Who is your favorite illustrator?

[forests failed you]

So I was wondering... who is your (directed at entire community) favorite Magic the Gathering illustrator, and what are your favorite cards he or she has done over the years.

Personally, I prefer the artwork from the early days of Magic, where the pictures tended to look more like paintings, and were in less of the modern 'comic book' looking style.  However, that is not to say that there aren't some really good illustrations in the newer sets.

My all time favorite illustrator in the history of Magic the Gathering is definitely Amy Weber.  I think all of her stuff is amazing.  In particular, Time Walk is probably my favorite artwork in the entire game. Other notable favorites of mine are her renderings of Phryxean Gremlins, and Spiritual Sanctuary.  I really like the way her style is so geometric looking, and the way all of her artwork is so easily identifyable and unique.

I really miss the way that the early Magic sets and expansions seemed to encourage artists to use their own unique styles, inevitably creating a really diverse range or painting types; whereas the art directors for the newer sets seem much keener on creating a more unified feel to all of the artwork in a particular set as a whole.

Anyways, I've been pondering this for the past couple of days and was wondering how you all felt about it.  Who are your favorite, (or even most despised) artists of all time, and what pictures do you love the most.

P.S.  As for worst picture of all time, I'm going to nominate Faye Jones' "Stasis" artwork from Alpha.

Cheers,
Brian

[Matt]

Ertai's Familiar and Dwarven Thaumaturgist are WAY worse than Stasis.

For a long time Quinton Hoover was at the top of my list (largely on the back of Wrath of God), but as I grew up my tastes matured and now my tops are Henry G. Higgenbottom (Cathodion, Voltaic Key, Claws of Gix, Worn Powerstone) and Harold McNeil (Nether Void, Darkness, Forgotten Lore, Flash Counter). Drew Tucker gets an honorable mention for being so daring, for opening my eyes to the fact that nonrepresentational art can work on a Magic card.

[crazedpenguinman]

Chris Moeller

Triskellion, deed, meddling mage there are so many GOOD cards he has done, and done well.

[Bram]

Drew Tucker.

Best pieces: I guess it's a tie between Arnjlot's Ascent, Dandân, Repentant Blacksmith and Flare.

[Limbo]

My personal favorite is Ron Spencer. His art of for example Order of the Ebon Hand, Hammer of Bogardan or Lightning Dragon is just awesome.

Looking at art for lands though, John Avon is king. He can create those as no other.

[Yare]

My personal favorite is Ron Spencer. His art of for example Order of the Ebon Hand, Hammer of Bogardan or Lightning Dragon is just awesome.

QFT

[Revvik]

Although I do have to say Weber's Time Walk is actually art, like I'd expect to find in a museum, I'd still have to say Ed Beard.
If you've seen my playmat, you'd know why.

It's not even that Psychatog is my favorite piece by him - I think that goes to Ground Seal.  I'm seriously thinking of buying another playmat and asking him for a custom Ground Seal art done on it.
And probably my favorite piece ever by anyone is "Look At Me, I'm the DCI."

EDIT: Michigan players - if Beard is going to be at GenCon, I'd make it worth your while to pick up one of those gray playmats (the ones he did the border on) and get a Ground Seal done on it.  Nothing too fancy, probably just a $50 job or so.  I'd definitely make it worth your while.

[Smmenen]

Drew Tucker followed by Jesper Myfors.  The only Jesper Myfors card I don't like is Word of Command.

[Guardian]

Damn...That's a tough one. I love so many equally:
Rob Alexander
Pete Venters
Mark Tedin
Drew Tucker
Jesper Myrfors
and the list could go on and on.

Old school Magic illustrations are generally better looking, because one could be daring when illustrating a card, notably Drew Tucker. Now, the whole story/comic book style doesn't suit me.

Worst art ever: Ice age Howl from Beyond. It's beyond understanding that Wizards accepted such a crappy art.

[everythingitouchdies]

Harold McNeil, Anson Maddocks, and Matthew D Wilson.

Nether Void, Animate Dead, and Masked Gorgon.

[BurningIce]

I'd say Amy Weber, but more because she's one of the most considerate people I've ever dealt with than anything else.

[jro]

As a lurker on this site who doesn't actually play competitive Vintage, I often think I don't belong here.  But then I see something like this thread, where some of the most popular favorite artists seem to be Drew Tucker, Amy Weber, and Harold McNeill, and I know I'm in the right place.

I'd also like to defend the art on Stasis.  As I wrote on another message board: Stasis was a case of "top-down" design where they had the art but needed a card to go with it. I think they did a great job of capturing the spirit of the picture in the card, and that picture so much is Stasis to me that I couldn't imagine it with any other art, especially something cheesy like, say, a guy stuck in a force field with some dumb expression on his face, which is exactly how they would do it today. Stasis had class.

Oh, and has anyone else noticed how so many of the pieces today are framed as medium or long shots, while older cards were much more likely to show a close-up?

And kudos to forcefieldyou for using the term "illustrator" rather than "artist", as the former is a much more accurate description of what these artists do.

[Smmenen]

I used to receive insults for proclaiming Drew Tucker to be a fine magic artist.

