Artist: Franz Vohwinkel

I mentioned Franz Vohwinkel waaaaay back in my 1 year anniversary special and I figured I might as well do a retrospective on him today.

Best Art: Mountain

Yeah, I went with a basic land. So what? It's my list! Mountains nowadays are usually drawn with odd formations, fire and flames, or harsh desolation but that's not what mountains are (I should know since I live in a mountainous area). This art has a peacefulness and tranquility that comes with those giant lumps of stone and dirt we call mountains. I know that betrays what red does, but it's what mountains are (at least to me).

Worst Art: Molten Influence

I don't know what it is about this piece that has me so off-put. The work on the right side is beautiful, but the left side seems so... out of place? It kind of looks like there was a different concept that was almost completed, but then the decision was made at the last minute to say "screw it; it needs more lava". It really doesn't feel like both sides of the card are interacting with one another. It's like the wave of lava is blocking out what the mage is firing at. Just not my favourite art.

Most Thematically Appropriate Art: Insist

What is the art of? A bear breaking through a blue wall. What does the card do? Allows your bears to break through a wall of countermagic. It's very apropos and I love it. I wish more card art was like this.

Franz Vohwinkel is an artist that 99% of Magic players won't recognize if you say his name, but I can bet that everyone will recognize 99% of cards by his art alone (if they were playing during those sets at least). I highly recommend his website for examples of his breadth of work.

Artist: DiTerlizzi

Tony DiTerlizzi is one of those Magic artists that you'll recognize. His style is very fantastical and unique. I'm actually a huge fan of his work outside of Magic (AD&D, Dragon Magazine) as well as his body of work within Magic,

Best Art: Terminate

I can't actually put my finger on why I like this art, but I know I do. It's just an amazing piece of art that really fits the card well. I much prefer this to the modern art (apologies to Wayne Reynolds).

Worst Art: Cloud Spirit

Giant cloud monkey? I don't know; I just think that this is an instance of DiTerlizzi's art tipping too much into the "kid-friendly" pool. To be fair though, the other art for this card isn't much better,

Most Ill-Fitting: Elephant Resurgence

Now, there's only one reason this is the most "ill-fitting" art: it's a sorcery. This art screams "instant"! Admit it, if you just look at the art, you hear a "sproing" as the elephant leaps out of the ground. I know that this isn't DiTerlizzi's fault since artists probably aren't given the full specs of the card (or necessarily knows how to play the game), so I blame WotC for this! Curse you WotC for not giving us more instant-speed elephants!

Check out DiTerlizzi's body of work here. You will not be disappointed! 

Artist: Mark Zug

Man, it's been a while since I've done one of these, hasn't it? Well, I just got my copy of Full Steam Press's new Magic artbook and I wanted to have another look at a Magic artist. Today: Mark Zug. He's done a fair bit of illustration work for Magic and a lot of it is very recognizable, including one of the best cards in Legacy and couple great ones in Modern  (I'll let you figure out which ones on your own).

Best Art:  Chalice of the Void

Everything about this art just works. The crazy evil guy hovering over the cup, the cup itself, the mist billowing out of the top, it's just fantastic. It's one of those pictures that I'd want to frame and put on my wall because it's just that good. It really gives the card that "evil" feeling, which if you've played against this card, you know fits.

Worst Art: Vanguard of Brimaz

This is a good piece of art, but it really clashes with what I think the card was going for. This card was supposed to showcase Brimaz's elite soldiers and it kind of looks more like a soldier-in-training. It also looks like the lion in the background is yelling something at the one in the foreground and it spooked him a little bit. Good art, but it clashes with the spirit of where it was put.

Art I'd Want Painted on the Side of my Van: Godhead of Awe

This came close to being the best art, but I figured it was too metal to be a white/blue card. That being said, it's so metal that I want to get it painted on the side of my van (should I ever get one). If you look at it without the border, you'll see what I mean.

Mark Zug has done a lot of great work for Magic. It's so good that his worst art isn't actually bad, it just clashes with the intention of the card. Definitely check out his website for more great art.

Artist: Christopher Moeller

While not a "famous" artist like Pete Venters or Wayne Reynolds, you'll recognize Christopher Moeller's art. He's done a lot of work for a lot of cards, a few of which are staples in certain decks.

Best Art: Sphere of Reason

Honestly, I had a hard time picking just  one of the cards from this set since they're all beautiful. However, I decided to pick this card since the water effects on this card are just really striking. Water is probably the hardest element to get right in art and Christopher nailed it in this piece, capturing the feeling of a torrent of water crashing against an indestructible wall. It just looks great.

Worst Art: Blackmail

Did Braids get drunk before getting swindled? The face is what sinks this piece for me. It just looks too goofy to be taken seriously. That's about all I have to say about it. The rest of the art is nice, it's just that face. That face...

