The RockLove Team share their connection to Magic: The Gathering
Read Allison, LuLu & Duncan's stories about how they discovered Magic and why this collection is so special to the them.
Released in 1993, Magic: The Gathering is both a wildly collectible strategy card game and a palm-sized curation of artwork by hundreds of incredibly talented illustrators from around the world. It is a union of two communities: that of devoted collectors and gamers and that of the contributing artists who bring the fantastical characters and relics to life.
When I was thirteen years old, my family began reenacting in the St. Louis Renaissance Faire, and it was there that I first came across friends playing Magic: The Gathering. Already intent on becoming an artist, with a preference for fantasy illustration, I dreamed about someday having my own work printed as a Magic Card. Failing to grasp the actual game-play, I began collecting those cards which I considered ‘pretty.’ Armed with as many Dragons and Pegasi variants I could find; I would fill books with practice sketches. Only problem was, my thirteen-year-old brain didn’t understand that large-scale paintings were scaled down during card printing… and as such I have many bordered sketches in which I was trying to cram all the detail into a mere two inches.
While it is a rather silly origin story, Magic: The Gathering will always be my gateway as a young aspiring artist to experiencing what it means to own, collect, and appreciate real works of art. These initial six pieces showcase favorite designs known to the world of Magic: The Gathering, translating two-dimensional paint into solid sterling silver reality. Fused with RockLove’s signature articulations, I am honored to present Magic: The Gathering fans with these tangible Collector’s pieces.
I was a junior in high school when I was introduced to Magic. My AP calculus teacher would host MTG and D&D play at lunch for any students interested in playing. He made the application of derivatives more interesting with testing the boundaries of his Dungeon Master skill. It was only once I found myself parked at Mox Boarding House every Friday night or camped out at convention centers waiting for the first matchups to post to hunting down a closet-size 2nd story card shop in Montreal, QC, did I fully appreciate how truly brilliant that man was to have the ability to understand the many nuances of these strategy games and his ability to create his own world within that classroom.
With a successful career in experiential event design, my signature was the immersive brand and environmental-escapism that would take over a space at scale. Visionary storytellers and artists of Magic: The Gathering that continue to build Creatures, Artifacts and Lands, I look forward to every preview and Secret Lair drop. I feel honored to be associated with pulling out of its sleeve and off the card to make wearable art that any old school player to future generation esports Arena champ will be adorned with the Magic X RockLove jewelry.
As a kid, I was fascinated by fantasy and science fiction having grown up on cult classic movies such as Legend, Dragonslayer, Krull, The Dark Crystal…the list goes on and on. My appetite for this genre wasn’t only limited to film as I proceeded to devour any literature I could get my hands on. These worlds, both in film and on paper, offered me an escapism from everyday life and, in retrospect, helped to shape my imagination for years to come. One common theme throughout was the fantastical artwork associated with these works. So, when Magic was first introduced in the early 90’s, my curiosity was piqued. Admittedly, I did not dive into the game from the get-go. However, when my friends would crack open a new pack of cards, I would eagerly look through them as I loved the fantasy illustrations!
Fast forward 25 years and, after building a career in product development collaborating with the studios that so captivated me as a child, I found myself working for the creators of Magic: The Gathering, Wizards of the Coast. I can honestly say working with the WotC team has been one of the highlights of my career as it provided me with an even deeper appreciation and love for the fantasy genre. The marriage of art, gaming strategy, and world-building among an incredibly talented group of people was monumental. Magic, to me, is more than tabletop gaming with pretty pictures. It is a community of people who nurture and encourage curiosity, creativity, and individuality. It is with this in mind that I’m so very excited and honored to present the Magic: The Gathering Collection.
