Down on the Farm

I recently was asked to draw a series of farm animals for the latest Harn release. I have to admit, I was not chomping at the bit to illustrate them. It's a fantasy game and I like drawing monsters and guys with swords trying to kill other guys with swords.
I had to think of a way to make this interesting for myself as well as the viewer. I wanted it to be more than just a picture of a cow. Of course my first idea was to have the animals wearing full armor, breathing fire or to figure out a way to add a hot amazon babe in a chain mail bikini.
I thought it best to remain a bit more realistic.
As this is a fantasy world, I figured I had a bit of wiggle room.

Copyright © 2011, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

Nothing fancy here. Pretty much just a picture of a cow, but I did add a cute milk maid.
Next was the goat. Researching a bit, I found some good photos of goats as reference and used them to build the scene. I put both breeds mentioned in the illo. In the background the long horned goat is in action as a full silhouette, the other is a crazy 4 horned goat featured in the foreground. I drew the top two horns fuse into one bony mass above the forehead. I imagine that horn would cause some damage if it did what goats like to do, which is knock you on your ass.

Copyright © 2011, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

I drew a bison but changed it up by turning the horn down to make a different looking creature. I also added a horn on it's nose. Interestingly, when I was kid I grew up on a farm. We raised sheep- which are about the dumbest animals I have ever been around. Anyway, we had a buck that had a weird, gnarly horn growing out of his shout. It was not very big horn, but it still hurt when he rammed you. I think this Wisent (European Bison) would do some damage in a stampede.

Copyright © 2011, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek

I later referenced the Wisent in some Harnic heraldry in an article I did for a fan.  Notice the patch on his surcoat.

Copyright © 2011, Kerry Mould and Richard Luschek

One of my favorites from the group was an illustration where I created my own character and story. While the article did not discuss this I decided to illustrate a Peoni priest. I took the reference from an article released earlier this year on the Irreproachable Order. "On Hârn, a group calling themselves Maermalites, or “Bullmen,” travel the countryside healing the sick, feeding the hungry, blessing crops, and carrying the message of Peoni’s love to those villages without a priest."

I imagined a devout priest traveling in dangerous areas with his Oxen, all decorated up with religious objects and various objects to help with his mission. I covered the ox with pots, barrels and herbs. I even added a little bird cage hanging under the ox.

Copyright © 2011, Columbia Games, Inc. and Richard Luschek