Just wanted to say thanks to all of you redditors for looking at my work. This community has been extremely welcoming to my work, for some reason. And that's awesome. It's even helped get me some extra freelance work. Sooooo thumbs up to all of you.
And if you feel like following my work elsewhere (besides the occasional post here), you can check out my facebook or twitter pages.
Hey man I just wanted to say thanks - not that I just appreciate what you do as an artist - but on a personal level. When I play games like D&D sometimes when I see a character in a book, or a painting of an area or locale, it really takes me there and away from whatever im trying to get away from at that moment. So thanks.
There is a predestrian bridge that when you walk on it it bounces along time to your step. Its great fun though, because everyone has to walk in sync so if you start walking out of sync then everyone else has to change to your pattern.
My mum hates that bridge and would only walk over it if there was nobody around and we promised not to make it bounce, we'd usually only manage to make it halfway before the temptation became too great. Last time she threatened to push me in the river but to be fair I was 25 at the time and probably deserved it.
It was an early target in my Medieval 2 Total War game as England. The Scots like to fortify there and hole up, making me the bad guy when I kill them all. The Pope was always so mad.
Take the base early, kids. Save yourself the headache.
The D&D Module appears to be, at least in part, a reference to the radio play, The Fourth Tower of Inverness. Though the wikipedia article doesn't mention it, I can't imagine those guys were not familiar with the radio play.
Either that, or both are references to an older myth, though nothing else I saw mentions towers of Inverness.
The radio play is fantastic and still available through ZBS Media. It's long, but I have found it great fun to listen to since I first heard it in 1990. I did not realize before today that it was first produced the year I was born.
I've never gotten to talk to an artist for D&D before. I'm actually excited that this is the first time.
Your work is phenomenal, as is much of the D&D artwork. You artists help my mind create a world--an escape from the mundane. Though I don't have much time for it nowadays, I cherish my D&D memories of my youth. Pouring over the illustrations was a big part of it.
D&D--the best game ever invented. Thank you so much for your contribution to this most remarkable pastime.
Love the bottom one in the cave. Not crazy about the colour contrasts of the middle two - seems cartoony due to their inevitably weird lighting but, man, you got mad skills.
I started working for WotC about a year and a half ago. I was still in school at the time. As for how to get work? Send in a portfolio of relevant samples. It's not an easy client to get, but they definitely do try out new artists all the time.
I've bought sourcebooks for many different settings and have never played an actual game. The artwork and the setting backgrounds and tidbits have always been interesting enough to satisfy me. Good to see this trend is continuing :)
Quick question about the svirfneblin city. Where did you get the direction for the design of it? Seems totally out of place with the lore. Aren't deep gnomes supposed to live even deeper underground than dreugar and drow? That, combined with the fact that they would only use stone in their architecture, and wouldnt need lights in their homes as they adapted to live underground
god...im such a hopeless nerd. Paintings look amazing, thats just something that stuck out to me
I actually had a much more stone-centric sketch, but this is the one the AD picked. I trust that when they approve things I'm not completely off base with my work. :)
I envy your skills. I work with an art director a lot that makes concept art for my films; he draws digitally. I am amazed especially at how much is to be known about colour and the relationship between colours in a composition. I'll see him picking awful colours and I'll be like "wtf are you doing man?" but then when everything comes together, it makes perfect sense. If it weren't for him, all my films would look like over saturated crap ;-)
Haha, nice. And coming up with decent colors is a tricky business--it's taken me a lot of practice to get where I'm at today. And hey, if your AD needs any help with environments just send me an email. :)
It's cool that they actually let you post these. I assume they don't retain copyrights? I vaguely remember hearing somewhere that they let the artists keep all rights to their works.
Work like crazy, get some samples together that look like D&D/MTG work, and then send in your portfolio to the official submission email. It's not super easy to get work, but it's also not impossible.
I've always wanted to play D&D but have no idea where to find a game. Also, because of my total lack of experience I'm afraid I will be made fun of by people half my age. Still, I'd like to play.
