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.

Sisters of Battle is my favourite piece of WH art - the mix of sci-fi/cyberpunk, medieval illuminated manuscript, the militia in the style of Rembrandt's 'The Night Watch', and the classical depiction of Armageddon in the background captures the soul of Imperium.

Thanks to everyone involved. Fabulous that John & Tuomas agreed to be interviewed and share their ideas and experiences. 🤩

The impact this guy had on the modern world. His brush strokes guided millions of people.

John's art was the fundamental reason I began my fascination with the Warhammer universes. This man is a true living legend. Fantastic interview my friend! Vox

Blanche did so much to really bring this mad, dystopian world to the page... he's so humble about his skills, but nobody else could have done what he did, honestly. His scenes are a mad juxtaposition of the ethereal and distant and the immediately brutal.

What a sweet old man he is. This brought me to tears. Thanks John

I’ve been looking forward to this since you started talking about it online, and it is fantastic. For decades John Blanche has spoken to us through his art, thank you for helping him to speak to us in another way too.

For a short time, I was at Sabertooth Games when John's Horus Heresy concepts were being done, and I was just floored by how great they were. It is so unusual to see an artist who works for a company given the freedom to create work with the primary goal of "inspiring others" - and no one has done it better than John. Can't wait to see what he's working on next!

omg such a soft and gentle voice, i always thought he would have this deep booming voice for some reason

I always thought that John Blanches art works rivaled the art work I would go to galleries to see, glad to get this exclusive insight from the maestro himself!

What a great video. Great artist, great visionary and a great man. Thank you John.

A huge influence and mastermind in the hobby. A legend. Thank you for this, and thank you John for all of your art.

He and Alain Blight defined 40k for me. The first Artwork shown, the Black Templar one is in my opinion the by far most iconic piece of 40k art ever created. It inspired a generation of hobbyists and is unmachted even today. Great to hear him talk about that!

“There are better artist than me.” No John, there are not. No one will ever be as influential to the warhammer40k’s aesthetic or even influence as John was. John bleeds warhammer.

John Blanche is such a legend. His art brought the 40K universe alive for me as a kid. Such a talent and nice guy. Saw him in Bugmans Bar once but didn’t want to disturb him having his lunch :)

John Blanche helped shape my imagination as a teenager. Without him 40k and GW wouldn't be the same. I remember Toumas first releasing his beta rules for Mordhiem. Necromunda but for Warhammer Fantasy. Thanks for the video 👍

What a guy. He shaped my dreams from jackson and livingstone to 40k. Very talented man.

It's lovely hearing John Blanche confirm what I felt all those years ago as a teenager encountering his artwork in those 2nd edition books. I enjoy the vast expanded lore of 40K but there was also something unknowable and chaotic about those drawings. As a kid I didn't even know who Blanche was specifically but I remember in art class using pencils to try and emulate what I would later find out was his style. It was like Hieronymus Bosch doing a 2000AD strip.

Seeing his black templars on my first box of warhammer at 8 years old - I’ll never forget it

Understated point that marketing piece is not the same as a passion piece. Bright colors, faces, dynamic pose draws the eye, Passion and room for interpretation connects us.

A massive salute to John and the best and finest man I have ever worked alongside and a real honour to have done. An inspiration then and now

Holy sh*t. This was incredible. I had no idea he was still living. I have goosebumps and I am basically speechless to hear this man talk about his work.

The man has always been a hobby legend !!! Very polite and generous with his time at Games Days in the past.

Thank you so much for uploading this. Make Warhammer Weird Again!

Thanks John for all of the years. You are one of my favorit. Grtz from Belgium. I’m 59. Still A Great fan.

John Blanche is an absolute legend. His art is been so influential and he is the reason why the 'grim dark' GW/Warhammer because so popular in the first place back in the 80s and 90s. I'm still so much in awe as much as when I was a kid reading the first pages of White Dwarf or early editions of Warhammer. Too bad everything is becoming less grim/dark/gothic now.

John Blanche! Absolute legend of my life. Architect of the Games Workshop universe and my imagination.

You can't over estimate this man's influence on the world of fantasy. A true uncompromising artist who has a unique style yet well versed in the works of other masters. Loved the interview thanks so much.

For Black Templars fans, John Blanche is as respected as would be Sigismund for Black Templars in the lore. 🕯 The real founder of the chapter who drawn his lapis and brought to life the Black Templars with his art. 🙏🏻 Also that “i’m not finished yet”, truly a black templar in his heart! Thank you for posting this video, from a Black Templars devoted fan this is gold!

This is simply a MUST WATCH for anyone related to our fantastic hobby! The living legend. In his own words the thought process included. Amazing, and thank you John! 👏👏👏

This man cracked open my head and hose-piped my child brain with images and ideas that set me on a new way of thinking. It’s stayed with me over the last 40 years and brought me such joy. Thank you!

Thanks for everything John. I can't measure the influence you had on me and my life.

When i see his artwork, i can just hear canibal corpse playing in my mind

His art is brilliant, but also his painted miniatures and conversions are awesome.

What a treasure Mr Blanche is. Lots of inspiration as a teenager "back in the day" from his glorious artwork. And a classic quote of his in White Dwarf "What?! No thrash?"

