Summer has definitely arrived here, and the heat is already making itself felt in mid-June. A couple of summer subjects, taken from "Sorcery: Contested Realm"

 

One of the landscapes I enjoyed painting the most: the English village in summer, surrounded by wheat fields.

Always for Sorcery, the workers in the fields. Thanks to Erik who had the idea to render the labor of the workers under the light of a summer sunset.

A small detail: a blue tit escaping from its shelter among the wheat stalks 

Here is the new illustration for the Magazine "Lebenslust Emmental", summer issue

 

A canopy collapses on the pulpit at the end of a sermon...new illustration for Sandra Rutschi's new story about proverbs. This time it's about "Alle Gute kommt von oben" (All good things come from above). The story is really beautiful and funny, especially in the ending :-)

Thanks as always to Marie-Claire Hofstetter, Torfinn Rothenbuehler and Sandra Rutschi for their trust. 

New illustration! For the cover of the Magazine "Sonah Magazin", summer 2025 issue

My first illustration on prehistory (and on the cover)!  A landscape from the prehistoric Carboniferous period (360-300 millions years ago), when the world was dominated by immense forests of giant ferns and horsetails. Oxygen levels were extremely high, and the swamps were traveled by enormous insects and amphibians.

Shown here are two giant Meganeura dragonflies (as large as modern hawks) and a huge two-meter long proterogyrinus like amphibian.

I am so grateful to Anika Meyer for allowing me to illustrate the cover of her beautiful magazine Sonah  https://sonah-verlag.de/

The original watercolor and gouache painting on the work table next to the Magazines

The two "Foot Soldier" (Token) illustrations made for "Sorcery Arthurian Legends"

 

Here the two paintings are placed side by side, so that the British Arthurian Foot Soldier (in a coastal landscape reminiscent of the English coast) and the Saracen Foot Soldier appear to confront each (even the ground line of the background almost seems to be one the counterpart of the other, in the two illustrations)

Here are the two small cards. 

I take advantage of this space to repost the Illustration "Plague", because, having recently seen the new -beautiful -  "Nosferatu" by Robert Eggers, this image came to mind. There are natural analogies, I think, with the part of the film where rats carry the plague and a street in the (fictional) German city of Wisborg is shown.

Even in this illustration, since I love German medieval and Renaissance architecture, I had fun inserting elements typical of half-timbered houses.

This is one of my favorite illustrations and I enjoyed painting it!

Here is a detail of the work in progress

New illustration for the spring issue of the Magazine "Lebenslust Emmental"

 

For the new story by Sandra Rutschi here is my new illustration: an old house in the architectural style of the Bernese countryside, with a garden and... a blooming rose, hidden behind a rose bush.

It was a special joy to paint this illustration, because it combined my passion for typical architecture with that for cottage gardens. Thanks as always to Marie-Claire Hofstetter, Torfinn Rothenbuehler, and Sandra Rutschi for their trust!

New illustration for the winter issue of the Magazine "Lebenslust Emmental"

 

A woodcutter screaming towards a snowy forest: here is the illustration for the new short story by Sandra Rutschi "As you call into the forest, it echoes out". Many thanks to the suggestions and precious Art Direction of Marie-Claire Hofstetter!

Wodan (as a young God) riding Sleipnir. New Illustration for "Sonah Magazin", winter 2024.

 

Wodan (here represented as a still young God riding his eight-legged steed) is the name that the populations of Central Europe gave in the Middle Ages to the Scandinavian and Norse God Odin

(Old German: Wodan, Wuotan, Woden; Old Dutch: Wuodan; Old Saxon: Uuoden; Old English: Woden; Old Norse: Odinn). 

Even in Southern Germany he is a figure at the center of many legends, such as that, among others, linked to the horseshoe. Beautiful and in-depth article by Anika Meyer (Editor and Art Director I thank very much for allowing me to illustrate such a beautiful subject!) on the topic.

sonah-verlag.de

The God Wodan - Odin in his appearance as an old wanderer with a blue cloak and gray robe

Even the Frau Holle of fairy tales is the derivation of Holda, an ancient mythological Goddess (Hertha - Jord) among the wives of Odin and mother of Thor

Third group of illustrations for "Sorcery": The Templar Avatar, Medieval Forge and White Coursier

Here is a second group of my illustrations for "Sorcery: Contested Realm" Arthurian Legends

 

In this group I show some of my favorites among the illustrated subjects: the small medieval village "Hamlet", with its half-timbered house in the foreground on the left, the spring plants in the background, the thatched roofs...