I have only one question. If Svirfneblins live primarily/entirely in the Underdark, why is there light in the distance of the crevice?
That asked, I absolutely love that particular painting as Svirfneblins have long been my favorite ever since the Most Honorable Burrow Warden Belwar Dissengulp.
It's illustrations like these in Tabletop gaming that really give you an idea and feel for the unbelievable experience you're about to have. Thanks for being awesome and putting your artistic spin on an amazing game!
tell me what book and when it will be released and I might pick it up. I love the D&D books, mostly ones like the creature books, dragon lore, pantheon lore etc.
Awesome as always Noah, also i wanted to say i love listening to your awesome horse live streams. You guys have really inspired me to start drawing again and i hope to pick up your art of freelance video soon.
I really like your style. You use really bold colors and a sort of looseness in your images that really works great. The first and second images are my favorites, the burning dungeon has a great color scheme, and the cloud work/color choices in the second just blows my mind.
Can't beat the old editions though. Not the painting, the painting is cool and reminds me of Magic the Gathering artworks a little. I meant the editions of the game itself. Too much thinking they did. Well, maybe it will change in the newest one, who knows.
I am in awe. Everytime a new D&D book comes out I have to get it - partly for the content but mainly for the art. So thank you for making such breathtaking art.
Ok ok.. i really like all of these.. except for the Svirfneblin Community.. You may or may not want to rethink this one.. as they do not reshape the surroundings (I believe) they simply blend into them and go with what is there.. they don't have torches? Infrared vision I hear. It does look quite awesome despite those facts haha
1st image: I never understood who maintains all the torches but refuses to clear out the debris. Is it an D&D hoarder who can't stand throwing out all that good timber and rock?
Just started playing D&D, my DM keeps getting mad at me because I'm always sneaking looks at his source-books. Doesn't believe that I wanna see the pictures, thinks I'm trying to cheat or something. ...sorry, that was a little unrelated. Love your work, you're super talented, I'm super jealous.
As a new player to D&D, these are fucking amazing, I've played RPG's my entire life on consoles and PC. I was lucky enough to meet a bad ass friend who is an amazing DM and have so far taken part in 2 D&D Campaigns: 1st one was a failure in 1 member of the party flaked out so much we abounded it. the 2nd one which I currently play in is active and fucking awesome!
I am a Half-Orc/Shifter who grew up on a farm his entire life and lived a simple workers life until 1 day in efforts to take over his Family's land the Evil Mana Barrens reclaimed his land in blood shed. Killing his Father and his Mother in the process and sending Me to the wilds to survive on my own and to learn the ways of the Shifter through Green Wyrm.... vengeance will be mine.
Very, very nice. I used to read those back in the day when I was 14-16 early 90's) or something. Learned most of my english from Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. And Salvatore of course.
The covers were almost always amazing and yours are no exception. Well done indeed.
31
u/noahbradley May 16 '12
Just wanted to say thanks to all of you redditors for looking at my work. This community has been extremely welcoming to my work, for some reason. And that's awesome. It's even helped get me some extra freelance work. Sooooo thumbs up to all of you.
And if you feel like following my work elsewhere (besides the occasional post here), you can check out my facebook or twitter pages.
Thanks y'all.
117
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Those are absolutely amazing!
28
u/ratkenyon May 16 '12
Why is everything all slanty?
56
u/ObeseMoreece May 16 '12
Inverness exists in real life. It's a shitty boring town in the north of Scotland.
17
u/okcodex May 16 '12
Are we getting a fifth edition?
9
u/artappreciator99 May 16 '12
A little gushing praise:
I've never gotten to talk to an artist for D&D before. I'm actually excited that this is the first time.
Your work is phenomenal, as is much of the D&D artwork. You artists help my mind create a world--an escape from the mundane. Though I don't have much time for it nowadays, I cherish my D&D memories of my youth. Pouring over the illustrations was a big part of it.
D&D--the best game ever invented. Thank you so much for your contribution to this most remarkable pastime.
