Hmm, Not many people post in here anymore. Well I'll write again.
I'm looking to become some sort of artist when I get out of school (Im still in high school) and was wondering what classes you took in high school/college that were the most helpful to you as an artist?
Also I was looking at Art colleges and was a little confused, maybe you can help me. In an Art College do you still have to take regular classes like English etc. or is it all focused on Art?
Thanks
It's hard to keep a thread alive! Never sure how much water to add. (Oooh. Bad pun.)
First things first: look for figure drawing groups in your area. There ought to be a few in Atlanta, it being a pretty big city with a good art crowd. Getting a solid grip on the human form is a must for any artist. Next, look for good courses or seminars on painting and drawing. (One key for how good they are *can* be the quality of the instructor's work, but don't let this totally rule the day. Some people who can draw like made are awful teachers.) You can always do what I did, which is attend a community college to get your AA, then move on to an art college. That'll take care of your prerequisites like English and such. English, math, logic, history--these are considered foundations upon which a solid education is built, so most colleges are required to teach 'em, in addition to their main tilt.
That stuff's like vegetables. 'is good for ye. >:)
*snerk* We both bleed red, baby. I just draw stuff.
Right now I'm in the middle of the Dune series (I'm on messiah) But i'm also reading a couple of forced summer homework books such as The Crucible. I'm also going to see if I can read the Koran here soon.
Man, I LOVED Dune. Gotta go back and read that again; it was a trip. I never got to the Crucible, nor the Koran. Both should make for thought-provoking reading.
I still havent decided what exactly I'm going to ask for on the cards. I need to think of something really cool because right now My unspeakable deck looks a little bland and needs some splicing up. (Ha, ha I made a funny!)
Go ahead and send 'em to P.O. Box 369, Kirkland Wa 98083-0369 when you're ready. That's the place where all my signing work lands. Turnaround time varies between a day and a week, depending on my work load.
I'll keep mine eyes peeled for 'em! (As gross as that sounds. I always thought that was a creepy phrase....)
Just wanted to let folks know that I WILL be at the San Diego Comic Con, in Artist's Alley, *hopefully* close to the other Magic artists. If I find out what my assigned space is before I take off, I'll post that info here, too. See you there!
Just plain anything. Also another quick question, with doing alterations, how much do you usually do? (I'm asking so i don't ask for too much, I'm thinking of sending you peer through depths , reach through mists and sift through sands so i can get a swanky looking unspeakable deck.)
Thanks.
-Beefybot-
'ey Beefy!
Generally I do a little doodle for alterations, since there's not a whole lot of real estate on a Magic card for sketching. Do you have something specific in mind?
Jeez...that book list would be huge. I can tell you who some of my favorite authors are, how's that? Peter Matthiessen, Freya Stark, Farley Mowat, William S. Burroughs, Robert E. Howard, Barry Lopez, Barbara Tuchman, Paco Ignacio Taibo II, John McPhee..that's a few of 'em. What about you?
How exactly do you do your paintings? Are they entirely computer rendered or do you just edit them on the computer? Basically i just want to know how you create those awesome paintings. :tongue2:
Also do you have any favorite books?
-Beefybot-
Hey Beefy!
Let's see what I can do to satisfy your curiosity! Almost all my work starts on paper. Drawing was my first love. It's still my default when I'm being creative. Once I've got something worked up tight enough, I scan it in and paint in digitally, using a combination of Painter and Photoshop. Much of my latest work has been almost entirely Photoshop.
By favorite books, d'you mean art-books, how-to, general stuff, or just plain everything?
Good day Mr. Waters,
My questions are regarding your personal tastes in art.
Greetings, Jabberwocky!
Let's see...I'll break these down question by question.
Whose (non-Magic) art do you find appealing and why?
Wow. I'm assuming you want me to speak of living artists, is that right? To type in all those whose work I find appealing would take a VERY long time, so I tell you what, I'll give you the folks who first come across my mind: John Jude Palencar, James Jean, Rick Berry, Phil Hale, Sanjulian, Oscar Chichoni, Jean Giraud, Frank Frazetta, Range Murata, Kieta Amemiya, Od Nerdrum, Lucien Freud, Gary Kelly, John Howe, Dave McKean, James Gurney, Travis Charest, H.R. Giger...
When I think about it, there are a few things guaranteed to catch my eye.
One of them is emotional content and/or tension. The artist has to be a LOT more than a good renderer. Art that gets me involved with what's going on, not simply how well it's been executed, THAT gets my interest.
