The Red Temperance

[@Lockfin]

Carly took the unhinged vitriol of the internet with more grace than anyone deserved. What a phenomenal artist

[@demianrusso2499]

I might pick up a playset of Faithless Looting just to upset people😅😅

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

Anything better than shame is too much grace.

[@RobertJW]

​@@demianrusso2499I bought the playmat as a giant middle finger to those who hate it. I love that playmat.

[@Goonwild5299]

​@@demianrusso2499 no one cares

[@Goonwild5299]

Pretty dramatic comment here. I don't like the art, am I hateful?

[@truetekkit]

I feel as though a large portion of what makes the art difficult to parse in a noncritical way is the solid block color choices like the orange fire or the red robe, as you mentioned, digital art is so ingrained that what is effectively solid single colors tend to be a mental short hand for that "fill bucket" or clip art style that I think most people have an immediate association with MS paint or something, and I think entirely independent of the realism of the piece is what makes it so immediately challenging when lacking context. That personally is the choice that makes the art not for me, but I think when viewed in a vaccum it is all too easy to make that association.

[@Dirpman42]

She said in the interview that she needs textures and information from handwork. Dear how did you choose the flattest choices for the dress and hood? The hood itself seems like it has no curve or depth. The print even cuts off like the border of paper. She said she would add tattoos or body paint to fix it. LITERALLY JUST ADD A BROOCH AND SOME CRUMPLED CLOTH AND IT'S GORGEOUS!

[@thisisobviouslybait]

@@Dirpman42 it looks like a shitty photoshop done by my nephew. No crumpled clothes and a broach is saving that shit

[@espinacasable]

Yeah, I was thinking this too. The other mystical archives arts are very similar, but faithless is the only one with big blocks of flat color. Not even the card frame and text box has flat color, so it really stands out. I really like the social climber art, didn't know it was hers too but it makes sense in retrospect, I think it's a perfect example of what faithless was trying to be.

[@espinacasable]

​@@Dirpman42she means the brush strokes and uneven-ness of actual pigments on a surface, which you can appreciate in person or in high res scans, but not in the card. I think giving the cloth folds would go against her style, but I would've loved a pattern like what she did in the gray and black parts of the background at the bottom. It could still be flat but not "fill bucket" flat.

[@Welverin]

For me it's the black of the top of the face and the red eyes. The flat nature of those is terribly off putting for me. The rest of it is find and I like other pieces Carly has done for MtG.

[@ellentheeducator]

Her style worked quite well for Mystical Archive, but it is utterly perfect for New Capenna. I honestly think of Social Climber as the best representation of New Capenna - it's bold, it's not-quite-nostalgic, and it's intensely evocative. It gives up on pure realism for showing you exactly what you are meant to understand.

[@ZeHamberglar]

100%. Carly's style very much feels to me like "what if fantasy art deco?" which fits capenna so well.

[@andrewb378]

Agreed. It would be a massive effort from her, obviously, but could you imagine if she did alt art for that entire set? I personally wasn't a big fan of a lot of the new capenna art (despite enjoying art deco) but I think if she did the art for all the cards in her style I would like it a lot more.

[@tijnhollanders6932]

I also like her 3 dominaria legends (special art of radha, queen allenal and meria)

[@thadrin]

Even within the mystical archive, her Harmonize is fantastic. I just looked Carly up on Gatherer and I really like her other work.

[@jchadwick4918]

REAL! It’s been one of my favourite pieces from the set since drafting on release. So striking!

[@fuminy6175]

I don't really like the artwork, I really don't. Yet I use this printing in all my decks. It's just so damn unique that I find myself using it just for the novelty. If an art piece can give me such conflicting feelings, it did its job.

[@parallel38]

an actual photo of a dog turd would be unqiue too...... and still be better than this

[@alexmohrmann8825]

I love the fact that it isn't generic. It isn't a standard action shot that we've seen a hundred times before. My main criticism is that it doesn't read well. Your eye is first drawn to the dress, which doesn't show much variation in texture at card size which could understandably lead to "MS paint bucket" comparisons. Then your eye is drawn to the bowls/fire and wine which have the same issue. The most complex detail is in the back which is the last portion that is analyzed. Given some more complexity or transition to complexity in the foreground I think it would scan FAR better.

[@tcsmagicbox]

It was amazing how the 2-D illustrations mixed with the hyper realism of the central figure gave the illusion of a cheap photoshop.

[@ponchoman6277]

I remember seeing this art for the first time and going "wow, I will never use this version of Faithless Looting." It baffles me that someone could look at unflattering card artwork and go "this is the fall of western civilization"

[@giantotter319]

It's a common tool to take the most unhinged criticism and highlight it so it seems every criticism is just as unhinged.

[@davidjohnson9186]

@@giantotter319that doesn’t seem to be what the video is about. It doesn’t claim all the criticism is unhinged, they even show direct clips of the whole range of emotional reactions to the art, from disinterest to “fall of western civilization”. Totally fine to not like the art. That’s not really what this video is about.

[@armorclasshero2103]

It's always fascists.

[@fieldrequired283]

A certain type of reactionary needs everything they don't like to be a threat to civilization. That way they have an excuse to call for its destruction.

