All,
A really cool article here about MTG artwork that has been nominated for (and 5x won) the Association of Science Fiction & Fantasy Artists' Chesley Award.
May 5, 2016 12:14 p.m.
I forgot to come back and post: thanks for the link to the higher rez, clayperce! I'll have to look in to the deets about printing it!
May 5, 2016 12:22 p.m.
Have you seen Olivia Voldaren? I always thought it was cool, plus it's messed up art...
Olivia Art Show
Or maybe Blood Artist
Warning - Contains Blood Show
May 5, 2016 12:31 p.m.
Hey clay, I was talking about how Krenko, Mob Boss had the art from command in the background, but I also noticed looking at Winterflame, that the figure in the foreground looks suspiciously similar to that of the orc in Shaman of the Great Hunt.
Just something cool I saw :)
May 8, 2016 7:07 a.m.
Hobbez9186 says... #6
One of my favorite things about Magic is the incredible artwork. Sometimes opening a pack is like revealing a handful of miniature paintings. I absolutely love the full high rez images up there, beautiful stuff.
I'll come back when I have time to compile some of my favorites. The first card I saw in SOI though that I fell in love with because of all the flavor in its name, art, and ability is Topplegeist. I think it's wonderful.
May 10, 2016 11:04 a.m.
rorofat,
Yeah, I distinctly remember the first time I looked up a high-res version of Olivia Voldaren!
Warning for those not familiar with the image: It cannot be unseen
Bovine073,
Oh that's cool!
Hobbez9186,
Thanks much for the kudos!
And yeah, I really like Topplegeist too!
May 14, 2016 6:35 p.m.
Oh now that's why it's called Topplegeist, get it? Because he's toppling the cand... oh I'll be quiet now.
May 14, 2016 10:48 p.m.
Scrying_Rogue says... #9
Skeletal Grimace and Rabid Bite are my favorites, but for different reasons...
May 17, 2016 4:27 p.m.
Hobbez9186 says... #10
I saw a foil promo release of Deathbringer Regent yesterday, and it was beautiful.
I also really enjoy Swell of Growth. I recently put together a Landfall deck and I instantly fell in love it.
May 28, 2016 9:38 p.m.
I was playing my cube, and I noticed Meandering Towershell, I realized I really like the art in it (and I just like tortises). I may make that my playmat.
October 7, 2016 4:38 a.m.
May have to add Thrun, the Last Troll, after seeing it on the MTGO splash page ...
January 23, 2017 11:20 a.m.
Have you ever taken a good, hard look at Goblin Kaboomist?
I hate green irl and even I like it.
It also fits the flavour perfectly, and I love how the Goblin is oblivious to the fact that having lit land mines in your backpack is probably not a good idea.
February 26, 2017 5:09 p.m.
frogkill45 says... #15
Quickling was a recent one i just thought it was so detailed and crisp compared to some other cards, not a fan of the kaladesh and aer artworks starting to look to cartoony
February 27, 2017 1:42 p.m.
landofMordor says... #16
Love this. I'm a little mad that you have this, because now I'm going to have to look through every Terese Nielsen card to find my favorite. Which will lead down a 16,000-pieces-of-artwork-rabbit-hole...
June 13, 2017 10:02 p.m.
Wesley Burt's Anguished Unmaking is one of the most powerful card arts I have ever seen. Sorin's pose is perfect--the way he cannot look at his creation, how he hangs his head in despair. How his mouth is slightly ajar with revulsion at what he had to do. The burning soul in Sorin's hand and on his blade. The blood on Avacyn's wings. The subtle hints of flame. The smoke as she becomes incorporeal. The cast down symbol of Avacyn in the lower left corner. Every detail on this card is perfectly designed to tell a tragic story, and make you truly feel the planeswalker's anguish.
Beyond that, I really enjoy the more classically medieval art found in some of the older sets--frankly, I think MTG's artists have been trying a bit too hard on the realism side of things, and would love to see a return to some of the more stylistic art of ancient days. In this older style, some notables are:
Quinton Hoover - Archangel, Feedback, Hymn to Tourach, Whispers of the Muse, etc.
Rebecca Guay - Bitterblossom, Embolden, Saprazzan Cove, etc.
NeNe Thomas - Drought, Aysen Highway, Underground River, etc. (Interestingly, Ms. Thomas has had quite a post-Magic career. Currently, she makes a number of lovely fairy figurines, prints, and puzzles. Contrary to her Magic art, they tend to be the more modern, realistic style. They are very well done, and well worth checking out).
February 7, 2018 10:51 a.m. Edited.
Agent_Fire says... #19
My favorite is the plane card the maelstrom or Immersturm
February 8, 2018 7:28 p.m.
KINGofORESKOS says... #20
Why is John Avon so unlucky when he plays MTG?
He only draws lands!
February 12, 2018 9:21 p.m.
thank-you cdkime for mentioning Rebecca Guay. =)
And nice to see Johanne Voss up there.
Also, where's your favorite Therese Nielsen art? Seb McKinnon? Kev Walker?
April 6, 2018 11:47 a.m.
Finally catching up on comments; sorry about the delay!
cdkime,
That's really neat on Anguished Unmaking ... I'd never really looked at the card, so thanks much!
I like the Hymn to Tourach, Bitterblossom (especially as a playmat), and Aysen Highway too. And yeah, I took your advice and looked up NeNe Thomas; wow!
Agent_Fire,
The Maelstrom, huh? I don't think I've ever seen the card. That's seriously cool!
KINGofORESKOS,
:-D
Gattison,
Believe it or not, I don't really have a favorite from Terese Nielsen, Seb McKinnon (though I do love his lighting), or Kev Walker. Bizarre, I know ...
April 6, 2018 3:10 p.m. Edited.
Gattison,
Well, I found some favorite Terese Nielsen art! I DEFINITELY need to add the new SDCC Chandra and SDCC Nissa.
I may need to add the new Izzet Guild Island as well ...
September 7, 2018 1:23 p.m.
It's about damn time! =P I've been waiting here for like, almost half a year for you to say that, man! lol!
Ok, seriously though... you now have another 5 months to find a favorite art by Kev Walker. Go!
clayperce says... #1
Bovine073,
That's awesome! First, I love Winterflame, and I run Rith too! and I love the "hidden" images you found. SO COOL!!!
alulien,
There's a 994x720 version here. At the risk of sounding like a commercial, that's more than enough for Inked to work with (they did my Winterflame mat, and it's gorgeous ... and they only had 650 x 325 to work with).
That said, please note I got my mat back before Wizards changed their agreement with artists. Artists have a TON more control over their images now. Which is kind of a double-edged sword. It's much easier now to get mats and other artworks direct from the artists. But becuase it's much more of an impact on the artists if we purchase pirate stuff, so Inked and others have really tightened up on checking for copyright first ...
April 30, 2016 8:42 p.m.