Two, innovation. Have I seen this before? Is it a new take on some old idea or is it a totally new idea? There's a ton of folks out there who are just rehashing someone else's concepts. Babes in bikini chainmail, that sort of thing. I want to see original thinking. Work that's fresh, unexpected, in particular work that makes me think; that's the stuff I love.
Technique is a distant third, though by all means it's an important thing. Artists who really know what they're doing, who understand light, color, composition, all that stuff, produce wonderful art. There is surely pleasure to be drawn from seeing something done well.
Lastly, style. I like seeing a variety of approaches to subject matter. There's no "right" style of art; I get the same pleasure from viewing a well-done cartoon as seeing a beautiful painting. It all comes from the same place.
Which artists do you feel influenced your development into the artist you are today?
Alphonse Mucha, John Singer Sergeant, Gustav Klimt, Frank Frazetta, N.C. Wyeth, Turner, Rembrandt, Caillebotte, Toulouse-Latrec, Degas, Corot, Alma-Tedema, St. Jerome, Whistler, Church, Waterhouse and Bierstadt, among others.
You spoke earlier about promoting ones self as a means of exposure to potential clients. Obviously art shows and conventions would be a good place to start, and in the interest of self-promotion, which shows/ conventions will YOU be attending in the near future?
*grins* I'll be at the San Diego Comic Con in a little less than a month! In fact I should be in Artist's Alley. I'll post info here about this (and other appearances) as I get 'em nailed down. Thanks for asking!
This has to be a quickie, but I wanted to give greetings to you all and say how much I enjoyed the Pre-Release for Saviors in Boston. Dunno how many of you are on this list, but if you're about, it was a pleasure meeting you and signing your cards.
That round of applause just killed me. (In a good way!!) Never been so honored in my life.
I'll be diving back into painting for the next few days, but I will return to the boards (here and at Wizards) this week, on or around Friday. Hope you're all doing great!
Updated once again! Thanks Mr. Waters for taking the time out of your day to answer all these questions, no matter how big or small.
Dude!
Thanks so much for combining all my answers into one FAQ! That's going way above and beyond the call.
Quote from Oddity »
Hey, did you have fun in P-Town?
Man, I *always* have fun in PDX. Portland is one of my favorite cities on the planet. It's full of neat people, the food's amazing and the beer.....oh MAN, the beer. Terminator Stout!! And Fred. Fred Rules.
..this is not meant to suggest that I'm some sort of staggering, liqour-swilling tortured artist. *ahem* I just happen to like beer.
Quote from Twinkee »
Welcome to the board:)
anyways, on to the question... out of all the artwork you have somethingsomething done so far for magic, which one of them all do you like the most? why? I really enjoy your art and hope you continue to create more of your fantastic work :D.
Twinkee
Hey there!
My favorite piece; hmm. That's ever-changing, honestly. I'm constantly trying to improve. Maybe it's no surprise that there always seems to be *something* wrong with every piece I do, some part I could have done better. That said, one of those pieces on my short list is Petals of Insight. I'm really happy with the way that one turned out.
Thank you kindly for the words of support, too. I'll do my best!!
Quote from SorryGuy »
Well I know that I already asked a question and would understand if you do not have time to answer another but another I have:
This casued some confusion with News, are you the same person as Anthony Waters or did they just add the S?
Yep, Anthony Waters and Anthony S. Waters are both me. It is a little confusing, isn't it?
When I was a kid, I used to sign my pieces "TW" for Tony Waters, since most everyone back then called me Tony. Over time, I developed groups of friends who addressed me by both the full and abbreviated versions of my first name. During my college years I started signing my work "ASW". Part of the inspiration came from my uncle Fred. Fred's a glider pilot champ in the 15-meter arena and he flies an ASW-20. I got a kick out of sharing initials with an airplane. (I'm easily amused sometimes.)
My first Magic cards were signed "ASW" but I hadn't yet developed the habit of using my middle initial as part of my signature, so the attribution was to Anthony Waters. Eventually (around Fallen Empires or just after) I decided to bring my name in line with my initials, and that's the end of the story.
Quote from Caedere »
I still find it awesome that one person's illustrated Circular Logic, Wild Mongrel, and Yavimaya Coast.
Do you have plans for the direction you'd like to take your work or are you happy with being a freelance fantasy artist?
Hey Mister!
