CHRONICLE

A few months ago I did a handful of pencil illustrations for a small-production project called "Chronicle", a game designed by Timothy Nanzer.  He let me have a nice amount of breathing room as far as my takes on some usual fantasy tropes - always a welcome thing.  The above sour-faced antagonist is a hobgoblin. And he lost his balloon so step off.

This lumpy-mugged brute is an orc and he's sick of your knock-knock jokes.

If you're interested in finding out more, go HERE for the website or HERE for the facebook page.

Do NOT lick the carnivorous toads. Public service message.

Priestesses often look down their noses at infidels.

Tim and his game will be at Origins at the Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio on June 13th through the 15th so come and check it out!

The Toad God needs a burger.  Now get on that sesame seed bun, scum.

Some Ravnica Under-Drawings

Just to bridge the time until the next post of interest, here are a handful of my roughs that went on to become paintings for Return to Ravnica Magic: The Gathering cards.  Pictured above is the line drawing for "Gem-Eye Drake".

Below is the line drawing for "Crowned Ceratok" (one of my favorite pieces from this Return to Ravnica block).

And lastly, here's the drawing for a card called "ShowStopper" which is coming out very soon in the "Dragon's Maze" set for Ravnica.  Apparently, the final card art will grace the official playmat for Grand Prix Kansas City in July.  Oh yeah, and guess who is gonna be there to scribble on them all with  his trusty Sharpies? If you guessed "some tool" you are CORRECT!

Speaking of Grand Prix appearances, I'll be at the GP Providence in Rhode Island June 7, 8, and 9! If you're a lobstah-eatin' chowdah-head that happens also to be a wicked Magic fan, I'll be seein' you there!

GOBLINZ!!! 7

One last Goblin post.  I still have drawings from this defunct project left but they aren't really worth sharing so truly, this is the last of my goblin drawings.

Above are some examples of goblins from the Kung-Fu faction.  Highly skilled in being calamity-causing sub-par martial artists, these goblins fling themselves into frays and supply their own Bruce Lee inspired sound effects.

The goblins have a police force, so-to-speak.  But, let's face it, they don't really excel in keeping order.

Here are some gene-splicing "experimental" goblins.  Why are the genius goblins doing these experiments? Nobody knows...

And finally, the plutonium bomb faction goblins have somehow found a way to animate plutonium.  Not sure they really meant to, but now they have themselves a plutonium golem which goes around wrecking things and then contaminating the scene with radiation.  (Notice the plutonium bomb mechanic for scale!)

All images are copyright©Wizards of the Coast.

GOBLINZ!!! 6

It's been a while, but I still have more goblin crap to share so I hope ya ain't sick of it yet.  In Goblandia, there was, of course, need of a mining faction to hastily and dangerously extract mineral resources for the depths of the world's crust.  Mining goblins obviously spend a lot of time down in the dark pick-axing and shoveling and drilling away.  Their eyes are pale like a cave fish and they're often not even as intelligent as their surface-dwelling brethren - probably because of the lack of adequate ventilation and thus, not enough oxygen to the brain. The drill borer is one of my favorites from the whole goblin series.

There is also a bioengineering division which experiments in complex biosciences - but with rudimentary understanding and tools.

Being foolhardy and distractedly industrious, goblins are prone to war.  War leads to escalation of weaponry - which leads to goblins figuring out ways to use plutonium.  Here is a plutonium bomb mechanic.  Radiation suits were not thought of yet.


Side note: over on my Art Blog I have a post about illustrating specific actions for Magic:The Gathering cards as well as, if you're interested, a complete list of all the original Magic:The Gathering paintings I have left and are for sale.  Prices included in the list.

Also, must I remind you still?  I have a book chock full of pencil drawings sure to delight your eyes and offend your parents (if they are offended by malevolent fantasy creatures and the occasional bare bosom).  The book is called AGGREGATE .  It is $25 (plus whatever shipping costs might apply).  If you like what you see here, you'll definitely like my art book so pick one up while I have some!  Contact me at: steve2@rottface.com to make an order.

GOBLINZ!!! 5

Yet MORE goblin drawings (I told you I had a lot of them!).  This batch includes some conceptualizing of the "Dark Arts" goblins and the "Dracogoblins".

The Dark Arts goblins dabble in all sorts of seedy and exceptionally dangerous projects - all having to do with tapping the demon world and using volatile enchantments and potions.  It goes without saying that they don't know what they're getting themselves into.

The Dracogoblins are the goblins that deal exclusively in dragons.  From catching to wrangling to taming (doesn't really work out too well) and also egg harvesting, these goblins work an extremely high-risk job.  I like the goblin that has a pathetic little net to cast on a dragon - he cowers behind his ceramic heat-shield knowing his job sucks.

Lastly is the guy with what HE thinks is the suckiest job but is really one of the safest (with a mortality rate of merely 57%).  He's the fertilizer goblin - and his job is to scoop dragon shit all day long and take it to the agriculture goblins so they can use it to fertilize their warped, monsanto-like crops.

Once again, all these images are copyright©Wizards of the Coast.

GOBLINZ!!! 4

Can't get enough goblin-oriented pencil drawings?  Well then, I'll have to oblige.  Here we follow up the previously posted "Brewing Faction" goblins with their own Beer Battle Cart which they can only use on downhill antagonists.  Notice the goblin puking - if I can work the act of puking into an illustration, by golly I will!

Above and the next two drawings are some goblin structures.  We have Goblin Political headquarters, A plutonium bomb factory, and a sorcerer's tower.

Looking at the plutonium bomb factory, I am reminded of my approach to goblin society.  Their society is much like how human society would be without ANY regulations of any kind and if you scrapped almost all design aesthetic.

And lastly, a goblin dentist.  He can help you with premium dentures OR budget dentures.  And no need to fuss over Novocain and pain relief - he doesn't really believe in that.

GOBLINZ!!! 3

Here I present to you some members of the Mobster faction of goblins - including, of course, the mob boss.  The "Gob"father, so to speak.

Also included here are "legal" mobsters, otherwise known as the political faction.  ZING!  Take that, politicians!  The decree-maker goblin (above) is one of my favorites!

This little fella is the mayor's assistant.  Below is the mayor goblin pictured with a member of the "Dark Arts" faction.  Appropriate.  - Zing again!!!!