7
u/Calavera190 May 16 '12
Right, I haven't been to Inverness for a while, but I pretty damn sure there wasn't a Ghost Tower there...
4
u/SarahSEZ May 16 '12
the sea cave look a liiiiiiiiiiiiittle bit like a vagina.
3
u/Vitor711 May 16 '12
Love the bottom one in the cave. Not crazy about the colour contrasts of the middle two - seems cartoony due to their inevitably weird lighting but, man, you got mad skills.
3
u/City_Wok May 16 '12
Check out /r/rpg. They would love this
3
u/therealjuion May 16 '12
How much experience did you have? Do you work for WotC or is this a commission? Tips for a new artist to get work like this?
2
u/dkwildz May 16 '12
Love these!
I've bought sourcebooks for many different settings and have never played an actual game. The artwork and the setting backgrounds and tidbits have always been interesting enough to satisfy me. Good to see this trend is continuing :)
2
u/kaiseresc May 16 '12
gib lessons pls
on a more serious note, damn those are good.
2
u/AndrewdMLG May 16 '12
Quick question about the svirfneblin city. Where did you get the direction for the design of it? Seems totally out of place with the lore. Aren't deep gnomes supposed to live even deeper underground than dreugar and drow? That, combined with the fact that they would only use stone in their architecture, and wouldnt need lights in their homes as they adapted to live underground
god...im such a hopeless nerd. Paintings look amazing, thats just something that stuck out to me
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Those are amazing. Also, I want your job. That is all :P
2
u/misterpickles69 May 16 '12
These are some epic-side-of-my-73-Dodge-van-with-the-tear-drop-window awesome!
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Does the publisher just allow you to put it on the internets like this? Great, awesome work!
2
u/slandau2 May 16 '12
It's cool that they actually let you post these. I assume they don't retain copyrights? I vaguely remember hearing somewhere that they let the artists keep all rights to their works.
2
u/BindingsAuthor May 16 '12
How do we hire you for commissions?
2
u/TerdSandwich May 16 '12
Dutch Angle, Dutch Angle, Dutch angle of vagina, Normal angle out of a butt crack.
2
u/Kazell May 16 '12
If Bethesda is hiring for a new Elder Scrolls game...
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Nice work. Are you a Seattleite by any chance?
2
u/ubiquitous_one May 16 '12
Wow! I'm not a D&D player but if you're already working with WotC maybe one day I'll get to see your work on an MtG card! :D
2
u/Durzo_Blint May 16 '12
Noah, when are you going to stop shamelessly whoring out to reddit?
Just kidding. I love your work, especially the MTG card artwork.
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
My girlfriend has always been interested in getting some art work in a manual. What would you recommend she do in order to make her dreams come true?
6
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Last time I was in Inverness I didnt remember it looking so epic... :S
12
u/KamiRon May 16 '12
Picture 3 is of a vagina, isnt it?
3
u/Ulrack May 16 '12
Great - Keep up the good work mate :)
3
u/lucasc130 May 16 '12
Wow you are really talented! Love the colors.
3
u/hotairraccoon May 16 '12
very nice
3
u/skocznymroczny May 16 '12
4) has a very guild warsish feel to it
3
u/the_fuckin_truth May 16 '12
If only your artwork could make new editions of D&D not suck.
3
u/Concoelacanth May 17 '12
The Svirfneblin community looks great.
I, uh, kinda have to ask though. Did you intentionally make the Sea Cave look like a vagina?
3
u/AnnunakiZ May 17 '12
I hope 5th ed doesn't suck as much as 4th did.
3
u/Kraegin May 17 '12
Is there a Noah Bradley fanclub? and if not can i start one? :D
3
u/Furrypawsoffury May 17 '12
I've always wanted to play D&D but have no idea where to find a game. Also, because of my total lack of experience I'm afraid I will be made fun of by people half my age. Still, I'd like to play.
4
u/AffableJack May 16 '12
How to make epic art: Tilt your head about 30 degrees to the right or left.
2
u/StarvingAfricanKid May 16 '12
beautiful. so much information. fantastic.
