Hello folks!

I hope that you are having a safe day today in our modern COVID-19 world!

Do you enjoy the art side of the game? For me it's the most important part of a Magic card! Today I want to take a tour of my favorite pieces of art from the recent set, Zendikar Rising. What pieces of art have struck my fancy? And which do I recommend a lot? Great questions!

Please note that I am not an artist nor a trained critic. Therefore, my article will be looking at my favorite pieces of art from the set as a fan only. But I enjoy art. I live life on a budget but I have a few pieces of MTG art on my wall I've acquired over the years, although the modern MTG art market is way too high for my blood. My favorite piece I have is Temple Acolyte by Lubov. I corresponded with the artist and she had the painting unsold and I purchased it from her directly.

Anyways, let's take a look see at my favorite art from Zendikar Rising!

Honorable Mention #1 - Journey to Oblivion

The reason Journey to Oblivion struck me is the scene in question. As you can see, someone has fallen, and they have left an imprint in the wall around them. It feels like a cartoon where that often happens as a character goes through a wall or falls through the ground and they leave behind a silhouette. It really struck my funny bone and I chucked when I saw it. So, who gave me that laugh? Jason Felix did! He is probably a name known to players as he has more than 100 cards to his name (Total? 122). He is one of the most accomplished artists to make my list today as not that many hit triple digits. You may know him from classics like All is Dust, casual favorite Artisan of Kozilek, Hydroid Krasis, Laboratory Maniac, or Temple of Triumph from Theros. I really enjoy his depiction of the Gatewatch in Unity of Purpose and I love his art for Grim Initiate. He also illustrates one of my favorite titles of an MTG card of all time - It of the Horrid Swarm. Awesome job Jason!

Honorable Mention #2 - Nahiri's Lithoforming

Nahiri is making the same mistake all over again. It's okay though because this card is doing something new for Red - churning lands into raw card draw. Who knows how impactful that may wind up being? It feels more Black to me to sacrifice a key card for short term value in the theme of Black's many sacrifices for various effects. But anyway, enough about the card because check out that art! I love how the magma and such plays into Nahiri's form. You have a nice perspective scene of her, and the surrounding land nicely done. The artist, Campbell White, has 18 cards to his credit. He got started in Theros: Beyond Death and he is already hitting honorable mention just a few sets later, so that's nice. Campbell's works include 12 from this set! My favorite, after the Lithoforming, is Roiling Vortex, also from this set and another Red card. Thanks Campbell and welcome to the club!

Honorable Mention #3 - Shell Shield

I'm not sure about the Turtle in the art for Shell Shield, but it's clever and Wisnu Tan does a great job with it whatever the case. I love the art for it! It's awesome! It so colorful and such a great idea and I enjoy the "Not Again" expression on the turtle. I love this art so much. Wisnue has 20 pieces to the credit of the artist, and I want to give a quick little homage to Syr Carah, the Bold, Korvold, Fae-Cursed King and Karn, the Great Creator! I really like Wisnu's Planewide Celebration. Great job on your cards Wisnu Tan!

And now let's move on to my top ten proper!

#10. Deadly Alliance

There are a few cards that play into the party mechanic with some kicking art, but Deadly Alliance is my favorite! I love how the group is under pressure and you see some great looks from the faces of the characters here. Kieran Yanner does a great job with the color here as well as the scene is deliciously well done! Kieran has 140 pieces of art as is one of a few triple digit artists in our countdown today. You might recall his Ajani Unyielding, Dovin, Grand Arbiter, Gideon Blackblade, Jace, Cunning Castaway, Kenrith, the Returned King, Mystic Confluence, and Queen Marchesa. My favorite work by Kieran is either Rienne, Angel of Rebirth or Prime Speaker Vannifar. Great job Kieran!

#9. Lullmage's Familiar

This is the Lil' Beast that Could! It's so cute! Look at it's face...it's so happy to help you out little mage. I love the detail on the bag and the creature with equal care and attention to detail. I love the glass bottles and how well they were done. And who gave us such a cute piece of art? Gabor Szikszai did! With 29 pieces of MTG art to Gabor's credit, we have a few cards to unpack here. You might know his Flaxen Intruder, Sprite Dragon, or Witch's Cottage. My favorite is probably his Iconic Masters' version of Oblivion Stone. Thanks Gabor for the 2nd cutest piece of art on our countdown today!

#8. Kazandu Nectarpot

Hello folks and welcome to the prettiest bug on the scene. I like the original art for this card a lot, but I adore this one's... majesty. I just cannot stop looking at the bug in the art! It's captivating. It's just so well done! Did you know that this is the only piece by Daniel Lieske? It's true! How about that, making my list with only one card in the game! That's awesome! Nicely done Daniel! And welcome to the club too by the by. I can't wait to see what else follows!