In a nutshell:
Circular Logic was fun because it landed in my lap as a big challenge. The description was "A black spell gets disrupted by a blue spell". It doesn't get much more abstract than that. Truth be told, I *love* the obscure, the bizarre and the harder an idea is to translate into an image, the more jazzed I get. CL remains one of the best conundrums Magic's ever handed me.
Yavimaya Coast had a deeper meaning for me, since while I worked for Wizards I got the chance to design Yavimaya's environment, mostly on my own. That was one of the most enjoyable periods of my time at Wizards, coming up with all the ways Yavimaya would resist the Phyrexian invasion. (I'm so bummed WOTC chose to scuttle the second Art Book for Magic. There's a truckload of concept art most folks will never get to see, all pertaining to the worlds we've built for Magic over the years.)
I'm very happy being an independent artist, this is true. That doesn't mean I'm not scheming in the background, though. >:) I've got a number of projects in the works and as they get completed I'll be sure to let everyone know!
Quote from bertrand »
Hii.. I'm Bert.. same one who posted on Wizards' boards (and purchased) the Cinder Wall print scanned there . Is there a limit on the amount of cards I can send you to sign? I think I might have too many..
Thanks,
~Bert
Hey Bert!
Finally back from the Saviors Pre-Release, so I can get to everyone's questions! My apologies for making you wait.
I'd prefer no more than 20 cards at a time, but remember you can mail me more than once. I'm happy to sign cards for you, any time.
Quote from brainiac7 »
Anthony,
It was pleasant talking with you at Worlds in San Francisco. I hope things are well with you.
I just wanted to complement you on your current work and would like to ask if you lament at all that many young artists will not enjoy the tactile pleasures of watercolors, oils and pastels due to the amazing digital tools we have available now?
Do you feel that the digital medium has allowed you to achieve your artistic visions with greater rapidity without losing fidelity and quality?
Respectfully,
Vince S.
Hey Vince!
Greetings, sir! I am doing swimmingly well, thank you for asking. I hope you're kicking butt as well.
Digital art brings up a host of issues. I think the greatest one, the thing that makes the computer different from any other media, is the huge variety of presets it brings to bear on the creative process. Filters, cut and paste, undo, layers, channels and paths...all these things have been added to applications like Photoshop over the years as the digital world gobbled up the darkroom and graphic artist's cutting board. It's made the process of doing art digitally that much easier *and* faster. Personally, I love working digitally. It gives me photography and painting tools all rolled into one. There's no other media with such inherent flexibility. The undo function alone is worth its weight in gold.
The danger computers represent is a speedy path, the results of which I sometimes call "preset art". (Sort of like the Dark Side, but without the lava pit.) This is the scourge of computer-generated images. It's the airbrushed T-shirt art of our age. It comes in large part from people who haven't taken the time to train themselves in the basics, choosing to leap directly into the computer world. Sometimes their impetus is the misdirected notion that the training isn't necessary, that the app will take care of what they don't know how to do.
A computer's no replacement for the fundamentals. It's just another tool, not a panacea. Anyone who wants to become a good, or great, or (let's dream, here!) BRILLIANT artist will benefit from learning to paint the traditional way first. In doing so you'll know *why* certain colors blend to make others, how the quality of light can effect the emotional content of a piece, what the relationship is between temperature and color. Knowing these things will make your computer art dazzling. *NOT* knowing these things limits the scope of your abilities.
*whew* Good question! Sorry for the longwinded answer.
Quote from herohammer »
What is the funnest part of painting a Magic card in your opinion?
I greatly apretiate your art work. You are one of very few mtg artists these days with a distinct personnal style. Your art work says Anthony S. Waters all over it. Great job! I hope you keep up the good work!
Hey there Herohammer!
Man, those are some seriously kind words. Thank you very much, mister. There are so many great Magic artists out there, I take things like this very much to heart. I'll do my very best, I promise!
As for the best part of a piece, or the part I enjoy the most, that'd be just coming up with the idea. I live for creating stuff. The *hardest* part of a painting is the very middle of it. At the beginning you're all excited to get it going. At the end, you can see the finish line, so you're jazzed again. The middle? That's where all the hard work is. It's usually where all the mistakes are and where the piece looks its worst. Getting past the middle is the biggest struggle of *any* painting I've ever done.
Quote from ButteBlues18 »
Erm, unless I missed it somewhere you still haven't gotten around to answering this question...
Drat! I thought I'd answered this before I left. Ah well. I hope things aren't *too* insane in your life, right now. That tag line implies a fair amount of stress. Hope you're ok, man.
