elbenherzart

[elbenherzart]

Elusive Otter rides Desert Bus for Hope

The Desert Bus for Hope fundraiser 2024 has started!! We are raising money for Childs Play Charity (dedicated to improving the lives of children undergoing treatment in the hospital with toys and games. The charity supports a network of over 180 hospitals worldwide)

I'm so delighted to share that I was selected to be one of the crafters for the giveaways this year.

I was inspired by @elbenherzart 's amazing Magic: The Gathering card art for the "Elusive Otter" from the Wilds of Eldraine set (collector# 0225)

and adapted Sara Elizabeth Kellner's River Otter pattern to create this cutie:

The Elusive Otter is ready to run unblocked into your arms, or provide some support (and +1/+1 counters!) to your team. You can bring him home by joining in the giveaway on Sunday! It will happen sometime between Sunday Nov 10, 10:00PM to Monday November 11, 04:00AM HAWAII Standard Time (please adjust for you time zone)

Join in the comedy and laughter and fundraising at the Desert Bus twitch stream: https://www.twitch.tv/desertbus

Learn more about the fundraiser: https://desertbus.org/2024/info/about

See the prize listing: https://desertbus.org/2024/prize/CRWGPPLHNJQN

Please share and help this little friend find a good home!

[elbenherzart]

Another illustration I painted for Riftweaver and Fablecraft Game. 🥰 It shows a Darkling. A creature inspired by a feline and bat. I really enjoyed working on this one! ❤️ AD: Andrew Vallas

[elbenherzart]

I'm excited to share Jasper. An older woodlander merchant I painted for Fable Craft Game which recently launched on Steam! :) Everyone involved in this project is simply amazing and it was a joy to work on. AD: Andrew Vallas

[elbenherzart]

I get so many emails asking me about prints and I guess it's time to advertise my print shop again. 😅 There is a 15% sale going at the moment. Thanks to everyone who purchases something. ♥️ Click here!

[elbenherzart]

"Stormchaser's Talent"

Painted for Magic: The Gathering - Bloomburrow

AD: Zack Stella

I'm excited to share this class painting. It was such a welcome change from the usual card format. 😍 I was also asked to work in a slightly more realistic style.

[elbenherzart]

"I know something you don't know. I am not left-handed!"🤺

"Cruelclaw" Painted for Magic: The Gathering - Bloomburrow AD: Zack Stella

My personal fav illustration I painted for Bloomburrow. I love the bad guys and he is such a cute one too!😍

[elbenherzart]

"Seedpod Squire"

Painted for Magic: The Gathering - Bloomburrow AD: Zack Stella

It was so much fun to work on this set. So excited to finally see all the art revealed for it. Everyone did such stella work!

[elbenherzart]

"Magnanimoose" Painted for Hearthstone: Battlegrounds AD: Lea Faske Wanted to share this for a while already. A friendly moose sharing fruits and nuts with a cute little squirrel friend! :)

[elbenherzart]

Late announcement but I'm going to be at Magic Con Amsterdam!

I'll share a booth with Jason Rainville where you will find me! Unfortunately there was some confusion about my attendance, so I'm not on the artist map since it was past edit time, but I'll be there for you with proofs, alters and prints all three days! You can also get your regular cards signed. Come and say hi! :)

[elbenherzart]

Wing it Painted for Magic: The Gathering - Modern Horizons 3 AD: Dawn Murin The name of this card is my spirit animal. :)

[elbenherzart]

Triton Wavebreaker Painted for Magic: The Gathering - Modern Horizons 3 AD: Colin Boyer

I actually struggled a lot with finishing this card because it got commissioned at the time where I started to experience health issues last year that later lead to surgery. I would have liked to spend more time working on it, but sometimes you just can't give it your best and have to accept that! :)

[elbenherzart]

"Rampaging Yao Guai" Painted for Magic: The Gathering - Universes Beyond (Fallout) AD: Colin Boyer I asked my AD to paint something nasty and wasn't disappointed. A good radioactive friend! :) Unfortunately I'm not allowed to show sketches for Universes Beyond.

[elbenherzart]

Not an art post, but something important I want to share: The older I get, the more I realise how important exercise is to keep my body and mind healthy. Artists especially tend to have a very unhealthy life style with spending most of our time sitting. A year ago my body essentially quit out on me and I started to get all kind of health problems that ended in an emergency surgery in october. It was the wake up call that I needed. I always wanted to pick up archery, so I joined a club in my area and started training twice a week. 5 months ago I also picked up strenght training in my local gym twice a week and the two combined improved my mental health and body beyond everything I could ever imagine. I'm a different person now, than I was a year ago and I'm so proud of the progress I made. I'm also a better artists because the exercise helps my mind to be focused and not as scattered as it once was. Maybe this motivates some people to also pick up some weights or join an activity that keeps the body moving. I'm not saying it will cure depression or serious mental health problems, but it will help!

[elbenherzart]

I'm very excited to share my first Hearthstone card that got released recently! :) "Beyond the Mirage" Painted for Hearthstone: Battlegrounds AD: Lea Faske It was definitely challenging, because the typical Hearthstone style is different from my usual rendering style, but I tried my best to emulate it and think I found a good bridge between my style and theirs. Thanks to my amazing AD for trusting me! :)

[elbenherzart]

Heya! :)

I hope this isn't too forward, but I've been seeing a lot of your Magic the Gathering art and thought you'd be a reliable source to ask. How does one go about applying to Wizards of the Coast as an illustrator? Or is it the type of gig where they contact you, and there aren't any application channels?

I know I'm a long way from being experienced enough to apply either way, but I'd really like to know how I'd have to go about it.

Thanks and have a great day!

Hi! :) They used to have an art drop email where you could apply with your portfolio, but as far as I know, it got so overrun with spam and portfolios that were far away from MtG quality, that they closed it a couple years or so ago. Nowadays your best chance is to post your work on social media and hope that one of their AD's decides to take a chance with you, or do a SmartSchool mentorship where Magic AD's will look at your portfolio in some classes. But that's very expensive and off the table for most people I think. Social Media and just being active and connecting with artists who already work with Wizards is your best bet! If they think your work is ready, they can recommend you to AD's if you have build an honest connection with them. In my case, the Art Director who reached out to me bought one of my inktober originals in 2018 and followed my work since a while and decided I'm ready to work with them at some point.

(I'll post this public so other people can get his info as well)

[elbenherzart]

Look at this very friendly ghostie fellow I painted for Magic the Gathering - Murders at Karlov Manor! :) AD: Molly Smith

I really enjoy painting more gritty and dark stuff once in a while so I was happy to paint a new Spirit Token for this set.

[elbenherzart]

I'm excited to finally share this proud Capran boy I painted for Humblewood 2 a while ago. ♥️ It's the official illustration for the new playable Capran race. 😍 Can't wait for the new campaign to be officially released. Everyone worked so hard to make it a reality! Prints are available here!