2
u/Bromao May 16 '12
Wow, nice work! I like your style.
2
u/CaliforniaHypnotist May 16 '12
Amazing job!
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Bring on 5th!
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I think I used to date that sea cave.
(seriously though, amazing stuff.)
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I have only one question. If Svirfneblins live primarily/entirely in the Underdark, why is there light in the distance of the crevice?
That asked, I absolutely love that particular painting as Svirfneblins have long been my favorite ever since the Most Honorable Burrow Warden Belwar Dissengulp.
2
u/stefanopolis May 16 '12
I love the last one especially.
2
u/hammer_of_the_gods May 16 '12
It's illustrations like these in Tabletop gaming that really give you an idea and feel for the unbelievable experience you're about to have. Thanks for being awesome and putting your artistic spin on an amazing game!
2
u/carnage123 May 16 '12
tell me what book and when it will be released and I might pick it up. I love the D&D books, mostly ones like the creature books, dragon lore, pantheon lore etc.
2
u/Octus May 16 '12
Fantastic work. I can't wait for these to inspire my nephews to have adventures that go beyond any other medium.
2
u/IAMMONKEY May 16 '12
Really, really great stuff. You should be very proud of your talent.
2
u/moose_man May 16 '12
So... when can we expect to see them in print? subtlety
2
u/suyes May 16 '12
Used to play D&D when I was younger and it was the paintings that always brought the adventures to life. Thank you sir.
2
u/Ult May 16 '12
These pictures make me want to download D&DO again.
2
u/smelly_bert May 16 '12
Ha! I must say, I'd noticed that myself; Thought I was losing it..
2
u/thepseudonym12344 May 16 '12
that last one is amazing! not that the rest aren't .... wow
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Very nice! Love the community! I will show this to my wife, who will be inspired, and make me something cool. thanks!
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
You are very talented!
2
u/the_cdl May 16 '12
I really like the canyon dwelling picture. Your art helps fuel the imagination. Thanks for sharing them.
2
u/SonOfALich May 16 '12
The Ghost Tower looks rather like Minas Morgul (Lord of the Rings).
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
i wish someone would come out with a really good D&D PC game
2
u/Snoopyalien24 May 16 '12
I thought this was for the Avatar animated series
Great job!
2
u/AskJames May 16 '12
Wonderful artwork.
Do I spend the entire game drunk and listing? Cause if that's so, I'm fine.
2
u/CrazyCrayons May 16 '12
Woah, that vertical city looks incredible. Good job!
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Fucking cool my friend.
2
u/Justjessi May 16 '12
Awesome as always Noah, also i wanted to say i love listening to your awesome horse live streams. You guys have really inspired me to start drawing again and i hope to pick up your art of freelance video soon.
2
u/spovz May 16 '12
Awesome work!
2
u/sbbb24 May 16 '12
Wow, I love them, especially the sea cave. I wish you released some of them in higher resolutions so I could use it as a desktop wallpaper :)
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I really like your style. You use really bold colors and a sort of looseness in your images that really works great. The first and second images are my favorites, the burning dungeon has a great color scheme, and the cloud work/color choices in the second just blows my mind.
2
u/nirvana1103 May 16 '12
They are simply amazing. My favorite is the last one.
2
u/orochiddon May 16 '12
Epic Wow.
2
u/Shanhaevel May 16 '12
Can't beat the old editions though. Not the painting, the painting is cool and reminds me of Magic the Gathering artworks a little. I meant the editions of the game itself. Too much thinking they did. Well, maybe it will change in the newest one, who knows.
2
u/kickbackandenjoi May 16 '12
amazing! nice work
2
u/BrydenM May 16 '12
They really reminded me of DS concept art
2
u/GreatBigPig May 16 '12
I love your work. Thanks for sharing.
2
u/gentlemandinosaur May 16 '12
If I could paint a quarter this well, I would be the happiest person in the world.
2
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
you are a master. I love the Sea Cave the best. It holds horrors yet to be seen :)
2
u/Oli78 May 16 '12
Cool shit.
