This is a sketch I did for the Magic: The Gathering card "Ghoulraiser" for the freshly released gothic-horror set: Innistrad.
There's nothing particularly fresh about this scene. Just your ordinary zombie-with-a-shovel helping his pals out of the dirt to go clubbing. But, along with the previously posted "Daybreak Archer", it's one of the few preliminary drawings I have done lately that is a little bit more refined than a thumbnail. The other preliminary drawings I have done for this set were fairly loose thumbnail sketches that I took straight to the paints. That sort of approach is not my usual process but this particular set called for more attention to composition, mood, and atmosphere more than details. Which was a fun departure for the most part.
looks cool, i appreciate it that u didnt make the shovel all magical and epic. any chance on seeing the final?
ReplyDeleteYou can toggle through all the cards here: http://www.wizards.com/magic/tcg/article.aspx?x=mtg/tcg/innistrad/cig#
ReplyDeleteClick on "black" and scroll down about 9 rows or so. It looks a little rough online but the card itself looks pretty good. I changed it a tad - making the zombie looking forward instead of to the side.
Nice one!
ReplyDeleteNice drawing! Steve you manage to make Zombies cool... I like the weird skull/head shape on the main guy.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I liked that too, but I had to change it - *obligatory frowny face emoticon*
ReplyDeletewhen you paint do you start with a rough sketch then move forward from the background? When I paint I find it hard to work with a more finished sketch because it all gets covered when I start on the background and move forward. I would love to see a WIP post from you to see how your process goes.
ReplyDeleteSomeday I'll post a step-by-step of my process - first I need to get some good lighting for taking pictures though!
ReplyDeleteMy process kinda keeps the basic linework of the drawing in tact for as long as I want it when it comes to painting the background. I don't usually go very opaque in the large patches of background - it's mostly semi-opaque layers so not only do underlying layers shine through, but so does any fairly dark line work. Sometimes I'll even darken the basic lines/shape contours of the drawing to help this happen. Then when it is time to move up to the middle ground or foreground or whatever, I still have that shape to work with (though fine details are lost expectedly).
What do you paint on? Do you have a standard size that you work in?
ReplyDeleteI paint on bristol paper - the Strathmore "smooth" kind that comes in those yellow pads of 20 sheets or so. For most Magic and World of Warcraft TCG work, I tend to go with 9x12 - bigger if the card calls for it or if I think it'll make a cool image. Or if I have the time!
ReplyDeleteDo you use waterbased acrylics/oils or something different? Sorry about all the questions but I want to learn more about your process. I love your work and have been following it from your early days in Shadowrun and White Wolf.
ReplyDeleteOur college/gaming buddies came over a couple of nights ago to play some board games. They brought their 13-year-old and 12-year-old sons, who were anxious to show off the new cards they'd bought at our local gaming store. The 13-year-old had bought some packs of the new Innistrad set, and although I have no clue about how to play Magic, he wanted to show me some of the cool new features of the game. When he mentioned the name of the set, I casually stated that I had a friend who does some art work for the game and helped develop the series. He started shuffling through his stack, and guess which card he found with your name on it? Good work, Steve! (He mentioned that he's going to have to get your autograph on it, someday. I then proceeded to show him one of your original paintings we have on our dining room wall. He's quite the artist himself, so I think he's pretty impressed with your work. Cheers!)
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