John Blanche on Space Marines

Hanging out with John a few weeks ago I got him talking about Space Marines! Here he talks about working on sketches for the Sabretooth card game, some of his more recognisable pieces and how he perceives them in the IP.
Black Templars diorama: / k03rnl
Black Templars model: / cpt.normandy
The Last Stand of the Crimson Fists: volomir_min...
Crimson Fists Diorama: monkey_hamm...
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[@madskillz808]

Refering to it as not armour, but a habitat, is a wonderful way of explaining Astartes relationship with their tech.

[@AC20sAkimbo]

Try not taking off a set of power armour for three months of combat. I bet it'd be a quite ripe habitat.

[@yopoxikeweapescai9066]

@@AC20sAkimbo the smell 🥵

[@Krazy8ts]

knowing that blacktemplars are only a major force because one of the best 40k artists wanted to draw them is so cool.

[@nowhereman6019]

It's really emblematic of 40k that the coolest looking characters and armies became the most popular. 40k is all about Rule of Cool and making your dudes look awesome.

[@jebreggie4225]

Almost like the entirety of 40k was created around appealing to male nerd militaristic fantasies inspired by the "male gaze" taking inspiration from history like how we look at romans knights and every other crazy military adventure. This is why 40K as a setting is bad now. Don't make stuff to fit in 40k. Make stuff that you like yourself based on history and fiction and that way GW cant ruin everything you do and shit on your fantasies and don't attach it to a pre existing IP that will chain you down.

[@strawberrypuddin8919]

​@@jebreggie4225 hoes mad

[@SayuriMiki]

@@jebreggie4225 i hate you

[@bouncycowgirl]

​@@jebreggie4225Who hurt you Reggie?

[@nickchavez720]

What makes his art so amamzing is that it looks like something someone drew who saw a marine and tried to capture what it was he saw. Its not 100% realisitc, and its not supposed to be. Ita about capturing the feeling of awe and terror of seeing something like that.

[@cnut7383]

its so iconic and integral it almost seems like it is just as in universe as the space marines are. like some posters on a wall or drawings in an old parchment tome

[@nickchavez720]

@@cnut7383 I like to think it's an illustration in a history book on a more primitive planet. An account of when the planet was attacked by Orks and the marines descended from the sky. This was what they saw.

[@cnut7383]

@@nickchavez720 i agree thats what i was kinda trhing to say with the old parchment tome like the style reminds me of old medieval manuscript drawings but obviously more refined

[@add3to6]

John's sneering disdain for the Ultramarines warms my heart

[@margaretwood152]

The *_New 40K Artwork_* is _Sloppy, Lazy -&- _*_Uninspired*_* ( * and very closely resembles what it might very well be: if not now than in the very _near_ future; *A.l. Generated.* (* John Blanche is the _True Warhammer _*_OG._* His Artwork is what 40K really is, not this Corp. Warhammer Inc. Crap)

[@DanishDesigner]

As an Ultramarines player since 1995 I agree 😜

[@ultimapanzer]

He wouldn’t even dignify them by saying their name 😂

[@jeffcapes]

aka "the other ones"

[@Hello-no7gm]

Shut up tourist

[@mikefoster6018]

John's at the beating heart of Warhammer. He ingrained punk, pomp and grotesque carnival into the DNA of it.

[@nearfall87]

Very well said. True Warhammer, not the generic slop it has become today.

[@itsflyde]

@@nearfall87 They've got some good art nowadays though man, some of the codex art is pretty gnarly

[@nearfall87]

@@itsflyde You're right, I've seen a lot of bad and good stuff these days. The nostalgia took over cause this is just so iconic - it literally captivated the younger me.

[@itsflyde]

@@nearfall87 I agree with you on that! Blanche's art is so one of a kind. It's crazy iconic and so evocative of so much of what makes 40k.

[@dr.feelgoodmalusphillips2475]

​@itsflyde A lot of the theme and music has departed from the Medieval, gothic and have gone to the generic pseudo dubtsep electro with the overbearing bass and reverb. It honestly is just so bland and generic. Luckily a few of the music still remembers its roots.