I'll modify cards, sure. If people could keep their requests to no more than two or three, I'd truly appreciate it. And I don't charge for alterations. That'd be silly.
I know the question is cliche but I do know that our boards contain several talented, aspiring artists. Any tips to get into/prepare for the business? When did you decide that you would make a living out of drawing? I am just curious and this seems a good a time as any to ask.
Hey there!
Ever since I was a little punk, I wanted to be an artist. I've trained on my own and gone to school; my recommendation is to get as much schooling as you can, whether it's through books and painting from life, or going to a good art college. There's no replacement for good foundational skills. Knowing how to render, how to compose an image, understanding the fundamentals of light, color and value, all the basics of making a good image...you can go miles with the stuff. You'll be severely limited without 'em. So that's the first bit. Get as much training as you can. Being an artist is like being an athelete. It takes training and dedication.
Now, the business side of the game is hard, but the rules are pretty simple. One, learn how to manage your time. I can't stress this enough. Meeting your deadlines is one of the key elements for a successful career, and that's got a lot to do with managing your time well.
Next, self-promotion. Constantly work to improve your work and put new stuff in front of potential clients as often as you can. Don't be afraid to cold-call people and find out what they're after, art-wise. Don't fear rejection. I've been rejected. Every artist I *know* has been rejected, at some time or other. Aim past wherever you are at the moment. That's the best way to overcome a fall. Get up and keep going.
Third, attend events where potential clients gather. In this country and around the world, they have events for virtually everything you can imagine--toys, games, clothes, video games, children's books, you name it, there's probably one or more events for it. Attend some of these events and circulate, meet the folks you want to work for. Don't be a pest, but don't be shy either. Getting on their radar is the key thing. You want to get there and stay there.
*whew* Gotta go get some dinner now, but I hope that helps.
Quote from Cabalwannabe »
I think a question that's most not-asked, or asked the least, is:
What music (if any) do you listen to when doing art?
I find classical to be effective, but it depends on the mood, really. At least, for me.
Excellent question!! I've got something of a pattern I tend to follow, though that's gotten broken up recently with the discovery of Air America radio and a few other online outlets.
Generally my day starts with metal. Something loud, agressive and fast. It wakes me up and gets me focussed. Things mellow out towards lunch, then more loud music afterwards to keep me from falling asleep at the keyboard (hey, it takes energy to digest food!!). Mellow stuff starts creeping in--Iona, Altan, movie soundtracks like the 5th Element or the Last Temptation of Christ, that sorta thing--until bedtime.
I listen to a lot of world music, stuff like Ekova, Youssou N'Dour, Afro-Celt Sound System, Varrttina and Garmarna. Then there's the prog rock stuff: Porcupine Tree, Spock's Beard, the Flower Kings, Thought Industry and Fields of the Nephilim. There's the heavier stuff like Dream Theater, Tool, Soundgarden, Shotgun Messiah, King's X, and Queensyche that make my day move faster. Then there's the weird and wonderful stuff: Tom Waits, Judy and Mary, that sorta thing.
Beyond that comes the Spoken Word stuff: Henry Rollins, Bill Burroughs, Orson Welles...I listen to a lot of Old Time Radio stuff and books on CD. It's great for working.
Lastly, there's the news. I can get the BBC, PRI, Air America and a few other media outlets on the 'net. Sometimes that's my day, from beginning to end.
Probably more info than you ever wanted, but it was a great question!
Quote from Caedere »
Woo-hoo! Good to see that you're over here, duder.
Glad to be here, Raptor-mon! Good to see you're here, too.
Quote from SorryGuy »
Well I know that I already asked a question and would understand if you do not have time to answer another but another I have:
This casued some confusion with News, are you the same person as Anthony Waters or did they just add the S?
*laughs* Yep, that's me, and I'm him. I finally decided to start using the "S" in my name, since I was signing my work ASW. It's a kind of consistency, I guess.
(And you can ask as many questions as you like!)
Quote from Mr.C »
Anthony,
A quick question:
As you know (or not), in Portuguese BB 4th you weren't Credited with White Mana Battery's art, instead, Anson Maddocks was.
My Question:
Would Anson and you Double Sign the card, if i could get it into your/his hands? I know artists don't sign other's cards (Usually), but what is the case with misprints? as i collect signed cards, i'd really like to know.
Thanks!
I can't speak for Anson, but I'd be happy to sign the sucker. I *did* do the art for it, so it's not like I'm signing someone else's card. >:) Send away!
