Michael Whelan's Preliminary Art for Words of Radiance

[Argent he/him]

As you might know, Michael Whelan is the artist who did the cover art for both The Way of Kings and Words of Radiance. What you might not know is that he published three of his early concepts for the Words of Radiance cover a few days ago. There is nothing to them other than "hey, this is some cool art," so my internal cosmerologist was a little grumpy, but in the end of the day, art is art, and it's neat. So go take a look at them:

• Jesus Kaladin
• Colored Kaladin
• Tarzan Kaladin

EDIT: Turns out he posted some other stuff a while back. Namely, more Jesus Kaladin, even more Jesus Kaladin, a metal Bridge Four... thing, some Shallan endpages sketches, and a (non-spoilery) scene from The Way of Kings.

Edited April 15, 2014 by Argent

[GreyPilgrim he/him]

I feel like the art in all of these is better than that of the official cover...

All hail Jesus Kaladin! It's better than Rambo Kaladin, at least.

I still wish the cover hadn't shown Kaladin's face. Clearly from these Whelan didn't always intend to do so.

[bartbug he/him]

Dang... Colored Kaladin's cover was pretty awesome. I kind of wish that had been the cover.

[PorridgeBrick he/him]

Uggh. Why didn't he stick with colored Kal? Much better composition, and there isn't the ridiculousness of Szeth perched on a pile of bodies while Kal gives a goofy grin to the camera.

[Botanica she/her]

Man, those preliminary pieces are great! I had to hold my breath. I totally agree that they somehow look better than the final cover. I LOVE the colored Kaladin. They really should posture like this

[GreyPilgrim he/him]

I too prefer colored Kaladin. It doesn't show his face! I would even have that one as the cover if the colors weren't so depressing. The vibrant colors of the storm on the actual cover are miles better.

[Kasimir he/him]

Echoing the preference for coloured Kaladin. Got to add though: I'm glad he didn't use Jesus Kaladin. Those just look...pretty ridiculously funny, the way he's doing some fancy pose. Although maybe it's because I keep thinking "Jesus Kaladin!" the moment I see it.

[Delightful]

Am I the only one who actually likes the WoR official cover? 
Coloured Kaladin is pretty awesome too, I'm just glad there's no gemheart in the official version. It looks to awkward and non-awesome enough for a cover, IMHO.

[GreyPilgrim he/him]

Am I the only one who actually likes the WoR official cover?

Coloured Kaladin is pretty awesome too, I'm just glad there's no gemheart in the official version. It looks to awkward and non-awesome enough for a cover, IMHO.

I do like the WoR cover as it is, I just have some objections to it, namely that Kaladin is looking at you, not at Szeth. And I really don't like Szeth being on a pile of bodies. It's just too cheesy. But one can mostly ignore that part. Overall I just don't like the WoR cover as much as that of WoK.

[Argent he/him]

The endpages drawing is 567892789+678976+712989+87489 times better anyway