Negate Alter

I decided to try my hand at abstract altering, something that hasn't really been explored very thoroughly. I still don't know how I feel about abstract alters but this one isn't bad.

Swamp Panorama

This was a mock up I did for a potential commission. While that project never happened, I figured this sample would be interesting. I did two sketches of possible Marsh Flats before making a sample in paint. While the rough draft is rough, I'm rather found of my this work.

Nature's Lore Alter

And it's finished. I like the way Nature's Lore turned out. I'm still working on trying to alter at least tenth of my EDH deck. This one is #5.

Experimenting on Nature's Lore

Mana Leak Altered set

At work

The most helpful thing an artist can share with other artists is a how they arrange their work spaces. Making a good piece of art is hard work (magic alters or other) and it involves quite a bit work designed to hide how the art was made. The best extensions always look seamless. So when I look at other artist work, I have a general idea of how I could make the same thing. Sometimes, however I have no idea how a piece of work is done. Example: Card Kitty's Elen Elendra Archmage

This card is jaw-dropping for one reason in particular. Look at how smooth the card is! I am infinitely perplexed Card Kitty's stuff. There is a level of finish to them that you literally can't find in any other artist's work. Sometimes, I suspect that they photoshop their cards like models before posting them online. Probably not true but it makes me feel better about my life.


Knowing the tools used and the way some one organizes their space can be a big help in figuring work how a piece of work was make. Some artist only use the primary colors and white when altering. Others will have dozens of pre-mixed colors. This can make a difference in color matching. An artist using only the primaries can access a wider range of colors (all of them) but it takes them tons of extra time to do so. With mixed-paints we have to understand that all mixed paints (by the nature of being premixed) are closer to brown then the primary colors. Sometimes a primary colors artist will be unable to make a color because they are not patient enough. Sometimes a mixed-paint artist will be unable to make a color because they repeatedly make a brown color instead. So primary artist tend to have trouble matching browns while mixed-painter tend to have trouble matching neons or primaries.

This is important for more reason than just understanding other peoples work. By the very nature of altering cards, you have to get inside the head of the original artist and understand their process. Most work is done on computers these days so it is much harder to do but the idea is similar.

Painting is pretty a psychological game sometimes. It can be frustrating, boring, satisfying, exhausting, relaxing, and mindless. You want to approach art in a way that understands these emotions and works with them. And small things like how many tubes of paint you own can be a big determinate in whether you are successfully approaching your own emotions. Other things like choice of paint brush, amount of light, acrylic mediums, and organization of palette can have subtle but important effect on an artist at work.

Glen Elendra Archmage Alter

Glen Elendra Archmage is one of my favorite EDH cards. I play a very combo focused deck (Momir Vig). The trouble is, of course, control decks. Glen Elendra Archmage not only lets me get my combos through hate with easy, she also is a threat herself when combined with  Sage of Fables (should I play Melira too?).

Dream Stalker Alter

I did this simple one for my EDH deck. Dream Stalker is excellent when you have an Aluren out of course, but Dream Stalker can do work too. Picking up Eternal Witness, weird tricks with Food Chain or Earthcraft, and generating value when you have a Momir Vig and Coiling Oracle.

The original reason I added Dream Stalker was to combat Doran... Pretty tricky

Ponder Alter

This one turnout to be extremely frustrating for the sole reason that I could never successful get the small details small enough while also making them solid. Not too proud of this one.

Dread Cacodemon Alter

I did this one on commission for a friend.

Fauna Shaman Alter

Brainstorm Alter

Rootbound Crag Alter

This one was much more challenging then my typical cards. The large tree required a complex layering process, and the sky color was rather elusive. Overall, I think I could have done a better job but considering the extra challenges I'm content with this piece.

Elvish Visionary Alter

Mr. Templin (High School Principle) -or- Charles Beinstein (Famous Poet)

only you can decide.

Only you can prevent forest fires.

Vault of Whispers Alter

Craterhoof Behemoth Alter

Mana Leak Alter

Oblivion Ring Alter

Executioner's Capsule

This is one I did for my friend. He plays in a Sharruum EDH deck.

Mana Vault alter

Done on commission. It's going to my customers Oona EDH deck.

Ezuri Alter

My up coming book series....

Friedrich Engels, the Norfolk Terrier of Philosophers

A poem

There is no thing under your sink
Yet I can't seem to find nothing under your sink

The Janitor at my School has a Secret Identity

Slavoj Žižek

Slavoj Žižek

Charcoal Cityscape

Like a River

Tornado

Fill it Up

Add caption

Half of the Horizon

Fauna Shaman

There is no edge

I would like to dedicate this picture to the lack of an edge to the universe