search email community favorite this article chev-right latest posts article list comments tags video article login twitter facebook menu pinterest whatsapp

The Man Who Brought Dungeons & Dragons to Life: Keith Parkinson Appreciation Post

Looking at Keith Parkinson's artwork feels like opening a portal to another world—or maybe a portal to my past. It takes me straight back to the mid-90s, when my older brother was the Dungeon Master extraordinaire of our small but chaotic D&D group. I can still see him, sprawled out on the floor, surrounded by an explosion of graph paper, scribbled notes, and stacks of rulebooks. He was crafting an epic adventure, one trap-filled map at a time.

But it wasn't just the mechanics of the game that inspired him—it was the art. My brother is quite an artist himself, and Keith Parkinson's works were a constant source of awe and motivation for him. We'd sit together flipping through books and gazing at Parkinson's stunning landscapes, fierce dragons, and daring heroes. Even as a kid who barely understood the rules of D&D (and who mostly played as a chaotic dwarf warrior causing more problems than solutions), I could feel the magic in Parkinson's art. It didn't just illustrate the game—it brought the worlds of D&D to life.

Keith Parkinson's art captured the imagination of a generation of players, including me. It's more than just artwork; it's a window into forgotten realms, untold stories, and endless possibilities.

Author image for Nimrod Aldea Nimrod Aldea
Advertisement

Tags

design fail warrior fantasy geek lore nerds roleplay geeky memes architecture clever design dnd smart interesting dice roleplaying dnd memes wizard dungeon master board games role playing buildings dungeons and dragons memes designer dungeons & dragons d&d memes critical hit bad design building beauty nerdy memes good design graphic design D20 paladin dungeons and dragons magic beautiful
Like
Scroll down for the next article
Show Comments

Also From Geek Universe

Bring Middle-earth to Your Next Zoom Meeting with These Fun Lord of the Rings Backgrounds