Edward P. Beard, Jr. dropped as an artist for Magic.

[Lord_Vulture]

You know, no matter what the players say Wizards is going to do what they want to do. I've been playing for quite a while now, seen banning, unbannings card redesign, and every time wizards did it anyway. Do the junkies really ever get a break from the dealers? Has there ever been a decision WotC has made, that the players have changed the outcome of? Has anyone ever made enough noise the Wizards actully listened? Getting rid of an artist "because the fans didn't like their art" is a lot of bull. Did any of you or your friends actually complain about this artists prformance? If you did, do you think they would have done anything? Just had to vent.... Just like everything else this will pass, it will be accepted as normal, the game will go on, they will raise prices, they won't reprint the power nine, and I will continue to buy little peices of printed cardboard. I love the game just hate the politics sometimes.

Lord_Vulture

P.S., Yes, I have written to WotC and voiced my opinions on several topics, never got a reply, never seen it change a thing, still playin' the game.

[Onderzeeboot]

Hmm... I don't feel his artwork is sub-par at all, it's actually very decent. There's only one artist in current magic whose work I can't appreciate, and that's Ron Spencer. He has some decent art, but just look at Planar Chaos and you'll know what I mean.

(edit: Oops, it's Spencer of course)

[RickCorgan]

Originally Posted by Onderzeeboot

Hmm... I don't feel his artwork is sub-par at all, it's actually very decent. There's only one artist in current magic whose work I can't appreciate, and that's Ron Specner. He has some decent art, but just look at Planar Chaos and you'll know what I mean.

Completely seconded. Ed's artwork has always been nice, not quite Kev Walker or Rebecca Guay, but not quite Ron Spencer either (frankly, I don't like Spencer's art at all, they are always too cluttered with comic-book-like details).

[HAWKEYE7]

I liked his work as well. He was not my favorite Magic card artist but he's a good artist.
I have met him on three occations at pre-releases. He is a nice guy who was happy to autograph cards, talk about his work, how he goes about making the pieces and how he did buisness with Wizards. He also does a great deal of other illustration besides just Magic cards.
I'm sorry that Wizards decided to do this.

[Oddity]

Originally Posted by Onderzeeboot

Hmm... I don't feel his artwork is sub-par at all, it's actually very decent. There's only one artist in current magic whose work I can't appreciate, and that's Ron Specner. He has some decent art, but just look at Planar Chaos and you'll know what I mean.

Oh, and also guys, what proof has he given us? I see no proof yet.

[Bogan]

Beard is very solid among artists. In fact, I am more angered of this dropping than of Gauy and I'll tell you why. With Guay, they just didn't commision any pieces from Mirrodin Block because of Creative reasons. That was fine, whatever, water color doesn't really fit the Artifact sets. Beard, on the other hand, turns in solid work each time and if he is getting axed who is next? When good professionals are getting axed out of nowhere, your favorite artist could be next. John Avon, Ron Spencer, ... Good artists who have a great record of work, the just might be the next to go for "budgetary reasons", "creative reasons", or even "lack of quality work" unjustly. Sorry, but if some 8 year old prick or a bunch of 33 year old casual players don't like him, they can suck my dick.

[Cannibal]

where is the justification for this thread? can i get a link posted that will confirm that ed has been dropped as a magic artist?

without proof this is a thread that should maybe be locked?

-Cannibal-
-missing mylittle cthulhu-

[Sene]

I must say I don't like Wizards' dissing of Edward either. He has made many good artworks, like the mentioned Psychatog. That art really rocked. Seriously. It's not just because the card is good, but it fits so well to Psychatog, and it is a cool and awesome artwork as well. By the way my favourite artists must be... Kev Walker, Carl Critchlow, Rebecca Guay... and possibly John Avon.

[Oddity]

Originally Posted by Sene

I must say I don't like Wizards' dissing of Edward either.

Where did they diss him?

[Itinerant Soldier]

Originally Posted by Cannibal

where is the justification for this thread? can i get a link posted that will confirm that ed has been dropped as a magic artist?

without proof this is a thread that should maybe be locked?

-Cannibal-
-missing mylittle cthulhu-

In the submit news section someone claiming to be a judge at the prerelease where Beard was at said he saw a printout at Beard's table confirming that he was indeed dropped by Wizards.... I'll leave it at that.

As for Beard himself, I don't like his art all THAT much but it was very much quality work and he deserves to be kept on. In fact there isn't any artist aside from Paolo Parente, IMO, that deserves to be dropped. And even Paolo's art has improved over time (altho I think that might be a byproduct of the new card fronts too tho...). IMO tho this seems like Wizards is trying to go more toward a digital look rather than a handdrawn or handpainted look (with the notable exception of Rebecca Guay... but thats for a good reason ).

Also I have one question that's begging to be answered: With the influx of new artists in the last two blocks, is there enough art to go around to make everyone happy and would there have to be someone dropped to do so?

[SecretSantana]

Originally Posted by Gypsy

I'ld love to see WotC's source for this as well. Where did they have the survey that stated, "Do you hate Ed Beard's work?"

About every 4 months, when a new set is released. One day you'll visit MTG.com, and it will ask you to take a survey. During the survey, they ask things like "pick your 3 least favorite arts" and whatnot.

[Jobe]

My guess is that Beards style no longer fit into the cleaner, more polished look that Wizards is moving towards. Unfortunately where as the new look is nice, it does seem a little homogenized. It could also be that Wizards has an issue with Beard on a business level, which wouldn't be a shock if in fact it was Beard who was announcing that he was dropped. Doesn't seem very professional if you ask me.

Gypsy - What's wrong with the art on Infernal Denizen? Drew tucker is an amazing artist. His style worked perfectly with that card.

[GeoMike]

I bought 3 of his prints (BOP, Mystic Familiar & Blademane Baku) at the pre-release on Saturday in Orlando and got cards signed. He was a real nice guy and personable. I hope they don't axe him.

[jalora]

Ed Beard, Jr. was a middling artist, but it must be some kind of monetary issue.

Ron Spencer is awful. They should only let Guay do one illustration per set, as they are all basically the same. I did enjoy Hair-Strung Koto, though.

John Avon is my favorite Magic artist.

[{mikeyG}]

Originally Posted by RickCorgan

Completely seconded. Ed's artwork has always been nice, not quite Kev Walker or Rebecca Guay, but not quite Ron Spencer either (frankly, I don't like Spencer's art at all, they are always too cluttered with comic-book-like details).

One Hundred percent thirded. I'm still skeptical since our only proof is that a supposed judge allegedly saw a printout at a PR that confirmed this, but I'll just go along as if it's' real for now.

EPB Jr may not have been the absolute best artist, but he's nowhere near the bottom, either. He's somewhere in the middle, but still in good company.

I just can't believe they fired anybody at all over this, something so subjective. If they ever fired Cavotta, there'd be hell to pay. As it is, they've gotten a passionate, yet mature angry letter from me.