D&D Monsters

The Grenadier Beholder Project

Michael R. Clark

25 Aug 2012 • 1 min read

So I remember studying the many images of that beloved original D&D monster, the beholder, from the first edition Monster Manual, various modules, and especially this one from the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Coloring Album (lovingly described by Blizack on Dungeonskull Mountain a few years back):

I also remember never being able to quite figure out what color the damn things were. I somehow got it in my head that they were covered in olive green (the description uses the word "chitinous," I think) plates with bright purple flesh between.

Then I got my obligatory box of Grenadier Solid Gold Line minis--the Dwellers Below--and there was the goofiest damn beholder anyone's ever seen.

Dwellers Below Info Sheet — It's Letter H.

So my mission, now that I have 30 years of painting under my belt, is to make this damn thing look like I always thought it should. No cutting or filing, just with paint. Here are some pics of the work in progress.

Grenadier Beholder Stage 1 — Some Reaper Master Series Olive Green and Pale Violet Red. That's what I'm talking about.

Grenadier Beholder Stage 2 — Eyestalks blocked in, along with some shadow on those chitinous plates.

More updates as events warrant. I'm totally excited about this one...

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