Kevin Long is a graphic artist best known for his airbrush paintings and black-and-white illustrations in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. He was a principal artist at Palladium Books from 1986 until 1995 and served as one of the original contributors to the Rifts role-playing game (RPG) series.

Biography

Kevin Long grew up in Battle Creek, Michigan and attended the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, where he majored in advertising illustration. Upon graduating, Long worked in the local advertising industry. Having completed a five-year stint in his chosen profession, he was lured away by the artistic and creative freedom offered by Palladium Books.[1][2] While there, Long built his reputation as one of the most popular illustrators in the role-playing industry. In addition to having created the dynamic look of various characters, vehicles, and equipment in Rifts, he co-authored a number of other Palladium RPG titles. However, Long left Palladium in August 1995 for unspecified reasons.[citation needed]

In October 1997, Raven Software hired Long as a 2-D artist. He was responsible for some of the graphics in Hexen II: Portal of Praevus (1998), Heretic II (1998), Soldier of Fortune (2000), Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force (2000), Soldier of Fortune II: Double Helix (2002), and Quake 4 (2005).[3] In 2007, Long was the Art Lead on Wolfenstein.[4][5]

In 2014, Scott Taylor of Black Gate, named Kevin Long as Honorable Mention in a list of The Top 10 RPG Artists of the Past 40 Years, saying "Robotech, even above Rifts in my mind, reflects the soul of Palladium, and over the course of three decades Long's work has helped bring the fabled Japanese animation series into the forefront of American science fiction role-playing."[6]

Role-playing game credits

Works are listed in order of publication date within their respective categories.

Palladium Books

Beyond the Supernatural

Heroes Unlimited

Macross II

Nightbane

Palladium Fantasy Role-Playing Game

Rifts

Core
World
Dimension
Source
Conversion
Other

Robotech

Illustration of a Veritech Alpha Fighter in battloid mode, from The Robotech Role-Playing Game Book Five: The Invid Invasion (May 1988).

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The Rifter

Miscellaneous

Shadowrun

Other games

Notes


References

  1. ^ User: Erick Wujcik (May 9, 2004). "Thread: Kevin Siembieda apologizes". RPGnet tabletop roleplaying forum. Berkeley, CA: Skotos Tech. Post 134. Retrieved February 6, 2011. ... I introduced Kevin Long to Kevin Siembieda, back around 1983 or 1984 (I had 'discovered' Long from some of his work in a student art show). ((cite web)): |author= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Siembieda, K. (June 6, 2008). "Erick Wujcik's health is in fast decline". Forums of the Megaverse: Murmurs from the Megaverse. Taylor, MI: Palladium Books. Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2011. I keep thinking about all the real life adventures and good times Erick and I have shared ... [his] discovery of Kevin Long....
  3. ^ Accardo, S. (May 6, 2005). "The Art and Design of Quake 4". GameSpy. San Francisco, CA: IGN. Retrieved July 19, 2008.
  4. ^ "Developer Bio: Kevin Long". MobyGames. Santa Monica, CA: GameFly. September 15, 2007. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
  5. ^ "Staff Detail: Kevin Long". Raven Culture—Our People. Middleton, WI: Raven Software. Retrieved April 10, 2013.
  6. ^ "Art of the Genre: The Top 10 RPG Artists of the Past 40 Years – Black Gate". 12 February 2014.