[@MrAzulmagia]

​@@davidjohnson9186 He did bring into atention that specific quote, so is fair to be wary of manipulation for the sake of narrative. But i think he just wanted to hammer home his position on the comflict.

[@Amascut]

I was there when the card was first previewed and I remember being confused by the art until looked closer and recognized the cultist as being painted as well. It’s a testament to Carly’s talent that at a glance on the card, the cultist looks almost like a photo, and recognizing that it’s an exquisite painting showcases the variety of styles around the figure that makes the card really pop now. It really turned me around on the piece overall.

[@ZanderKreegan]

I had the exact same experience. This was a piece that I enjoyed more and more as I examined the art. While the flatness of the colors was initially of-putting, I now only find the flatness of the dress strange; I really appreciate the simplicity of the flames and wine as it makes them strong focal points

[@Bananasforthesoul]

I feel like most peoples reaction is tied to the same thing, the person looks so hyper realistic that it looks edited in. Thus against the typical mtg vibe. But when you realize it’s painted it’s cool.

[@Glimmerglint]

To be honest, ive never realised that it was painted before - i always thought it was a photo. I still dont like the art but it is an impressive feat that so many people couldnt tell.

[@Sugmatron]

This is my inherent issue with it as used. Hey style, the contrast, is inherently jarring, which has merit in of itself, but not as the art for a game. It seems like an explicit part of her style is that it is difficult to immerse in.

[@jamesbourgeois1357]

I wasn't a fan of the art for faithless looting, but I couldn't imagine being hateful to an artist for their art. They stick their neck out to express themselves and that alone is a noble effort.

[@Marco_DC]

Next artwork: Rancor To send the community a flavorful message, "Hatred outlives the hateful"

[@zenithquasar9623]

You are an agent of the end of the western civilisation, and possibly the entire world!

[@remigusker6024]

Agreed. I strongly dislike the art for the card. But the way the whole conversation around it turned into a cesspool is ridiculous.

[@evankraabel5415]

Part of sticking your neck out is an acceptance that people will openly tell you when your work is bad. That is WHY it is noble to stick your neck out. Im glad she made an attempt to break the rules of magic art, but I wish somebody behind the scenes had been willing to state the obvious that the art is pretty bad overall, and cut it from the file

[@ezrabartsch1505]

Thanks for the video. This helped me see the artwork differently and appreciate it for the first time.

[@Jack958]

It’s not my cup of tea but I think she seems nice and sincere and wish her the best.

[@TheSillySils]

Exactly. She seems very nice and kind. you can absolutely hate the art and like the artist. Like maroon 5.

[@f1shy858]

she isnt interested bub...

[@aaronvanloon1330]

"Social Climber" is one of my favorite pieces of magic art. Also, I feel that varying the frame around the "Faithless Looting" piece really did alter the aesthetic substantially and the original card printing was almost certainly a disservice to the art.

[@PhilleeLeePhive]

social climber is incredible : )

[@ThatOneVeganGuy]

It just brings diversity to MTG. Love it.

[@admiralsky56]

I am late to the video but I agree- when I saw her faithless looting art in the borderless frame, I thought "oh, now I get it!" (well, that and the explanation about tarot). It makes me wonder when the frame is designed- like do the artists get to see what frame the card will be in when they start designing their piece? or is it something that gets tacked on later in the process? I love social climber and her DMU legends! I still probably wouldn't pick her faithless looting as my first choice (I really like the full art commander masters one), but I appreciate this video for giving me a new appreciation for it

[@artemi7]

@@aaronvanloon1330 social climber is an incredible piece of artwork, especially compared to faithless looting

[@bamzolino]

I like her other art a lot more than the Faithless Looting but hope she does more card art

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

No you don't. Keep her away from this game.

[@augustuscook5262]

​@@Makingnewnamesisdumb wtf is your problem dude? Responding to every comment that even remotely challenges your opinion in a very garish way does nothing for you. Go get a life instead of replying to every opinion that differs from yours

[@demianrusso2499]

Yes, her take on Naturalize was great

[@JusticeJanitor]

Not a fan of her Faithless Looing art but her Harmonize and Social Climber are great. I wish she did more stuff in New Capenna, her art was a great fit there.

[@jimshotfirst4887]

​@@Makingnewnamesisdumb damn this card really is living rent free in your head huh

[@AnarchoCatBoyEthan]

Holy hell Rhystic Studies just came out swinging in this one, great work.

[@rorschach1]

“Art is not a pissing match.” That is my title of this video and this is the inspiration we need.

[@ShjadeNexayre]

@randomvideoboy1 How on earth did you get "artists are free from criticism" out of "Art is not a pissing match"? "The colors are flat and uninteresting" is criticism. "I don't think the composition suits the theme" is criticism. "I could do this" is not criticism. It's attempted one-upsmanship. It's dismissal. It's negation. It's a pissing match.

[@pbailed8007]

It’s amazing how much better that piece looks on any other background

[@LeonBelmont1000]

Almost like sugarcoating shyte.

[@sams.975]

Really? I actually like it best on the original border. I think the black, red and gold complement really nicely.

[@Kryptnyt]

@@sams.975 I found a lot of the Archive cards looked really poor without the gilding, as the "gold" becomes more of a mustard yellow. They look great with the gilding

[@ppppppqqqppp]

@@LeonBelmont1000 yo hey look it's one of the mouth breathers sam mentioned

[@LeonBelmont1000]

@@ppppppqqqppp Magic is woke, get over it.

