The Evolution of Makindi Sliderunner

Makindi Sliderunner (1st attempt)
graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Makindi Sliderunner (2nd attempt)
graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Makindi Sliderunner (that's more like it)
graphite on paper, 8.5" x 11"

Makindi Sliderunner
oil on paper mounted to mdf, 12" x 16"
©Wizards of the Coast

                           

infraREAL: The Art of Imaginative Realiam at the Jonathan Levine Gallery

Ozymandias
oil on panel, 20" x 27"
©Matthew Stewart

 On Wednesday this week, Jonathan Levine Gallery will host an opening for infraREAL, a special exhibition of Imaginative Realism art. The show is curated by Patrick Wilshire, who along with his wife Jeannie are have been collecting art for over twenty years and are the organizers of the highly successful annual IlluxCon conventions. It's an honor for me to be included with such a prestigious roster of artists.
My contribution "Ozymandias" sprang from a sketchbook exploration below. Not a literal illustration of the poem by Percy Shelley, the title refers to the theme of the poem- Nothing escapes the ravages of time, and the contemporary glory is fleeting.

infraREAL-the Art of Imaginative Realism
August 5-August 22, 2015

Opening Reception with the Artist
August 5th (at two locations)
557C West 23rd Street: 6-8 pm
529 West 20th Street:7-9pm

"I will not say the day is done"

"I will not say the day is done"
red pencil on toned paper, 11" x 14"
©Matthew Stewart

Having climbed to the top of the tower of Cirith Ungol in pursuit of the orcs who have taken his master, he finds a dead end. Believing Frodo to be now beyond rescue he sits down and begins to sing. This is one of my favorite scenes in the book. 

Honored Hierarch

Honored Hierarch
oil on paper on masonite, 12" x 16"
©Wizards of the Coast

Honored Hierarch is one of the two card illustrations I painted for the new Origins set for Magic:the Gathering. Magic fans would recognize him as an inhabitant of Bant from armor and golden sigils he wears. The man is the keeper of a sacred olive grove. I originally intended to paint a younger man, as seen in the preliminary sketch below. After submitting the sketch, I thought it would give him more gravitas, more of an implied history, if he were an older man. Rather than just the caretaker, he proudly looks on the grove of trees he planted and raised from saplings. 

Honored Hierarch (drawing)
8 1/2" x 11", graphite on paper
©Wizards of the Coast

Recent Drawings

Some Tolkien inspired drawings I've done over the last few months that I don't think I've shown here yet. 

Bard the Bowman
18" x 24" , red and white pencil on toned paper

Bard the Bowman II
18" x 24" , red and white pencil on toned paper

Beneath the Dragon
11"x 14", red and white pencil on toned paper

In Moria
11"x 14", red pencil on toned paper

Ring a dong dillo
11"x 14", red pencil on paper

Samwise
11"x 14", red pencil on paper

Abzan Skycaptain

Abzan Skycaptain
oil on paper mounted to mdf, 12" x 16"
available for purchase for $1,250
©Wizards of the Coast

 Abzan Skycaptain was done for the Fate Reforged expansion set for Magic: the Gathering.  I've painted these anthropomorphic birds for Magic in the past, basing my designs on golden eagles or snow owls. The supplied concept image for the aven design in this set looked like a vulture. So I based the Skycaptain on a griffon vulture, which is native to the near east and central Asia. The Abzan clan takes its inspiration from the medieval empires of this region, so it seemed only appropriate. Also, maintaining the feeling that the creature is flying while it holds its weapons with its wings was surprisingly tricky, but I think I'm happy with the results.

Abzan Skycaptain preliminary sketch
graphite on paper, 8 1/2" x 11"
available for purchase for $225
©Wizards of the Coast