Locations
I was born in the Mountain State of West Virginia, fully ensconced in the Appalachia Mountains. We consider ourselves as part of Central Appalachia, not as the south, nor the Atlantic, or anything like that. We are the Mountains that nurture and protect us. There is something sacred in their lives.
For that reason, Mountain basic land art has always felt more real to me that the others.
Shoot, I went to WVU. The home of the Mountain-eers. WV's state motto? Mountaineers are Always Free. It's in my bones.
Today I want to continue my Top Ten Basic Land Art series by exploring my homes. The Mountains of Magic. This is the fourth of my series that examines the basic land art that's been printed and looks at the various pieces that I love. Next week we'll finish with my Forest choices, and then I'll give you a quick Top Ten of them All.
Don't forget that I am not an artist or a critic. I am just an Abe, a normal fan who owns most of the Mountains in print in real life, most of them in a foil version in Abe's Deck of Happiness and Joy.
Mountains for the win!
Honorable Mention #1- Unglued Mountain by Tom Wanerstrand
Just because artwork is heavily known, or larger than the normal artwork doesn't mean that I am going to consider it one of my choices for the best one out there. For the first three articles I didn't have any of the Un- sets oversized lands, but here Tom's watercolors strike a perfect balance between beauty and majesty. His understated colors and details create a piece that resonates deep down with my Mountainous Soul. Thanks!
Shout out two of his Ice Age Mountains -
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Honorable Mention #2 - DominariaMountain by Jonas de Ro
Jones does a brilliant job of depicting a typical Mountain scene. The russet red, the horizon, the far-off mountains and the hint of many more. The mists and cloud are done well. The only thing this piece lacks, to my mind, is something happening in the scene. Maybe a foreground tree? Or someone traveling in the distance? Just something other than what appears to be a pretty scene. But it's pretty! Good job Jonas!
Honorable Mention #3-EURO Mountain by Scott Bailey
Scott's work is incredibly well done. Drawn in the real-life Pyrenees Mountain chain, it's clearly rooted in reality, and that tethers it beautifully. For that reason, this is one of my favorite piece. The detail and snow-kissed valley are beautiful! However, like Jonas's work above, I'd like something here. Travelers. Goats. Water cascading down. A different perspective. Something in the foreground to catch my eye and draw me into the scene. So it doesn't hit my Top Ten. But it's good! In fact, it'll be my highest hitting pretty Mountain that doesn't have a scene or something else.
All right, top ten time!
10.Magic 2010 Mountain, by Karl Kopinski
For a similarly pretty Mountain to Tom, Jonas, and Scott, check out Karl's classic piece that's been reprinted so many times it's probably one of the most common Mountain artworks out there. For good reason, as it's both pretty, and shows a small scene of travelers in the bottom left corner, and the flying creatures in the middle-right. Things are happening. The colors are well done, and Karl's work has been suitably reprinted multiple times. Good job Karl!
9. Zendikar Mountain, by Veronique Meignaud
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For me, the full-art pieces really need to stand out in smaller version too, in order to make my list. And this one does so swimmingly. Veronique's masterpiece is not only a strong full-art piece, but also keeps that when reduced in size. It is hard to do that! And she has these incredible details, with a gorgeous and wonderful fantasy scene. The art is just well done, and to this day, the details of the rocks surrounding the circle at the bottom show to me that she didn't just do the circle and call it a day, but really focused on the rest of the piece too. I love it!
8. Lorwyn Mountain, by Wayne Reynolds
I don't know if Wayne grew up in the Mountains like I did. But this feels like the sort of Mountain scene that I'd see a lot in my backyard. From the fresh water flowing to the plants and rocks, everything here puts together a strong claim of authenticity to someone like me. What really sells me? The lichen on the rocks. That's a detail you likely wouldn't see from someone who is just drawing pretty, without an anchor in reality. Thanks Wayne!
On a non-related note, Lorwyn has now made four of my lists. Will it grace our Forest list next week? I guess we'll see!
7. Magic Origins Mountain by Noah Bradley
What really makes this work for me is not just the great detailed setting and scene in the foreground, nor the great shadows and light contrasts here, nor the background buildings either, which are also done well. Nope! It's also the hint of the great Mountain and chain in the background that just keeps on going. It's a strong piece of work because everything comes together from the colors to the scene and more. Thanks Noah!!!
