Twenty years ago yesterday, I received my first assignment to work with Wizards of the Coast (WotC) to design monsters for a new miniature game they were developing. I had met the art director a year earlier at San Diego Comic Con and had a great portfolio review. I kept in touch over that year as my life completely changed. We would leave LA for a fresh start back in Florida with a better job and 99% less abuse and harassment in the workplace. In June of 2005, when the email arrived inquiring about my availability I jumped at it and tried not to look back.
While the miniature game, Dreamblade, only lasted a few years, twenty years later, I am still making monsters for WotC. Not as many as I once did, but WotC is now my only client in the gaming industry that I still take work from. I never expected this to last twenty years, and I certainly didn't expect the journey that I have had with them. But I guess I am still doing something right if they want me to make monsters for them.
Various Dungeons & Dragons monsters produced for interior book art
© Wizards of the Coast
Over the years, there have been some really amazing highs and some lows (in some ways, I likely learned a heck of a lot more from the lows than the highs). I have always focused on monsters, but I have designed monsters, armor, miniatures, and more. I have illustrated cards, magazines, books, and covers. Most of my work has been on Dungeons & Dragons, but my work can be seen in Dreamblade, Kaijudo, several projects I can't talk about, and, of course, Magic the Gathering. Overall, they have been the best client to work with, and I have met a lot of really amazing people because of our working relationship.
I have worked with some of the best art directors in the business, and through them, I have learned a great deal about being objective with my work and understanding that revisions are all part of the process. I know I will forget some people, but working with Kate, Jon, Dawn, Emi, Stacy, Jeremy, Peter, Cynthia, Taylor, Forrest, Zack, and plenty more has been truly wonderful. I have seen people come, and I have had to see them leave. Every assignment has been an adventure, and you never know what is going to arrive in the assignment email. Sometimes it would be a little scary, but most of the time it was the start of an exciting project.
Various Dungeons & Dragons illustrations produced for interior magazine art
© Wizards of the Coast
I have some really exciting work waiting to be released. Work I have waited twenty years to make. I can't say more, but hopefully later this year, or early next year, I will be sharing it with you here. This coming work is in many ways a full circle moment for me and a wonderful way to acknowledge two decades of making game art. i do hope to find a way to make more art like this in the future.
About ten years ago, I started hearing from people that they had enjoyed my work since childhood. It always made me feel weird, because that just didn't seem possible. But there is no escaping that reality now. I now have fans who are younger than my career. I do not know what is next with me and WotC, but I will keep making monsters for them as long as they will let me and as long as it fits into my schedule. The Grand Bazaar has priority now, but I always find it hard to tell WotC no. So, a MASSIVE thanks to all my art directors and fans for being a part of this adventure! It has been a crazy ride.
Various Magic the Gathering illustrations produced for card art
© Wizards of the Coast
That's all for another exciting Monday on the blog. See you back here on Wednesday! Until then...
