Hey, and welcome to today's installment of The Art of Magic! I apologize for not fulfilling my daily promise, my weekend was highly busy. That might happen again in the future, but I'll try and notify you guys next time.

Anyway, today, we're going to move on to white commons and I have some new information for you.
I'll cut straight to the point. Due to popular demand, I shall be adding an "honorable mentions" section to the column, to discuss those cards that didn't quite make the cut to the top five. This will allow me to talk about and include almost all the cards for that rarity and color, I won't go as in-depth however. On average, only one or two cards will be totally left out.

But what about Black Commons?

Well, don't worry, I haven't forgotten about one of my favorite colors. We'll do Black Common honorable mentions today, so you get an extra long article! You're happy, right?

...Right?

Okay, yeah, "Get to the reviews, Rune," I get it. We'll do Black Common Honorable Mentions first, then move on to White Common reviews. Here ya go:

Honorable Mentions - Black Commons

10. Shred Memory

Well, I like the guy who's getting his memory shredded, and the idea for the art is clever. The tech-like neurotransmitters in his brain are very well done, and the shading is good. The way the shred of memory is fading off into the mist is nice, and the shred is well-done technique-wise. It just doesn't look quite that cool. The background is very nice, for once, I love the mistiness.

9. Brainspoil

The detail on the man's face is incredibly well  done, especially the veins popping out, and the eyes being bloated and bloodshot. Incredible work there. The "brain" or what was, which is now green goo, looks nice, pretty disgusting, which is good. I believe the man's hand is the best part, although the armor isn't bad, the hand in the glove is fantastic, it looks quite contorted, which is great.

8. Stinkweed Imp

Looks very... Stinky. It has rot all over it, and it's face is just putrid. The skeletal and stretched look gives him the feeling that he's been dredged a few too many times, heh. The wings are very well done, and the stark contrast between him and the background is nice. But the background itself is okay. I don't think sky blue works so well, although the purple behind him is great.

7. Sadistic Augermage

Very moody. Well done, definitely.  Looks like a hunched over, angry, sadistic, mad scientist. Which it should! The drill is a nice touch. His cloak and boots look pretty good, although he's a bit too skinny even for my liking. But the real great thing is the background, I believe. The lighting is incredible! Great job on that part!

6. Clinging Darkness

Very cool. The Boros (I'm assuming) woman looks great, her armor is cool, and she looks in distress, which is definitely understandable. The "clinging darkness" consuming her is sweet, I love the little hands and other touches, like the gray outline on them. The subtle background between her and the darkness is nice too. It looks like some sort of cliff, but it's hard to see. Whatever it is, it's well done. Overall, a pretty moody and well-done piece.

With that over with...

With that over with, let's move on to the White Commons! I'll do the honorable mentions first, so that you get to build up to the first place winner!

Honorable Mentions - White Commons

10. Boros Fury-Shield

Well, let's get right down to it. The troll (or whatever it is) looks detailed, but rigid. It looks a tad too much like a broken down robot. The sword is nice though, although it is a bit weird how he holds it...

The Boros Mage, although small in the picture, is well done. He has a dynamic pose, it's believable, and the "fury-shield" looks good. The background is nice, not bad, but not great either. The orange in the background feels to bland for the word "fury".

9. Dromad Purebred

The Purebred itself looks very good, it has that stylish pony look without looking unrealistic, although his neck is a bit long, that may be intentional. The tail is also very short, it would have looked better, in my opinion, longer. The people are very much the background, as well as the city. The Purebred being set off by it's gleaming color is not bad, in fact it defines the horse as being majestic. Good job!


8. Conclave Equenaut

Very moody piece, the rather oily feel gives it a feeling of the place being drenched in warm light, which is a very nice effect. The soft glow around the Equenaut is pretty good, as well.

The background is well detailed, and the Equenaut is well done technically, and well detailed, (Especially the gold) it's just that the whole piece doesn't seem to blend very much. It looks a bit too muddled, and the Equenaut doesn't really match up with the background, it feels like he was stuck there. Maybe it's the white wing in the foreground, maybe it's the brown against the green. Regardless, it looks a bit odd, but still a well done piece.


7. Screeching Griffin

The griffin itself is well done technically, it just doesn't look that impressive to my eyes. Nor does it look majestic, I think it looks to primal for a griffin. Still, it is done well. The background is great. It has that same color as the griffin, but the griffin is still distinctive and visible. The background also has depth and complexity, while not taking away from the griffin. That effect is very hard to achieve, so props on that, Wizards!

