Of Epic Proportions (spring clean challenge 26)

This evening has the same feel as Terry Pratchetts death. Not the death of a friend but the loss of a cultural touchstone in my life. So with John Blanche’s passing marking the second of my 40k influences to have gone since March, I thought I had to mark his death too.

Blanche was a big influence on my life. Im not going to witre a biography of his life. For that I would highly recommend Jordan Sorcerys interview with him.  Instead I’m going his influence on me.

I remember my first steps into the fantasy genre at the tender age for 13 and seeing pictures like this for the first time. They captured a crazy yet cosy world where everything was familiar yet nothing really was. Cityscape with glorious sunsets but a skeleton in the midground. Those juxtaposition, set my imagination on fire. Later with this piece on the front of white dwarf that formed my love not only with 40k and the sisters but also grimdark Scfi.

But there was something else too. His colour pallet and general vibe also influenced my photographic work too.

What my father describes as been eaten by a zombie aesthetic. John himself was highly influenced by the baroque with there over the top scenes there deep shadows with bright spot colours.

His pen and inks are what really impressed me, and it’s a style and a vibe I’ve tried to copy more than once but failed every time. (I’m not going to post any of them)

I would like to add a tribute to him like I did with Ian Watson. In some respect I have, blood angels are quite a feature of Johns work. Those splashes of red, in a sea of mood and metal. The Vostroyans are also a Blanche creation. But in a direct response, I’m going to paint this guy form the cover the epic 40k rule book.

Hopefully I can do the great man justice, with another tiny tribute.