The Dark is BY FAR the expansion in terms of the art.  Drew Tucker is a big part of that. 

Jesper Myfors does not get nearly enough credit.

He was the artistic director of magic in the original release and early expansions.  Without him not only would we not have amazing dual lands etc to look at, but the whole look of magic might have been different in the early days. 

[virtual]

Richard Kane Ferguson.

Too bad they won't let him draw anymore.  Something apparently happened on the pro tour in Japan...

-Virtual

[Bram]

I used to receive insults for proclaiming Drew Tucker to be a fine magic artist.

Very true. Whenever people hear I collect Drew Tucker cards, they ask me 'Why'? Someone else will usually jump to respond with something along the lines of 'he must like ugly cards' or 'you can't even tell what they're meant to be.' It's like there's no arguing taste, except when your taste happens to be  Drew Tucker art. Which is interesting, because whenever I read an interview or speak to any magic artist, they quote Tucker as one of their favorites. I own a piece by Randy Gallegos which was inspired heavily by Tucker (he admitted to this). I'm in the process of buying a Drew Tucker original (though non-magic related) work.

[Polynomial P]

Douglas Shuler.

Serra Angel, Arabian Nights Mountain, Mirage Islands, and Dwarven Berserker. But it doesn't get any better than Antiquities Triskelion.

[Mark_Story]

I'd have to say that my favorites are

DiTerlizzi
Greg Staples
Donato Giancola
Matt Cavotta
Kev Walker
Scott M Fischer
Mark Tedin

Richard Kane ferguson
Drew Tucker


I find my self attracted to really strong painters.  As a painter I really find the palettes of the first group of artist to be fantastic.  Not only are they good painters, but their images are supported with strong drawing and composition.

I think a large portion of the older magic art is not that great.  Most of the artists that are still around have progressed and have much more refined work now then in the past.  For example Tedin's work looks more finished now then it ever has.  The fault I find with some early magic illustration is that it seems unfinished and incomplete in many cases.  ie) earth and water elemental, goblin king etc.  I think the thing that makes this older work appealing is the nostalgic factor that  we have with the game, and playing those cards when we first came across them.  Because as far as execution is concerned I think generally the quality of magic illustration is far higher now then it was 12 years ago. 

 The last two artists are something that I miss from magic illustration, a unique style that was good in its own way.  However, I don't think that its necessarily the illustrator's fault for the streamlined stylistic approach that magic illustration has now. However the art direction at wizards has changed, and jesper myfors, and christopher rush are no longer in charge.  I think what jeremy cranford is doing is good for the game as a product, despite what some may say.  Kamigawa block had a great deal of images done by japanese artists.  A first for the game, and the results were quite nice.

[forests failed you]

I agree with Steve, The Dark is nuts, and is by far my favorite set for Magic artwork.

[Matt]

Kamigawa block was a step in the right direction after running a marathon (Mercadian Masques through Scourge) in the wrong direction.

[Klep]

Mark Tedin, by far.  I mean, just LOOK at Mana Drain.  Gorgeous.

[tdickinson]

My favorite artist is Christopher Rush, just because I've always loved the art on The Wretched (I collect them  ). I do have to agree with Bram though, Drew Tucker is another great artist, and probably my second choice. My third pick would have to be Donato Giancola, he's done some of the best looking artifacts out there.

[Bram]

I've always loved the art on The Wretched

Me too. Award for most evil-looking thing in the magic universe definitely goes to that card.

Also, while this may fall more in the category 'illustrations' than it does 'art', I really like some (though definitely not all) of Carl Critchlow's stuff. Exhume is just perfect.

[forests failed you]

If the Wretched is the most evil, Juzam has to be the second most evil.

[JuJu]

I like Critchlow's stuff too. Nightmare ftw obviously. and Exhume, because it was my favorite card alongside entomb and dark ritual. . I'm surprised nobody has mentioned rk post. His style is a little extreme but I like most of his art.

But. I like Hildebrandt's stuff most. Both of them. As a comic book reader and a card collector for stuff like Marvel and DC collectibles. Hildebrandt does amazing stuff.

[PacmanXSA]

Bah...

Anson Maddocks and Melissa Benson were the nuts back in the day.  The original Sengir Vampire and Shivan Dragon will always remain as iconic artwork for M:tG; at least in my eyes baby

Pac

[Komatteru]

It's all about Rebecca Guay.  I had her draw a Dark Ritual on my playmat at Gencon.  It's amazing.

Also, Tedin did some amazing stuff as well.  Necro might be my favorite piece ever.

[Cross]

The Foglios have always been a favorite of mine.

Though most of  Melissa Benson and Jesper Myrfors work is pretty good too.

[Moxlotus]

Mark Tedin

Necropotence, Grim Tutor, and Mana Drain are amazing.  Necropotence is my favorite art in Magic.

[God_Campbell]

I also love tedin, to bad i could have him alter my set of Eng drains this year... oh well
but i also respect Chris Rush's art as well as rob Alexander, john Avon and Chris Moeller

[Machinus]

I thought this was pretty on-topic:

Some original magic art is on eBay right now: