= Tuesday June 14th, 2011
If you've played Magic for even a little while, you probably have a magic story to tell. A magic story is basically any narrative that only another magic player can truly appreciate. The most common stories that you can hear on a regular basis are "I pulled these awesome rares out of these packs!" or "I was up against the ropes in a tight game but managed to edge through with..." centered around amazing or rediculous plays or game states. I have a magic story for you today, and it is unique, wonderful, and just plain awesome.
Back in March I had the opportunity to expand my tournament operations outside my local store by sponsering and head-juding an event at CosCon - the annual gaming convention here in Butler, PA. It was the first time in years Magic had been played at that event. The result was lukewarm (we got 8 people). However I had the opportunity to meet local artist Charles Urbach, who happened to be at the same convention.
If your not familiar with Charles work in magic, I wouldn't be surprised. As it stands right now, he doesn't have too many cards that have released. However, Charles has been a long-time professional artist doing things for other games such as L5R and other projects by AEG games.
Magic art by Charles Urbach
On that fateful day, I made inquiries about a play mat, and arranged to have one made for me. I commissioned some magic-related art. In other words, I paid the good man for his skills to produce something awesome for me.
The artwork that I felt could be the most potentially awesome was Minamo, from the planechase card.
Minamo (plane)
I asked if he could perhaps do a more arial view of the school and it's surroundings. At which point I was told that there was another sketch, one that was submitted to wizards that wasn't actually used. A piece of art that was in a similar vein to what I was asking for. I asked him to e-mail me this sketch so I could get an idea of where he was taking it, but that in the end I would probably want him to base the play mat on this alternate art. After all, alternate art is awesome.
Um, yes. That will do quite nicely! But I was curious if Charles could perhaps add just a touch of color to the mat (highlights perhaps?). Charles hadn't done much work in color on play mats, and had to experiment with a few different markers and ink to get the color I asked for. In my own way I helped a professional artist expand their professional toolbox by just a little bit. That, my friends, is awesome.
There was a bit of back-and-forth between Charles and myself during the production of this play mat, but that was of minor consequence. This past week the item was finally completed. Charles was nice enough to present me with a handful of goodies which I accepted graciously.
First, a 8x11 print of the Minamo plane art.
Second, a second print (same size paper, but smaller image), of the original alternate-art used as a baseline for the play mat.
Third, quite possibly the most awesome play mat that i've ever seen, and definitely the best one that I now own.
And just so that you out there can appreciate this, here's a close-up of the actual school in the center right of the prior pic
And that, is my awesome magic story.
Best wishes, and may you experience some awesome magic.
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