Sigarda, Host of Herons

Sigarda, Host of Herons - 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite

Another new one for Magic, the Gathering. She's the second angel I've done for them (the first was Jenara, Asura of War) and with this one I really wanted try my hand at glowing, backlit wings and the color effects that are involved. The weirdest part is how the color changes and darkens where the feathers overlap, not the easiest thing in oils it turns out (at least for me)

  Craterhoof Behemoth - 11 x 14 in., oil on masonite

Here's another piece from the new Magic: the Gathering set. Back when I got the assignment, he was called Province Trampler. It came with a pretty clear concept sketch of what he needed to look like (basically a cross between a frog and a rhinoceros). The design was great but it was pretty wild and stylized so the challenge with this one was pulling off the design they wanted and still trying to make it my own, or at least look like I painted it. I tried my best to do this by focusing on color and mood. Overall I got a kick out of this guy, there's something funny about a creature so big it's likely to kill you by accident.

Demonic Taskmaster

  Demonic Taskmaster - 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite

Here's the first of my work for the new Magic: the Gathering set, called Avacyn Restored. I had a lot of fun with that whip.

Brainstorm

 Brainstorm, 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite

This one, like the Time Walk art I did last year, was done as alternate art for one of Magic: the Gathering's classic cards. It won't be printed as a card but the original will be given away to the winner of a tournament this year.

The hardest part by far was trying to show the lightning forming inside the brain, under all the folds.

Microvisions

   Little Prince - 5 x 7 in., oil on masonite.

This little guy is my contribution to this year's Microvisions auction. Microvisions is basically an annual show/auction held at the NY Society of Illustrators to raise money for an illustration scholarship. The only catch is that all the paintings have to be 5 x 7 inches.

I've always loved following the show in the past and seeing what artist were able to pull off in such tiny paintings so I was really excited when I was asked to participate this time around.

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed, 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite

Here's my last painting for the latest Magic: the Gathering set. He's a follow-up to Steve Belledin's awesome piece; Mikaeus, the Lunarch. This time he's shown busting out of his tomb, soon after his death.

I really got a kick out of this one, I'm not sure why exactly but it wound up being one of those rare pieces (at least for me) that came together fairly easily and the final product was actually pretty dern close to what I'd originally envisioned (Not to mention the fact that getting the chance to paint what's basically a zombie pope was almost too good to be true).

Huntmaster of the Fells/Ravager of the Fells

  Huntmaster of the Fells, 12 x 16 in., oil on masoinite

In the new Magic: the Gathering set, called Dark Ascension, for the first time they have included double-sided cards, representing creatures that have the ability to transform into a different and usually much more terrifying version of themselves. In my case, I was asked to paint a trapper who's nursing a bite-wound from...something. What he becomes (after that sun's done setting) is this guy: 

Ravager of the Fells, 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite