[wolfshead]

Alan Lee or Michael Whelan. Definitely not darrell K. Sweet--I think his stuff is dead ugly and I'm surprisd his art graces so many fantasy novel covers!! Everyone in his paintings has side-parted reddish hair, a reddish nose, and wears gaudy clothes in shades of loud purples and red!!Anyone else agree??

[wynterfel]

Definitely Michael Whelan! His illustrations really reflect the descriptions of the characters in the book. I just love his illustrations of C.J. Cherryh's novels http://www.sffworld.com/ubb/smile.gif

[wynnyelle]

Myself. I illustrate everything I do (although I've yet to publish anything).

I do, however, have a favorite artist I aspire to be like someday, and it is, hands-down, Michael Whelan. I bought "Dragon Prince" by Melanie Rawn based on the cover alone, which I fell in love with. Those dragons were so beautifully painted that I just had to read about them. Unfortunately the book didn't live up to its cover so far...I'm still struggling through it.

[wynnyelle]

that is not to say i'm a good artist (I have nothing on these fantasy cover makers), but only the author of a story can truly illustrate it how he/she envisioned it. No one else, no matter how good they are, can get into the author's mind and see the characters and settings and creatures as the author sees them.

[FitzChivalry]

Yeah, Dragon Prince has some cool cover...
I bought it because of what i read about it, but it was pretty bad... i wouldn't read the next 2 books there are pretty much a rerun of the first one which i didn't really like anyway.

[An8el]

If it were fantasy, and maybe if it were sci fi, I'd choose someone who had never done it before...of course, after they had read what I wrote.
If it were a sci-fi novel, I'd ask Boris Vallejo...(his pix are all over the web)but he's got a lifetime of interesting mythic and monsterous images already out there.
There are so many unknown cool artists that have stuff you can see...
for instance, I'd ask this guy to do it... http://www.thegreatillusion.com
or this guy.... http://www.michealcox.com
or this woman in the UK... http://josephinewall.co.uk
These people are interesting artists to look at even if you can't order any art from them! So, check them out and tell me what you think...
Angel

[enazwo]

But alas I would call upon the legend Frazetta.

[Paper Spirit]

I can't believe no one said Thomas Canty. He is an art god.

[Erebus]

Well, after seeing his cover for the UK edition of The Ill-Made Mute, I'd have to say Paul Gregory!

[Elan Morin Tedronai]

Boris Vallejo