[Kickstarter] The Coming of Winter, but let's talk about something else...

[The1True]

Art is really a sales hook for perusing DM buyers more than a functional element of module design anyway (aside from handouts, only the DM will see it).

I think I've said this elsewhere on the forum; but to reiterate: I think, unless it's just tangentially-related filler (like public domain art), illustrations help to clarify to the reader what you the designer were intending for an encounter. It can also inspire or motivate the DM.
Unfortunately, it does tend to get buried in the text which leads to it not being used, or the DM having to pick the book up and try to cover the text while sharing the pic with the players. For Barrowmaze, I ended up scraping all the art out of the PDF and turning it into an illustration library in the Roll20 journal, which makes me think that, along with more and more PDF's on DriveThru coming with a Map Pack where the maps have been separated from the text and often include Player versions or VTT-ready version (70 pixels/square etc), what might be neat is an Art Pack as well, with all the art stripped from the text and labeled with the rooms the illustrations correspond to.

 

[DangerousPuhson]

I think I've said this elsewhere on the forum; but to reiterate: I think, unless it's just tangentially-related filler (like public domain art), illustrations help to clarify to the reader what you the designer were intending for an encounter. It can also inspire or motivate the DM.

Don't get me wrong, I love me some good art, and I'd never buy something without art (it is essential in its way); that being said, the utility of art exists in the way you say, I agree, but it's a pretty narrow purpose. Ultimately, clarification and DM inspiration (while nice to have) are prune-able elements of a module; they can be scaled back with minimal impact. All I'm saying is a guy like Malrex who is pulling his hair out over having excellent albeit expensive art probably shouldn't fret over such comparatively small gains, especially if his quest for art is holding him back.

Also to consider: AI art would fit that purpose you've identified - I find it's uncanny surrealism really suits fostering atmosphere. For instance, something like the image below paired with a room description to convey the feel of an environment:

https://imgur.com/vEIlFuL

 

[Beoric]

I get frustrated with AI art--I've used that at the table a few times. Mayhaps I haven't really used a good program for it.

Me, too. I spent a lot of time a while ago trying to get various programs to make a catgirl succubus for a VTT token. Most didn't even come close, in fact most were barely recognizable as humanoid.

I like to support the creators as well, and buying a product feels less committed and more targeted than subscribing to a patreon I guess?

This, too.