You AND YOUR PARTY STEP INTO A HUSHED SANCTUARY. SUDDENLY, the clouds OUTSIDE PART AND THE SUN BLAZES FORTH, ILLUMINATING A WALL OF STAINED GLASS. YOU STAND IN REVERENT SILENCE, GAZING UP AT THE HEROES OF THE PAST.
IT ALL BEGAN when the plague hit.
No, it’s not the beginning of a new RPG campaign — it was 2020. And Dungeons & Dragons saved my sanity.
In the early 80s, I remember playing D&D maybe once or twice. Being a visually creative kid, the game was just too verbal and, well, math-y for me. Around the same time, I was becoming obsessed with comic books and drawing, so all my attention shifted there and I quickly drifted away from D&D. Although always a devoted fantasy and sci-fi fan, over the years the chance to play again never really presented itself and creative pursuits remained my focus, leading to art school and a career as a professional illustrator and graphic designer.
Fast forward four decades, to March 2020. Life as we knew it shifted globally. All of us scrambled to find ways to fill our time and maintain our sanity. I did puzzles, created illustrations for covers of some of my favorite sci-fi and fantasy books, read new books, re-read old favorites, went for long walks, started baking and cooking more, etc. Sound familiar? For a while it was great — sanctioned social distancing felt like an endless series of snow days for an introverted creative type. However, it got old fast.
Then one day, while checking Facebook, I saw a post from my old college buddy, Dave. He had started offering online D&D campaigns for kids and teens. (Check out his site www.tabletophero.net if you have young ones that are itching for RPG fun!) Half-jokingly, I commented on a post and suggested that he should do something similar for adults. Several other people chimed in to agree. Shortly after, we began to play online with a mutual college friend and two friends of Dave’s. After a while, we added a couple of other guys. Then a couple more. As of now, there are 8 of us who play every Tuesday night.
These weekly adventures have become a rock for many of us; a much-needed creative outlet and escape. By the next day, most of us are already jonesing to play again. To scratch that itch in-between Tuesdays, I began to draw the bits and baubles and creatures that would show up during our adventures: magic candles, a mysterious ring with blue sapphires in the shape of flames, a sword that could be drawn forth from the shadows, but always shying away from illustrating any of the characters, even my own.
At the time I felt that my usual illustration style wasn’t one that would line-up with the typical art one sees in D&D or other roleplaying games, and I didn’t have the confidence to stretch myself that far, to render all of us in the predominantly hyper-realistic style one thinks of when one hears “fantasy art.” I was rusty and I didn’t often draw faces or bodies in a non-stylized way, usually leaning toward a simplified and whimsical style.
Then I saw the light. Or at least my character did. During one of our campaigns, our DM took us into a chapel and described the stained glass within. That’s when the clouds parted and a beam of light hit me from the heavens. *Cue heavenly choir*
I have always loved stained glass — the saturated colors, the varied texture of the glass, the way figures or scenes are elevated and enhanced by light — and it has heavily influenced my art style since college. So, when our band of adventurers entered that chapel, it dawned on me — I could craft my character as a digital stained glass window! Fast-forward to 2021 and here we are! I’ve loved developing this style — exploring color and texture while stretching and strengthening my figure drawing skills. Although, the most rewarding aspect of it all is the excitement and joy I’ve brought to my friends when they see their beloved characters brought to life. So, now I’m taking the leap and launching this site so that I can do the same for the wider world!
If you’re interested in bringing your RPG character to life, please browse the Vitreous Heroes Gallery. When you’re ready to start creating your own, download the Vitreous Heroes Character Portrait Workbook, fill in your details, and send it along!
I’m looking forward to working together to immortalize your character in digital stained glass! —Donovan
START CREATING YOUR CHARACTER NOW!
Click the button below to download the Vitreous Heroes Workbook — a short form that will help us work together to start creating your hero!