[@philoc7063]

Just wanted to say, today I have finally gotten into MTG, I have been watching your vids for a while now but never actually got into the game except for a few mtg arena games here and there. I bought a commander deck and am planning to go this Friday to my first event at my local card shop and I thought I'd leave a bookmark for myself here. I have teared up at almost all your videos for reasons I don't quite understand. The emotion and feelings of people who worked on all these cards and the subjects that inspired these cards has continuously amazed me over and over again. Even the simple joy of things like Goblin game leave me overwhelmed with the blissful thoughts of friends laughing over such a scenario. Thanks for the amazing videos, I cannot wait for more.

[@tragicarrogance2401]

Not every piece of art needs to work for me, but not everything that doesn't work for me isn't art.

[@u13erfitz]

This statement says nothing. This art sucks. The entire style of art sucks and for sure doesn't belong in magic. Bad art exists.

[@demianrusso2499]

Actually this statement is great; for example i dont like most of the artwork used in the first sets of magic but i would never say that it isnt art or attack people that like that art.

[@RafaelTrocatti]

@@u13erfitz your tone seems very pointed right now.

[@mnm1273]

A work can be art and ugly at the same time.

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

It's not art.

[@ToxicAtom]

My issue with specifically the piece Faithless Looting is the large swaths of red, rendered completely without texture in print. Alongside the shadow over the top half of the face reading more like a comical mask than a veil of darkness, it leaves the impression of someone opening Illustrator and drawing shapes over otherwise phenomenal work. All of Carly's other works, both for magic and not, are stunning. Her effort and skill is still well represented in Faithless Looting, coming through in the aspects of the piece not rendered textureless by print; the actual woman is behind the mask is rendered so well, it fooled many into thinking it was a photo, atop a stony, stained-glass-esque backdrop. I'm glad she continued to work on magic. A lesser artist would be discouraged by the unjust vitriol Carly received for one under par piece in a collection of masterwork. I just wish she had more pieces in New Capenna, a plane that felt almost tailor-made for her style to shine.

[@BrianBors]

Especially that "New Capenna" comment I agree with wholeheartedly! It fits so well with her style.

[@dupuis2000]

The hyper realistic human covered by what looks to be someone using the paint bucket tool to fill in clothing really is what makes this card art look so bad. It might look good on canvas with the texture but goddamn is that lost in print

[@housemana]

While you are seemingly grounded and logical, empathetic in your approach... you miss the mark entirely with assuming that lesser artists cannot take negative (unjust vitriol, in your words) energy and feedback into driving force.

[@Meganstaek]

A friend of mine has this art as a playmat. I remember thinking how unique and striking it was, and how excited he was to tell me that it was painted traditionally. I was blown away! It makes me sad that people can look at art they don't like and assume it's Bad or Wrong

[@Meganstaek]

@randomvideoboy1 criticism? i mean in this specific case the video is about basically amounted to "I personally don't like how this looks, so you should be ashamed" like it's a moral failing on the part of the artist or something that you didn't like what they made. The entitled ones are chuds who think any given piece of art is only worth anything if it appeals to them personally. Hope that helps!

[@nahfam8794]

@randomvideoboy1 Did you miss the part in the video where she took the critique of others and said it was important to do that as an artist?? Also AI is coming for everyone not just the artists. Hope you're ready for the mass unemployment, not gonna be as fun as you think.

[@Caxerw13]

I always loved this artwork and Carly’s style in particular. The fact that Magic is so much more than “just” high fantasy is what makes is so interesting. We’re all spellcasters with different experiences forming our books of magic.

[@GR20000]

I think my biggest issue with that card specifically is just how MUCH flat red there is. It feels very jarringly out of place due to the sheer amount of real estate it takes up. A lot of the other examples of her art you showed use the flat colors and clip art style far more sparingly, taking up far less of the real-estate of the card. Another issue is that, while this art isn't digital, it is both by design and intent meant to FEEL digital, and that feeling is a significant step further out from, say, the Icon or Stain glass inspired cards, wthcih draw from a suitably antique staly of design as to be recognizably within the fantasy aesthetic. This faithless looking instead, despite the incredibly artsmanship of the photo realism and strong composition, I think is hit a giant red button in people's brains, it certainly did for me. I certainly appreciate the artist's effort more knowing this was a canvas painting, but that doesn't change that it's trading in the aesthetic language of clip art and, unlike her other works, it's a high degree of the focus, rather than as emphasis (say, with the white halo of social climber). A lot of her work I think slots well enough into magic's aesthetic to be innofencive and allow people to appreciate it's craft, but I think Fiathless looting in particular emphasizes what is the most imediarly objectionable aspect of her art by bringing it from a place of accent to a place of primacy.

[@elizabethhicks4181]

I like that it has so much broad color though. So many pieces for MTG are these intricate little things that have tons of detail that I feel like I can’t appreciate fully in the art of the card, I need to see the full work to really notice all the cool stuff about it. This piece feels much more like it’s pushing back on the idea that one MUST do as MUCH as possible with the limited space. It’s evocative and pops and is beautiful and makes you feel things. That’s great, I love it.

