Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for my favorite contribution to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse. As I mentioned before, I have never worked on anything Planescape related in the 19 years I have made monsters for Dungeons & Dragons, so it was a real treat to finally stick my tow into this realm. Last time I shared a pointy walking plant, today, I smelled a rat. Here is the final painting for the Cranium Rats in Disguise.
Cranium Rats in Disguise
Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse
11 x 14 - Digital
Art Director - Emi Tamji
© 2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC
I was asked to design and illustrate the Cranium Rats in Disguise. I knew instantly that this would be a fun one. It is just so silly and cool at the same time that I needed to make it special. The Cranium Rats in Disguise was described as:
A mysterious figure surrounded by cranium rats walks down an alley toward the viewer.
Figure: The figure is covered in a ragged cloak and wrappings and walks awkwardly. We can't see any of the figure's features. It's suggested that the figure is actually all cranium rats wearing clothes, but we can't be sure.
Alley: The alley is a creepy alley in Sigil's Hive Ward. It's filled with trash and razor vine.
After reading that, I was ready to get to work on some thumbnails. As I have stated countless times here before, I start nearly all of my projects with a photo shoot as I act out the monster and get my head around the physicality of it. Once I feel like I have enough reference, I start scribbling. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.
Cranium Rats in Disguise - Thumbnails
© 2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC
These were well received, but the hat on top of the cloak in option 'C' was, of course, the best one. I was asked to make the background doorway arch more similar to option 'B,' but the figure was perfect as it was. I was happy to make the updates and got to work. Here is the updated thumbnail that I submitted.
Cranium Rats in Disguise - Revised thumbnail
© 2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC
The revised thumbnail was approved without additional notes or revisions. It was now time for my favorite part, the drawing! I always create a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here is the Cranium Rats in Disguise drawing.
Cranium Rats in Disguise
Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse
11 x 14 -Colored pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
Art Director - Emi Tamji
© 2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC
The drawing was approved without comment, and it was time to start on the final painting. Here is the painting of the Cranium Rats in Disguise taking shape.
Cranium Rats in Disguise - Process
© 2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC
As with most of my D&D work these days, the painting goes quickly. I am thankful that I have been doing these long enough that I can sit down and knock out the painting in one sitting. It was not always this way, but after 25 years, I am glad to finally have this luxery of having done this work countless times. Practice does pay off. The biggest challenge for this piece was to get the contrast right for the figure and the limited background. It needed to be readable and fleshed out, but not to the point that it overwhelmed the figure. I believe I hit the right balance with it. This is likely one of my favorite recent works, and it is getting a miniature! Here, again, is the final painting of the Cranium Rats in Disguise.
Cranium Rats in Disguise
Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse
© 2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC
That's all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog. See you back here on Friday! Until then...
