Posters are an unique artistic medium that can brighten up a room and set up the perfect mood in your surroundings. Although many modern posters have a highly automated process with little to no human input, handcrafted posters stand true in its genuine and original expression.
In the world of role-playing games (RPG), posters can provide a significant boost in immersion and scenary. In this article, we'll examine the manual labor behind the creation of fantastic RPG posters made by American artist Dredge, exploring his inspirations, methods, materials, and more.
Dredge, the Mind Behind the Posters
Dredge is a Tennessee-based artist with a decade-old career in the making. His journey started through a moment that had deeply inspired him ever since: "Around 10 years ago, I had visited Hatch Show Print in Nashville to see their poster studio. Then, I became very interested in the ways they created their posters."
Hatch Show Print is a historic letterpress print shop that has been in operation since 1879, one of the oldest in the United States. The shop created iconic posters for legends including Bill Monroe, Minnie Pearl, and Ernest Tubb, as well as icons like Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley. Its hallmark is the continued use of traditional letterpress printing techniques.
Through a well-established inspiration, Dredge mentions the specific reason for his admiration: "I love the analogue nature of their posters. Each part is made by creating a metal cast of images or letters which are then arranged and slathered in ink. That tactile way of making posters was very intriguing for me."
Besides noting the stylistic element, Dredge also analyses the historical and artistical context: "Their posters looked that way out of necessity, but now we see them as vintage. I like to know why posters look a certain way so that I can visualise my method to reproduce these aspects!"
Premium Poster Materials
Dredge is a skilled artisan that utilizes premium materials in his work. Starting with the posters' foundation, the paper: "The stock is sourced by Canon, and they have many American mills."
Canon is a Japanese corporation founded in 1937. The company's first prototype, the "Kwanon," was named after the Buddhist Goddess of Mercy. The company's philosophy, kyosei (共生), means "living and working together for the common good."
Furthermore, Dredge also highlights the specific measure used in his artworks: "230 gsm is a very fine premium quality. In a world of 'fast fashion,' I use premium materials as a way to revolt!" He lightheartedly admits. "I also print using archival, which are museum-grade quality inks."
Great Inspirations for Great Posters
If a traditional print shop has sparked the initial interest in Dredge's career, it's interesting to understand the inspiration that fueled his outlook throughout his career. He explains: "James Gurney is a famous art teacher with many notable illustrations. I like that he is essentially self-taught, proving that you can create your own curriculum around learning art. Gurney also has that gauche-charm of the mid-century greats."
Dredge also establishes an important context tackling the modern vs. traditional art debate in regards to Gurney's style: "It might be deceiving, but the leap between digital painters and Gurney's art is massive. He has so much technical knowledge."
"Gurney has broken a lot of my beliefs around art." Dredge acknowledges, citing a particular example. "He would literally sculpt images out of clay to understand the lighting of some illustrations. I just think that's awesome!"
Mid-Century Greats
This illustrious art teacher also has an unique twist on his predecessors legacy: "The depictions Gurney does of random still-lifes make the world seem so vibrant, so romanticized. It is honestly the kind of world I want to live in!"
This viewpoint directly influenced Dredge in his own artistic process: "I don't want to rant too much about the great American illustrators of the mid-century, but they were so cool! They romanticized the world and its people to a degree that we just cannot reach with photography."
Dredge concludes with a deeply inspiring message for artists and admirers alike: "Look at this guache Gurney did of a photograph [see images above]. In my goals for art, I want it all to be an escape to a more rose-tinted world. I think that's why I am so drawn to travel posters, they were literally used to decide whether or not you would visit Australia for vacation."
He concludes: "Just one guy and his paints convincing people in Europe to spend all their money to see the country. Pretty wild stuff! I think we forget about that sometimes. It's so real, it's almost soul crushing."
Method For Creating Posters
We've explored great inspirations and high quality premium materials. Now, how do we actually begin? Dredge explains that: "Each poster comes out on a roll, so I take the spool and cut down the images manually with a giant cutter. I slide the paper in place and slice off the excess. Another reason to hand cut each piece myself is for them to be in correct size."
Dredge explores the "50 variations" rule of thumb in which he built his creative framework: "It is all about repetition. There's a story about a teacher tasking one class to create the 'perfect' clay pot and another class to create a hundred clay pots. At the end, the students who made a hundred pots ended up with better results than that one single pot."
It is not just about practice, the artist clarifies that there is also another benefit: "Having lots to choose from can help you be decisive. The artist's curse is being scared to make anything foolish, and making 50 variations is an excellent way to not take yourself so seriously and just make the darn thing!"
Where To Buy RPG Posters
If the process and background of designing posters has inspired you in any way, consider getting some original posters in your home to increase the immersion!
In our official RPG store, you can find a growing collection of fantasy-themed posters. Currently, it features famous locations from Faerûn, the notorious continent from Dungeons & Dragons.
— Anauroch Poster: Beneath its scorching skies, Anauroch is a graveyard of fallen civilizations and a crucible of survival. Here, sandstorms erase trails, mirages taunt travelers, and the City of Shade casts its eternal shadow.
— Feywild Poster: The Feywild is a reflection of the Material Plane and a realm where emotions shape reality, time bends like twisting branches, and every glade holds a secret. Will your adventurers outwit the fey?
— Underdark Poster: Beneath Faerûn’s surface lies a world untouched by sunlight, where illithid empires plot and drow houses wage silent wars. The Underdark is a sprawling network of peril and wonder.
— Waterdeep Poster: Step into the legendary City of Splendors, where ancient magic hums beneath the streetss and towering spires pierce the skies with dragonfire and intrigue. Waterdeep is a living adventure.
— Anauroch, Feywild, Underdark and Waterdeep Bundle: 46% Savings vs. Buying Individually—only $37.25 per poster!
