A Sketch That No Single Card Could Hold
CCG Artist proofs are special version of the cards that have a blank white back. Each artist receives roughly fifty of these for each card he has published. Usually they’re sold at shows as a collectible.
Occasionally people pay extra to get a sketch put on the back.
And every now and then, someone wants something completely crazy…
This was a special commission and the Phyrexian Dreadnought shown here stretches across four Dreadnought APs.
These days, I recommend if someone wants something this crazy, they let me just put it on a piece of art board because I can do a better job on a surface that isn’t four cards trying to shift out of place as I’m drawing on them. Still, if that’s what they want…
The person who commissioned this was also going to buy the Dreadnought original but had to back out. His loss as there was someone else eagerly waiting to nab it.
This sketch reminded me of Dave Gibbons’ (gorgeous) work in Watchmen–the color palette is reminiscent of the creature Ozymandias summons.
Then I realized that Phyrexian Dreadnought basically is the Watchmen monster: it’s a 12/12 for the Doomsday Clock, and when it comes into play, it causes mass sacrifice.
Beautiful!