SDCC 2011: Artists

I had the privilege of meeting many artists at Comic-Con. There are literally hundreds of artists featured there through the Artists' Alley, the Fantasy Illustrators area, and through individual booths. Here are a few of my favorites and their amazing work.

1) Todd Lockwood is at Comic-Con every year. He has his own booth and sells prints of his original work as well as his art for Dungeons and Dragons and Magic the Gathering. He's happy to talk to fans of his work and even give advice to aspiring artists. My boyfriend and I buy a print from him every year. Here are some of his works:

an epic portrait of Stephen Colbert

Phyrexian Obliterator from Magic the Gathering

2) Rebecca Guay is a wonderful artist who I've seen as synonymous with Magic since I started playing. Her style is much different than typically used in Magic today, but I love her work and still use many of her cards in my deck. She typically uses watercolors and has such a beautiful and delicate style. Two graphic novels are coming out soon that she has illustrated.

The first is The Last Dragon by Jane Yolen. Here's the synopsis from Dark Horse Comics: "Two hundred years ago, humans drove the last of the dragons from the islands of May. For two hundred years, they have gone about their lives, fishing and farming, never expecting the great wyrms to return. But now, the last of the dragons has risen, and the islanders must once again band together in the face of a threat greater than any their peaceful lives have prepared them to battle." The plot sounds intriguing and I know the art will be gorgeous.

The second release is A Flight of Angels. Here's the synopsis from Amazon: "The diverse mythology of angels is explored in this lushly painted graphic novel from high-profile fantasy authors including Holly Black (The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Bill Willingham (FABLES).

Deep in the woods outside of a magical kingdom, a strange group of faeries and forest creatures discover a nearly dead angel, bleeding and unconscious with a sword by his side. They call a tribunal to decide his fate, each telling stories that delve into different interpretations of these winged, celestial beings: tales of dangerous angels, all-powerful angels, guardian angels and death angels, that range from the mystical to the mysterious to the macabre.

This original graphic novel spotlights the painted work of award-winning artist Rebecca Guay, whose other workds include the Vertigo titles VEILS and DESTINY: A CHRONICLE OF DEATHS FORETOLD, as well as World of Warcraft, Magic: The Gathering and Dungeons and Dragons."

This sounds amazing! Angels, especially in YA literature of late, are kind of annoying and there isn't a lot of range. I really want to read this for a different take on angels AND Holly Black and Bill Willingham are two of my favorite fantasy authors.

3) Steve Argyle is one of my favorite Magic artists. He draws a lot of angels and vampires, both of which I use extensively in my various decks. His work is always incredibly detailed with different textures. He's also really nice and not averse to altering his own artwork in funny ways. Here are some of my favorite works by him.

The new Liliana Vess

Admonition Angel

Panels tomorrow and then I'll be having a giveaway!!!