[@funkaoshi]

"Why did I choose blood angels? Cuz it's RED!" Love it.

[@drekbleh7081]

Find someone who loves you like Blanche loves red

[@LumpyBumpyAcidFish]

this is how you make an enjoyable setting and this is why 40k will never be good again

[@yopoxikeweapescai9066]

@@LumpyBumpyAcidFish true 😔

[@BSJDynasty]

This is the state of the 40k Universe that I keep in my memory banks

[@davidvanvranken1595]

100%

[@Tom_Quixote]

I'm also in the same stasis chamber.

[@chrislyne377]

The glory days will never die. I still vividly remember getting my hands on the 2nd ed Imperial Guard codex and spending days poring over it

[@Em90000l]

Me too. I've got nothing against the new lore and artwork but this will always be what 40k is to me.

[@Horsemanray]

@@Em90000l Trying to make the lore more "approachable" ruined it. Blanche's vision was totally alien. You barely recognize the Imperium as humans. Which is how they should feel to people like us living almost 40,000 years before these events even take place. 2nd Ed. FTW.

[@AdoringAdmirer]

That closing statement cut deep.

[@JeffSichoe]

he has a totally different mental image of what the 40k universe is vs what is now

[@timmanning5206]

I like that his version can still be a part of the current though. Like they're taming a beast. It's still mental though

[@LOCATIONREDACTED]

'They DON'T get out of them' (the armour). That is very John Blanche and awesome.

[@ossirioth]

John's work defined the grimdark: the terror of the environments, the vibrancy of its denizens and the violence of its struggles. I dont think id have been drawn in 35years ago without his art showing the underbelly of the galaxy which most other artists were portaying more and more with smooth clean pictures of well ordered, clean kerfuffles in a field. There was, and never will be, another like you sir!

[@tommys_hobbies]

I can't thank you enough for these interviews, especially the chats with John. These creative geniuses have brought me so much joy over the years through their work. It's wonderful being able to hear their insights.

[@ObjectiveMedia]

Hear hear

[@tommix6016]

He's a definite treasure.

[@Bluegender88]

That black templars art is burned into my brain from the starter box. I remember it fondly from my early Warhammer days in 3rd-4th

[@TacticalReaper56]

Imagine having to come in everyday and try to make a boxy Bulky refrigerator man look ever so slightly different from the last batch, could get very old very fast.

[@jimbosplace1701]

I had the pleasure of meeting John on two occasions at games day just over a decade ago. A delight both times. Thank you for the interview. I never knew that my beloved templars only exist due to John wanting to paint black!

[@helios7170]

This man has had more influence on my life artistically / aesthetically than any other single human being. Listening to him talk about his experiences is an absolute joy, thank you ❤

[@High_Lord_Of_Terra]

I love that each of the originators brought a different flavour to the universe.

[@pauldaly100]

To me the great thing about this interview to me is how from the start 40k was always about miniatures and imagination. These guys made choices based on their vision that would be influential for decades to come and expanded the universe, not content to just do what had come before. Today with 3D printing and alternative games and ruleset it’s even easier for us to do the same and bring whatever matches our creative vision to tabletop.

[@Rob-nq6br]

As a small child at Games Day I once tried to get John to sign a poster, it was Dave Gallagher's Crimson Fists though!

[@Mr_Waffle.]

The 2nd edition cover of Blood Angels is a permanent nostalgia hit for me from my childhood, thanks for sharing this!

[@squoblat]

I still have the art book from the release edition of the 54mm Inquisitor game. John's artwork was the entire inspiration for me even getting into that game and the path it took me on literally changed my life. If I ever do a golden daemon entry, it will be a sculpt of something from that book.

[@hausdorffspace]

I loved the sepia-tone space marines that appear in the 2nd edition rule/war-gear/codex books. I got the box set as a 12 year old based on the full-colour image on the cover, something which fit more with my idea of sci-fi warriors, but the more sinister images of of these heroes who looked like thy might not be so heroic after all really blew my mind.

