress.

Tha Work Thang #9: "Keeping an eye out": Concepting the Cyclops.

2009-06-19T13:17:00.026+01:00

Way back in July 2006 Stacy Longstreet, then Art Director at Wizards of the Coast, contacted me about designing a Cyclops for the, as then unannounced, 4th Edition of Dungeons & Dragons. The art description asked for a design “based upon the traditional Cyclops (one-eyed monster) but altered slightly to create a version that is unique to D&D. The idea is to have a design that we can "own" that can be identified as the D&D Cyclops. He should be more sophisticated than an ogre. Wear descent metal armour, chainmail or scale mail and carry a real weapon hammer or axe, not a club. It will be related to the Formorians. (MM II pg 105 BUT we are going to make even him look a bit more intelligent.) “The Cyclopes were almost like human beings but of a gigantic size and with only one eye in the middle of their heads."
The first thing I thought I should concentrate on was the head. Getting the right look for the eye and determining the overall head shape. What should I go for? Something like the ‘Harryhausen’ look or more alien? So I came up with a selection of head designs (FIG 1)and sent them in for feedback

The initial feedback on these was, “We like F and would like to see a few more similar to that one. Make the eye slightly larger. No horn. No hair. Try maybe 4 ears, possibly not all the same size? Work with the head shape, not ridges like in H, but maybe lumpier or a more uniquely shaped back side of the head? We like the nose on F - does it have 2 or 4 nostrils? can't tell.

Once we have chose one, it will need to have a long spear being held in both hands above his head, pointed horizontally and he should be wearing a breastplate (but the arms are bare) and a pleated kilt (skirt) and boots.”
I went away and worked up a few more head designs, looking at dinosaur heads for inspiration like the pachycephalosaurus. I also sent in a couple of alternate poses (FIG.2 & FIG. 3) The first pass at a final figure, in the pose and armour required was FIG. 4

An additional idea was put forward at this point." What does the Cyclops look like if you make his eye run vertically instead of horizontally? Rotate it 90 degrees. and let's look at it....” So I came up with these concepts, including a more ceratopsian head shape. (FIG. 5) :

Wizards took a look and suggested the following changes (FIG. 6), and also stated, “Clothing and weapon for this creature should look a bit crude and other worldly. welded together bits of metal and chains torn or poorly stitched together leather/cloth.”

With this in mind I reworked the final version (FIG. 7)

Feedback at this stage requested a few more changes.
“There have been some changes and we'd like one more pass at the Cyclops.Changes we'd like to see:Body proportions altered a bit. Make the legs a bit longer not so stubby incomparison to the rest of the body. He should look more like a towering Gianttype.The armour seems a bit too Roman Gladiator,should be more primitive.Adjust the cheekbones a little so it does not look so cat-like.Pose is still good.”
I went back and adjusted the figure accordingly to reach the version seen in FIG. 8

At this point the figure was approved, the look of the 4th ED. Cyclops was decided and I could go on to draw the back and side views for the miniature design. (FIG. 9) This miniature was unveiled in the ‘Desert of Desolation’ set of D&D miniatures.

Since then I have had the pleasure of doing two more Cyclopes for the miniature range. (FIG 10 & 11.)

I am pleased that they have a consistent look (FIG 12.) about them. It was a great privilege to be able to concept these pieces and hopefully I’ve created a look which is unique to D&D.

Tha Work Thang #8 : Dragonborn.

2009-06-18T09:00:00.005+01:00

These three pics are from Goodman Games' "Heroes Handbook Dragonborn". We have Paladin v Dragon, Dragonborn Necromancer and Dragonborn Rider. By the way,like the orc pieces in the previous post, these are printed in Black and White in the book, they look nattier on the blog page like this though!

Tha Work Thang #7: Orcs!

2009-06-10T10:12:00.006+01:00

Goodman Games has released "Monstercology:Orcs" and so I can show you three of the pieces I drew for this book. Solemn watcher, Warrior Scion and the Horde. All images are copyright Goodman Games 2009.

Da Life Ting #4: Avast ye land lubbers!!

2009-06-10T10:04:00.002+01:00

I was volunteered by the wife to draw out a Pirate ship that was to be used to raise funds for the PTA at my childrens infants school. The idea being the children could wear their own clothes for the day if they donated 50p ,which they would place on the pirate ship as "Pieces of Eight". The drawing needed to be pretty big, so out came a kingsize sheet and hey presto! A hundred and one pounds was raised yesterday, so I feel warm and fuzzy that I have done something beneficial.