The "Hunter's Lodge" in the depths of a forest, with the light penetrating the old trees in the background, the sleeping dogs in the foreground, the details of the vegetation...

The burning castle: I loved this subject! The research on the effects of light in a nocturnal context, the reflection of the flames on the forest, the full moon in the background of a distant landscape, with a silver river flowing in the distance (and castles... I always love them).

I brought these subjects together because I loved working on different lighting effects and details than usual

The "Plague" illustration: I also loved trying my hand at this subject, so different from the usual ones. This illustration owes a lot to Erik's suggestions, his idea of ​​the unhealthy and pestilential atmosphere suggested by the greenish colors of the background was, as always, FUNDAMENTAL! Thanks Erik!

"Sir Ironside", this is a much more usual historical subject for me: two knights who met in a duel. The chaimail armor and weapons are typical of the 13th century, what was different and what I tried to depict as best as I could was the detailed face in the background. Erik's great tip was to think about old movie posters.

See you soon with a new selection of Arthurian illustrations!

With IMMENSE joy, the new edition of "Sorcery: Contested Realm" was published at the beginning of the month; the expansion is entirely dedicated to "Arthurian Legends".

 

Seeing my Sir Perceval become part of the Cover Art of "Arthurian Legends" was a surprise and a unique emotion. I can never stop thanking Erik and the Sorcery Team enough!

All the information, artists, cards and works of art here:

https://sorcerytcg.com/

https://sorcerytcg.com/art

The Cover Art is truly gorgeous! The credit for this marvel for the eyes, decorated with gold leaf motifs, as refined and beautiful as in a luxurious medieval illuminated manuscript, goes to the incredibly talented Elvira Shakirova. Her skill is extraordinary!

The illustration with my "Common Village" for this edition. Unlike the previous villages (which depicted Alpine Walser, or North Frisian, houses), here I have tried to depict a typical late medieval English village. In a summer landscape.

The "Verdant Knight": I love making sunsets, I love landscapes, I love flamboyant and eccentric clothes of the late Middle Ages!😊

This is just a first taste: I have made many illustrations and I will try to show them all!

My painting "Sir Perceval", with the knight in front of the Grail (and the Fisher King) castle

Some illustrations among those published in various issues of the beautiful Swiss Magazine "Lebenslust Emmental Magazin"

The illustration published in the new issue of the Magazine "Lebenslust Emmental" number 65, autumn 2024.

The illustration is for Sandra Rutschi's beautiful new short story "Die Baeume wachsen nicht in den Himmel" ("The trees don't grow into the sky").

The Magazine is always beautiful with wonderful photos: it is impossible not to want to immerse yourself in the wonderful landscapes, villages and woods of the Bernese Emmental!

           A  Bernese Mountain Dog and some illustrations of botanical essences and flowers

Illustration of wildflowers (poppy, dandelion, red clover, plantain, bromes ... among others)

Semolina pudding (Griessbrei), with recipe and ingredients (cinnamon!), for the short story by Sandra Rutschi

The original paintings for the illustrations (always painted in watercolor and gouache on Arches paper) next to the Magazine

Some photos taken in the field looking for the wildflowers for the illustration

Magnificent animated video of the new "Sorcery" series dedicated to the Arthurian Legends. My knight Perceval is there too!

 Arthurian Legends: Sorcery Contested Realm Trailer

Magnificent animated video on YouTube of the new "Sorcery" series dedicated to the Arthurian Legends. 

My knight Perceval is there too!

The Video is simply wonderful: the music, the narrative voice, the atmosphere! I can't wait to see all the illustrated cards.

LOTS of new illustrations are coming!

On the occasion of the publication of the new expansion dedicated to Arthurian Legends here is an interview on the "Sorcery: Contested Realm" website: 

https://sorcerytcg.com/art/andrea-modesti

I sincerely thank Chase for the interview, his great kindness and attention. And ALWAYS a big thank you to Erik and the entire Sorcery Team. 

I also thank the Magic Maze Team who will organize an event for the launch of the new Arthurian Legends; Francesca Baerald will also be there!!

https://sorcerytcg.com/news/landmark-sorcery-event-for-italy-at-magic-maze-october-27th-2024

While waiting for the publication of the new illustrations, a small reminder of some of those already published ;-)

The Knight in progress: first the background, then the figures (initially protected by the liquid maskig fluid for watercolor)