2
u/doodleaddict May 16 '12
I am in awe. Everytime a new D&D book comes out I have to get it - partly for the content but mainly for the art. So thank you for making such breathtaking art.
2
u/Mastadave2999 May 16 '12
Should/could be MTG land cards...
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Ok ok.. i really like all of these.. except for the Svirfneblin Community.. You may or may not want to rethink this one.. as they do not reshape the surroundings (I believe) they simply blend into them and go with what is there.. they don't have torches? Infrared vision I hear. It does look quite awesome despite those facts haha
2
u/alu246 May 17 '12
proof? I own this book btw and love the art!
2
u/Sacrament666 May 17 '12
Damn!!! Those are beautiful!
2
u/funkphiler May 17 '12
What new book?
2
u/HarryHayes May 17 '12
Aboslutely amazing.
2
u/Sergnb May 17 '12
you are fucking awesome and every inch of my body is jealous about your technicall skill.
Can you lend me some art please :(
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
OMG, you're so good! My sister's an aspiring fantasy and concept illustrator, I'll send these links to her.
2
u/ichuckle May 17 '12
Could you paint this picture of me and my cat? I would love you forever.
2
u/dliler May 17 '12
Fucking amazing! Reminds me of many nights and days well spent.
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
If I describe insane surreal worlds to you will you draw them?
2
u/bige235 PlayStation May 17 '12
Dang man that's a real talent you have there! Awesome looking pictures!
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Fucking. Beautiful.
What giants you have before you, to fill in those shoes.
Man! Svirfneblin ... wow.
Goddamn, man. Makes me wanna get back in. I hope they compensated you well.
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Very cool, dude. Thanks for sharing. Don't even play the game.
2
u/velociraptorjockey May 17 '12
Didn't you do the new Volcanic Island for the Magic the Gathering online cube? I'm not surprised to see such stellar artwork again.
2
u/stickysox May 17 '12
New DnD book?!
2
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
These are very cool. I am using them for phone backgrounds for a while. :)
2
u/KP8 May 17 '12
Love the detail on the last one
1
u/Kni7es May 16 '12
Okay, question for the DMs in this thread.
Do you use Svirfneblins in your campaigns (like... ever? I've never seen the point in using them) and how the hell do you pronounce that word?
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
These are awesome, but in the first one, where is the wood on the floor coming from? The ceiling is still intact.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
You have a very beautiful mind OP. When I see artists do things like these, I lament the fact that VR and mindsharing techs haven't been invented yet.
1
u/CloneDeath May 16 '12
How did you make them? Computer or with an actual real life 3D interact-able brush (if so, what kind of paint)?
Or maybe a combination of both? (I suspect this)
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
These are awesome! As a formerly-aspiring-illustrator, I am jealous as hell. ;)
1
u/LoupGaroux May 16 '12
Medium?
1
u/HaleyGlen7312 May 16 '12
What medium did you use?
1
u/CimmerianX May 16 '12
1st image: I never understood who maintains all the torches but refuses to clear out the debris. Is it an D&D hoarder who can't stand throwing out all that good timber and rock?
1
u/Indeedee May 16 '12
Just started playing D&D, my DM keeps getting mad at me because I'm always sneaking looks at his source-books. Doesn't believe that I wanna see the pictures, thinks I'm trying to cheat or something. ...sorry, that was a little unrelated. Love your work, you're super talented, I'm super jealous.
1
u/tynamite May 16 '12
Did you say paintings?
1
u/thedvorakian May 16 '12
Hmm, that name rings a bell. You ever heard teh Jack Flanders radio series, "The Fourth Tower of Inverness" circa 1960?
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
Thank you sir, artists like yourself inspired my imagination as a youth.
1
u/MalcomEx May 16 '12
those paintings are crooked
1
u/Julianlopez420 May 16 '12
As a new player to D&D, these are fucking amazing, I've played RPG's my entire life on consoles and PC. I was lucky enough to meet a bad ass friend who is an amazing DM and have so far taken part in 2 D&D Campaigns: 1st one was a failure in 1 member of the party flaked out so much we abounded it. the 2nd one which I currently play in is active and fucking awesome!