[@GR20000]

@@elizabethhicks4181 There's a line between simplicity and next to nothing. That flat read reads very much as the latter. Particularly without the ability o see the actual paint texture, due to the card being printed and meant to be viewed small scale (failing to take into account your medium is a failure) comes acress as just very flat and lifeless. The absence of any shading or easily dicernable texture of any kind, while also failing to have anything interesting happening in the shape language makes it feel exceptionally boring, and detracts from some of the astonishing artistry of the work (the stain glass behind the figure is amazing, for example). And it';s hard to say you want simple when the central figure is a photo realistic human.

[@elizabethhicks4181]

@@GR20000 I'm... not sure why you think you know what I want, unless that's a generalist 'you' at the end, but I really like the evocative, popping color contrasting with the figure in the painting. It's striking and wild. You're still pushing for detail, detail, detail. You're looking for shading, for texture, for 'interesting things' to be happening. I like that the art pushes back on the idea that is required in MTG art. I really do think that this card art looks like it's about to leap off the page, which is a very different vibe than the deep little intricate worlds on so many other cards. I like it a lot for that. What's boring for you is interesting for me, I guess.

[@housemana]

​@@elizabethhicks4181 I'm... not sure why you're.... pausing... while making a comment on the internet. say what you mean or don't say anything at all. jfc.

[@SquareViking]

@@housemana but... this is... how... William Shatner... Would write.

[@Jerorawr_XD]

Anyone who draws art for this game deserves mad props. Its certainly not my favorite art. But it certainly left a legacy and people I know tried to collect as many as they could because the art was certainly unique, in a funny way.

[@VirusVescichetta]

I don't like the art for Faithless Looting, but that doesn't mean I don't think it's well done. The genuine skill that went into it is truly impressive; it's a painted picture that looks nearly photorealistic. It also really does look better in alternate frames and as a plain piece, which says a lot about how important composition is to appearance.

[@thomaspetrucka9173]

Came here to say this. Much more palatable with the alt. frame.

[@kaspershaupt]

Really don't think it fits as a standard card or what I think a standard card should look like. I think it would have looked great in a saga frame though

[@bradcallahan3546]

Cuck comment:

[@heathenwizard]

WOW! That borderless version makes for a phenomenal card! Carly’s art is truly great; they did a disservice by having it printed with the border they did.

[@ThulerPedro15]

When i first saw the art, i liked it simply because it was visually obnoxious, to the point of being kinda disturbing. Now, knowing it was made in traditional painting, the realistic human form became even more impressive

[@Mostimpressiveindeed]

The feature of Donato Giancola's Cartographer at the 3:52 mark made me soar with joy because that was the first magic card whose art ever wowed me when I was a teen.

[@poenpotzu2865]

I wasn't there when the reaction first came out. The painting has this weird uncanny feeling. I dont mean that in a bad way. The way the flesh contrasts with the rest felt like a disonance between the caster and the spell.

[@Makingnewnamesisdumb]

You should have meant it in a bad way.

[@JohnAutopsy]

@@Makingnewnamesisdumb imagine getting this riled up over a piece of cardboard.

[@penguindrummer252]

​@@MakingnewnamesisdumbYou do not belong under this video.

[@pyrock0227]

I feel like that uncanny feeling is because the composition of the piece at large matches how stained glass motifs are often composed (large pieces of a single color or texture alongside quite detailed, hand-painted human figures), but only the window behind her has the solder lines between the pieces like we expect to see in an actual stained glass window. It gives me a feeling that this figure has stepped out of the stained glass image behind them, eschewing the solder lines that only exist because of the limitations of the medium in our world (ones that may not exist in the theoretical stained-glass dimension they're coming from).

[@boorango122]

@@Makingnewnamesisdumbyou are the people this video is telling off why are you even here. are you perhaps afraid of red yellow and blue? she should make her art weirder I think. this is art.

[@Tylerbremner]

There’s no magic channel I look forward to a new video from than Rhystic studies. They dont drop as frequently but they’re always more than worth the wait. Your videos are art Sam. I appreciate what you do so much

[@mikaelalv]

I loved this art when it came out I get it's not for everyone and people have a certain way they want to have their cards look but I always thought this was a cool piece and was super happy to learn about the concept and history behind the work. Thank you as always Sam for always exploring the art in a way that feels intellectual but not pretentious.

[@gaugea]

i understand this isnt the main message, but i have a slight disagreement with what you say about “I could do that.” That phrase was the exact words I said to my friend when I watched a video with him once, and he replied “you should, I think so too.” A few days later I made my first youtube video, with the idea from that video I watched, and discovered my passion for video editing. I was always inspired by your work as well, and when I watch your videos I always think “I could do that,” meaning “I can see myself doing this, and I don’t think I’d ever get tired of it.” Now I understand of course that every person on that reddit thread that wrote those same words almost assuredly had the ignorant attitude that you’re describing, but I don’t think the issue is the words. I think its very possible to say them, with the same literal meaning in both cases, and be inspired rather than dismissive. The reason I think this is important is because I don’t think it’s a very big jump to make, and I think a very slight tweak in someone’s attitude could completely change the way they think and approach media or any product really.

