Heroes' Tale: Rage Process

Here's a process gif for one of my Heroes' Tale cards: Rage. I included the three thumbnails I sent to Chris. They're extremely rough and I've since tightened my sketches before sending them off to ADs. It's just easier for everyone if the idea is clearer from the start. I do think the thumbs captured a primal energy (read:rage) that I tried not to lose in the painting by stiffening up too much. I think overall it was fairly successful and it's one of my personal favorites from the set.

Questions/Comments? hit me up

-V

Heroes' Tale Printed!

In February of 2013, my good friend Andrew Theophilopolous contacted me about a fantasy card game being created by fellow Ringling alumn Chris Merlino. Back then, it was just an idea and a dream. Chris had contracted me to do 5 promotional images for the kickstarter, which went on to raise over $64,000, after which I was illustrating cards for the game all summer. Now, almost a full year later, the game has printed and shipped, with Chris personally delivering my copy yesterday!

Needless to say, I am deeply grateful and humbled to have worked on this game, especially alongside my friends and fellow illustrators Andrew Theo, Audrey Benjaminsen, Gal Or, and Evan Monteiro. It was a good year, and I owe thanks to Chris and the Heroes' Tale team! Check out the website:

www.heroestalecards.com

Without further ado, here are the last few cards from Heroes' Tale: the Corrupted Forest!

Blight Shade

Chaos Orb

Titan Armor

Imperial Polearm

I illustrated a total of 18 cards for Heroes' Tale, and I learned a ton along the way. The difference between the first (Explorer) and last (Caltakan) card I painted is pretty staggering. Process Gifs to come!

-V

Revised Heroes' Tale Art

the Explorer

the Corrupted Forest

© Merlino Entertainment

I re-illustrated two of my first cards for Heroes' Tale. It's been almost half a year since I started working with Chris, and in that time I outgrew what are now some pretty embarrassing paintings. 

There are many more cards I would have loved more time on, since I was essentially cranking them out in one day every week over the summer, but I just wanted to take another crack at the biggest offenders before they get mass-distributed with my name on them o__o 

These were both pretty quick and fun :)

Big thanks to Andrew Theo for some clutch help on the Explorer. I've included some gifs for your enjoyment as well.

Rage

new card art spoiled today: Rage

© Merlino Entertainment