Influence of Vallejo and Julie Bell cannot be underestimated on fantasy illustration. Personally, when I studied anatomy for animation work I did back when I was still doing he was a big part of it, even though his work did incline more towards bodybuilding kind of types. Stylistically though, big influence on fantasy. Sorayama was mentioned as well. Again, personally it was: Burne Hogarth, Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell, Luis Royo, Sorayama. Even they're not of same period, I group them together as major influence and study sources.
But not Darrel K. Sweet[0] (one of the more published artists). His people looked like bobbleheads. He wasn't really so good at getting the human form right.
But he was painfully detailed, and probably pretty reliable, so he got a lot of work.
My fave for the human form, was Frank Frazetta[1]. He actually had a fairly classical bent to his work, and was probably an inspiration for Vallejo.
Vallejo's people are perfect and beautiful, but always look like they are posing. Frazetta's people are constantly in motion.
Old mulletheads will probably remember the cover of the first Molly Hatchet album[2].
I also enjoyed Stephen Hickman[3].
But probably, my absolute best inspiration was Roger Dean[4]. His figures weren't always that great, but his imagination was amazing.
I had forgotten about Sweet — yeah he was everywhere with his awkward looking artwork. I kind of loathe his color palette. (I loathe Vallejo's as well though.)
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