6. Nightguard Patrol

First of all, the angle is very interesting on this piece. It gives you the feeling of looking down a street, but at a very different angle than you normally would. It really accentuates the feeling of the Nightguard's importance, and that's great.

My gripe is that the Nightguard didn't really need to be glowing. The composition already accentuates him, and a light line or other notifier is great, but I think they overdid it with the light. Although the guard is shaded properly for the light, so the technique is good.

His armor is nice, not too detailed, but not really bland. The walls of the streets are minor, but they're not that badly detailed.

Top Reviews - White Commons

5. Faith's Fetters

First things first. That monster is very well done. I think it would have looked better had the monster been straining and pulling to get free more, although this gives the feeling of him just being caught, you see this at the earliest possible second the spell was cast. Anyway, the small armor and clothing on the monster is good, it looks like something Golgari or Dimir. That look is also brought out in the tight muscling and skin, and the rather skeletal look. Although it does bear an uncanny resemblance to the creature in Fists of Ironwood... Hmmmm... 

Moving on, the background is well done, the floor the creature is on is simple, but it doesn't need to be complicated. The runes and the "fetters" themselves look great! Very magical, and the runes look cool. (I've always liked runes... O' course, that's a bit obvious...)

The dark background gives the feeling of faith and light shining through the darkness and disabling this horrid creature... And it has detail to boot. Great job!


4. Veteran Armorer

The thing I love about this piece is the lighting.  It's superb. It capture the feel of a smith absolutely perfect! The armorer also looks realistic this way, and the armor he holds is very detailed.

The clothing on the armorer is another thing that adds to him. It looks real, and the belt is very cool. His gauntlets and bandana are nice too. Especially the gauntlets. They looks ripped and worked, which they should, and again it adds to the smith effect. 

All the hands in the foreground are nice and intricate, as they should be, but the artist was still able to make the armorer the focal point. The people in the background add to the smith feel, and the atmosphere of the army coming and getting outfitted for war. Good for Boros. Bad for enemies.



3. Conclave's Blessing

Here is another piece with great perspective and composition. The palace upon which the jewel stands is intricate, and grand, but it looks natural, just like a Conclave building should. Very good flavor there.

The branches and tangling vines holding up the jewel are very well done. It accentuates the natural look of the palace, and it looks sweet to boot! It almost looks cave-like, with those "stalactites" hanging from it, but it also looks very natural that way, with all the mold and leaves draping from the branches.

The background fits right in with the branches, with just adding more faint branches, and sun-drenched look, but not as pronounced as the Equenaut.

The girl casting the jewel (Or being part of it) is small, and I didn't notice it until I finished that last paragraph, heh. It looks good, although it is small.

Finally, the jewel looks great. There's some sort of reflection in it, I can't really tell what it is. (Branches, maybe?) But it gives it a 3D look, and the jewel's color is perfect to match in with the naturalness of the piece, but still offset it from the rest of the work and make it the focal point.


2. Benevolent Ancestor

Well, let's start with the man in the foreground. He adds to the feeling of the piece, and matches the flavor text. He also looks great. His hair and clothing waving gives you the feeling of a benevolent wind, or ancestor protecting him. He himself looks great, the face is very detailed, with the sign upon his head, and the clothing is well done, as it almost always is in Magic. His outline helps accentuate him, and the feeling of protection.

The background, however, is what makes this piece so cool. The benevolent ancestor herself is there, and she looks fantastic! (Really can't ell if it's a him or a her, so I chose her) Her wispy background gives you the feeling of her rising up out of the winds to guide and protect this man.

She looks great too, with all the wisps coming off her, and the hair, covering her eyes. The only problem is that she almost looks evil, although not too much.


1. Wojek Siren

Yet another piece which sports great perspective and phenomenal composition. This is our top place finisher for white commons! 

Well, the soldiers themselves look great, their armor is very evocative of the Wojek, and the Boros. Their facial expressions give them the feeling the flavor text evokes: "It is the call to arms, the call to fury, the call to blood"

The dust looks great in front of them, it gives you the feeling of movement, of passion, and the lighting on the walls and the floor do the same thing

The other thing that gives this piece so much mood is the sun in the background. In my opinion, that's what makes this piece so awesome. The way the light shines upon all the Wojeks and the city behind them, as well as just the sun itself, gives this piece the exact feeling it should evoke. Passion.

This piece is absolutely phenomenal. Superb job, Wizards!

And that concludes today's installment of the Art of Magic. Watch for Red Commons tomorrow, and thanks!  As always, I welcome your comments in the forums (linked below).

Bye'
Runeblade

You can discuss this article in the MDV forums here.

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