6. Champions of Kamigawa Mountain by John Avon
Welcome Back John! While a lot of artists show Mountains with snow on them, very few actually show it during snow-fall, which is an added level of detail that John certainly isn't shying away from. In fact, I think the entire Champions of Kamigawa Mountain set is John's best Mountain work. This is my favorite because of the far away bridge that shows just how desolate and remote this place is. When you live in Mountains, you can't make the Mountains adapt to you. They are unbending. You adapt to them. Or you die. That's it. These scene shows that quite nicely too, with the snow and bridge as useful grounded places for my eye to go. Thanks John!
Last week I pointed out that only two artists had made my cut in every top ten list thus far - John Avon and Jung Park. Would any of them make it to today and then finish with all five lists? Well, unfortunately, Jung Park has only been assigned a single Mountain thus far. It's Jung-esque in its quality!
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It's not something that made my top list. We need to get him some more Mountains WotC!
All right, top
five time!
5. Dominaria Mountain, by DimitarMarinski
Dominaria has a lot of strong lands, and I enjoy a lot of them. If you are going to do art like this that was likely created electronically, then embrace it. This is amazingly detailed and shows one of the best lava-scenes in the game. From the smoking crusted lava, to the blackened buildings in the back, everything works perfectly to suit the mood. This is a strong piece. The smoke or mist come off the rock is strong, and looks great in foil too, by the by. Oh, and Dimitar made my Honorable Mention list for Swamps in my first article, but this is his first spot on one of lists, so good job!
Is his single Forest going to make it net week?
I guess we'll see!
4. Portal Second Age Mountain, by Rob Alexander
This land by The Mountain Master Himself, Rob Alexander (illustrator of around 10 Mountains). For the most part, Portal Second Age nails the basic lands of every type, and we looked at their Swamps in the first Top Ten, but they are strong everywhere and a great example of early art in the game that was powerful. In fact, I'd consider the art of P2A to have the best art from top to bottom of any set, and most players don't know it.
But Rob nails this piece, and it's one of my top five Mountains. Much like a Rose, a Mountain has a peaceful feel that belies its dangerous nature. Similar, this scene is simple, yet powerful. The dungeon cave that draws you in is strong. The entire piece is well done, from the rock marks that peek out from the snow to the colors of the horizon shifting gently as they rise up nearing the sun. Everything here is powerfully intoxicating.
With a shout out to the other two lands here in P2A.
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3. Ixalan Mountain, by Raoul Vitale
This gorges piece of art looks even better closeup in real life, by the by. And it's foil? Nice. This far-flung corner of the Ixalan Plane is remote and striking with the waterfalls, Mesoamerican style structure, and more. The water falling and the creatures flying in front of it how just how far away this place is. I can't say anything about this that won't somehow fail to do its majesty justice. Words elude me. Just enjoy the scenery and move on, having been touched spiritually.
2. Commander 2017 Mountain, by Kev Walker
This is perfect. Lots of Magic art depicts an exploding Mountain. None of them do it as well as this basic Mountain. Peak Eruption? Lava Storm? Urborg Volcano? Volcanic Island? Volcanic Geyser? Magma Burst? Torrent of Lava? Active Volcano? Volcanic Eruption? Lava Burst? Violent Eruption? Nope. Kev Walker outdistances the m all with this little ol' Mountain. It's so powerful as setting the scene and taking you with it. The ruins? The active lava river? It's so compelling and well-crafted, that it's my #2 Mountain of all time! Great job Kev!
Despite having done more than 400 pieces of art for Wizards of the Coast, Kev has only done a handful of basic land art (4 Mountains, 1 Island, 2 Forest, 2 Swamp, 1 Plains). Despite that low output of basic lands, his C17 Swamp was just cut from my Honorable Mention:
It's good. And this won't be his last appearance. I guarantee you will see him do very, very, very well next week. We got to toss this guy more basics Wizards!
All right, #1 time!
1. Zendikar Mountain, by Vincent Proce
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Everything I said about Veronique's Mountain? It's doubly true for this one by Vincent Proce. He has a strong viewpoint, the lines that tether everything together, and the flock in the middle shows action and perspective. Everything in this art is top line quality. It shows the Kor being forced to live up high in these mountains and adapting their way of life to do so. Thanks for making my favorite Mountain art of all time!
And there we are! So what did you think? Do you agree with my list? What's your favorite? I'd love to hear what you thought, and thanks for reading!!!
Abe's Favorite Basic Land Art:
Did you enjoy this list? Want to check out the others?
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