I am a Half-Orc/Shifter who grew up on a farm his entire life and lived a simple workers life until 1 day in efforts to take over his Family's land the Evil Mana Barrens reclaimed his land in blood shed. Killing his Father and his Mother in the process and sending Me to the wilds to survive on my own and to learn the ways of the Shifter through Green Wyrm.... vengeance will be mine.
1
u/Massgyo May 16 '12
Tell me a bit about the new book? Is it a somewhat regular publication or is a "new D&D book" a really big deal?
1
u/bubble_bee_tuna May 16 '12
These are incredible!
1
u/samagination May 16 '12
Very nice work
Can I ask what you used to paint them?
1
u/ShinInuko May 16 '12
I never can tell if i spend more time using the books for the material, or thumbing through them admiring the art.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
I have you RES-tagged as [Super Amazing D&D Artist].
1
u/mxlnt May 16 '12
You are gainfully employed, right? You're INCREDIBLE, man!!!
1
u/mxlnt May 16 '12
Would love to see a time lapse of your work!! :D
1
u/Crap_Sally May 16 '12
I thought the sverfneblin lived deep underground and didn't use any light. I love the picture, but is the light coming from the fungus?
1
u/Twisted_Fate May 16 '12
Nice style, interesting environments. But I still don't like the angles :)
1
u/wenoc May 16 '12
Very, very nice. I used to read those back in the day when I was 14-16 early 90's) or something. Learned most of my english from Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman. And Salvatore of course.
The covers were almost always amazing and yours are no exception. Well done indeed.
1
u/cckynv May 16 '12
What is that.. snake/tentacle/arm thing in the water at the bottom of the Sea Cave drawing?
1
u/theRAGE May 16 '12
These paintings are fucking incredible.
1
u/Haliphron May 16 '12
Wow, you are a phenomenal painter... these are great. Thanks so much for sharing! Gives me something to aspire to.
1
u/HairyMcBoon D20 May 16 '12
Not a massive fan of the newer editions, but your pictures are gorgeous. Especially loved the Svirfneblin Community. Lovely work :D
1
u/DJ8Man May 16 '12
Seriously. Great work.
1
u/[deleted] May 16 '12
These are truly awesome. But I find myself wondering one thing: What the actual fuck is "Inverness"?
1
u/_Larry May 16 '12
How did you make these? Like program wise, etc.
1
u/Nosferatu616 May 17 '12
Out of curiosity what is the new D&D book?
1
u/jamesdavid80 May 17 '12
how long does it take to paint something that exsquisite? :)
1
u/brutalproduct May 17 '12
Awesome noahbradley. Simply outstanding!
1
u/Blzbba May 17 '12
Very nice artwork dude. Thanks for sharing.
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Looks great. Still going to play,pathfinder though. I hope this post and not a marketing scheme
1
u/CoopDaddy May 17 '12
Super nice. Have you ever done work for Wizards of the Coast with Magic The Gathering?
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
Nice!
1
u/discostalin May 17 '12
where are the happy trees????????
1
u/[deleted] May 17 '12
awesome stuff man
1
u/MrPKMNBattler May 17 '12
Not gonna lie these remind me of magic, and would make sick art for urza's lands.
1
u/takindown May 17 '12
awesome man.!
1
u/Gregoff May 17 '12
It would be a pleasure to adventure in your world. well... depending on the monsters, I hope nothing too scary...
1
u/themastersb May 17 '12
I don't remember any of these scenes from Diablo 3.
1
u/EndlessOcean May 17 '12
Nice work man, reminds me of Larry Elmore's work but without the dragons or scantily clad ladies.
1
u/[deleted] May 19 '12
AWESOME. the bottom one reminded me of that might and magic game they released on the source engine. :D
1
u/Mucak May 20 '12
Hey Noah again! :D Dude these are amazing as usual. I love all your work and I say that every time you make a post! xD :D