John Blanche Discussing Some Of His Most Iconic Artworks

I love the idea that every piece of 40k art kind of exists in setting as something an archivist created.

A bit mindboggling to hear a seminal artist like John Blanche say he struggled with imposter syndrome. Not only an immensely talented artist but one with an extraordinary imagination and a style that is instantly recognisable.

Thankyou John Blanche for creating such potent art with such unapologetically explorative expressions of the human madness. Imagine how many young people you have inspired to pick up a pencil. People will be exploring and using these ideas for decades.

Almost lost for words to describe how fantastic this is. Mr Blanche is an absolute legend in, and out the hobby.I could listen to them both talk for hours!

I have never heard John Blanche speak before, much more discuss his art. I grew up looking up his artwork in books like Warhammer 40,000 2nd edition rulebook, Warhammer Fantasy Role Play 1st edition, and the Beast Within campaign. To actually hear the words 'it was not commissioned, it was a labour of love', when describing the cover of the 40k rulebook, to see his expression after all these years of providing us with magnificent artwork pieces, hellish landscapes, details that you could look for hours and become lost in those imaginary worlds, is a blessing. Thank you very much for this. Thank you very much, Master Blanche. Your work is loved.

A few years ago I got diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer that meant I lost the use of my legs, had to do all the chemo, bone marrow transplant, whole lot. During this time I was told I may never get my body back, it might get worse, but during this time I got back into 'The Hobby', what an ominous term haha... Anyway, long story short, during this time, I re-discovered a lot of John's art, I was a keen hobbyist when I was a lad (before 'life' took over), and it reinvigorated me like I can't tell you. I spent the last year building up my body after the bone marrow transplant, and re building my interest in the hobby by getting back into miniatures and artwork, particularly John's work . I find it fascinating how someone with his creative knowledge applies himself to painting miniatures. I could look at his work for hours on end. What a treat, especially his miniatures. Not just gaming peices but so much more. John has been an immeasurable influence in helping me get my health back when all seemed truly lost. When I was told my entire body might fail yet leave my brain fully functional, John's art helped me through. I made myself a promise that although I couldn't do what I did before in a physical sense, I'd never, ever, let my creative imagination die. I do continue to recover. Like John says here, just painting miniatures for gaming is a great thing, but the art aspect is something more and that is a mentality I apply to miniature painting. The representation of historical archetypes, natural history, it all feeds into it, if that's what you want out of it anyway. Also loved what Mr Pirinen said. Thanks

GW will be forever half the company without this man. He was the birth of my imagination when I was kid and will be forever indebted to him for that ❤

The things they sayed about closed doors and primarchs who never meant to be miniatures caused me pain, i feel so much empathy to this kind of thoughts. Im in love with misterious and "blured" warhammer. I still hooked up with curent edition and understand that this is probably more profitable way for game development, but i used to completely sink in this universe and miss that feeling so much. That was my true escape from reality, "my guiding moonlight", and now i feel its almost gone.

"I just drew pictures" That may in fact be the understatement of the century!

Blanche can never leave GW. There's his creative DNA in every single product GW is currently making. Everything from his start in the company in the 70's all the way up to 2019 when he designed Gloomspite Gitz for AoS is carrying his spirit. He's the god-emperor of Warhammer art.

His style is instantly recognisable, His legacy undoubted. An inspiration for so many of us...🤓

"I'm not finished yet!" Never change, John.

Thanks to John Blanche, Mark Gibbons and Ian Miller, my teenage years were full of inspirational artwork to fuel my hobbies. What a legend 🙏

The man who's art defined what WHF and 40K was for me. I would spend hours staring at artwork in the various rulebooks and compendiums i had for the hobby as a lad. One facet of his work that I always adored in the context of 40K was without fail he always managed to capture the concept of the monstrosity that mankind had become in the 41st millennium. He deserves far more recognition and praise thsn he recieves, though he might argue otherwise lol. Edit: the brief sentence he spoke in regards to the Primarch miniatures encapsulates the very core of the problem with modern GW. Ever since they switched to a "for profit" model of business something intrinsic was lost and my own interest in the company and the franchises was entirely gone. I only now wish to see tjem continue because a dear friend of mine works within their writing staff and not only does he have a family to feed, but it is something that is still a passion for him. Otherwise I think itd be better dying a death and returning to the realm of ideas from whence it was born.

I was a Fighting Fantasy kid! This guy rocks!

When I was in my teens, I was a bit cheeky towards Blanche's work. When I became a man, I was spellbound. I had to live some hard years before I understood it and loved it. I hate that I ever felt any other way! If I had to compare him to anyone else, I think it would be Tony Iommi. He is distinctive, iconic and humble. All he ever did was his own thing, and it blew everyone away.

When he talks about the emperor on the golden throne art, he mentions he also drew the artwork for the gates and the steps to the emperor's throne, those artworks are also fantastic and stir the imagination, they also include early concepts for the Custodes too, but i never knew that the emperor depicted here wasn't the real Emperor

It was John's art that made the cost of the old White Dwarf's worth it no matter how much it kept increasing. I can still remeber pieces I've never seen again 30 years later.

His converted Minotaur with Mona lisa standard blew my mind when it came out in the 80's. I remember seeing John at the Citadel Miniatures open day and he was a young Biker dude, good to see he is still around and passionate about his work.

Blanche is the soul of this universe, as simple as that.