[@celloguy]

I would absolutely love to see you interview Jez about his development of the Eldar range both originally in the late 80s/90s and over the decades since. One of GW’s most brilliant armies and IPs. Also Rick Priestley about writing the 2nd edition Eldar codex which contains the best writing 40K ever received along with the original 2nd edition game box Codex Imperialis etc.

[@Filmdegminiatures]

Jes still works for GW so it’s not on the cards at the moment. I met him a few months ago though and we chatted a bit, so maybe in the future it might happen. Rick and I are doing more videos down the line so we’ll see what he says.

[@supermarx]

I think there's a strong case that Codex Imperialis was the single best introduction to 40k they ever produced. A lot more formed than RT and a lot more lucid and direct than 3rd ed.

[@Nyctophora]

If you ever do get the chance I would love to hear this! I agree with celloguy. The best writing.

[@legosheet]

"if i had to paint a unit of marines theyd definitely be primaris" that settles it then huh

[@theylivewesleep.5139]

Makes me a little sad that the man who inspired so much of what I like about marines just goes “nah, have it plain”.

[@artsticflea3539]

I interpreted it as Plain is a good thing cause that means you have free creative range to do what you want with it.

[@r25012501]

The primaris armors were actually alot simpler and cleaner in terms of design look so it matches this gents taste good onehim!

[@rayman8165]

This men carried warhammer hard. Love you John Blanche your art touched me.

[@TheRealDeadRock]

I seem to recall Dark Angels being black until a specific painter tried to add yellow bloom onto them and they ended up green after that. I'm curious how and when this must have happened if between 2nd and 3rd there were no Chapters in black.

[@firstylastington6127]

It would be amazing and cool to see a John Blanche painted Primaris Space Marine!!

[@cerebralparasite9238]

I"m lucky enough to possess an original artwork by John. Out of all the professional art I own, his piece is the one I most treasure.

[@Filmdegminiatures]

Wicked! What do you have? I’ve got a few pieces by him which I treasure

[@DitchCricket11]

Love his artwork. His work along with Adrian Smith and Karl Kalpinski is was really got me into the hobby as a kid. John Blanche liking the primaris was a surprise!

[@gergelykovacs8625]

How does one acquire an original John Blanche art? In the past 40 years, he was the most significant influence in my life when it comes to art, and I would love to own, literately, anything that he made. I would be up and arm for a napkin sketch of his and I would treasure it for the rest of my life, but I have no idea how to even begin. :(

[@mykyzer23]

His art bought Warhammer to life in my imagination as a 11yo. I would go through my uncle’s codex’s constantly looking at the pictures and reading the law. That introduction brought my imagination to life! I’m very thankful for that

[@elsmallo]

Love these interviews. John Blanche is so brilliant, gruff and iconiclastic. Those artworks are the gateway. I remember seeing some blanchitsu marines, they all looked like they had a battle story.

[@baloonfart8082]

Incredible work. I really like the techno barbarian vibe of early 40k.

[@EyeOnTheTV]

Wow. Didn't expect him to say he really likes Primaris.

[@wargamereric9929]

Well he likes them cause they are big, so look properly sized for what marines should be. Also because of how plain they are too. I reckon he would enjoy the newer age of darkness marines just as much though

[@jackbriggs9318]

@@wargamereric9929 think the new Corvus marines are the best example of space marines GW have done. Perfect proportions, perfect silhouette, and anyone can paint them to a good standard thanks to economic use of edges and detail. You could spray one black, paint red eyes and they’d slap.

[@Em90000l]

​@jackbriggs9318 yeah they look incredible. One of the best updates they've ever done in my opinion. And it just proves what a great design mk6 armour is. It does look a little strange and maybe even silly, but it still looks amazing. One of the best designs in all sci fi in my opinion.

[@1000jutsu]

The main thing is what you get in your hands to kitbash. They're great kits you can do a lot with and whatever dozen hundred novels about them don't matter to Blanche.