Just casually drops a second, coloured volume of Voodoo Forest coming out

John Blanche is my absolute favorite Warhammer artist. His style is so iconic and really brings out the grim feeling of the WH40K universe. I remember opening an art book of WH40K a long, LONG time ago and seeing his work for the very first time and being instantly captivated by it. Loved his work ever since.

this is incredible, the importance of deeply creative artists like him can never be understated, abominable intelligence can never and will never produce anything like what he has done, no matter how much they imitate and steal. truly inspiring

Great interview, and it was amazing to see John talking about his art. As a kid in the 80s, his art has had an influence on me, my gaming, and RPGing.

I remember staring for hours at John's artwork years before I even got into the hobby. His artwork is utterly sublime!

So much of my youth happily spent gazing into the strange and beautiful worlds conjured up by John's immense talent for building an atmosphere surrounding his characters, this man is a treasure to me.

Corrupted my young mind! Very thankful for that.

His artwork is amazing and set the foundation for the Warhammer look and feel. Sir John? He deserves the recognition.

Really good interview. Could listen to John talk about art for hours. One day I'll pick up a copy of Ratspike as I love Ian Miller too

What a legend. He's had such a massive influence on my life and art interests. I hope we have more 40k art that's impressionist and weird. Bless you john

John's art was 40k for me growing up. I'd never seen such gritty, grim artwork. The way even the artwork itself seemed to be decaying. Amazing talent.

We love John Blanche.

Blanche's work is something I didn't appreciatte as a teenager fan of warhammer...now that I'm well into my 30's I realise both why I've grown so fond of it, and it has nothing to do with nostalgia. His paintings have a much more mature and foreboding essenece.

I own many pieces of his art from both Warhammer and other universes. I also have a copy of ratspike and other collections featuring his work. But I have never heard the man speak before and his cadence makes his art that much deeper. We are truly blessed

The GOAT. Thanks for putting this together.

Blanche is a visionary.

Great thoughts from an incredible artist. I always felt the strong link between the medieval Warhammer to the 40k version. Just made sense. I hope he continues for years to come

That picture of the black templars is what got me into 40k 24 years ago

When Warhammer was influenced by creative brilliance and not corporate banality.

I love the Warhammer art. The style is always so maximalist with a lot going on. I think it's a hugely valuable part of the IP. It stirs the imagination and makes the narrative and world building aspects of Warhammer become super vivid.

Every piece he did tells a story.. A true Master of the form.

I still remember his awesome artwork from the Steve Jackson books, like the awesome "Sorcery!" series.

Fantastic to get to listen to this man talk, his art and the lore it influenced remains a huge source of inspiration throughout my life. What a prolific amount of material too, so impressive ❤

Really wonderful insight from John and Tim. Love hearing them speak about his work, I always get lost in those pieces, imagining the bleak yet passionate world depicted in them. Great video, looking forward to more when you can ❤

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview with John Blanche. My father is also an artist and alongside his artwork, John's work's really inspired my imagination as a child and still stirs a mix of nostalgia for the games I used to play and awe of his talent to this day.

Amazing to hear about John's process and glad he now has the time to enjoy his retirement from GW. Thank you for being able to secure an interview, I know John has always maintained his privacy which I respect.

Grew up with Mr. Blanche Warhammer and Fighting Fantasy art and it feels incredible to finally see the legend himself and learning about his greatest works. Thank you all for this.

What a treat to be able to sit down and listen to his perspective and thought process. Thank you for this, and thank Mr. Blanche for being such an inspiration.

Love this. Thanks to John Blanche and Tuomas Pirinen for all their contributions to the hobby. So many memories from these guys. Thanks for the interviews with both.

Excellent. Pirinen made a good point about the difference between art and illustration.

Fantastic insight. Glad someone was able to capture his thoughts now he is retired. Am I right in thinking he was probably a bit, I’ll say ‘frustrated’ with losing some of his work due to GW claiming IP on it after it was put in their publications.

I first came across Mr Blanche's work in the Sorcery! game books back when I was a kid. His art was so instrumental in creating just the right atmosphere for the works he was associated with! It of course delighted me to find his influence all over Warhammer when I became infatuated with the hobby.

Blanche's art on the 3rd ed. box is what drew me into WH in the first place. I was absolutely mesmerised seeing it in the window of my local GW, & proceeded to beg by Dad to buy it for me.

This was fantastic!! Thanks so much for putting it up. Would love to see everything and anything you two do together! Just picked up Voodoo Forest because of this video!

What a Legend. Incredible to hear it straight from the man.

Thank you for sharing this with us. I hope that John realises the appreciation for his talent and vision, it has inspired generations to enter into countless grim dark worlds and enriched the lives of millions.

Just a powerful interview.

Omg here is the legend him self!!! so much inspiration he have done over years!!! Thanks for sharing interwiev! =)

That Black Templar 3rd edition box art is what got me into 40k and even after 20 years, it is still one of my favorite pieces of 40k artwork ever created. I remember cutting the top off the box just so I could keep the art before the box became to damaged. It's in my closet somewhere. Legendarily cool art imo.

Absolutely fantastic. Thank you.

Pretty sure that 3rd edition black templar cover changed my life back in the day

Beautiful rapier in the background.

Would love to see a tour of John's paintings, sketches and his inspirations! Great interview, thanks! :)

Great insight into the artwork, and hearing Tuomas say "lads and lasses" has made my day.

Thanks for putting this together, Tom. It's a true gift to all of us.