ImagineFX is easily one of 'the' best fantasy art magazines out there. This UK magazine publishes an impressive array of great digital and traditional artists. They also dedicate a good portion of their publication to tips and how-to information. Great stuff! If you're not familiar with ImagineFX I highly recommend you check them out! I was honored to be showcased on pages 60 and 61 in their 'traditional' section. Pick one up at Borders and enjoy!
Ron and I are at it again. This alteration started as a "Fact or Fiction" card. Ron painted his ever popular "Yawgmoth's Will" in place of the confused Squee, and I painted the shaman from "Force of Will", in place of Hanna. We utilized our mixed media approach, which includes acrylic, colored pencils and markers. There's more to come so stay tuned!
Check out our second altered card collaboration on Ebay!
-- To inquire about commissioning Ron and Terese for an Alteration
-- To see more altered Magic cards
-- To purchase artist proof cards
-- For prints of Terese's "Magic the Gathering" art
Has it really been almost a year ago, during Thanksgiving break, that I was working on the sketches for these three packages? Our family drove up to San Jose last year for the family festivities...me, dragging along half of my studio to assist me in the sketch phase. I was shooting photos, cutting apart and reassembling action figures, and surfing the internet for various reference needed to arrive at the best results. The bedroom that four of us shared, looked like an ADHD seizure, thanks to me. Somehow I did manage to finish the sketches while away. Twas a typical 'freelancers' vacation.
The three characters that Paul Hebron, the art director, asked me to illustrate this time around, was Kit Fisto, Asajj Ventress and General Grievous.
These were Paul's descriptions of the direction he was envisioning:
Asajj Ventress: I think it is better to show her with the bottom skirt. Would be nice to show it partially opened or removed to flash some leg. She could have a wide legged stance with strong camera eye contact if we do her with a straight forward view. Shoulders back. Face with her typical scowl.. Or check this out, maybe a slightly amused look with one eyebrow raised like, “you dare challenge me?”. Two lightsabers. Could be connected but not needed.
General Grievous: I don’t want to show him hunched over like in many other images. More straight up standing. Even though he grieves, I want to show the Sheelal warrior side of his personality. He is proud and skilled with an aggressive pose-- only two lightsabers. Side pose with left arm front? The cloak that we spoke about-not tattered or damaged but flowing royally.
Kit Fisto: He was a renowned male Nautolan Jedi Master in the waning years of the Galactic Republic. A very likeable guy with a winning smile, even at times in battle Fisto met an ignominious end with a smile on his face, much to the surprise of Anakin Skywalker when he arrived. "Sleep, all life is a dream." ―Kit Fisto
Out of the three of these, Asajj Ventress was the most enjoyable for me to illustrate. White skin is fun to paint, as well as strong, intimidating women. I did the first sketch of her. Paul wanted to try a version with her looking a bit more sinister, with crossed lightsabers and a snarl. I used what has become my typical mixed media approach to paint these, washes and splatterings of acrylic, followed by building up and rendering the details with acrylic, and oil on top of that. Colored pencils are worked in here and there around edges, to pop and carve out specific areas. By the way, my old trusty airbrush is still my best friend when it comes to lightsabers... no Photoshop there. As my son would say, I'm still "kick'n it old school", and I have a sneaking suspicion my school's not going to get any younger.