I'd like to ask this question here because I feel as though I can get an honest answer and correctly explain my intentions... I am a professional commercial artist/illustrator and have been for the last 20 years. I have my hands in all types of printing and deal with many types of art.

I originally wanted to track down some art for my 'game room' (we are building a new home and I have a roughly 20' x 32' gaming room. I thought it would be nice to have some original module art hanging on the walls. However, art is hard to come by and expensive, and the ones I have seen for sale are less than desirable pieces (meaning art I am not fond of, or that holds no significance to the memories I have playing D&D in the early 80's). So I decided to make myself some reproductions.

I am talking things like the covers from modules like D1, T1, S1, ones I remembered as a kid that I'd like to hang on my wall. The reproductions are black ink line art on white bristol board.

So here come my questions...

I am not trying to make money off of these, or pass them off as originals. But would it be acceptable to offer them for 'sale' here. (And by sale, I am talking a few dollars to cover the cost of the prints and shipping, nothing to make profit). I thought it might be nice to offer them up when I am done (I was planning on a set of 6). However, I don't want to get in trouble from people who may think I'm trying to make money off of the art since I am not, and also I don't want problems in the future where someone tries to resell my prints as originals or 'official' prints.

I'd like to hear the general thoughts from you all on this. Is this something best left on my wall. Or would people here like to benefit from my work and get some copies? If I do that, should I put a little "reproduction" tag in the bottom corner of each piece. Or something along those lines?

Since I am not doing this to make money, I am not worried about copyright infringement of any kind since this is nothing that is going to be sold (as I said, I am literally talking a FEW DOLLARS for the material and postage to ship these out). Basically, my time involved was for my benefit to have nice art to frame and hang up, and I am in no way looking to make any money on that...

Thanks all, I am looking forward to your opinions...

NOTE: So far, I have started work on T1 and plan on doing Tomb of Horrors (S1) and Descent into the Depths of the Earth (D1), the Mono Cover versions. I am undecided on the others yet, and would also like opinions.

D.

Edited for spelling (and yes, I am sure there are probably other spelling errors too).

I believe this is done regularly in the art world.

From my understanding:  You sign your work, and entitle it  "Study of Elmore's White Wyrm.." or something to that effect.  



I for one would have interest in it & honestly, I would be more prone to hang a Pen & ink in my living room than a full color reproduction, as I appreciate Black & White photography and pen drawings in a domestic setting.  Now for a game room?  Bring on the poster sized maps

Yeah, my concern personally is that (I assume I'd only do a low number for a few people who had interest) would be later on down the road someone may try to sell it as authentic or what not. Even if it was unintentionally sold to someone who didn't realize it and then attempted to be resold later, etc.

I do not have any plans to do any art of any new or recent stuff, I am completely sticking to the old mono cover art, I don't want to step on any toes and do something that could possibly have a real print run done some day, etc.

Anyone who is interested please let me know, and also please throw me some ideas on which mono covers you have interest in.

Cardboard Carnage wrote:Anyone who is interested please let me know, and also please throw me some ideas on which mono covers you have interest in.

Depending on size, cost, and my finances(sadly), I would be very interested in one, or maybe a pair. (I have a nice spot I'm looking at they would go well)

Off the top of my head, the first one that comes to mind is the Erol Otis cover for the magenta basic set,  as that will always hold a special place in my heart.  Another that stands out in my mind is the cover of the first Unearthed Arcana.  I always loved that old wizard with all his bottles and notes...

EDIT: Just re-read and noticed your highlighting the "mono" aspect of the originals...   More appropriate suggestions to come.

Ok, I've done a little number crunching, and it looks like the cost for a set of 6 prints is going to be in the neighborhood of about $5.00... That is NOT EACH, that would be for a set of 6 prints.

However, I've gotten a few emails now warning me against doing this. Basically I'll get sued and whatnot if I do. So, I am trying to determine if I should bother doing anything more than taking photos of them when they are done and posting pics.

I honestly thought the whole idea might allow a few people to get some nice prints to hang on their walls, but now I am wondering what I would have to worry about should I do this. I was under the assumption if I didn't make any money on this, there wouldn't be a problem, but apparently that is not the case.

D.

zhowar wrote:This is the thread (titled "Is this legal?") that I believe Mars in referring to:

The premise of that thread is similar to the one I was thinking about but I was thinking of a much older one.  There was someone who had painted their own version of the DMG and PH covers.

After 20 years with my wife and 4 children, it is about time!

zhowar wrote:This is the thread (titled "Is this legal?") that I believe Mars in referring to:

viewtopic.php?p=53364&highlight=#53364

Note Frank's (ExTSR) response.

Oh hey, that's me.
You can see on my page here http://kevinmayle.netaidz.com/v/Fantasy/ that I painted my own versions of:
Chainmail
Domesday Book
Blackmoor
Greyhawk
Holmes Basic
Dragon Magazine issue 1
Monster Manual
Players Handbook
Dungeon Masters Guide
DMG pages 170-173
Deities and Demigods
Cthulhu from DDG
Fiend Folio
Basic and Expert sets
Dragon Dice
And the various TSR logos.
I've got a lot more planned too.

Yeah, your stuff is great! I really like the cover redo's, it is nice to see them as full paintings and not half of a book cover. Well done!

What I am doing on the other hand is a little different, I am more or less making an exact reproduction, or a counterfeit version, not an artistic rendering that is close, but exact.

D.