Recently, I’ve given the artwork that adorns the RPGs I love more attention in my articles. Not just the epic fantasy work like the painted covers featured as the subject matter of the excellent Eye of the Beholder: The Art of Dungeons and Dragons documentary, but looking at the value of stock art and the rise of single-artist RPGs. Artwork is a critical component of tabletop roleplaying games, it fills the gap when words cannot adequately describe, or imply, the mood or monstrous matter of the subject. For many games, art enhances the project and, in most cases, takes it to a new level. With that, I wanted to talk to a creator that combined art with one of the other areas of RPGs that I study, crowdfunding. As such, I was excited when I found out that one of the better known RPG stock art artists, Jeshields, planned to kickstart his next wave of RPG stock and was interested in talking about the campaign for Modern Mythos and Machine.
EGG EMBRY (EGG): Thanks for talking with me. What’s the pitch for Modern Mythos and Machine stock art Kickstarter?
JESHIELDS (JS): This is a collection of 75 to 100 or more stock illustrations that fit into one or more of these three genres: Modern, Science Fiction, and Lovecraft.
EGG: This isn’t just a simple back-the-campaign-and-everyone-gets-the-art-that-you-want-to-draw. Instead, the backers will offer input on this, correct?
JS: That is correct. Backers will get to submit illustration ideas of what they want or need for their projects. The submissions will be curated and put up for a final vote. The winning ideas will then be illustrated in at least two different genres.
EGG: What can publishers get through this Kickstarter?
JS: Every backer, including independent publishers, will get a non-exclusive right to use the artwork indefinitely for any number of projects. I am VERY lenient with my license terms. I do ask to be credited through either my signature mark on the illustration or in written credits.
EGG: What categories will the art fall into?
JS: Aside from the three genres mentioned previously, I will be creating Fonts, Cover Art, Vehicles, Scenes, Effects, Characters, and Items. The greatest bulk of the art will be divided among Vehicles, Scenes, Characters, and Items with an even dispersion among the genres.
EGG: Will the images be done in black-and-white or color or a mix?
JS: The answer is yes. All of the artwork will be created in black-and-white white for the initial funding and colors will be unlocked as stretch goals. If we unlock all the stretch goals, then all of the art will be in color at no extra cost to the backers. Otherwise, it will be a mix. The first to unlock (and most important to have in color) will be the Covers. Next will be Vehicles, then Scenes, Characters, and finally Items.
EGG: You recently did a post on social media in which you asked what the industry needs in terms of stock art. Publishers like Phil Reed, Justin Halliday, Jonathan M. Thompson, Thom Wilson, Jacob DC Ross, and many more chimed in with requests. What did you glean from their feedback?
JS: Rather than rely on what I thought would be a good project, I opened up the conversation for what was actually needed. That offered me a perspective I would not have had otherwise and it became very clear that there was a high demand for Modern art assets and Science Fiction. There was just enough conversation about Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos to convince me to include it to push my artistic talents even further.
EGG: What drew you into creating RPG art and RPG stock?
JS: My first introduction to roleplaying games was in the form of seeing my dad play Dungeons & Dragons in my living room. I enjoyed the artwork of the monsters in those books. As a teen, I was exposed to the art of Palladium Rifts and was just enamored by how the art made me want to play in that world. When I finally stepped into illustrating for tabletop roleplaying games, I wanted to give independent publishers with a limited budget the opportunity to still have quality art to bring their worlds to life and entice people to explore their worlds.
EGG: What are some of the more notable projects fans have seen your artwork on?
JS: I actually dislike this question. I understand its intent, so I don’t fault you for asking. It is good that people know where they may have seen my work. However, while I have worked with clients that have some notability (Steve Jackson Games, EN Publishing), it does not give as much opportunity for independent projects to shine. Some of my favorite work has been illustrations created for The Polyhedral Knights, Storyweaver Games, and Big Bald Games.
EGG: That’s fair, and I think your answer turned that question into something more elegant. What other projects are you working on?
JS: As a freelance artist, I am always juggling clients and projects. Aside from stock art projects on Kickstarter, I also run Patreon.com/Jeshields where I create about 10 illustrations a month based on submitted ideas that inspire me.
EGG: Thanks for talking with me. Where can fans follow you online? Where can they learn more about your Kickstarter?
JS: Not a problem. The honor is mine. I do business as Jeshields, which is a rather unique name. I most regularly check Facebook, Twitter, and MeWe, but I am also on Instragram. I am open to communication and encourage anybody to connect with me and start a conversation.
For more of his art, check out Jeshields’ portfolio at his website here.
Modern Mythos and Machine from Jeshields
“A Mix-N-Match stock art project of Modern, Sci-Fi, and Lovecraft themes.”
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