Reclusive Mage
Acrylic & gouache on board — 18 x 14 in
I started playing Magic: The Gathering in 2013, when the expansion set Return to Ravnica was just released. The idea of the guilds and their unique personalities was fascinating to me. I was first drawn to the team Selesnya. This painting is part of a planned series of Guildmages based on a non-existent Ravnica set, an opportunity I made for myself to work in one of my favorite fantasy worlds.
The Process
Step 1: Thumbnails
I knew the basic elements I wanted to include: a robed mage wearing an intricate headdress or crown, holding a staff, and interacting with a bird or owl. I also wanted it to be a relatively dark, atmospheric composition, with a luminous spotlight on the main figure.
Ultimately it was between the first and second thumbnails for me, but I ended up going with the first because I liked the asymmetrical composition.
Step 2: Line Drawing
With the composition settled, I needed a tighter line drawing. I made one in Procreate, defining the forms and the complex patterns in the crown, clothing, and vegetation.
Step 3: Color Comps
I knew that I wanted this painting to be mostly warm greens with some white mixed in. The only question was how monochrome to make it. I made two color comps in Procreate — one in more neutral, naturalistic tones, and the other entirely in shades of green. I rarely work in monochrome, so I ended up going with the greener one for fun.
Step 4: Paint
I now had all I needed to start the final painting: a tight line drawing and a color/value reference. I printed out my line drawing at size and did a graphite transfer to my board, then did a value pass using black paint. Then I covered that with a burnt sienna wash which would nicely complement the green palette.
Finally, I completed the painting working background to foreground, and using gouache in an airbrush to add subtle glow effects to the luminous elements.