As much as I like to challenge myself, I tend to go into total overdrive when someone presents me with a novel and exciting challenge. So, when my husband came to me with this brief I could not refuse.
A bit of context:
Magic: The Gathering is a card game that has been captivating players since the early 90s. It's a game of strategy, skill, and luck that takes place in a world of fantasy and imagination. In Magic, you build a deck of cards that represent powerful creatures, spells, and artefacts, and then battle against other players to see who can outsmart and outmanoeuvre their opponent.
But what really sets Magic apart is its stunning artwork and rich lore. The cards feature incredible illustrations that bring the game's creatures and worlds to life, and the stories behind them are just as captivating. Magic has a passionate fan base that has grown over the years, and the game has become a cultural phenomenon.
The MTG tokens were commissioned by my husband as a gift for his best friend, a project that took me three months to complete. It all started with the one-word prompt I was given: Construct. At first, I found it difficult to conceptualize how I could incorporate this theme into the design of 4 tokens. However, after some research, I was reminded of one of my favourite artists: M.C. Escher, and that's when everything clicked.
I was immediately drawn to Escher's use of visual illusions, and tessellations, which I felt were a great manifestation of the prompt, and I decided to work within an isometric grid on Procreate to fix the perspective but still allow me to hand draw. I also decided to reference Roger Penrose, whose work on non-repeating patterns and impossible objects would add an extra layer of complexity and intrigue to the designs. I ended up using a simple tessellation for the card reverse for a special finishing touch.
The design process itself was both challenging and rewarding. I spent countless hours sketching out ideas and experimenting with different patterns and colour schemes. I wanted each token to be unique, yet cohesive as a set.
Once I had a set of final designs, I worked with a printing company to bring them to life. The final product was a set of beautifully crafted tokens, each featuring intricate geometric designs and impossible objects. My husband's best friend was thrilled with the gift, and I was proud of the hard work and dedication that went into creating something so special.
Overall, this project taught me the value of persistence and the rewards of pushing beyond my creative limits. It's also a reminder of the power of art to bring people together and create lasting memories.
