Kicking Back.

Acrylic; approx 11" x 16"
©Wizards of the Coast; D&D Cityscapes, internal illustration.

Original artwork for sale; UK£750.

Even hardcore adventurers need somewhere to relax and socialise occasionally. This picture shows just such a place. All races and classes intermingle in their own particular ways - some more scrupulously than others.

This picture was an interesting challenge in that I was requested to show a busy crowd scene, but also focus on certain key characters and incidents.

Primary amongst these was the betting exchange between Lidda the Halfling and her Gnome companion. A challenge because they are possibly the smallest characters in the scene and could easily get swamped by the larger figures. To overcome this I decided to create an upper balcony level and place them on the banister overlooking the scene below.

Secondary was the posing Half-orc and the figures infront of the noticeboard. To make them stand out in the crowd I decided to highlight them within squares of lighter area - as if light were shining in from windows high above.

To satisfy myself I snuck in little details and characters that tell their own stories - just what is in that potion bottle?