Most Interesting Art: Cloudthresher

I summon... a squidy-thingy? The Elementals in Lorwyn really allowed artists to explore their creative side and I think this is one of the more creative results. The best part of this for me is that this card has flash. Just imagine this thing suddenly appearing in the middle of an empty field!

I'll admit I didn't know Christopher Moeller's name before now but I'm glad I do now. I hope he keeps making art for Magic for many years to come.

Artist: Quinton Hoover

Last week, Magic lost one of its great artists. Quinton Hoover lost his battle with a series of long-time health problems and died at the age of 49. It would be amiss of me not to look at some of his art.

Quinton definitely had a very "old-school" style to his work. There's a certain sharpness to everything but it's not so sharp that it clashes with everything else. In Firebrand Ranger, you can see how Quinton made the colours of the cards (red and green) very vibrant and it adds to the crispness of the card.

This is probably Quinton's second most famous piece of Magic artwork. Unlike the 7th Edition version by David Martin, the Meekstone isn't the centre focus of the art. The art tells a story and paints a picture (pardon the pun) of the Meekstone's power and what is can reduce a man to.

Finally, we have what is arguably Quinton's most famous piece of Magic art: Wrath of God.  While Kev Walker's version is nice, this art, like Meekstone's, tells a story. It shows the omni-directional destruction of a vengeful god, striking down both the good and the bad. It's just a beautiful piece.

In the words of Tragic Poet:"I would weep, but my tears have been stolen; I would shout, but my voice has been taken. Thus, I write."

We'll miss you Quinton.

Artist: Darrel Riche

Time for another artist review! What is there to really say about Darrel Riche besides that his art is great? Well, he seems to have a predisposition to drawing people with with one arm up (Ana Disciple, Disruptive Pitmage, Dusk Urchins, Forcemage Advocate, Gilt-Leaf Seer, and Lava Dart (I swear, it's Disruptive Pitmage in that art!)).

Best Art: Far Wanderings

Yeah, I know it's a common, and not that great of a common either, but I think this art is great. This is something that I'd like to have a 3' x 3' canvas painting of so that I can hang it on my wall. The simplicity of it is what makes the art great. Art doesn't have to be busy to be good.

Worst Art: Rorix Bladewing

Something about this art just doesn't feel right. Maybe it's because Rorix looks like a cross between a giraffe and a T-Rex or the fact that the wings look a little tattered, but I'm just not a fan of this art at all. 

Funniest Art: Phyrexian Infiltrator

This art makes me giggle a little every time I see it. It looks like the Phyrexian Infiltrator just exploded out of some guy's chest and only now are the elves realizing it. I kind of wonder what the instructions were for the art on this card. It probably said "A phyrexian has infiltrated a group of elves" but didn't specify how it got there. Good on you Mr. Riche!

Darrel Riche's art is pretty top-tier. I can see why WotC has kept him around for so long.

Artist: Steve Argyle

Working only on recent sets, Steve Argyle's artwork is nonetheless widespread and loved. Just like Jason Chan, a lot of Steve's work is on really good cards; the main difference being that Steve's cards are mostly affordable.

Best Art: Liliana of the Veil

I love this piece! It's sexy, dark, and shows off Lili's power quite well. Another really nice thing about this piece is that you can see the full art on the card given that the text box is semi-transparent. Her dark dress, the flames in her hands, her piercing stare; Steve's portrayal of Liliana proves that she's not a chick to be messed with!

Worst Art: Everflowing Chalice

This art is still good, but I like it the least since I don't think it fits with what the card actually is. It's a chalice for sure (although it kind of looks like a candlestick) but it's not really overflowing per se. It's more glowing than anything else. 

Blandest Art: Kranioceros

Art on cards is supposed to pop out and bring the card to life, but this one just sort of sits there (kind of like what this creature does). It's just... there. It's a beast that kind of looks displeased, like someone poked lightly with a blunt stick.

If you want to see more of Steve Argyle's work (something I highly recommend), check him out here. His art is definitely worth the peruse. 

Artist: Shishizaru

Shishizaru is, as you may be able to discern, a Japanese artist with a very Asian style. Unfortunately, his line of work in Magic is limited to only 25 cards. So here's 12% of his work.

Best Art: Razia's Purification

When you've got a card that goes *BOOM*, the art for the card should mirror that effect. This art is wonderful and it really sets the tone for the entire card. I also really like the fact that the yellows and reds in the art really blend well with the gold background of the card, giving it a seemingly full-art feel to the entire thing.

Worst Art: Dovescape

Now, this category was a real toss-up. Quash and Unblinking Bleb were strong contenders for this title, but I think this card is really the worst of Shishizaru's art. The art is still good, but I have no idea what's going on here. At first I thought it was a charm-like card (see Esper Charm for an example) with the charm firing a laser out of the center but I don't think that's what's being represented. 