MAN! I better get responding or I'll get buried under all these great welcome-posts! (I can think of worse fates.) Thanks, ever'body. I'll get to answering each and every one of you starting tomorrow. For tonight, though, I want to let you know about an auction I've got that's about to end.
Starting this month I've begun putting some large prints up for auction. Certain pieces I've done look great when they're huge. There won't ever be more than 100 of these beasts. They are Limited Edition 13x19 prints on fine watercolor stock, most of which are still at very low numbers, since I've only shown these prints at events. The two presently up for auction are:
This print's the first one off my presses. I was happy with how she turned out as a piece of art and happier still with how she looks at this size.
You can click on the links below to see the images, or go to Ebay and use my name--anthonyswaters--in the seller search window. That'll get you right there.
That's the end of my hustling. I'll be back tomorrow to get started on all your questions. Feel free to check out the prints and snag one if it appeals to you.
Well welcome! I am sure Shumate will be putting a complete list of yuor stuff up soon(cough cough) but what I know of it I like very much. I do have two questions though.
Hey there!
Thank you kindly! Let's get on with them questions.
A. Do you play Magic?
Nope, I regret not. There's not enough time in the day!
B. Are you told ahead of time what cards do or do you just get an art describation?
All cards come to the artist with what's called a "placeholder title" and a rough description of what's supposed to be goin' on. Sometimes the placeholder name sticks. Sometimes the cards come out and...we get a surprise.
H'lo everyone! (And thanks for starting this thread, man!)
Just got back from doing a digital art demo in Portland with a buddy of mine, Matt Harpold (www.mattharpold.com). In barely a week I'll be hopping a plane to Boston for a Saviors Pre-Release, my second ever, if memory serves. (I'm getting old, so my brain doesn't always do as told.) Suddenly May became a very, very busy month.
That doesn't mean I don't intend to be around. If you've got any questions, ask away. I'll be happy to answer 'em!
Yes we have Anthony S. Waters coming. If you look in the memberlist you see he has already joined under the name of- anthonyswaters :p.
-M Shumate-
:bmage:
Dude!!
Man, I am so sorry. Life kinda carried me away for a few months. BUT I'm back and on my feet! I hope you're lil tyke is doing well, that the worst of the scare is over, and if you'd like me to be available to answer questions, I'm here.
I pledge to be on MTG Salvation at least once a week!
It's hard to keep a thread alive! Never sure how much water to add. (Oooh. Bad pun.)
First things first: look for figure drawing groups in your area. There ought to be a few in Atlanta, it being a pretty big city with a good art crowd. Getting a solid grip on the human form is a must for any artist. Next, look for good courses or seminars on painting and drawing. (One key for how good they are *can* be the quality of the instructor's work, but don't let this totally rule the day. Some people who can draw like made are awful teachers.) You can always do what I did, which is attend a community college to get your AA, then move on to an art college. That'll take care of your prerequisites like English and such. English, math, logic, history--these are considered foundations upon which a solid education is built, so most colleges are required to teach 'em, in addition to their main tilt.
That stuff's like vegetables. 'is good for ye. >:)
*snerk* We both bleed red, baby. I just draw stuff.
Man, I LOVED Dune. Gotta go back and read that again; it was a trip. I never got to the Crucible, nor the Koran. Both should make for thought-provoking reading.
I'll keep mine eyes peeled for 'em! (As gross as that sounds. I always thought that was a creepy phrase....)
Just wanted to let folks know that I WILL be at the San Diego Comic Con, in Artist's Alley, *hopefully* close to the other Magic artists. If I find out what my assigned space is before I take off, I'll post that info here, too. See you there!
ant
'ey Beefy!
Generally I do a little doodle for alterations, since there's not a whole lot of real estate on a Magic card for sketching. Do you have something specific in mind?
Jeez...that book list would be huge.
ant
Hey Beefy!
Let's see what I can do to satisfy your curiosity! Almost all my work starts on paper. Drawing was my first love. It's still my default when I'm being creative. Once I've got something worked up tight enough, I scan it in and paint in digitally, using a combination of Painter and Photoshop. Much of my latest work has been almost entirely Photoshop.
By favorite books, d'you mean art-books, how-to, general stuff, or just plain everything?
Ant
Greetings, Jabberwocky!
Let's see...I'll break these down question by question.
