Thanks to Fmulder for pointing us to artist Petar Meseldzija, who posted a couple of interesting blog entries about his illustration work in the 
Book of Cain and the Book of Tyrael. Petar shares preliminary and final versions of the artwork he created, plus some details about the struggle along the way. Interestingly, the Diablo universe isn't really his style; it's darker than he usually works, so he had to struggle to create pieces of the correct style for the new book.
Here's <a href="http://muddycolors.************.au/2013/12/biablo-iii-book-of-tyrael-part-1_13.html">a excerpt from his post</a>, plus the three stages of his drawing of a young Deckard Cain.
<blockquote> My biggest challenge this time was not a tight deadline, as I already mentioned, but the fact that the Diablo universe is not very appealing to me. It’s just not my cup of tea, it's too dark for me. Never the less, being a professional commercial artist, I put aside my own taste and preferences and did my best to deliver the work I was hired to do. But while working on this commission, I noticed how the absence of the emotional involvement with the subject matter greatly decreased the amount of pleasure I was having, and caused me to lose too much energy. Therefore I felt quite exhausted at the end of the process. It became obvious to me (not for the first time though) that being emotionally involved with the subject matter of the piece I am working on is not only an imperative for creating a great piece, but also important for maintaining the level of energy and excitement throughout the commission, as well as having a feeling of fulfillment and purpose after the job is done.</blockquote>
[gallery link="file" ids="374465,374463,374464"]
He also posted a series of illustrations for his artwork of the mortal Tyrael, and another post about the creation of the Leoric family tree. Click through for more.
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Petar's mortal Tyrael sketches and final, from the Book of Tyrael.
[gallery link="file" ids="374468,374466,374467"]
See also <a href="http://muddycolors.************.au/2013/12/diablo-iii-book-of-tyrael-part-2.html">Petar's post on the Leoric family tree illustration</a>, which includes great closeup views of all the creepy headshot illustrations.
[caption id="attachment_374470" align="aligncenter" width="540"]<a href="http://diablo.incgamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/LEORIC+TREE.jpg"><img src="http://diablo.incgamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/LEORIC+TREE.jpg" alt="Leoric family tree." width="540" class="size-full wp-image-374470" /></a> Leoric family tree.[/caption]
Book of Cain and the Book of Tyrael. Petar shares preliminary and final versions of the artwork he created, plus some details about the struggle along the way. Interestingly, the Diablo universe isn't really his style; it's darker than he usually works, so he had to struggle to create pieces of the correct style for the new book.Here's <a href="http://muddycolors.************.au/2013/12/biablo-iii-book-of-tyrael-part-1_13.html">a excerpt from his post</a>, plus the three stages of his drawing of a young Deckard Cain.
<blockquote> My biggest challenge this time was not a tight deadline, as I already mentioned, but the fact that the Diablo universe is not very appealing to me. It’s just not my cup of tea, it's too dark for me. Never the less, being a professional commercial artist, I put aside my own taste and preferences and did my best to deliver the work I was hired to do. But while working on this commission, I noticed how the absence of the emotional involvement with the subject matter greatly decreased the amount of pleasure I was having, and caused me to lose too much energy. Therefore I felt quite exhausted at the end of the process. It became obvious to me (not for the first time though) that being emotionally involved with the subject matter of the piece I am working on is not only an imperative for creating a great piece, but also important for maintaining the level of energy and excitement throughout the commission, as well as having a feeling of fulfillment and purpose after the job is done.</blockquote>
[gallery link="file" ids="374465,374463,374464"]
He also posted a series of illustrations for his artwork of the mortal Tyrael, and another post about the creation of the Leoric family tree. Click through for more.
<!--more-->
Petar's mortal Tyrael sketches and final, from the Book of Tyrael.
[gallery link="file" ids="374468,374466,374467"]
See also <a href="http://muddycolors.************.au/2013/12/diablo-iii-book-of-tyrael-part-2.html">Petar's post on the Leoric family tree illustration</a>, which includes great closeup views of all the creepy headshot illustrations.
[caption id="attachment_374470" align="aligncenter" width="540"]<a href="http://diablo.incgamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/LEORIC+TREE.jpg"><img src="http://diablo.incgamers.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/LEORIC+TREE.jpg" alt="Leoric family tree." width="540" class="size-full wp-image-374470" /></a> Leoric family tree.[/caption]