[@angrybadger121]

This piece of art, I would argue, has transitioned from being purely an interesting artistic take to being a full on nugget of Magic's History. It started its life as an avant-garde take on a popular magic card, among a group of avant-garde magic cards. A very cool and interesting way to imagine the first casting of faithless looting. It will now continue its life as a piece of magic's rich history, because of the very dismissal that so many people had towards this art. I hope to see more artistic takes and designs like this in the future, and if not then this will still be a lovely piece of magic's history.

[@machspeed5025]

For me, it's not the style itself that I don't like, it's actually the prompt the was given. To me it doesn't represent Faithless looting but more represents a ritual card like Rite of Flame or Pyretic Ritual. Carly just provided what was requested.

[@GamingEthos]

You know what's crazy. When I got into commander almost 2 years ago. I went to my lgs to get singles for my isshin deck and the first card I needed was faithless looting. I saw in the case the foil version of this card and thought it was really striking especially with the gold border so I picked it up. I had no clue people lost their minds over it 😅

[@drpibisback7680]

Mazur and Jeremy Wilson are my two favorite artists in Magic right now because they maintain such a unique artstyle. Most modern Magic art reads like filler, jobbers imitating a basic half-realistic digital painting style that could be on the cover of any random RPG sourcebook, but when you see Mazur's eclectic collage-esque work or Wilson's bright white negative space cutouts, you know instantly whose work it is. None of that other art is "bad," per se, but it doesn't wow me the way they do.

[@GuillemBagaria]

Great video. The more I look at this version of Faithless Looting, the more I like it.

[@mawtaus]

I definitely balked at this art the first time I saw it, but it has grown on me. Seeing the full art definitely helped, and I agree that the framing it got didn't help it. It's my first time seeing those alters with the different frames and those look great to me. I also really like Mazur's work for Harmonize and Social Climber. I hope we get some more art from her in the future.

[@TheRealRickDanger]

I bought one of each mystical archive card, and this one always stood out as somewhat out of place/odd, but to know that this was done by hand makes me have more respect for it. With the introduction of AI art, and digital artist dominating the scene nowadays, to know more about this card and the effort that went into it makes it stand out to me more. I may not play it and it may not be my art style, but I do value the hard work and congratulate her for sticking to her style.

[@jeffreyedwards6402]

I'm drawn to art because I CAN'T do that. When I hear a song with a great bass line I'm awestruck, trying to think of how it was composed, played, etc.

[@IGNEUS1607]

I think just reducing art to your ability to recreate it is sort of missing the point, but there definitely is something to be said of artist talent, whether that is pure technical skill, or a unique style or particularly interesting framing. While the artist definitely has some great works, the faithless looting art just misses the mark, which is think comes down to its composition. Her style definitely can look nice, but something about this artwork feels flat, which definitely gives off an amateurish feel, leading to all the criticisms of "I could've done that". I think what Rhystic Study misses is that such a complaint is not always reducing the artwork to ease of reproduction, but that there is something missing or amateurish about it that gives off the vibe that it did not really take an artist's expression to make.

[@Willensimperium]

Now, I'm not a MTG player (played in my youth for fun, but adore your channel), so I don't want to judge if I find it fitting for the game to be honest. What I can say, is that I indeed, as you mention in the video, think the yellows in the frame don't help it, as well as the big cut outs. I liked the version with the verticality and transparent frame by far the most. In general, apart from MTG I think the piece is absolutely stunning tbh, would hang that on my wall all day. Also the other few pieces from her you showed. Will follow her work now just because of your video. So Carly, your work really rocks and don't let internet idiots get you down in any way, you have a lot of new fans for sure now. :)

[@callumreilly9107]

"Art is not a pissing match" might be the greatest quote about art that I've ever heard

[@clarknes3111]

I have to say, it is not my favorite art piece in Magic, but to say it is bad or unpolished is just incorrect. The additional context is really cool to hear and I always love learning more of what goes into magic art. It does make me appreciate it a lot more.

[@WGProductionsREUBEI]

I don't even play this game but your videos are just so entertaining.

[@owenkaplan2179]

Hah same, I sold my collection in 2015 and this channel is the only remaining connection I have to MTG. Every time there's a new upload, I stop what I'm doing to watch-the beauty of Sam's poetry and the incredible art of the game make me want to fall in love with it all over again.

[@Shmitty-nx5gz]

surprised to find out this was a full-size canvas painting which is very awesome and knowing the inspiration gives me a new appreciation for the piece than before

[@kyleedwards3168]

Still not a fan of this art, but I am impressed that it is an actual painting.

[@dudethatcantspace]

I’m so glad you did this video. It’s so interesting to hear about the art direction and the history of the artist

[@rain4825]

This was a nice story to know more about, and I've gained a new appreciation of this rendition of the card thanks to it, regardless of my own taste towards to art on the card.

[@xyoung8687]

When I saw this art for the first time I thought is was actually a photo edit. Once I realized that it was a highly realistic painting, I appreciated it a lot more.

[@mekklord]

Oh thank god, I thought I was the only one LOL

[@Zolti14]

Why? A lawn cut with scissors is no better than one cut with a mower.

[@memezurdreamz2203]

If all you can appreciate in a painting is its realism, you're severely missing the point.

[@PlagueScholar]

Her artwork for Social Climber is phenomenal and an incredible fit for the world. I wish they commissioned her to do more art for that set. Wotc, give her a secret lair, you cowards.

