The Safehouse

Today Mease is pleased to welcome...
....the Overlord of Oil Paint!
....the Kingpin of Cover Art!
....the Duke of Dragons!

....Sigil Art Director and world renowned fantasy artist extraordinaire, Keith Parkinson!

An award-winning illustrator and art director, Keith Parkinson began his professional career at TSR, the company that launched the fantasy role-playing hobby. After five years as a key creative contributor, generating cover art for the Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms properties as well as other books, magazines, calendars and games, Parkinson began a career as a freelance artist.

Parkinson has worked with several leading publishers, including Random House, Bantam Books, DAW Books, Avon Books, and Tor Books, and created cover art for best-selling authors Terry Goodkind, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Orson Scott Card, Terry Brooks, and others.

In August of 1995, Parkinson made his first foray into game design with the collectible card game "Guardians." From concept to finish, Parkinson co-designed the game mechanic and art directed the project. Parkinson has also had a hand in several successful projects in the computer game industry, including the soon-to-be-released poster for Blizzard Entertainment’s Diablo and logo designs, key character designs, and all box cover art for Sony Online Entertainment’s EverQuest online game.

Currently, Keith’s responsibilities include providing the over-arcing art design for the game, bringing the magic and realistic flavor of his famous paintings to life in Sigil’s massive and detailed virtual worlds. His vision, eye for detail, and ability to create fantastic concept art, combined with his commitment to excellence, will undoubtedly take the look of online gaming to the next level.

Much of Keith’s work may be seen at www.keithparkinson.com.

Mease The Mad: Welcome human, how is it with you today?
Keith Parkinson: I’m ready to squash anyone that annoys me.
Keith Parkinson: Next question.

MtM: So you’re a big fancy pants hot shot at Sigil now. How’s that working out?
KP: It’s working out rather well.

MtM: Mease demands more information.
KP: We are in the process of creating something that will surprise some people, amaze others and profoundly annoy our competition.
KP: That’s something to be proud of.....
KP: And in the process, I’m having too much fun.

MtM: So what exactly do you do?
KP: I supervise nap time.
KP: And when I’m not sleeping or watching everyone else sleep I art direct.

MtM: For the uneducated, what does art direction entail?
KP: Well, in this case it means, I decide what the game will look like with input from the rest of the team. Usually, I begin by talking with the crack team of game designers enslaved in the Sigil dungeons, then after I’ve squeezed all the information out of them, I sit down to do some drawing and the occasional painting. This art is used by the super Sigil 3D modeling artists to create our game world. I’m usually pesky and stick my nose into everyone’s progress and offer my suggestions along the way too.

MtM: So you’re "management"?
KP: Ack!!!!
KP: What did you say?

MtM: Management
KP: Shhhh. Know one is supposed to know that.
KP: I’m an Arrrrrtieeeest.

MtM: So how did you become involved with EverQuest? And are you actually a gamer geek?
KP: Geek? Me? ....Uh.....No not me....No, no, that would be silly.
KP: Everwhat?

MtM: The elf chick, you painted her. How did that happen?
KP: Oh.
KP: That.
KP: Well, as it happens, I got a call from Brad McQuaid a few years back to do a cover for this game he was developing. It sounded interesting so I went out to the offices at what was then 989 studios, I think, and took a look at what they had. It looked cool, but I really didn’t understand the impact it would have looking at it for the first time way back when. I took the commission and began the process of creating the character designs shortly after.
KP: It was really that simple.

MtM: Did its success surprise you?
KP: Yeah, it did. I don’t think I was alone in that either.
KP: Did I mind? No.
KP: It’s always nice to be involved with a successful game. It reflects well on everyone involved.

MtM: How did you get into gaming? Do you remember your first character?
KP: Gaming? If by that, my little mad gnome, you mean Role playing games, I believe I can answer that.

MtM: That is indeed what I mean. I bow to your intuition.
KP: Wise choice. Now, I was introduced to D&D many years ago in a city far far away. Chicago I believe, and the year was....Uh, nevermind what the year was...But what is important is how much I liked the game. It was so much fun I found myself and four other people, two of which were also artists that started the same night I did, getting together every weekend to play. Until all hours, with much pizza and drink, we gamed and slew all manner of bad guys. And Yes, my first character was a Ranger, called Findel. He still resides somewhere in a pile of character sheets in the backroom.

