Maybe it’s because western artists are dealing with a genre that is so close to their own culture and history (or at least close to it), but there’s a reason the majority (though not all!) of fantasy art ends up looking the same. It tends to stick too close to the real deal.
Unless it’s some tripped-out dark magic shit, what you see in the design of everything from huts to swords in games like em and em tends to look just like their historical counterparts.
It can get a little… boring. Which is why I love the take artists from places like Korea tend to have on the genre, taking western fantasy cliches and putting their own spin on them to create something a bit fresher.
I’ve posted several examples of this previously, but the latest is the work of Jeon Jon-uk, aka ENrang. Those castle and town environment shots are fantastic, but his character work — albeit with less flair for the original — isn’t far behind.
You can see more of Jeon’s work at his personal site (thanks Concept Root!)
Fine Art is a celebration of the work of video game artists, showcasing the best of both their professional and personal portfolios.
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