[@whorcares123]

I'm sorry she got all the hate that she did for this piece, people definitely blew it way out of proportion and she handled the hate way better than I ever could have. I had never said anything to the artist myself, but I too laughed at it with my friends when it was revealed, and pulling not one, not two, but three of them from opening Strixhaven boxes became a joke among me, my friends, and my wife, who all agreed it was not pleasant. That said, I stand by my initial reaction to the card. In fact, I want to double down. As a case in point, Carly's art for Harmonize in the exact same set was significantly better, and I heard about zero backlash for it at the time (something this video failed to mention). Her later artworks for the stained glass treatments of Meria, Queen Allenal, and Radha in DMU are beautiful, and again had no backlash. I think Social Climber's art in SNC is kind of off putting in a number of ways, but the Mystical Archive Faithless Looting is just horrible to look at. If she wants to go down the route of disconcerting art like that used in Living Wall, which this video has claimed to be an inspiration for her, then great, but teetering on that edge, trying to make it both beautiful and a little unsettling traces a very fine line between her vision, and the piece just being ugly to look at. The Tarot card inspiration is, well, inspired, and something I hadn't even realized looking at the Mystical Archive cards, but the execution here is lacking in my eyes. But Faithless Looting just has so much wrong with it: -First, while I get that the nearly photo realistic person surrounded by scenery and decoration is her art style, the execution in Faithless Looting is just not it. The way the shadow drapes over the subject's eyes and the eyes are instead replaced with perfect red circles is not only in my opinion the worst part of the piece, but is in a direct contrast with the rest of her works. In most of her works, either the eyes are uncovered and the focus of the piece, as the sort of thing your eyes are drawn to, like you are in a staring contest with her work, or they are tastefully off screen and something else is the focus. In Harmonize and her Meria artworks, the eyes are closed, yet the face is still the focus and is basically uncovered. Had Faithless Looting's art not obstructed the face with what frankly looks like a construction paper mask, and the subject were allowed to look directly at the viewer, I think there wouldn't have been nearly as much uproar about the piece. -Second, the robe is just a flat, single-color shape. In Harmonize, the subject's garb has shape and coloration to mimic shadows and wrinkles in the clothing, showing depth and a lack of rigidity that really sells the meditation and the wind blowing through. Yet, the robe and cloak in Faithless Looting does just look like a photoshop layer, that criticism is very valid, because well, that is what it looks like. In all of the stained glass arts, she seemed to have learned the lesson, giving the subjects varied or even contrasting clothing coloration. Had some of the orange or black been used in the same way the red was used in Harmonize, it would have done a lot of work to give the depth that a lot of people complained the art lacked. -Finally, the card frame really just works against her. Had it been a full art card, allowing us to see the entire subject's body like in the painting, to see the painted "digital' effects surrounding the subject with the subject being the only "realistic" looking thing, to allow the eye to travel from the bottom of the painting to the top, then it would have been much better. Instead, in the card frame just shows what looks like the photo of a naked person covered up by paint, and emphasizes all of what I am sure were deliberate choices made by the artist, as imperfections that hallmark an unfinished piece. If the art were made more with the frame of the card in mind, then it would certainly be better to look at. I hope I gave a thorough analysis here, and hopefully provides a decent foil to both this video's air of nearly unwavering support for what is still, in my opinion, an ugly card, and to some of the other comments, which still hate on the piece and the artist without providing anything useful to the discourse.

[@Nayoh-yp4rh]

I think my biggest issue with it is that it absolutely is beautiful and complex, but that isn't communicated via the format. It's something that's easy to do, and hard to break from. But it's clear she did, her other cards (especially social climber) translates really well. The more monotone and textured art works wonderfully with the more realistic, detailed art. I hope she's able to represent her art in magic cards for a long while.

[@AdeptusForge]

From an artistic standpoint, its not outright bad, but on a technical level it doesn't fully engage with its own flatness so to speak. Harsh, stark, pictorial compositions like this have been done before to excellent effect for at least 4 decades. There's a large amount of space left to experiment in that simply wasn't. The problem is that the lack of technical skill in the art, combined with its extreme publicity lead to a lot of backlash. It probably didn't deserve the scope of that backlash, but some backlash against it on a critical level was deserved given its failings.

[@MrGreenJackal]

I still don't like it, the hood-dress combo is off putting in a "this doesn't really make sense to wear" kind of way, the shadows cast from the hood is a singular flat color which distorts any sense of depth to the picture, this can also be applied to the dress which when is also a singular flat color which while it does contrast with the background, bringing more focus to the subject of the painting, it only further emphasizes the lack of color in the dress. It also doesn't help that while the figure is holding an open flame, no shadow is being cast leading to a more uncanny feeling. Now I will admit that Mazur can draw people, more specifically flesh, in a realistic manner, however this only serves to hinder the art more as the figure looks as if they simultaneously don't belong in their own clothes, nor in the background they are put in. If it was intentional in trying to evoke this uncanny feeling I commend it, but something tells me it wasn't. Now is it bad? No I just don't like it and I don't care enough to harass anyone about it.

[@sukamii]

I find myself in agreeance with you on this. I don't think I'd go so far as to say it's a bad work, there's quite a lot of strong elements going on there- the textures in the skin and background elements are really nice, and I find myself appreciating the bold blocked colors- but I feel the painting is just a little too messy for me. The work feels like so many elements are pulling away from itself, and I just don't like it very much. I certainly hope the Carly continues to make more art for Magic, as I believe they have a very strong creative image that can really bring some cards to life.