Wow. I'm assuming you want me to speak of living artists, is that right? To type in all those whose work I find appealing would take a VERY long time, so I tell you what, I'll give you the folks who first come across my mind: John Jude Palencar, James Jean, Rick Berry, Phil Hale, Sanjulian, Oscar Chichoni, Jean Giraud, Frank Frazetta, Range Murata, Kieta Amemiya, Od Nerdrum, Lucien Freud, Gary Kelly, John Howe, Dave McKean, James Gurney, Travis Charest, H.R. Giger...
When I think about it, there are a few things guaranteed to catch my eye.
One of them is emotional content and/or tension. The artist has to be a LOT more than a good renderer. Art that gets me involved with what's going on, not simply how well it's been executed, THAT gets my interest.
Two, innovation. Have I seen this before? Is it a new take on some old idea or is it a totally new idea? There's a ton of folks out there who are just rehashing someone else's concepts. Babes in bikini chainmail, that sort of thing. I want to see original thinking. Work that's fresh, unexpected, in particular work that makes me think; that's the stuff I love.
Technique is a distant third, though by all means it's an important thing. Artists who really know what they're doing, who understand light, color, composition, all that stuff, produce wonderful art. There is surely pleasure to be drawn from seeing something done well.
Lastly, style. I like seeing a variety of approaches to subject matter. There's no "right" style of art; I get the same pleasure from viewing a well-done cartoon as seeing a beautiful painting. It all comes from the same place.
Alphonse Mucha, John Singer Sergeant, Gustav Klimt, Frank Frazetta, N.C. Wyeth, Turner, Rembrandt, Caillebotte, Toulouse-Latrec, Degas, Corot, Alma-Tedema, St. Jerome, Whistler, Church, Waterhouse and Bierstadt, among others.
*grins* I'll be at the San Diego Comic Con in a little less than a month! In fact I should be in Artist's Alley. I'll post info here about this (and other appearances) as I get 'em nailed down. Thanks for asking!
ant
Hey BB18!
No worries, mate. Happy to sign and sketch for a fan. (You're well under the 20-maximum, so that's fine.)
*grins* Personal issues of THAT sort, eh? May they be nothing but good ones, then! From now until whenever!
This has to be a quickie, but I wanted to give greetings to you all and say how much I enjoyed the Pre-Release for Saviors in Boston. Dunno how many of you are on this list, but if you're about, it was a pleasure meeting you and signing your cards.
That round of applause just killed me. (In a good way!!) Never been so honored in my life.
I'll be diving back into painting for the next few days, but I will return to the boards (here and at Wizards) this week, on or around Friday. Hope you're all doing great!
Ant
Dude!
Thanks so much for combining all my answers into one FAQ! That's going way above and beyond the call.
Man, I *always* have fun in PDX. Portland is one of my favorite cities on the planet. It's full of neat people, the food's amazing and the beer.....oh MAN, the beer. Terminator Stout!! And Fred. Fred Rules.
..this is not meant to suggest that I'm some sort of staggering, liqour-swilling tortured artist. *ahem* I just happen to like beer.
Hey there!
My favorite piece; hmm. That's ever-changing, honestly. I'm constantly trying to improve. Maybe it's no surprise that there always seems to be *something* wrong with every piece I do, some part I could have done better. That said, one of those pieces on my short list is Petals of Insight. I'm really happy with the way that one turned out.
Thank you kindly for the words of support, too. I'll do my best!!
Yep, Anthony Waters and Anthony S. Waters are both me. It is a little confusing, isn't it?
When I was a kid, I used to sign my pieces "TW" for Tony Waters, since most everyone back then called me Tony. Over time, I developed groups of friends who addressed me by both the full and abbreviated versions of my first name. During my college years I started signing my work "ASW". Part of the inspiration came from my uncle Fred. Fred's a glider pilot champ in the 15-meter arena and he flies an ASW-20. I got a kick out of sharing initials with an airplane. (I'm easily amused sometimes.)
My first Magic cards were signed "ASW" but I hadn't yet developed the habit of using my middle initial as part of my signature, so the attribution was to Anthony Waters. Eventually (around Fallen Empires or just after) I decided to bring my name in line with my initials, and that's the end of the story.
Hey Mister!
In a nutshell:
Circular Logic was fun because it landed in my lap as a big challenge. The description was "A black spell gets disrupted by a blue spell". It doesn't get much more abstract than that. Truth be told, I *love* the obscure, the bizarre and the harder an idea is to translate into an image, the more jazzed I get. CL remains one of the best conundrums Magic's ever handed me.