Most "Huh?" Art; Unblinking Bleb

It didn't win the "worst art" contest, but it definitely wins this one. Just like Dovescape, I have very little idea what's going on here, but at least with Dovescape, you can at least guess what's going on in that picture. With this art, I can't even tell where the creature is (although I think the giant eye may be a clue).

It's sad Shishizaru didn't do much art in Magic, but I guess he's busy doing other stuff. Feel free to visit his website here (be warned, it's in Japanese).

Artist: John Avon

This guy must love land, since a lot of his work is land-based. His artwork can easily be described as "majestic" since John employs a lot of rays of sunshine and massive cityscapes and it usually looks pretty spectacular.

Best Art: Gaze of Justice

I love this art because it incorporates both John Avon's big landscapes and lasers. The fiery, blasted landscape really punctuates the fact that that demon is being pierced by a laser. All of the dark and dreary atmosphere just coincides really well with that sky laser. In short, lasers made this art awesome.

Worst Art: Ice Floe

This is just really minimalist and comes off as a little lazy (not saying it is, but compare it to this and you'll see why I think it comes off a little on the lazy side). That's all I really have to say about it. It's ice and it's a floe. Yup.

Most ???! Art: Lantern Kami

WhatisthisIdon'teven! I know that Kamigawa's art was pretty messed up in general, but that doesn't mean I'm going to give it a pass. I highly doubt the Shinto spirits that inhabit lanterns are supposed to be thought of as amorphous blobs of red goo with occasional orbs of light.

So that's my look at John Avon's work. He's one of those artist whose work you may not recognize off the bat, but it's work you've definitely seen. And it's really good work too, which is always great (unlike some other prolific artists of the game), 

Artist: Jason Chan

How could I not do a post about Jason Chan? His art as of late has been some of the most beautiful and exquisite pieces to ever be put onto cardstock. My friends and I have come up with a general rule-of-thumb for Magic cards based on Jason's work: Did Jason Chan do the art for a card? If so, that card will  probably either be really powerful, really expensive (money-wise), or both (a friend priced out a Jason Chan-only 60-card and it came up to around $400).

Best Art: Luminous Angel

 

There are a couple reasons I really like the art for this card. First and foremost is just the quality of the art itself. The wings and the way the light plays off the angel's hair (especially noticeable in the foil version) just work in all the right ways. The other, more minor reason is the comparison to the old version. Now, Matthew D. Wilson's art isn't bad, but compare that art to this art and you'll see a clear winner.

Worst Art: Nimbus Maze

A friend of mine put it best: this is a watercolour background to a painting that someone spilled a little too much water on. It looks like there used to be art in the middle, but someone in editing decided to take it out (maybe it was too beautiful to behold with mere human eyes). I understand what Jason was going for, but the angle on the maze is too low and it just looks weird (look at Mystifying Maze for an example of what I think is a better angle).

Strangest Art: Massacre Wurm

I think this the strangest piece of Jason Chan's work simply because the wurm looks... way too happy. To me, it looks like it should be screaming "HI GUYS! I WANNA JOIN YOUR PARTY!!!". The art makes Massacre Wurm seem like the kid who shows up to your 11th birthday party, starts running around the house hyped up on sugar, and smashes face first into your mom's china cabinet, making it fall on the table with all your presents and your cake, ruining everything in the process. 

I love Jason Chan's artwork. Even his worst artwork is really, really good. I just hope Wizards starts putting him to work on more common and inexpensive cards soon so I can have more artwork without losing a limb in the process.

Artist: Wayne Reynolds

Here's a new segment on MCaD: artist's profiles. For these posts, I'll be looking at an artist's work in Magic and my personal opinions on their work (best card, worst card, most unfitting...). So, here's the first entry: Wayne Reynolds.

First, some notes on Wayne Reynolds's art style. Whether or not you know his name, you will recognize his art style. His hard, crisp lines give his work a very distinct feel and look and it usually looks really nice and unique.

Best Art: Ink-Eyes, Servant of Oni

Sexy, rat, ninja. Seriously, who would have thought those words could co-exist in the same sentence? But, Wayne Reynolds did it and it is glorious. I love this art and it is probably one of my favourite pieces of art from Kamigawa block entirely.  

Worst Art: Soulblast

I just don't like this art simply because it looks too silly. It really looks like the creature being burned is screaming "I'm meeeellllllttttingg...!" and it looks really cartoony. I know that Wayne was trying to go for an image of horrific burning, but it just doesn't fit. Also, the three guys in the bottom left look like they're calling a football game.

Most Ill-Suited: Tariel, Reckoner of Souls

Metal? Yes. Awesome? Yes. Does it make sense? No. This art is just too full of lines and tassels, almost to the point of looking like a Rob Liefeld character from the 90s. I just think a much cleaner and neater picture would have done a lot better.

And those are my thoughts on Wayne Reynolds. Wayne, if you're reading, keep doing what you're doing. You're easily one of the best artists for Magic right now.