MtM: So this was before you took a job at TSR?
KP: Why yes it was. Actually it was the reason I went to TSR to look for work. I thought the art on the modules was...well, I thought I could do better. So I went looking for some freelance work up in Lake Geneva, and was offered a full time job. Once I got there however I saw much different art than I had previously seen on the modules. Elmore and Easley were painting covers for the new products that I had never seen and the art they were doing was fantastic. So, I was very happy to come to work with artists of that caliber. But don’t tell them that. I might go to their heads. We can’t have that.

MtM: You’ve been an established name in fantasy art for a long time. What made you decide to give up freelancing and join the Sigil team?
KP: Blackmail.
KP: I really had no choice.

MtM: So what did McQuaid have on you?
KP: Like I’m going to tell you. Hah. You’d use it against me, little gnome. But, what I can say is the story that I give most people that ask. Yeah, it might be fiction, but it sounds good. So do you want that version?

MtM: Alright fine.
KP: How is it possible for a Mad Gnome to sound indignant? I choose to overlook this and answer the question. So here’s what I usually say: I’d been doing book covers for some time, and had enjoyed it for the most part. I took diversions now and then and ventured into other things, but usually came back to the book covers. When Brad McQuaid left Sony, and told me he was thinking about forming a new company, he asked if I’d like to be in charge of all things art, or basically oversee the look of the first project. I’d been trying to think of a good excuse to move to San Diego, and thought this sounded like a fine idea. I was ready for a change and the thought of being in a studio with other artists was very appealing. I’d had a situation like that at TSR and enjoyed it thoroughly, and after far too many years of working on my own, this sounded like fun. How could I say no?

MtM: I’ll ask the questions here.
KP: I see
KP: You are so slow I wasn’t sure.

MtM: Your words, they pierce me like an arrow.
KP: Oh, I so sorry about that.

MtM: I think its fairly safe to assume you won’t continue to do the EverQuest covers. What about book covers? Will you continue to do non-Sigil related artwork?
KP: Some. I don’t really want to work ALL the time anymore, so I’m very selective about what I choose to do. Yeah, that sounds cocky, but I’m old enough that I should be able to get away with it. I’m still doing Terry Goodkind’s covers and a couple others every year, but that’s about it. I’m actually hoping to paint some of my "own" ideas. That’s a radical idea for me, but I think I’ll give it a shot and see what happens.

MtM: Do you have any in mind you’d like to share with us?
KP: Hum. I do have several in mind, but rather than tell you exactly what I’m planning, I’ll give you a general idea. Romantic Adventure is probably the best name I could give it, but even that is not quite right. I’ll still paint the occasional dragon, but also some of the things that I think about that are more abstract in nature that I’d like to bring to the canvas. Not abstract art mind you, not me, no-no-no, just the concepts or emotions I want to capture are abstract.

MtM: So lets clear something up for the masses: Firionia Vie -- are they real or fake?
KP: *laughs*. Why do you think I would know?
KP: Okay. I do know.
KP: Real.

MtM: Thank you for clearing that up. What was your favorite part of the EverQuest experience?
KP: How real it was.

MtM: I walked into that one.
KP: You only wish you did. Actually you’re about the perfect height.....

MtM: At this point Mease the Mad wishes to remind you that The Safehouse is visited by people of all ages.
KP: I see. So, you want to know what was enjoyable about working on EQ? There were a number of things. I think the best part was working with people that wanted to have art that was as cool as I could make it and were willing to give me the freedom to do that. That sounds obvious, but most clients want something that couldn’t possibly offend anyone. That’s okay, but it severely limits what an artist can do. If you want to make an omelet you’re going to break an egg or two. As long as it’s in good taste, pardon the pun, most people have a sense of humor. Brad and the crew at Sony knew that and let me do what I like to do.