[@sukamii]

@randomvideoboy1 Are you stupid, illiterate, misconstruing his point or all of the above? He literally criticized the artists work in the opening and said he doesn't like it. What is being spewed is predominantly not criticism, but vapid meaningless anti-rhetoric, which is exactly what you're doing.

[@koalabro6118]

this exactly. The one thing I would say more than anything for me, is that I don't see how this art relates to lacking faith or to the act of looting. Whatever relation it does have is obscured, thus making the art feel like it was just slapped onto a random card, which only makes it feel even more amatur/low-effort, even though it's not.

[@axfln4221]

I think the uncanny feeling was very intentional. I don't play Magic, so I'm not sure if this goes with what the card actually does, but the title itself made think of some spell being used by a malicious actor. Socerery itself is something incompressible, inherently strange, and thus uncanny. This card depicts that well

[@axfln4221]

​@@koalabro6118 I'm not a Magic player so maybe this is a wrong take based on the cards lore, but the cards deliberate uncanniness makes it seem like the magic being preformed is heretical - or faithless. The contrast of the highly realistically rendered human form with this very simply colour blocked elements for casting the spell is intentionally jarring and invites the viewer to question how the sorcery performed breaks the natural order (or visual rendering) of the world. The unnerving malicious blankness of the the eyes also makes me feel like this act of socerery is inherently transgressive - perhaps the weilder is using it this magic to gain access to something they shouldn't? What I'm saying is as a non-Magic user, if I saw this piece in a gallery with the title "Faithless looting" I wouldn't think it was a bad painting or that it was inappropriateky named.

[@kindredreveler378]

When that card art was spoiled I loved it. I bought 9 copies of it so I could fill a card binder page with the art.

[@Dsbpetersl]

the full art borderless woulda been so cool

[@tryggverunberg2983]

100% agree

[@druharris6974]

I literally love that art for faithless looting, its so different a refreshing to see on a mtg card. I put it in every deck i can on arena

[@adamgardner9374]

I wasn’t much of a fan of the piece when it was originally revealed, and I still wouldn’t count it among my favorites (Carly herself has several I like better), but my *goodness* does changing the frame have a bigger impact than I was expecting. It looks *so* much better in the other frames.

[@NathanLazyBear]

The piece as a magic card is such a flop, they knew it was going to get cut from the waist up, the composition as an artist should of been considered more. They needed their comfort format of 18 x 24, and not the smaller compressed area. Wizards fault for not being more clear with the intended format of the finished work. I know it's more up to the artist to consider what to put in their commissioned piece, but a little more consideration would have saved their piece from a lot of unfair criticism. A lot of their work is great.

[@waytvbe]

her other art looks so good, how did she end up with that faithless looting. ironically I think her amazing rendering of a realistic person makes it worse when it's crushed down into the size of a card and looks like a composite photo with paper shapes glued on top

[@Lyubimov89]

Initially I listened to this episode during a car ride, and spent the whole time anxiously wondering what the art was to draw such harsh criticism. I was surprised at how brilliant and striking it was, and not just cause it’s a good painting. I LOVE that it’s not a scene of character looting something, it’s not blatant and upfront. Magic (in general, not the game) is now deep in pop culture, and with that it became formalized. Magic is not a mystic and unknowable force that rejects human logic, it’s a spell of X level that does Y damage. But this art brings the mysticism right back. When I saw the art, I immediately began wondering, how is this faceless looting? What is being stolen, how, why? To what end? So much wonder was brought back to magic (and, indeed, to Magic) with this artist’s work. Brilliant art.

[@TangledLion]

Honestly I recall falling in love with this piece as soon as I saw it. While people were calling it a "lazy photoshop" I had no clue what they were on about. She made a beautiful contrast of a very lifelike person mixed with flat colors.

[@runningtiger7624]

Honestly I didn't like this piece before. But after seeing it again after a year, seeing its full scale and in the other frames. My opinion has turned around, I like the piece. It feels so menacing and otherworldly.

[@ValerieEnriquez]

I didn't know she did the cover for Maeve Fly! I loved that book. And Living Wall immediately made me think of that book cover before you even mentioned it so it was really cool to see how that influenced her.

[@Bekayvd]

I actually replaced all my faithless lootings with this version. The art is absolutely ridiculous I love it

[@davidhenriques6372]

Hearing Carly talk about her process and approach to art was delight. Truly inspiring.

[@xdelbarrio]

personally always loved that piece, the huge blocks of colour just call to me.

[@MenloMarseilles]

It feels like, despite the boom in "alternative style" MtG art in collectible products (Secret Lairs, bonus sheets, special treatments...) the "core" artwork for cards, the kind you pull in draft boosters, has gotten more and more same-y. Even Rebecca Guay deviates too much from the "fantasy concept trending on artstation" post-Gatewatch styleguide; the last time she was tapped for a base card treatment was Shadowmoor. There was a time when Carly Mazur's art would've been printed right next to Anson Maddocks, Amy Weber, or the Foglios, and nobody would bat an eye. But - and it saddens me a little to say it! - that's not the kind of product WotC puts out anymore.

