Azorius Justiciar

 Azorius Justiciar - 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite
 

Here's another one from the new Magic set. Her art description basically sounded like a fantasy version of Judge Dredd...if he was a wizard, obsessed with the law almost to the point of zealotry. This was one of those rare pieces that came together really easily and wound up really close to the way I saw her in my mind when I began.

Corpsejack Menace

Corpsejack Menace, 11 x 14 in.

 This guy's the first piece of mine to be previewed in the new Magic: the Gathering set; Return to Ravnica. Ravnica is world covered completely by a massive city so this year has been a lesson in how to paint cityscapes as fast as possible. Anyway, this guy's basically a massive fungal monster that lives in the huge sewer system below the city. I was given a reference sketch for this guy but I had a lot of fun figuring out how every thing fit together and trying to make him as terrifying as possible. 

The only crit I remember getting back on my sketch was to make sure his mouth didn't look too "suggestive". So, as funny as it would have been otherwise, I really tried to push the structure of his jaws on the final.

Conclave Kickstarter

Over the past couple of years I've done quite a bit of work for an independent online gaming company called 10 x 10 Room and their game Conclave. They've been great to work with and I hear the game is a lot of fun, it's constructed in the style of classic table-top fantasy games. Anyway, they've got a Kickstarter going as of a couple of days ago with the goal of expanding their game in a ton of different ways and there's a lot of cool rewards set up (including some of my originals) for the different pledge amounts. So if you're interested in classic online RPGs or if you'd like to see a cheesy picture of me in their pitch video, check out their Kickstarter page here.

New Magic Work!

 Hey everyone, sorry for the long absence. Work's been insane, including a couple of full-on all-nighters, but now I finally have a chance to chill out, catch my breath, and post some new stuff. These four are all from Magic: the Gathering's new core set, M13. A few of them wound up being printed really dark for some reason but hopefully here you can pick up some of those lost details.
 

 Wit's End - 16 x 22 in., oil on masonite

 Primal Huntbeast - 11 x 14 in., oil on masonite

 Searing Spear - 11 x 14 in., oil on masonite.

I had my buddy Reggie Mace (owner of Mace Mead Works here in Dayton, WA) pose for this one, hence the falling mace.

Slumbering Dragon - 12 x 16 in., oil on masonite

Glissa, the Traitor nominated for a Chesley!

Just got word that Glissa here has been nominated for a 2012 Chesley in the 'gaming related' catagory! I'm really excited to be considered and humbled to be included along with such freakin amazing artists.

Also, for anyone in or around Vancouver B.C. this weekend, I'll be attending a Grand Prix tournament there for Magic: the Gathering. I'll be signing and sketching as usual so come on by.

The Hobbit: Over Hill and Under Hill

14 x 36 in., oil on masonite

This was one of those assignments that I just had to take. My schedule was already crazy and I knew it was going to be a lot of work but there was just no way I could turn down the chance to do my take on The Hobbit. It was also a really nice break from a long string of stark, gory and grim assignments that, while I love that stuff, can definitely wear on you after a while. 

What the Art Director asked for was basically a portrait of the Shire, including the Green Dragon Inn and Bag End, with Bilbo riding out still looking optimistic about the adventure.

detail

You can see on the final product that I wound up painting out past the frame on the box, so that the designers could pop out certain elements and wrap the image around the sides of the box. Plus it made for a better composition on the actual painting (which, by the way, my wife claimed before it was even finished).

Spectrum LIVE! Next Week!

If you're in the Kansas City area or can be by next weekend I highly recommend coming out the the Spectrum LIVE! show. It's the first one but it's shaping up to be a doozy, I can already tell I'm going to have a hard time staying at my booth. Anyway, if you make it out come by and say hi. I'll (probably) be at my booth.