As someone coming into this game fairly fresh I definitely lack the history and knowledge of the evolution of the art style of the old CCG. That said I'm sure there are several great examples of both old cards specifically and artists in general that would be useful to look up in my search to see more of this history and I figured why not ask those who most likely have plenty of examples. So who are/were your favorite artists of L5R past and what are your favorite examples through out the years of truly inspiring works?

Drew Baker is a perennial favorite.

I personally like Charles Urbach, but that is because he is not only a good artist but I've talked to him and he is super nice.

I like Drew Baker, Mario Wibisono, and Conceptopolis

You can search the cards for art via, every card AEG ever printed and some that were not are on there, and relatively easily searched via various means:

http://imperialassembly.com/oracle/

I'll second Drew Baker. I also love April Lee (her Shiba Tsukimi seen below). Charles Urbach did a ton of Strongholds starting in Samurai Edition and they're really good, too.

3 minutes ago, Mirith said:

I personally like Charles Urbach, but that is because he is not only a good artist but I've talked to him and he is super nice.

I like Drew Baker, Mario Wibisono, and Conceptopolis

You can search the cards for art via, every card AEG ever printed and some that were not are on there, and relatively easily searched via various means:

http://imperialassembly.com/oracle/

Thanks, that is actually going to be really helpful. Just too bad they don't have a search by artist option but with the multiple examples I'm seeing I don't think I'll have too much to worry about.

1 minute ago, theninthguardian said:

I'll second Drew Baker. I also love April Lee (her Shiba Tsukimi seen below). Charles Urbach did a ton of Strongholds starting in Samurai Edition and they're really good, too.

I forgot about April Lee! yes, she is excellent.

Also Alayna Lemmer

Just now, Klawtu said:

Thanks, that is actually going to be really helpful. Just too bad they don't have a search by artist option but with the multiple examples I'm seeing I don't think I'll have too much to worry about.

You can search by artist if you click the advanced button. You can't do more than one artist, but it is there.

Just now, Mirith said:

You can search by artist if you click the advanced button. You can't do more than one artist, but it is there.

You just both made my search far easier and ensured that my day is going to be spent looking up all these artists. My thanks to you again though my productivity will doubtless suffer.

Chris Ostrowski and Mario Wibisono. April Lee and Drew Baker are also great.

And the new artist that did Hotaru, Toturi (and probably Tsukune). I really like the style.

Ben Peck, Prof Herbert, April Lee, and Drew Baker are my favourites but almost all of the l5r artists have been good.

Drew Baker has always been amazing. Unfortunately, I hear he doesn't get along with FFG.

Michael Komarck is, for me, tied with Drew for "best L5R artist." His stuff is absolutely phenomenal.

Steve Argyle is probably my 3rd favorite. His good stuff is amazing, but he also has quite a bit of overly-tacky and not-great stuff.

I definitely agree with the ones above, but I also really liked the style of Sam Flegal.

4 hours ago, Mirith said:

I personally like Charles Urbach, but that is because he is not only a good artist but I've talked to him and he is super nice.

I like Drew Baker, Mario Wibisono, and Conceptopolis

You can search the cards for art via, every card AEG ever printed and some that were not are on there, and relatively easily searched via various means:

http://imperialassembly.com/oracle/

Charles Urbach is indeed a very nice man, and an excellent artist. Drew Baker obviously a big one.

Mike Capprotti is just great, would love to see more of his work. This card www.imperialassembly.com/oracle/#cardid=8826 in particular caught my eye when I started playing.

Michael Komarck had some really iconic pieces. Doji Seo was always popular but I loved this guy www.imperialassembly.com/oracle/#cardid=844

The card that got me playing though, largely because of the art, was this guy www.imperialassembly.com/oracle/#cardid=8858 so Jon Donahue scores highly too.

Noah Bradley.

I may never have gotten into L5R if it wasn't for April Lee's Doji Kurohito art on the Diamond Edition Crane Clan starter deck. Without knowing anything about the game that art was cool enough to get me to pick up 2 starter decks. The Crab Clan may have won my heart, but Kurohito sure was cool!

5 hours ago, HirumaShigure said:

The Crab Clan may have won my heart, but Kurohito sure was cool!

Indeed! Sadly, he may not be returning this time around. Given how willing the Story Team seems to be to tweak the setting here and there, I doubt they're likely to let a name like Doji "Black Man" stand.

William O'Conner's Exp. 3 Doji Kuwanan is one of my all time favorite cards.

17 hours ago, Shiba Gunichi said:

Noah Bradley.

Yesssss....Noah Bradley. His Strongholds give Urbach's a run for their money.

I think Noah Bradley takes the top spot over Urbach for Stronghold artwork. Urbach's stuff was just a liiiiil too high-fantasy for me.

My favourite Drew Baker. Also got it made into a Playmat and signed by the man himself. One of my prized possessions, and hopefully, will be my little way of representing my true loyalty

Mario Wibosono and Charles Urbach are up there for me, and I would absolutely love to see what Sam Burley could do with designing some strongholds.

All of beet's stuff was great, full of motion and mood. Llyn Hunter also did lovely dynamic pieces.

The original Shiba Tsukimi by Eric Polak (cover of the Diamond Edition rulebook) was a big deciding factor in choosing to support Phoenix Clan!

Just to throw in another excellent Drew Baker piece. Getting a playset of Yoritomo Tadame took forever, but was so worth it.

Some Wibisono that FFG is wisely re-using:

And Jeff Hill and Edwin David (in that order) tackle one of my favorite face-stomping Shiba from the Emperor/Ivory era:

I was partial to art from Brian Snoddy and other RPG book artists such as Cris Dornaus (Way of books). Their style added a mature feel to L5R art, even when using just line. Example:

3 hours ago, Anemura said:

I was partial to art from Brian Snoddy and other RPG book artists such as Cris Dornaus (Way of books). Their style added a mature feel to L5R art, even when using just line. Example:

I've always felt that RPG books work better in b&w. It was a shame when AEG switched to just reprinting inappropriate CCG art in their books.