Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of commonly asked questions I recieve via email or at various conventions and events. Please read through the list below before contacting me as you may find the answer to your question.

1. Do you sign cards through the mail? If so, how many?
2. Will you do drawings on my Magic: the Gathering cards?
3. Do you sell artist proofs or prints of your Magic: the Gathering art?
4. Do you go to any conventions?
5. What materials do you use to make your paintings?
6. I want to do artwork in the gaming/comic industry. How do I do it?
7. Which painting of yours is your favorite?
8. Do you have artwork in future sets of Magic: The Gathering?
9. What are white-backed artist proof cards?

1. Do you sign cards through the mail? If so, how many?

Yes, I do sign cards through the mail. Try to keep the number of cards you send to 30 or less. You will have to contact me for my address.

Make sure you send a self addressed stamped envelope so I can return your cards to you. I do not return cards that are not accompanied by either a SASE or enough money for return postage.

The most common mistake people make when sending me cards is not having enough postage on their return envelope.

2. Will you do drawings on my Magic: the Gathering cards?

Many people ask if I will do drawings or doodles on cards. I only do this if I have the time. Most times I sign cards the same day I receive them just to get it done. Otherwise they will sit for weeks because I am concentrating on my assignments. I don't usually have the time to sit for hours to do drawings on all the cards I receive. But don't be afraid to ask. You just might catch me at the right moment.

3. Do you sell artist proofs or prints of your Magic: the Gathering art?

I do sell artist proofs, but I do not sell prints at this time. Go to the artist proof page for a list of available cards and prices.

I will start selling more prints in the near future.

4. Do you go to any conventions?

I only attended one event in 2007, a Pro Tour in Geneva, Switzerland. For 2008, I don't currently have any plans to get to any Magic: the Gathering events or other related conventions. But if something changes, I will post about it in my blog. In 2009, I plan on attending a good number of conventions to promote my children's book and other projects. I'll post a schedule of events when I have it ready later this year.

5. What materials do you use to make your paintings?

I use both oil paints and acrylic paints. Currently I have been doing a lot of work in acrylics because of the time constraints of my assignments. Windsor & Newton paints have always worked out well for me. I also use Windsor & Newton brushes, as well as Loew-Cornell. Most of my art is painted on Illustration board (Crescent 110 cold press) or masonite that I buy in large sheets and cut down to size. I prepare the surface with multiple coats of white gesso.

6. I want to do artwork in the gaming/comic industry. How do I do it?

Get to a convention. A gaming or comic convention is the best place to meet face-to-face with art directors or editors. Most companies have submission guidelines posted on their Web sites. Make sure you follow their instructions to the letter. Companies are looking for great artists, but they are also looking for someone that is professional. They need to know that you will make your deadlines and deliver quality work. But get to the conventions - Gencon, DragonCon, Wondercon, Origins, etc. Make sure you only show your best work in your portfolio. Five very good pieces of art are better than ten mediocre ones. I got my first work in the gaming industry by attending Gencon and meeting with art directors.

7. Which of your paintings is your favorite?

I have a handful of paintings that I have been very happy with over the years for various reasons. Thankfully, I always see some improvement in my work and therefore my most recent work seems to be my favorite. Right now I am very pleased with Ignorant Bliss from Magic: The Gathering's Dissension expansion.

8. Do you have artwork in future sets of Magic: The Gathering?

I do have work in Lorwyn, Morningtide, Shadowmoor and Eventtide.

9. What are white-backed artist proof cards?

White-backed artist proofs are very limited run Magic: The Gathering cards that are printed just for the artists without a standard card backing. Each artist receives only 50 of each card they have done. The side of the card with the title, artwork, flavor text, etc. is the same as any other card, but the other side of the card is white. These are not tournament legal. They are purely a collectible item.

Clients

• Advanced Photoshop Magazine
• Crave Entertainment
• Dragon Magazine
• Duelist Magazine
• Electronic Arts, Inc.
• FASA Corporation
• Hasbro, Inc.
• ImagineFX Magazine
• Immedium, Inc.
• Mayfair Games
• Hasbro, Inc.
• Phoenix New Times Magazine
• Paizo Publishing
• Pariah Press
• PlanAdvisor Magazine
• PlanSponsor Magazine
• Round Table Productions
• Rubicon Games, Inc.
• Steve Jackson Games
• Target Games AB
• Task Force Games
• Upper Deck Entertainment
• White Wolf Game Studios
• Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

Photos