GP Mexico City 2014 Next Week!

Just a reminder to anyone attending the event...I'll be in Mexico City next week for the Magic Grand Prix Mexico City 2014.  I will be on hand to sign, sketch, or alter cards of mine you might have.  I will also have with me a variety of collectibles, including:  Artist Proofs, Oil painted Token AP's(pictured below), Prints, and Custom Playmats.  Please stop by and say hi!

Advent of the Wurm AP

with Original Wurm Token Oil Sketch 

Thoughtseize

with Original Returned Token Oil Sketch

More Born of the Gods Work

Nyxborn Wolf

11x14 Oil on Masonite

Thassa's Rebuff

16 x 20 Oil on Masonite

New Magic: Born of the Gods PROMO

Forgestoker Dragon

11x14 Oil on Masonite

Here is a PROMO card from the new Magic the Gathering expansion, Born of the Gods.  It was originally titled "Crashing Dragon", I like the new name better!

The Battle of Five Armies - "The Last Stand of Thorin Oakenshield"

"The Last Stand of Thorin Oakenshield"

30x40 Oil on Masonite

If you were at IlluXCon in Sept of last year, then you've seen this already.  I had the original on display at the show.

One of my first illustrative drawings when I first started attending art school was the iconic scene of The Battle of Five Armies from the book The Hobbit.  It was a decent effort, but an ambitious image to tackle, especially for a new art student.   I had always wanted to illustrate the scene again at some point.  So, when Ares Games emailed asking me to illustrate their The Battle of Five Armies board game cover, I jumped to the opportunity.

Detail

There were a couple of artists Matt Stewart and Justin Gerard who've illustrated this scene before and they just nailed it!  As much as I wanted to do my interpretation, I just didn't know how I was going to go about not looking like a hack next to these amazing works.  The director and I agreed that picking another moment in the battle might be best.  There were a few key things that happen in the battle that would make for a cool image.

We finally decided on the scene where Thorin enters the battle and is surrounded.  Seeing this as a golden opportunity, I wanted to go as epic as I dared with the image.  I came up with a composition that I thought would make a great image.  It encompassed a pretty large scene with 20 or so characters in it.  The director only needed a certain amount of the image for the box art, but I had a second agenda.  I made sure to finish what they needed first so that I would be able to hit their deadline.  The final box art also has some digital manipulations.  They wanted key elements on the box art that didn't fit exact with what I had in mind for the original paintings.  For example you'll notice the eagles in the background are moved closer to the center.

After the assignment was over I would spend another few months, off and on, finishing the painting.  Since half of the painting was for my own pleasure I had to work on it in between jobs.

Detail

I wouldn't normally do something like this, but the subject was something I've always had a strong passion towards.  I would have been a fool not to take the opportunity to do it.  Plus, I wanted to get this out before Peter Jackson put the visual out there that will forever be in people's minds!

Detail

GP Mexico City 2014

"Dragon Queen"

24x18 Oil on Masonite

I'll be attending the Mexico City Magic GP as a guest artist.  The event is February 14th and 15th.  I'm very excited about this trip, I have never been to Mexico City and I'm looking forward to doing a bit of sightseeing.  The event organizer commissioned me to do the artwork for the event playmat(above).  He wanted a Magic flavor illustration that somehow fit the Mexican culture.

I will be bringing a variety of collectibles with me, including:  Artist Proofs, Original oil illustrations from MtG, Oil painted Token APs, Prints, and Original sketched APs.  If you plan to attend the event, please let me know if there are particular prints/sketches you'd like to see.  I will do my best to accommodate.  You can leave your response in the comment section below.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  I must apologize for the lack in new work.  I've been waiting for NDA's to lift so I can show some of my new pieces.  I have quite a bit to show, so please check back in the coming weeks for more work.  For now, here is a cover I did for a Pathfinder novel.

ONLINE STORE

In addition, I've updated my Etsy store with all of my available prints as well as collectible cards, and originals.  Please, head on over, take a look, and buy yourself or someone you think might enjoy a print or card!  Click on the image at the top right of the blog to be directed to the store.

Magic Grand Prix Shizuoka, Japan

In less than two weeks, I'll be a guest artist at Shizouka, Japan GP.  I am very excited to be visiting Japan.  My wife and I plan to fly out a week early and see as much of the country as possible before the event.

For those of you Magic fans in Japan...Special for this event I'm doing a limited run of custom tokens of two of my cards.  Both Thoughtseize and Advent of the Wurm original oil sketch APs will be available exclusively at the event.  I will have a total of 20 available and each AP will have a unique Wurm or Forsaken Mask token painted in oil on the back.  Each will be stored in a special card display holder.  Below are two examples of the original oil sketches and the card they will be painted on.

In addition to the oil sketches, I will be doing signings, sketches, and card alters at the event.  I will also have a wide variety of prints for sale.  Please stop by and say hi if you plan to attend the event.  Those of you who register early enough will receive an event play-mat with the artwork for Thoughtseize.

For more information about the event go here - Shizuoka, Japan Magic Grand Prix

Magic the Gathering Artist Proofs Etsy Store

For all of you Magic the Gathering Collectors.  I've add each of my Artist Proofs to my Etsy store.  Now you can easily navigate all of the AP's I have for sale.  You can check prices, quantities, and other info on the store pages.  This will also to make things easier for me, as I can now send inquiries directly to the store.

Store Link

New Everquest II Key Art

Here is a piece I did for Sony Online's new Everquest II expansion.  This is the third piece I've done for them in this same format.  I had a lot of fun working on this one.  The original painting is 20 x 48 oil on masonite.  You can check out more info on the game here - Everquest II

"Tears of Veeshan"

Here are a couple of detail shots.

Thoughtseize Artist Proofs

There have been many requests for my Thoughtseize AP's.  If you're not familiar with an Artist Proof, each artist is given 50 of each card they illustrate.  The card is special in that there are only 50 in existence.  Each card is an exact copy of the one you'll buy from any retail store except that it has a blank back.  This leaves an opportunity to do sketches or other alterations on each card making them even more a one of a kind.

Each of my AP's come signed and numbered.  I keep, for my own collection, my 50/50 card and sell the rest priced specifically to the card and it's rarity.  For Thoughtseize, because I've had so many requests, I'm going to sell them signed, numbered, and each with a unique sketch.  Please check out my Etsy Store for more information.

Below are some examples of sketches to give you a better idea of what to expect.

More Theros Work

Just got back from IlluXCon.  What a trip!  Made a lot of new friends and got see a lot of old ones.  The show is amazing, the work shown is among the best the industry has to offer.  As exhausted as I am, I can't wait until next year's show!

Here are the last two I've done for Magic the Gathering's Theros set.  What a fun set to work on.  I've always been a big fan of Greek Mythology and when they announced the style of work we'd be doing, I got very giddy!

Flamespeaker Adept

16x20 Oil on Masonite

Returned Centaur

16x20 Oil on Masonite

(This painting is available on my Etsy store)

New Magic Theros Art

Sorry for the lack of posts lately.  I've been crazy busy trying to finish work before heading to IlluXCon next week.  Here are two pieces that were recently spoiled for the upcoming set of Theros.  I've had a lot of interest in the original for Thoughtseize.  The painting is currently up on Ebay so everyone who's interested, can have a shot at owning it.  Head on over, take a look, and place your bid!

Thoughtseize

16x20 Oil on Masonite

Ebay Auction

Labor of Heliod

18x24 Oil on Masonite