Da Life Ting #3: Hope and Social

2009-06-06T13:04:00.003+01:00

If you are a fan of soulful, uplifting indie music in the vein of "Elbow", then please take a listen to Hope and Social. Their new album is available for free download (well 1pence!) or you can pay what you want for it. It is definitely worth a listen. You can find them here: http://www.hopeandsocial.com/

Tha Work Thang #6: Aliens

2009-05-23T12:15:00.004+01:00

I've recently done some work on the "Warhammer 40k: Rogue Trader" rpg and thought I would share a couple of pieces from the previous book I worked on, "Warhammer 40k: Dark Heresy Creatures Anathema." (Snappy title!) So, here we have the feared Genestealer and the weapons of the scum of the universe, the Orks. Waaaaagh!!

Tha Work Thang #5 : Dangerous Delves

2009-05-09T13:19:00.004+01:00

Soon to be released by Wizards of the Coast is the "Dangerous Delves" set of monstrous miniatures for use with Dungeons and Dragons. I designed seven of the forty beasties in this set.

Bloodseeker Drake

Banshrae Warrior

Beholder Eye Tyrant

Bonechill Chimera

Cyclops Crusher

Minotaur Battle Shaman

Young Gold Dragon

The Work thang #4: The Rule Book

2009-05-08T08:40:00.004+01:00

My good friend Rob Kitchin has just had his first novel published, it is called "The Rulebook", a crime thriller set in Ireland. Available from all good book outlets.
Rob asked me if I could do a little promotional piece to go up on You Tube. I haven't done anything like this before so had to familiarise myself with image transitions and music synchronisation and suchlike.
The result feels pretty atmospheric.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXJokXeUDKg

Tha Work Thang #3. Beauty is in the Eye.....

2009-04-24T18:16:00.010+01:00

Wizards of the Coast has just put a preview up for its new set of D&D miniatures, "Dangerous Delves." The preview features a new Beholder, concepted by yours truly. There have been four Beholders produced in the range and I have been lucky enough to design three of them. The Beholder Lich from the Unhallowed set, the Eye of Flame from Dungeons of Dread and the new one. I love designing these miniatures and hopefully will get to design many more.

Da Life Ting #2. Crabs love a bit of Bacon.

2009-04-24T18:04:00.002+01:00

Spent a week with the family at my parents over Easter. Lovely weather, lovely time had by all.
Did a bit of fishing off Beaumaris pier, there were a lot of people crab lining and the popular bait of the day was bacon, those crabs love a bit of bacon! We caught not a jot with the more traditional ragworm.

Tha Work Thang #2: Rise of the Nevret.

2009-04-02T13:33:00.005+01:00

I created these concepts for the Dreamblade collectable miniatures game made by Wizards of the Coast. These were drawn just for fun, after the games production finished. I had a soft spot for the Nevret and had all sorts of ideas how the race could be expanded upon. The main one being they were in complete denial that they were in the dreamscape and they were the only sane beings amongst all the madness.

In other news, my printer has just given up the ghost. I need a new one urgently, to print off art orders, invoices, reference materials etc. So an investment in a new machine is required, any recommendations people? My budget is strictly limited.

Da Life Ting #1. Of Hot Cross Buns.

2009-03-28T14:08:00.003Z

Sharing a hot cross bun with another is supposed to ensure friendship throughout the coming year, particularly if "Half for you and half for me, Between us two shall goodwill be" is said at the time. Recently my appetite for these fella's has known no bounds and I have been far to greedy to share.The smell of spices and cinnamon as they pop from the toaster. Golden and dripping with butter.....yum, yum! Funny thing is I couldn't stand them as a kid.

Tha Work Thang #1.

2009-03-28T13:48:00.004Z

Recently I have been doing a fair bit of work for Goodman Games, and have been thoroughly enjoying it too. Here are a couple of pieces from the book, "In Search of Adventure" a collection of adventures for D&D 4E. First off we have "Straylight Battle" and then "Ghoul Fight" Images are copyright Goodman Games 2009.

The First Post.

2009-03-28T13:18:00.005Z

Oooh, shiny, new. I am now officially a blogger. Ok, so what to say? Well, my name is David Griffith , I am a freelance illustrator, mainly in the field of fantasy and roleplaying games.
I get to draw cool monsters and heroes for books and miniature designs and card games and chess sets and computer games and..... well, you get the drift.

I've decided to split my posts into: Tha Work Thang (for the pretty pictures)
and Da Life Ting (for the other stuff )

So that I can muse on whatever really.
Welcome then everyone and enjoy.