JAPAN!!!

So...the Misses and I just got back from our first trip to Japan (their photobooth technology has far surpassed our own). I was invited to go as a guest artist for Magic's World Championship in Chiba, just outside Tokyo, and luckily it worked out that Betty got to come along for the ride. It was an incredible time and I really want to thank Ron Foster at WotC for making it happen. Anyway, on to the photo-evidence:

Chippy and I signing and sketching away at the tournament.


Japanese pub food.


"Cubic Mouth Mickey"...moving on.


A round of 'Massive Magic'. This was a lot of fun to watch, 4' cards and 20 sided die the size of soccer balls.


Hey, there's one of mine!


Giant pen!


From the left: me, Mark Tedin, Chippy, Raymond Swanland, Ron Foster (WotC), new brand guy whose name escapes me (sorry), and Mr. Okubo. Now who is Mr. Okubo you may ask...


He's the guy that makes incredible, hand-cut, 3D Magic cards, that's who. I was lucky enough to be given three of his pieces while at the tournament and while my lame photo doesn't do his work any justice, trust me, they're un-frickin-believable.


Our buddies Chippy and Elaine at a basement Irish pub we found in Tokyo.


Us.


Betty - "Until next time, Tokyo".

Washington Bookmark

Sorry for the long absence, things have been hectic around here to say the least. Here's a piece I did a while back, he was part of a promotion my reps put together a year or so ago. Each artist got to pick a state so I chose Washington. I spent most of my formative years there and I was always fascinated by the stories people would often tell about seeing 'him' up in the mountains.

Wolf Token

Another new one of Magic, this guy's a spirit wolf made of mist. 12 x 16, oil on masonite.

...and even more World of Warcraft

This guy's an undead troll shaman, hard to imagine a cooler combo if you ask me. Deathseer Zuk'raj, 12 x 16 in. oil on masonite.

more World of Warcraft

12 x 16 in. oil on masonite.

World of Warcraft Art!

Here's the first of my work for WoW. General Lightsbane. 12 x 16ish, oil on masionite

Instill Infection

The last of the new pieces for Magic. Kinda reminds me of the black alien goo from the X-Files now that I think about it. 11 x 14 in. oil on masonite.

Argent Sphinx

Another new one for Magic. I'm really glad to finally be able show this one. It's rare, for me at least, that a piece comes out really close to how I originally saw it in my mind, usually things change course for one reason or another, but this one's really dang close. 12 x 16 in. oil on masonite.

Stoic Rebuttal

Another new piece for Magic, Stoic Rebuttal. 12 x 16ish, oil on masonite.

Platinum Emperion

A new piece for the upcoming Magic set, this guy's called Platinum Emperion.
11 x 14 oil on Masonite.

Wild West!

While I wait for more work to come out from under NDAs, I thought I'd share a couple of quick personal pieces from a while back. Experimenting with some looseness.

Sword of Mind and Body

A new piece for Magic, this one's from the upcoming set called Scars of Mirrodin. It takes place in an artificial world made entirely of metal so needless to say, I've been painting A LOT of metal over the past year.

And now for something completely different...

A couple weeks back I got the chance to do my second cover for the LA Weekly. It's a portrait of LA Dodgers owner, Frank McCourt. Apparently he's got a reputation for some pretty shady business practices and always coming out smelling like roses.

Thanks to Darrick Rainey for another great round of art direction, this gig was a lot of fun and a great break from my usual creative process.

GENCON!!!

Back from Gencon and finally caught up on sleep. It was an amazing four days, tons of amazing art and artists. Also, unbelievably, I won Best In Show (!!!).
I still can't believe everyone I got to see and meet; Matt Stewart, Kekai Kotaki, Lars Grant-West, Steve Belledin, Dan Scott, Franz Vohwinkle, Chris Seaman, Mark Tedin, Tom Baxa, and Steve Prescott just to name a few. I'm already looking forward to next year.

me.
Steve Belledin.
Dan Scott.
Chris Seaman.
Kekai Kotaki, Lars Grant-West and Steve Prescott (sorry Steve :)).

Obstinate Baloth

This one's the last of my work for Magic's M11 set. 11 x 14 in. oil on masonite.

Steel Overseer

Another new piece for Magic, 11 x 14 in. oil on masonite.

Sun Titan

Back from my honeymoon and back in the studio! Here's a new one for Magic. 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite.

JUST GOT HITCHED!!!

Artist's depiction.

Last 2 for The Bastion

Apologies for the prolonged absence, I've been away from the studio visiting family for the past week. Anyway, here are the last two portraits for The Bastion (at least for now).

Both 9 x 12 in. oil on board

New Skull!

Seeing as how I don't have any new work I can show, I thought I'd brag about the newest addition to my skull collection - Snapping Turtle. Kinda cute, right?

Frank Frazetta, RIP. 1928 - 2010

Dormant Gomazoa

And finally, the last new piece for Magic...at least for now.


11 x 14 in. oil on masonite

Null Champion

The dude in back's his vampire master.


12 x 16ish, oil on masonite.

Vent Sentinel

Another new piece for Magic - Vent Sentinel.


11 x 14 in. oil on masonite.

Conquering Manticore

Finally! Here's a new piece for Magic - Conquering Manticore (formerly Elder Manticore).

A couple more for Bastion

Wow, it's been a while since I've posted. Anyway, here are a couple more for Bastion. The girl's a thief/assassin type of character and the guy's an alchemist.

9 x 12 in. oil on masonite.

Two more for Bastion

This first guy's a scout, and the girl's got an ability called Dreamsong that allows her to manipulate her surroundings with her voice. With all of that detail she turned into a bit of a challenge, I'm learning that painting smaller isn't always faster.



9 x 12 in., oil on masonite.

The Bastion 2

Two more paintings for The Bastion.

9 x 12 in. oil on masonite

The Bastion

Lately I've been doing some character portraits for a new company that's developing an online RPG called The Bastion. It's been a lot of fun so far and the guys working on it have even given me permission to show the work as I complete it so expect to see a few more of these in the near future.