I'd like to start by saying that I was fortunate enough to have the time to get to know Ed Beard when myself and Samite roomed with him at Gencon last summer. I had always been fond of his artwork, but what really impressed me about him was his approachable personality and dedication for his fans. Just prior to winning the Vintage World Championship Ed drew a badass picture of a Raven Farmiliar on Windfall's playmat free of charge. The fact that he's a regular at large magic events for signings as well as ALWAYS at Gencon and Origins shows his dedication and respect for his magic playing fan base. I consider Ed to be one of the classic magic artists which the new art directors are trying to phase out and this saddens me greatly. I really think Wizards is losing touch with what the fanbase wants from it's artwork and that's why I think it's important that we support artists like Ed when art directors fire whomever they please without considering what the magic community thinks about it. I encourage everybody and anybody who dislikes where Wizards is taking it's artwork within the game to voice their support for Ed.
I wrote to Ed and got the following response back:
Greetings Mike,
I have been away at a Ren faire for the past month or so and have not had access to this or any forum.
I am now back and would first and foremost like to thank all of you who have supported me so vigorously on the many boards.
Jeremy Cranford did absolutely state that R&D did not like my style and even Jeremy said he preferred a different style of art than mine from the get go.
Cranford also told me on the phone when I asked what was R&D's problem with my art that They took my BOP and posted it on the wall with words to the effect that" this is what Magic art should not be like"
Now whether you mix that up to " This is the kind of art we don't want in Magic " or any other blend it's all semantics. But the fact that this was told to me to get the point across to me just how much R&D did not like my work even as far back as the day Cranford took over, this is the real issue here and thus the reason behind why they have decided to not reassigns me for the future sets.
Most of the e-mail is clear. Especially the copied e-mail I had my office manager send Mike which demonstrates how arrogant and disrespectful Jeremy Cranford was.
This whole thing did come as quite a surprise to me however since the last e-mail I received from Mr. Cranford was to tell me that they loved my last submission. But when I called to ask what the schedule was and was told I was not on the schedule things clearly had changed. It was not my final color either as it was right up their with my usual highly detailed larger magic works...of course that could be the problem?
I think the bottom line here is this current group of R&D wants their stable of their favorites you know the Kev Walkers, RK Post , Moeler, England ...Puddinhead?
I am synonymous with the original AD and team due to the fact that I have been doing art for the company since 1993 and more importantly been attending just about every pre release and world tour they have had. I have been a diligent supporter of the product and an ambassador for the game for nearly 11 years. I am at Gen Con and Origins in both artist and art director capacity.
This all translates to a large fan base and a pain in the ass to get rid of easily without what clearly has happened, the outcry from the great and supportive fans I have built up over the many years and still acquire from the younger players even now.
My god I have received copies of over 1500 signatures in petition form from Promoters of tournaments and premier dealers who I have at one time or another supported by going to their stores and signed autographs for their clientele sometimes for 14 hours straight just to make sure every kid got one.
Just this week alone I came back to 23 envelopes with requests to sign cards and letters of support.
So it's clearly NOT the opinion of any magic players I have seen or heard from that would support the R&D teams notion that the players and fans of the game do not like my art in the set.
Clearly this and the wizards boards has established that.
This is all about some kind of a power trip and an arrogance that R&D and the AD has that they will not be dictated to what art the dealers, players and customers want to see. If this was not the case they certainly would not have dropped me and more importantly they would have come immediately forward with apologies for the error in their judgment and accepted what you the players and fans have want to see with regards to art in Magic.
This has been at the very least an embarrassment to the company.
Imagine how R&D and the AD will feel when I go to RI at the end of this summer to accept the induction into the hall of fame for RI artists lifetime achievement award... I was just nominated last year due to my 25 plus years of fantasy art publications and being a native Rhode Islander. This means the governor and the committee for the arts will have a big dinner it will get front page news and television.
I will be interviewed for the Providence Journal and asked what I am currently doing in the field. They all know that Hasbro the parent company for WOTC is located right their in Pawtucket RI and they will ask me why I am not working for Magic. I will of course tell them the truth.
You know how embarrassed the owners of Hasbro will be and the bad PR that will generate when a RI company allowed a few power hungry R&D kids to blow of an 11 year veteran artist and now Hall of famer. Bad PR for Hasbro. In fact the Governor and many high powered officials who know with the Hassenfelts ( spelling?) have already contacted me about this issue because their grandkids play Magic and love my art. More importantly like me as I have always taken great care of my young fans and their kid tell them so. ( My Father was a US Congressman for over a decade and politic in RI is close net)
So in the end the best way all of you can help me NOW is to get the facts of what is happening over there at WOTC out in the public arena in such places as Inquest magazine and tournaments.
Send you letters or e-mails of support to:
inquestbrent@hotmail.com and
inquisition@wizarduniverse.comINQUEST WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU AND IS WILLING TO DO AN ARTICLE IF THEY HEAR FROM MY FANS LOUD ENOUGH.
PLEASE SUPPORT ME , IT WILL ONLY TAKE A MOMENT .
Yes WOTC board moderators did threaten anyone who continues to post supportive " Grass roots" e-mails for ED Beard would eventually be removed. Pretty desperate I'd say when they have to close threads to stifle the masses because they can't stand the heat of their employees being flamed over bad moves.
Hey folks, I am professional Illustrator and have always maintained a reputation of being good with the wonderful people who love and support my art, that's not going to stop. I will be at Original and Gen Con for many years to come. I continue to work in the gaming arena mostly co producing games so WOTC will just have to deal with me being in their face and at every tournament for a long time to come. With over 150 cards to my credit and some still to come for the next several sets this will not be going away for quite a while.
I just feel bad for the dealers, players and fans who financially support the product. You'd think that WOTC would have a better handle on this team in R&D. This is what happens to a company who is left to run itself cart blanc as someone said. The Cat's away the mice will play.
No other company or genre could get away with this sort of bad PR move but this is Hasbro's money machine and until the money shows a drop know one at Hasbro will be any the wiser, well at least not until this fall anyway.
Keep up the good work I can't tell you how great it feels to have such dedicated fans and true support.
Ed
Ken LaBlanc
Webmaster / Destini Productions Inc.
Fantasy Art of Ed Beard Jr.
www.destiniproductionsinc.com