Yavimaya Coast had a deeper meaning for me, since while I worked for Wizards I got the chance to design Yavimaya's environment, mostly on my own. That was one of the most enjoyable periods of my time at Wizards, coming up with all the ways Yavimaya would resist the Phyrexian invasion. (I'm so bummed WOTC chose to scuttle the second Art Book for Magic. There's a truckload of concept art most folks will never get to see, all pertaining to the worlds we've built for Magic over the years.)
I'm very happy being an independent artist, this is true. That doesn't mean I'm not scheming in the background, though. >:) I've got a number of projects in the works and as they get completed I'll be sure to let everyone know!
Hey Bert!
Finally back from the Saviors Pre-Release, so I can get to everyone's questions! My apologies for making you wait.
I'd prefer no more than 20 cards at a time, but remember you can mail me more than once. I'm happy to sign cards for you, any time.
Hey Vince!
Greetings, sir! I am doing swimmingly well, thank you for asking. I hope you're kicking butt as well.
Digital art brings up a host of issues. I think the greatest one, the thing that makes the computer different from any other media, is the huge variety of presets it brings to bear on the creative process. Filters, cut and paste, undo, layers, channels and paths...all these things have been added to applications like Photoshop over the years as the digital world gobbled up the darkroom and graphic artist's cutting board. It's made the process of doing art digitally that much easier *and* faster. Personally, I love working digitally. It gives me photography and painting tools all rolled into one. There's no other media with such inherent flexibility. The undo function alone is worth its weight in gold.
The danger computers represent is a speedy path, the results of which I sometimes call "preset art". (Sort of like the Dark Side, but without the lava pit.) This is the scourge of computer-generated images. It's the airbrushed T-shirt art of our age. It comes in large part from people who haven't taken the time to train themselves in the basics, choosing to leap directly into the computer world. Sometimes their impetus is the misdirected notion that the training isn't necessary, that the app will take care of what they don't know how to do.
A computer's no replacement for the fundamentals. It's just another tool, not a panacea. Anyone who wants to become a good, or great, or (let's dream, here!) BRILLIANT artist will benefit from learning to paint the traditional way first. In doing so you'll know *why* certain colors blend to make others, how the quality of light can effect the emotional content of a piece, what the relationship is between temperature and color. Knowing these things will make your computer art dazzling. *NOT* knowing these things limits the scope of your abilities.
*whew* Good question! Sorry for the longwinded answer.
Hey there Herohammer!
Man, those are some seriously kind words. Thank you very much, mister. There are so many great Magic artists out there, I take things like this very much to heart. I'll do my very best, I promise!
As for the best part of a piece, or the part I enjoy the most, that'd be just coming up with the idea. I live for creating stuff. The *hardest* part of a painting is the very middle of it. At the beginning you're all excited to get it going. At the end, you can see the finish line, so you're jazzed again. The middle? That's where all the hard work is. It's usually where all the mistakes are and where the piece looks its worst. Getting past the middle is the biggest struggle of *any* painting I've ever done.
Drat! I thought I'd answered this before I left. Ah well. I hope things aren't *too* insane in your life, right now. That tag line implies a fair amount of stress. Hope you're ok, man.
I'll modify cards, sure. If people could keep their requests to no more than two or three, I'd truly appreciate it. And I don't charge for alterations. That'd be silly.
Hey there!
Ever since I was a little punk, I wanted to be an artist. I've trained on my own and gone to school; my recommendation is to get as much schooling as you can, whether it's through books and painting from life, or going to a good art college. There's no replacement for good foundational skills. Knowing how to render, how to compose an image, understanding the fundamentals of light, color and value, all the basics of making a good image...you can go miles with the stuff. You'll be severely limited without 'em. So that's the first bit. Get as much training as you can. Being an artist is like being an athelete. It takes training and dedication.
Now, the business side of the game is hard, but the rules are pretty simple. One, learn how to manage your time. I can't stress this enough. Meeting your deadlines is one of the key elements for a successful career, and that's got a lot to do with managing your time well.
Next, self-promotion. Constantly work to improve your work and put new stuff in front of potential clients as often as you can. Don't be afraid to cold-call people and find out what they're after, art-wise. Don't fear rejection. I've been rejected. Every artist I *know* has been rejected, at some time or other. Aim past wherever you are at the moment. That's the best way to overcome a fall. Get up and keep going.
