Sketchbook Saturday: 30 years ago, I finished the last illustrations for the Dungeons & Dragons "Monstrous Manual". It had been an intense schedule, rendering over 100 color drawings in just a couple of months...🧵 pic.twitter.com/Uro9ENz2bc

— Tony DiTerlizzi (@TonyDiTerlizzi) May 6, 2023

Note: Here is a nitter link for those that are avoiding Twitter.

Otyugh and Nymph:

Not all pieces were accepted by TSR's team. Some required revisions or even a complete redo. The original Neogi was redrawn, the original Otyugh had only 2 eyes, and the Nymph could not be nude. Seen here is the 2nd version. The final printed illustration was a laser copy that I… pic.twitter.com/ydlPRCrjYW

— Tony DiTerlizzi (@TonyDiTerlizzi) May 6, 2023

Kobold:

I cannot recall the reason why the team decided to print my miniature art of a kobold (from the "Dragon Mountain" boxed set) as the goblin entry but I did submit a finished piece, which appeared at the index... pic.twitter.com/6lEubZkran

— Tony DiTerlizzi (@TonyDiTerlizzi) May 6, 2023

Minotaur and Ettin:

I also submitted my takes of the Minotaur and the Ettin after I handed in my assigned pieces. Though these were not on my art order, my artistic inertia of working so intensely was still in full speed. Like the goblin, the team printed the Minotaur at the index but did not print… pic.twitter.com/cMRyVkNr8d

— Tony DiTerlizzi (@TonyDiTerlizzi) May 6, 2023

Kenku, Bullywug, Aarkocra, and Roper:

Had they chosen to replace the existing art with those pieces, I had already inked several more that were ready for color—the Kenku, Bullywug, Aarakocra and Roper... pic.twitter.com/OGgUlcL2y6

— Tony DiTerlizzi (@TonyDiTerlizzi) May 6, 2023

Efreeti and Hill Giant:

A few rejected sketches (like this Efreeti and Hill Giant) became prints sold at Gencon 1993. My initial idea of the Giant Scorpion facing off with a fighter (for scale) was soon after realized in a Dragon Magazine article. Little did I know, my "Monstrous Manual" contribution… pic.twitter.com/C2JDJ8c86L

— Tony DiTerlizzi (@TonyDiTerlizzi) May 6, 2023

Although I still prefer 1e art (yes, even the funny pieces), it's always interesting to see these forgotten and lost pieces surface after all these decades.

#ADnD #Art

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