Subject Extension Alters

This is the odd and less outgoing cousin of the border extension. Here, I take some object in the artwork that extends to the edge and only extend that out of frame. The results are much more variable than border extensions. You need a really good take on where something should be extending in a way that breaks the reality of the card, but still blends in. Decisions about the nameplate need to be made. You can’t obscure the mana cost. And you wnat to avoid obscuring the name.

The best are ones like the Birds of Paradise where the back feathers can clearly extend out into the foreground withtout distorting the image.

birds of paradise The simple extensions that stand out are the best

The new subjecxt extension alters

I looked through the Niv-Mizzet deck and selected four cards for subject extensions. This time, I ended up starting each one while visitng my sister. So I neglected to get process photos. What I did lears was that I really have to have a good handle on my own painting skills. The quality on these was highly variable based on how strong the idea was and my skill to back it up.

Case in point is the Lightninig Helix. The Axe seems like a perfect subject. But I cannot paint an axe very well. I had the most trouble trying to replicate the white top hilt(?) between the blades. I also put the top of the helix behind the mana cost on the nameplate, but extended the lower helix over the border. It turned out OK, but not my best. The lesson here is to know my strrengths and weaknesses better.

Lightning Helix Not a great axe, but a decent extension

I enjoyed this Wear//Tear alter. The arm extension was obvious and the wing on the nameplate was subtle. It’s amazing to remember that these were mostly made on a huge canvas if painted. More likely a digital painting. Both of which you have access to a much larger canvas area for everything you paint. Here I have to deal with a limited physical space that was not an issue for creating the initial piece.

Wear//Tear Lover the tiny wing extension. If I was better, I'd add a tatto to the arm.

Soulherder was a very simple idea. Just the cloak extension and add some stars.

Soulherder Again... simple is always the best

Ionize was the best of this crop. The blue force lightning was an obvious subject. Anything with small bits of lightninig is easy to extend out of the frame.

Soulherder This one was a blast 8 )>

Discovery

This style can be the easiest and hardest. Easiest from the very low area of coverage on the card. If you have a strong idea, these can be the quiickest alters to make. The issue is always how good the idea is and how well you can execute it in paint.

What Did We Learn?

The smallest alters are not always the easiest

Socials

I make occasional posts about my alters on Instagram.

Cheers, all!