FanArt_ink.Pierce

 MTGinktober pokes into Day 6, "Pierce," starring Nin, the Pain Artist and Domri Rade! 

 I had an idea of Nin torturing someone while Ashnod either assists or just enjoys the show, but I had to go with Domri cuz he has a bunch of piercings and tattoos, which would make perfect use of all of Nin's arms, but a trio involving Domri felt like it'd step on the toes of our annual fashion number, which I feel is still live to draw at some point this year.  So we cut Ashnod, but maybe that made for a clearer image.    

 Fun Facts:  This is Domri's seventh MTGinktober appearance, and Nin's debut.  I like drawing Domri, and often merge different elements from different cards, with Tyler Jacobson's original being my anchor, but with a good assist from Domri, Anarch of Bolas (Raita Kazama Version). 

 Easter Eggs:  I included a little piggy tattoo to reference his more recent iteration allying with Boars (though technically Beasts), plus I included my signature as one of his tattoos.  The background comes mainly from Nin's card.
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FanArt_ink.Deer

MTGinktober grazes on Day 5, "Deer," starring Rissa "Blades" Lee and Beza, the Bounding Spring (Hale version)! 

I wasn't sure about this one because I definitely didn't want to do the go-to Oko piece, but what ideas remained were also a little dull.  So this one was just kinda hoping to do a little action piece, as well as add another trophy to the achievements case. 

Fun Facts:  This is all characters' debuts, and as I just mentioned, this accomplishes another "expression of Magic," this time one of the Bounty peripheral cards via Rissa.  Almost drew Sleepy Sovka napping next to a deer, but thought something more action-packed would help with my personal tiredness.  I briefly though about drawing Druid of the Sacred Beaker, the only actual Deer in Magic, but it was too creepy looking.   

Easter Eggs:  The pose comes mainly from Oko, the Ringleader (Lie Setiawan version).  And the beams of light are from the Hale version of Beza, but also, along with the rock formation, a nod to this really cool deer-y art in Approach of the Second Sun (Nagano version). 

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FanArt_ink.Murky

MTGinktober shadows Day 4, "Murky," starring Neva, Stalked by Nightmares; Umbris, Fear Manifest; and Jorubai Murk Lurker!

I had a few ideas for this one, but decided to go with this concept, which would feature all new characters, rather than doing one of the other ideas that involved repeats, since this is looking like our last rodeo.  Plus we get to do a more frightening illustration here.

Fun Facts:  Indeed this is all these characters' debuts.  Sadly Neva's draft archetype didn't really pan out, but I believe I've cast her at least once.  Plus the Murk Lurker is a classic from his set, which was a lovely grindfest, so you could really afford to put him and his cyclemates to use.  No idea about Umbris, though, as I don't play Commander--looks neat though, and it was cool getting to kinda invent more of his design since it's a little vague--or murky as it were.

Easter Eggs: Since we got to get creative with Umbris's accoutrements, I incorporated a special look for his tendrils of smoke or whatever--it's the design from Kuon's Essence, which finally knocks another item off my checklist for drawing all "expressions" of Magic, an OG flipcard from Kamigawa.  Still on the hunt for ways to draw more expressions. 

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FanArt_ink.Crown

MTGinktober checkmates Day 3, "Crown," starring Queen Marchesa! 

I was torn between a fun little episode of Spike and Vorthos, where Vorthos is celebrating Spike's birthday with all kinds of cheesy decorations, including a birthday crown, while Spike is just miserable, but instead went with something a little more substantial.  This year's debut was a statement against Universes Beyond--and Loot, but this one is a criticism of the recent spate of "Hat" sets, with Marchesa literally rejecting her doofy hat in favor of her more in-flavor accessory.  

Fun Facts:  This is Marchesa's second MTGinktober appearance, and I've long wanted to try drawing her again, cuz I felt like that last one was a little rushed and lackluster.

Easter Eggs:  The hat is of course from Marchesa, Dealer of Death.

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FanArt_ink.Weave

 MTGinktober sews up Day 2, "Weave," starring Tymna the Weaver and Goldspan Dragon! 

 All right, I was a little reluctant to go for an obvious "weaver" character, and certainly not drawing another Spider-Man adjacent character, but throwing back to Tymna, which was our very last completed illustration of our failed 2016 run felt fitting for our final run.  But what enchanted me with this character for this prompt was the opportunity to incorporate Kaldheim's wonderful weave-themed designs into Tymna's weaving design, so we went with Goldspan, given the space left to work with. 

 Fun Facts: Hang on, it looks like this is actually Tymna's third MTGinktober appearance.  Goldspan debuts. 

 Easter Eggs: The bottom of the weaving in progress is inspired by Fate Unraveler's frayed tapestry design, which I've always loved since I first saw it, and that imagery has stuck with me.   

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FanArt_ink.Mustache

MTGinktober faces a hair-raising Day 1, "Mustache," starring starring Fleem, Goben’s Creation and Goben, Gene-Splice Savant. I like my sugar with coffee and Fleem!

Well, we're back for one last round of MTGinktober. I believe this'll be our last run, since, as I've explained elsewhere,  it takes a ton out of me and it just doesn't feel like I'm getting anywhere with these, and on top of that, it feels like it's only getting harder to even be seen any more. Even now, I'm writing this in a Word document while I figure out what's going on with Blogspot, as the site seems to be down or something. But other platforms are also just like running uphill, too, so I dunno. It just feels like I could or should be doing something else with my efforts.

Fun Facts: It's funny, while I'm no Loot fan, and I'd certainly take Fleem over Loot, I've long been an advocate of “promoting from within” for Magic's weirdo mascot, and I've long wanted it to be Matt Cavotta's mascot guy seen in Inspiration  and Flash Counter. But on top of that, I'm also not a fan of Universes Beyond, so that makes it even more desirable to have a completely Magic-based character be our kooky mascot, rather than anything that can even kinda be from something external.

Easter Eggs: In reference to the Loot vs. Fleem debate, I decisively place our support with Fleem, and have his pose reference Eggnogger's 'Stache.

With that, let's have a good run, and hope for the best.

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