[@chrislyne377]

I absolutely adore this channel. Thank you so much for all these interviews. My childhood lives on!

[@robertstrong6798]

Major nostalgia trip 😊 when warhammer was good😢

[@Lord_Humungus]

I really loved this stuff as a kid, and still do as a 37 year old

[@FranzCalamari]

I really applaud you for making these recordings. These guys are so fascinating to listen to. Thanks for your work.

[@majmellow]

That black and white dark angel picture is one of my all time favourite pieces of art. Thank you John❤

[@theylivewesleep.5139]

There’s another one with a deathwing terminator master that I quite like.

[@lonecolamarine]

I don’t know what I expected John Blanche to look like but “Frank Miller: Good ending” wasn’t on the list. Seems like a cool guy, crazy to think the artist mind of his age is the same as one of mine: “Ahh I just drew all that bc I thought it looked cool.”

[@Coltarion]

As always, thank you so much for these interviews. They really make me happy.

[@brockvenator2299]

This made my day, thank you.

[@seb_travel]

Busy making a 2nd Ed Marine force with the classic metal models (Jes' first pieces with the original leaner plastic arms sprue) that straddle Rogue Trader and the 2nd Ed era. Clean, iconic and stoic. All the technology integrated into the slabs of armor, hidden. I find them more intimidating. No faff, simple cold forms. The odd detail for an officer stands out so well. Appreciate that Jes and John see it similarly.

[@leakycheese]

Thank you so much for these videos.

[@ViktorBrech]

It would be great to see a Primaris warband painted by John. Should have been a White Dwarf #500 Blanchitsu feature!

[@spyroslapatas3013]

Always amazing content

[@watleythewizard2381]

Great interview. Thanks.

[@grahamdbailey]

This man is my favourite artist ever, thanks for sharing!

[@Eric-jt8yx]

Great video. Thanks for sharing

[@nurglematthew893]

Big Nurgle Bless. Awesome

[@Nightss]

Excellent as always, thanks for sharing your work!

[@redbeardie]

Wonderful interview! So great to hear more of John’s reminiscences.

[@Alexanderofthe9th]

Very humbling to hear. Thank you for your work in the hobby 🙏

[@JEnz2z2z]

Every time a delight hearing John speaking on the iconic pieces!

[@srbrant5391]

This man is my hero.

[@adamfox1669]

Thank you

[@davidcauley9400]

Maximum respect to you Mr. Blanche, I sincerely think your artistic legacy and influence is massive and far reaching.

[@RTL2L]

Awesome!

[@spets-]

Thanks for getting John's thoughts on this stuff documented for all of us to hear.

[@elefuntitus_3312]

great work, keep it up

[@gavinadams4572]

I love this mans style,when i think of warhammer i think of John Blanche.

[@batheavy2834]

Awesome ❤

[@dominicjaquin4780]

Very interesting, I been enjoying these interviews greatly. Hope that one day you can sit down with Kevin Adams too. Always admired John Blanche' art

[@Filmdegminiatures]

Kev declined unfortunately, he’s said it’s just not his thing which is fair enough. Highly recommend his Goblin Master book released by John Wombat.

[@krootmen]

Thank you Blanche, for being able to put our sole on paper.

[@paittenmedicineeagle4559]

Hes sooooo cool!

[@danielwagner2034]

Started playing in 2nd Edition, that Cover with the Bloodmarine in the middle is so iconic to me.

[@altarofthedeadgods_wargame]

good job on improving the audio quality of your videos! this is great!

[@Filmdegminiatures]

It pretty much just comes down to if I have access to microphones or not. I don’t own any of the equipment myself, I’m able to borrow it fairly regularly but if it’s needed for my job that has to be the priority

[@Mortys_Toilet_Attendant]

It’s always nice to see the Great Man. What an influence he has had, and an amazing legacy to look back on.

