John Blanche
John Blanche is an artist and author for Games Workshop. [1]
He is responsible for much of the concept art that became Warhammer (setting).
History
He was born in Cornwall in 1948 moving in the 1950s to Nottingham, spending time drawing regiments of matchstick Romans and Vikings as well as dinosaurs fuelled by what he had seen in the local cinema. This inspiration included biblical epics, war films and Hammer House of Horror productions. [1]
As a student in the 1960s he discovered art history and galleries, books and the Rolling Stones whilst at art college. He was also told to drop this romantic vision of art as I would never make a living from it!. John also began creating a American civil war army using Airfix figures as well as converting a hundred cavalry and ancient Britons to make a Hun Horde. [1]
In 1969 he read the Lord of the Rings which he says validated his passion for drawing the fantastic and he also began converting miniatures into fantasy versions. A year later he began work as a artist for the Museum Service for Schools in Nottingham, handling and drawing real armour and weapons whilst focussing on the fantastical in his free time. [1]
Around this time, he began doing some design work for small miniatures companies and had some art published in the Tolkein Bestiary before finally getting involved with Citadel Miniatures and Gamres Workshop. He drew illustrations for the White Dwarf and the Fighting Fantasy books but soon became focussed on miniature concept design, being contracted to work 3 days a week by the early 1980s. [1]
A full-time position was created in 1984 with Rick Priestly creating rules, leaving room for illustrations to be created by John and Tony Ackland. [1]
Cover Gallery
Cover of the The Enemy Within (Supplement)
Cover of White Dwarf 210 (UK) - Epic Orks
Cover of White Dwarf 241 (UK) - Imperial Guard Hellhound
Gallery
Orc Chieftain
Miniatures
Daemon Prince painted by him
Quotes
| I don't think I have any really (Hobbies). My life has always been spent painting and drawing model soldiers - that’s what I've always done. Aside from this I ride a Custom Harley but it’s not a biker ting. Its more the freedom to explore the countryside. I have never driven a car which is a fact that applies to quite a lot of artists. I think it's because of our overworked imaginations! We see ourselves in all sort so mad smash-ups so I keep clear of them. I drive pretty slowly on my bike
~ John Blanche.[1] |
See Also
Sources
- 1: White Dwarf 257 (UK), Art of Darkness, Spotlight on John Blanche, pg. 56-57