Third, attend events where potential clients gather. In this country and around the world, they have events for virtually everything you can imagine--toys, games, clothes, video games, children's books, you name it, there's probably one or more events for it. Attend some of these events and circulate, meet the folks you want to work for. Don't be a pest, but don't be shy either. Getting on their radar is the key thing. You want to get there and stay there.
*whew* Gotta go get some dinner now, but I hope that helps.
Excellent question!! I've got something of a pattern I tend to follow, though that's gotten broken up recently with the discovery of Air America radio and a few other online outlets.
Generally my day starts with metal. Something loud, agressive and fast. It wakes me up and gets me focussed. Things mellow out towards lunch, then more loud music afterwards to keep me from falling asleep at the keyboard (hey, it takes energy to digest food!!). Mellow stuff starts creeping in--Iona, Altan, movie soundtracks like the 5th Element or the Last Temptation of Christ, that sorta thing--until bedtime.
I listen to a lot of world music, stuff like Ekova, Youssou N'Dour, Afro-Celt Sound System, Varrttina and Garmarna. Then there's the prog rock stuff: Porcupine Tree, Spock's Beard, the Flower Kings, Thought Industry and Fields of the Nephilim. There's the heavier stuff like Dream Theater, Tool, Soundgarden, Shotgun Messiah, King's X, and Queensyche that make my day move faster. Then there's the weird and wonderful stuff: Tom Waits, Judy and Mary, that sorta thing.
Beyond that comes the Spoken Word stuff: Henry Rollins, Bill Burroughs, Orson Welles...I listen to a lot of Old Time Radio stuff and books on CD. It's great for working.
Lastly, there's the news. I can get the BBC, PRI, Air America and a few other media outlets on the 'net. Sometimes that's my day, from beginning to end.
Probably more info than you ever wanted, but it was a great question!
Glad to be here, Raptor-mon! Good to see you're here, too.
*laughs* Yep, that's me, and I'm him. I finally decided to start using the "S" in my name, since I was signing my work ASW. It's a kind of consistency, I guess.
(And you can ask as many questions as you like!)
I can't speak for Anson, but I'd be happy to sign the sucker. I *did* do the art for it, so it's not like I'm signing someone else's card. >:) Send away!
Posts merged - PJ
MAN! I better get responding or I'll get buried under all these great welcome-posts! (I can think of worse fates.) Thanks, ever'body. I'll get to answering each and every one of you starting tomorrow. For tonight, though, I want to let you know about an auction I've got that's about to end.
Starting this month I've begun putting some large prints up for auction. Certain pieces I've done look great when they're huge. There won't ever be more than 100 of these beasts. They are Limited Edition 13x19 prints on fine watercolor stock, most of which are still at very low numbers, since I've only shown these prints at events. The two presently up for auction are:
http://www.thinktankstudios.com/ebayness/050205/CinderWall13x19.jpg
This one's number 02 of 100, painted for 8th Edition. They will come remarqued, meaning I'll be doing a doodle on 'em before I send 'em off!
And lastly, Kashi-Tribe Reaver, from Champions of Kamigawa:
http://www.thinktankstudios.com/ebayness/050205/KTR13x19.jpg
This print's the first one off my presses. I was happy with how she turned out as a piece of art and happier still with how she looks at this size.
You can click on the links below to see the images, or go to Ebay and use my name--anthonyswaters--in the seller search window. That'll get you right there.
That's the end of my hustling. I'll be back tomorrow to get started on all your questions. Feel free to check out the prints and snag one if it appeals to you.
Hugs,
ant
Hey there!
Thank you kindly! Let's get on with them questions.
Nope, I regret not. There's not enough time in the day!
All cards come to the artist with what's called a "placeholder title" and a rough description of what's supposed to be goin' on. Sometimes the placeholder name sticks. Sometimes the cards come out and...we get a surprise.
H'lo everyone! (And thanks for starting this thread, man!)
Just got back from doing a digital art demo in Portland with a buddy of mine, Matt Harpold (www.mattharpold.com). In barely a week I'll be hopping a plane to Boston for a Saviors Pre-Release, my second ever, if memory serves. (I'm getting old, so my brain doesn't always do as told.) Suddenly May became a very, very busy month.
That doesn't mean I don't intend to be around. If you've got any questions, ask away. I'll be happy to answer 'em!
Hugs,
ant
Dude!!
Man, I am so sorry. Life kinda carried me away for a few months. BUT I'm back and on my feet! I hope you're lil tyke is doing well, that the worst of the scare is over, and if you'd like me to be available to answer questions, I'm here.
I pledge to be on MTG Salvation at least once a week!