#7. Scale the Heights

Scale the Heights has hit a triple. It's a better Explore in the mid or late game as it does something when you don't need ramp anymore. I really like it and it hit my Top Ten List last week in this column smashing in at #3. I also love its art as well. The perspective of the main character in the distance on the right does a great job at displaying the scene and that is done quite well by Cristi Balanescu. The art on this piece is quite impressive. Cristi Balanescu has done a few pieces for the game clocking in at 27 pieces. You might know Cristi's Garruk, Unleashed or Tournament Grounds. My favorite is probably Scale the Heights, although Spectral Sailor is a close second and I could be convinced. It looks like Cristi got started in Magic 2020 so has only been with us for a year or so, but what a year it's been! Great job and welcome Cristi!

#6. Concerted Defense

Many counters have a cool scene that they are countering, but in this case that scene really sells the art in this card. I really enjoy the details of the thorns and the rock being cut by the magic wielder in the background. Note how the scene isn't focused on the user, and less on the magic proper, but instead on what it is countering, which is different and cool. I really enjoy it. Chris Rallis almost has 100 cards to his name (94) and has one of the bigger slates of cards in today's countdown. Chris's work includes Teferi, Time Raveler, Teferi, Master of Time, Teferi, Hero of Dominaria, and other cards that have nothing to do with said time mage (like Nissa, Who Shakes the World). My favorite cards are probably Siona, Captain of the Pyleas or possibly Massacre Girl. Or maybe Liliana, Death's Majesty, which is my favorite art of her in planeswalker form. He's one of the most consistently high-quality artists in today's countdown so great job on that Chris!

#5. Sejiri Shelter

Welcome to my Top Five favorite art from the set! Now we'll start with Darek Zabrocki. Just like Cristi above, Darek has 27 pieces of art for MTG. You might know his Spire Garden, Renegade Wheelsmith or the Amonkhet Masterpieces version of Through the Breach. Spire Garden is my favorite piece his has done as well. It looks like he has been doing this since at least Kaladesh block and does one or three pieces per set. Sejiri Shelter is a great lit-up scene that really is done classically well. I enjoy the use of color as well as the way that Darek uses color in the scene. You can see that in the background of Sejiri Glacier as well in case you want to play it as a land so you get great art in either case. Great double job Darek!

#4. Kaza, Roil Chaser

Do you like to surf your flying staff? This is the modern form of a witch riding a broom I suspect. I'm not sure if the Staff Surfing of Kaza was from the artist or the company, but either way it's really cool and iconic looking. I'm not a super fan of the ability as it feels a little by the number for Izzet leaders, but I love the art! From the magical effects in the staff to the lush background greenery there is a lot here to enjoy! Ekaterina Burmak hasn't even done 20 pieces of art for the game yet, but I really like this one. She just got started, and I really like her Atla Palani, Nest Tender and her Bruvac the Grandiloquent. I hope you like Ekaterina!

#3. Acquisitions Expert

The name sounds like code for a C.P.A. but it looks like a high wire artist. I really enjoy the perspective here of this as you are looking up at the Human Rogue from below. The art is well done and quite detailed and you can make out everything from the target of interest to the body pointed towards said Acquisition. Anna Steinbauer brings a powerful look to the card, and this is her 52nd card! That's a full deck of MTG Art. My favorite is likely her Sisay, Weatherlight Captain. You might also know the cards and planeswalker art for Rowan Kenrith, Will Kenrith, Nahiri, Heir of the Ancients and Ajani, Valiant Protector. She has quite a lush and talented eye for detail. Actually, now that I think about it, Blessed Spirits may be my favorite art by her. Anyway, good job Anna!

#2. Canyon Jerboa

This is our first Mouse, and I have to say that's pretty cool. I learned the word "Jerboa" when I was in fifth grade. Our teacher had a "Word of the Day" that we created by referring to a dictionary and we put words we found onto index cards which we'd use once/day for the word each day of the school year. That's was pretty cool! Now it's on an MTG card which is also pretty cool. Take a look at Antonio José Manzanedo's piece of art. How awesome this is! The cute eyes of the Mouse. The furry tail. The way this thing makes you go "d'awwwwwww." It's all very well done. Antonio has 27 pieces of art and these include cards like M21's Grim Tutor, Zilortha, Strength Incarnate and my favorite, Emiel the Blessed. This is my choice for cutest art in the set. I hope you enjoy Antonio!

#1. Tangled Florahedron

Welcome to my favorite piece of art in the set, Tangled Florahedron! The beautiful and colorful Elemental is quite amazingly well done. I really enjoy the attention to detail, and the older Hedron that is now grown into and a part of the infrastructure of Zendikar in a very different way than before! Look at Randy Vargas! He has done 77 works for the game including art for cards like the Double Masters version of Avacyn, Angel of Hope, Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive, Gavi, Nest Warden and Frilled Mystic. This is my favorite art by him. With a shout out to Fierce Guardianship the biggest card from Commander 2020. Great use of color Randy!

Shout out to Coveted Prize and Legion Angel that almost made the cut!

And there we have it! What did you think of my choices, and what is your favorite art in the set? Just let me know! Have an awesome (and safe) day!