[@nekrataali]

Hilarious how people (myself included) fawn over his art and he's like "Ye, I dunno which of these I painted for wot. I think one of them covers for a rulebook, but maybe I misrememberin'. Just like paintin' black n' red armor n' stoaf." 😂

[@fredrik241]

@@nekrataali He used to paint more colors back in the 80's like all those WD covers and RPG book art so it seems more of a 'recently' developed preference. Also thought he liked the yellow red and orange. Maybe those requested 90's strong color pieces scarred him. I find it quite funny that he likes the all-Black but his name is Blanche.

[@DwainiacWarhammer]

This really was a genius idea. Took off like wildfire

[@aryasthule1219]

Very interesting to hear that John prefers the Primaris style. Did not expect that!

[@matthayward7889]

What a fantastic interview,”! I got a good chuckle out of Johns “but they’d have to be black” at the end

[@tomasxavier6209]

not sure about that, i watched a interview with the perrys and they were quite proud of never sculpting a space marine

[@HeatIIEXTEND]

Cool.

[@user-sj1ny1br3o]

GOAT

[@lambey6113]

I like how he knew it was the Maltese cross

[@heinrichkemmler5695]

Thank you for this wondeful time with the Master. What about a Wil Rees interview ?

[@ernestgraves4401]

COOOOL

[@RewdAwakening]

That last sentence of the vid' had me cackling...

[@phma]

I have a print of his famous blood angles vs space orcs painting on my wall, it's the most iconic imagine a remember from my childhood.

[@StefanRLion]

Great interview, be nice for a peep to paint up a Templar for mr Blanche.

[@gonzalocarreteromartinez5046]

Great videos, as usual. Congrats! From which book are those old paintings? Want to buy it, if it is available somewhere :)

[@Filmdegminiatures]

The Horus heresy ones at the start? They’re from the various “visions of…” books released years ago. They’re also compiled in the “collected visions” book which comes up for sale online not infrequently

[@norkimo8797]

damn wish I could get my hands on one of those

[@FureyinHD]

I came in during 2nd ed, and its interesting that the colourful themes weren't to John's taste. At the time i found it didnt fit the background either, and loved it when 3rd went darker. 2nd period is still iconic though 😊

[@seanbullough6296]

What book does the artwork they are displaying come from? I know one was the Inquisitor Sketchbook, but the ones with the red border around the page I don't know which book that is.

[@Filmdegminiatures]

The Horus Heresy - Collected Visions

[@TheAxel999]

Our spiritual liege

[@pjccwest]

❤

[@ObjectiveMedia]

Primaris? Heresy!

[@ThomasGallinari]

John Blanche is the real first Black Templar High Marshall

[@billdagrasshawking]

Rocking one glove like mj

[@sablebubble4630]

I really want to know what John thinks about the Astartes project by Sayama Pedersen.

[@huwtindall7096]

JB saying how much he likes Primaris must make some first born purists seeth with rage!?

[@MrFiremagnet]

I used to be kind of skeptical of Blanche when I was younger. There were so much more accessible artists, you know. But in the last few years years I've grown into admiring Blanche as an artist.

[@fremandn]

What are the drawings and paintings being shown early on in the video coming from? Are they available elsewhere?

[@Filmdegminiatures]

They’re from “The Horus Heresy: Collected Visions”

[@strawberrypuddin8919]

Blanche supports primaries Marines confirmed! 😤

[@Balrog2005]

This guy made the image of GW in the 90s when things really got for them...now... well... it's just corporate sh*t...

[@dcbluenose1873]

Back when 40k was so much cooler and purer

[@Meinalptraum]

Hi from reddit can't wait for more interviews :)

[@f1r3hydr4nt]

I'm so glad this video is coming around... we NEED the Blanchitsu brought back... the Rogue Trader/John Blanche/White Dwarf/Oldhammer aesthetic is lightyears ahead of the new Frutiger Aero nonsense we've been given. Its almost shameful

[@Slechy_Lesh]

2:35 monasteries

[@ivocrnkovic]

Whats the source of the images shown while JB is talking?

[@Filmdegminiatures]

They’re from “The Horus Heresy: Collected Visions”