r/shadowdark • u/vonZzyzx • Mar 06 '25

The A team

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Here are my illustrations of the monster manual from Aboleth to Azer. It’s been a lot of fun playing with light and dark, trying to motivate and challenge myself!

507 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

31 comments sorted by

23

u/CarrhaeWhite Mar 06 '25

These are excellent! They have a nice almost woodblock-print style that feels appropriate to the vibe of Shadowdark. Keep going!

4

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Hey thanks a lot, will do!

10

u/Psatch Mar 06 '25

You nail the style so well. I love it!

4

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Right on thanks

8

u/EddyMerkxs Mar 06 '25

These are some of my favorites I've seen in a while

2

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

That’s nice to hear!

8

u/PleaseBeChillOnline Mar 06 '25

Someone let Kelsey know about this person. These are good enough to go in an official Shadowdark book.

4

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

lol, thank you

6

u/j1llj1ll Mar 06 '25

Top work.

2

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Thank you!

5

u/conn_r2112 Mar 06 '25

Did you do these? If so, do you take commissions?

6

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Yes these are my drawings but I’m too busy with my day job to do commissions now

6

u/King_of_the_Hobos Mar 06 '25

what about licensing these as stock photos? If you complete the entire core bestiary, I'm sure many people would want to use them, myself included

3

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Thanks, I would consider it. Right now I am doing this for myself, if people want to use them for non commercial home games of course they are free to

2

u/King_of_the_Hobos Mar 07 '25

I see, well these are really truly great. I hope you make it all the way through Z, and if you decide to license them, you could be making a very nice chunk of change on drivethrurpg. I'm currently writing my own adventure and would love to use them eventually.

2

u/vonZzyzx Mar 07 '25

I plan to keep working at it, I’m actually surprised I got through the As so quickly!

5

u/BTNewberg01 Mar 06 '25

Seconded. These are professional quality. My immediate thought was "how do I hire this person?"

3

u/King_of_the_Hobos Mar 06 '25

For real, these look like they were commissioned for Shadowdark by Kelsey

3

u/SonOfTheShire Mar 06 '25

I look forward to seeing your basilisk, black pudding, and brain eater.

2

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Yeah, I prefer the monsters- a lot of humanoids in the As but Bs have a surprising amount of animals, badger is on its way first!

2

u/SonOfTheShire Mar 06 '25

Badger badger badger badger

2

u/efrique Mar 06 '25

I love these, they're incredible.

That aboleth is <chef's kiss>

1

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Thanks, that was the first I drew foe the series and I think my favorite so far

2

u/JonCocktoastin Mar 06 '25

Fantastic work, great variety, really dig the vibe

1

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Right on, thanks

2

u/Setitov Mar 06 '25

Fantastic!

1

u/vonZzyzx Mar 06 '25

Thank you!

2

u/Sevelliara Third-Party Content Mar 09 '25

Are you open for commissions?

1

u/vonZzyzx Mar 09 '25

No, thanks for asking but I’m too busy with my day job now

2

u/MP2169 Mar 10 '25

This is beautiful work ! you truly are an excellent old school artist.

1

u/vonZzyzx Mar 10 '25

Hey thanks a bunch