Bits and Pieces: Black Rider

Wednsday seems a good day for sharing.  I have gotten quite a bit of inspiration from artwork whether from photos or paintings throughout much of my life.  Growing up I had artists like Boris Vallejo and Frank Frazetta, who were renowned fantasy artists to gain inspiration from.  Boris was known for lifelike paintings of the human form.  Frazetta's fantasy art was more dream like, a touch surreal.  (Side note: I realize that I referred to one by his first name and the other by his last name, that is how we new who they were growing up, odd distinction)

And then Larry Elmore came into the world of fantasy art.  Granted I am not an art history buff so I am not sure of the years of these three for their careers and such.  I am looking at this from my own historical perspective.  Larry Elmore first came into my life with his famed Snarfquest series in Dragon Magazine.  From here it became the norm to find his art gracing the covers of the books based on Dungeons and Dragons (ya, I be a nerd). 

From his website

The piece I am sharing today was inspired by a Frank Frazetta painting called the Death Dealer. 

The black robed figure stood on the hill.  Leaning on the gnarled staff at his side, he looked down the slope at the man in heavy armor on horseback. The horse dragged a hoof across the dirt, ready to charge, held back only by the knight’s tight grip on its reigns.  The black robed man raised his arms; a loud crash of thunder shattered the still air. 

The ground began to soften and crack around the horses feet.  Lightning pierced the ground 20 feet from where the knight sat.  Then came the rain.  Slight beads at first appearing on his armor; growing larger as the rain gained momentum.

First one, then more, skeletal, rotting hands began to break through the softening earth.  A horde of rotting flesh shambling; assembled behind the dark rider.  A strong voice inside his head, “Finish by day break.”