The Best, The most Underrated and Iconic Art of John Blanche

[Citizen Sade]

Nobody's mentioned his Mordheim art yet?

 

[Rufus]

I actually saw a tribute to him in a Father Ted group, with this fantastic take on his work.

Keeping a watch on the en garde page, the last project.

 

[Fighelm]

I actually saw a tribute to him in a Father Ted group, with this fantastic take on his work.

Not the rendering of 1000 psykers a day but drinking copious amounts of Toilet Duck keeping him going for +10K years....

 

[Fighelm]

I love this one.

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Knowing you like your Broo, here is one top of page 4 in the 1988 Fantasy Miniatures book (bit blurry I'm afraid).

 

[Old Hob]

Knowing you like your Broo, here is one top of page 4 in the 1988 Fantasy Miniatures book (bit blurry I'm afraid).

I could be wrong, but that looks like a JB conversion. Should he perhaps also be remembered as the Godfather of Kitbashing? Also note the bit in the text where he talks about leading the charge in painting historical wargames figures back in the '70s. What a legend.

 

[lenihan]

I'm a huge fan of his work on the Fighting Fantasy Sorcery series.

 

[Knight Girl]

I really love Blanche's work on these kinds of pieces. They were concept art I think, often appearing in White Dwarf magazine. I really adore all the textures, I guess John would literally throw ink and pigments at the paintings, and at times scratch them with a razor or something? I find these pieces very evocative.

 

[ManicMan]

and the first person who can paint a figure with hearts that match.... at 28 (or smaller scale) wins a prize?

 

[Brother Meredith]

I really enjoyed the interviews Wade from GW had with John whilst he was freestyling concept art. Unfortunately it appears they have been removed from YouTube… 😢

 

[Fighelm]

I really enjoyed the interviews Wade from GW had with John whilst he was freestyling concept art. Unfortunately it appears they have been removed from YouTube… 😢

Yeah, you got some real insights into his world. And art as a craft. I watched a YouTube one recently on his use of (saturated) orange inky washes instead, never using cadmium red. Made his blacks browner instead of the purple end. A real appreciation of colour, depth and a sense of his own style, deffo not high brow or pretentious. I mean an equivalence - to me anyhow- would be to liken him to a Japanese woodblock print artist. A master still pumping them out in style, always febrile, always improving, and carried by longevity, age and deep understanding.

 

[chrisgoodone]

Never seen this - love it

 

[Fighelm]

Never seen this - love it

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I mean some of its like an Aubrey Beardsley / Ralph Steadman on acid crossover. I wouldn't want to spill this guys drink, not without getting diced & perforated in the process...

 

[Fighelm]

So much work, so prolific, so distictively Blanche...(would also add a touch of Mervyn Peake's art in his soul).

 

[chrisgoodone]

That Eternity Gate is mega!

 

[Fighelm]

That Eternity Gate is mega!

Isn't it just! The Emperor St George defeating a (Chinese chaos warp) dragon, plus flying farting servitors. I'm still not buying into grimdark = seriousness
[Edit: And this guy, leaning on an invisible bar top bending everyone's ear to his imperial woes...]

 

[Knight Girl]

Another one I find appealing - "Cult Warband". I think he gets across the feeling of a mad mob and immanent violence.

 

[Brother Meredith]

Beat me to that one! 😉

I have his other contribution to FF, the 2 player Clash of Princes in the post due tomorrow and some custom frames for prints from (now defunct?) John Blanche Prints site also on their way, will get some pics taken when they arrive!

As promised!

 

[orkwrangler]

As promised!

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I recall playing that as a child. Not that I knew who John Blanche was. Wikipedia says he did the illustrations too.

I think I played as the warlock. It's probably where I first encountered the word.