MtM: What do you think you bring to Sigil?
KP: Usually a sandwich, a drink and a space heater. I get cold. San Diego has such brutal weather.

MtM: So you’ve done a lot of paintings. Any you wish you could erase? Any you’ve got a lot of crap over?
KP: I don’t erase.
KP: But I do throw the occasional "dog" away. There are always instances when there just isn’t enough time to do what needs to be done on a piece of art, and of course it looks like it. Usually though, I don’t get hassled over the quality, and rarely over the content. The only piece that comes to mind is the "Ruins of Kunark" art I did for EQ. There were some interesting discussions about that one that psychoanalyzed the placement of many of the painting elements and ascribed Freudian motivation for all of it. I thought it was amusing that people would spend that kind of time reading things into the art that would have never occurred to me in a million years. Oh, wait, yeah, I meant to do that.

MtM: What’s your favorite painting that you’ve done?
KP: I ’ve been asked this at least once before, and, depending on the phase of the moon, and it’s alignment with Saturn, I may have a couple. Chernevog is one, because it works a composition better than most, and also captured the mood I had in mind pretty well. Demorgan is another. I’m fond of that one because it’s a personal work, from a project I’ve had in the back of my mind for some time. I’ve talked a little about it in my sketchbook, so if you want to find out more, shameless plug, go to www.keithparkinson.com, and buy one at the online store and find out.

MtM: What are your opinions of the ’new style’ or artwork that seems to dominate the fantasy field nowadays?
KP: If by new style you mean an overabundance of spikes and photoshop effects, I can appreciate it for what it is, but is not a style that I’ll be incorporating into what I paint. I do like exaggeration, much like Rockwell did, but there is a limit to how far I will use it in my art.

MtM: So is photoshop a crutch for the weak, or a useful tool?
KP: It is a crutch for the weak and a useful tool.
KP: It’s really an awesome program. I use it to put together complex roughs and I even draw in it now too. Together with a wacom tablet it can speed things up quite a bit. I would heartily recommend any artist become familiar with it. There is one caveat to that though. ...And, I know you can’t hear it, but I am beating a drum very loudly here: Learn to draw, learn the fundamentals of good composition, learn color theory, and practice your craft. Then, and only then, use photoshop for what it is intended, as a terrific tool that enables you to apply your skills.

MtM: Finally, before the lightning round -- If you could do the cover to any book, what would it be and what would the cover show?
KP: Well I’ve always loved "Lord of the Rings" and always thought that someday I would want to do the book covers to the trilogy. But, since the Movies have come out, I think that they have more or less set the look for the story, so I couldn’t say. If I ever finish the novel I’ve started I’d like to do the cover to that one. As to what it would show....you’ll just have to wait and see.

MtM: What a cop out
KP: *laughs*
KP: Deal with it
KP: You get what you pay for.

MtM: Okay, are you ready for the lightning round? A rapid fire bombardment of stupid questions that require an equally rapid bombardment of stupid answers?
KP: fire away

***LIGHTNING ROUND***
MtM: Dice or no dice?
KP: dice
MtM: DC or Marvel?
KP: Marvel
MtM: Coke or Pepsi?
KP: pepsi
MtM: Vanilla or Chocolate?
KP: Vanilla
MtM: Fighter or Magic User?
KP: MU
MtM: Level based or Skill based?
KP: *laughs*
MtM: Rapid!
KP: level based
MtM: Benji or Lassie?
KP: cujo
MtM: Before I was a Grumpy Old Artist I was __________
KP: and grumpy young artist
MtM: If given the choice of having any literary character/thing as my faithful mount, I would choose ________
KP: puff the magic dragon
MtM: I like ________
KP: money
MtM: I don’t like ________
KP: liver
MtM: When this interview ends I’m going to _________
KP: squeeeeeeeeeeze the little hobbitesss......
MtM: Right now, in my pockets I have _________
KP: a knife and a road map of Egypt
MtM: What do you have to say for yourself!
KP: Visit www.keithparkinson.com.
MtM: Any last words?
KP: Well Mease, you’ll go far in life, the sooner the better. Smile

MtM: Thank you for... blah blah blah. End communication.

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