[@cayden5257]

It's quite a shame, because many of Carly's works are truly stunning, but to me, there is something lacking in faithless looting. The dress being a single, bright red color clashes with the detail present in the rest of the cultist, and the hood feels detached and out of place. The eyes, as well, are disconcerting and feel cheap. I love many things about it, but ultimately it feels like it needs more work done to reach a finished product.

[@DrFeltcher]

Man ppl really hate this art. I kinda like it actually. Lots of dislikes on this vid too

[@EnordAreven]

The frame is a game changer, its a shame to see such hate, a quick search of her other work highlights just how talented of an artist she is.

[@Gemwielders]

It's so fascinating how a card game can be such an impactful and evocative platform to engage with art, maybe more so than a museum exhibition could

[@thatguyintherain3168]

I think i just dont like "warm" colours, if the art was blue it wouldnt bother me at all, i like weird art. The fact this was painted is so cool

[@TheE38Registry]

I love this art, and it harkens back to when I started playing in the late 90s. It's wacky, it's jarring, and Magic needs much more of it.

[@Yakuo]

Thank you for these high quality MTG videos!

[@nellylongarms]

I unironically loved this art as soon as I saw it. I found it very funny that people said it was symptomatic of "cultural decline," because I saw the opposite - bold, unconventional artistic choices standing out against a sea of increasingly uniform and generic fantasy illustration. I hope Carly gets more commissions for cards in their standard printings, not just special editions. Her art for Social Climber was one of my favorite pieces from New Capenna.

[@MichaelMoore99]

I loved Social Climber and Harmonize and all of her stained glass, which is why I found it difficult to understand why I hate Faithless Looting. There's nothing I can point to specifically, because the elements exist on every single piece of her art.

[@manifatzigula]

Same. I think it´s one of my favourite magic artworks of the last years It just feels like actual high art. It pushes boundaries and provokes you.

[@liberalistbat6352]

You're part of that cultural decline then. Let me guess, far left leaning commie

[@nellylongarms]

@@MichaelMoore99 I can understand that. I think faithless looting displays her style in a more aggressive way than her other MtG works. For me it worked because it felt in-your-face and sacrilegious in a way that was fitting for the card itself, but I understand why many people feel differently.

[@LeonBelmont1000]

I think its funny you dont see it as a symptom. The past 2 generations have desperately been trying to reinvent the wheel, and the only way they can do that is to pave over everything that has preceded them. Every facet of life is experiencing this, but in your eyes, it's conspiracy theories. Classic ignorance.

[@kal2598]

This one really spoke to me. Carly's message at the end is one that always makes me stop and take it all in. I played this printing of the card at my LGS and was met with laughter as people lambasted the artwork as slapchop and simple, but I've always loved it myself.

[@SonorianBnS]

wow it looks so much better as a full painting than in the magic frame. i don't have the language to express why but the composition feels much better that way

[@tzorfireis425]

I'd never seen this version of Faithless Looting before seeing it in the thumbnail of this vid, and my first thought was literally just "Oh, this is a Secret Lair card, obviously. MtG does use the lairs to push some really experimental styles and I guess this one just didn't work out" It did not occur to me that someone would claim that a card in the trading card game about wizards would be the end of civilization or whatever.

[@cataphracts123]

"Art is an exercise in empathy...fosters relationships between people, sentiments and ideas, art is an open ended opportunity to expand your perspective and grow." I don't seek to put words in the mouth of RS, but this is a common perspective from those in the art community that do not believe in objectively good or bad art and that all art is inherently subjective. If this is the belief, it's self-contradictory to claim it is wrong to view art as having quantifiable metrics. If "quality of art" is a fictional concept, then it's meaningless to say someone else's opinion or perspective is invalid on the subject. If art can't be "bad" then an opinion cannot be either. It's interesting some of the comments bring up fascism. It's somewhat correct that elements of authoritarian culture have the opposite belief because that side of culture does believe in objective concepts in the world, that artwork can be improved or even perfected to their own standard. This flows down to all other thinking and influences their utopian-minded concepts on art, philosophy, economics, and politics. That's where the "downfall of civilization" quote comes from. Art that's viewed as objectively bad transgresses this philosophy that art should be created to show the idealized world in the realistic or the sublime. To such a mindset, giving bad art a platform seeks to tear down pillars of society. My perspective on the art is in neither of these extremes, and I think the artwork in question is good but bad in the medium. (The comparisons between the differing frames showcase that the artwork can be improved aesthetically.) Quality and reception of art also changes as human tastes change. Art should be both an exercise in self-expression to engage people with ideas and concepts, but it is and should also be a craft which which the artist can measure their improvement (which Ms. Mazur clearly does) over time and compare it to other artists. Purpose of the artist should be accounted for when trying to judge art. Ideally this should be expressed by the artist rather than assumed. As a work of art making what the art director requested in her own style: achieved. Making artwork that's pleasant to look at on a MTG card to be played with: more speculative.

[@mahtimonni97]

I think it's not a good fit for the card. The art seems static, with its clear lines and flat colour planes. The main figure stands regal and upright, like they're supported by the strong geometry. I actually really like the piece. But for me, the term "faithless looting" awakens thoughts of manic movement and violence. I can see how the imperious pose can also seem proud and heretical. Someone standing against the infinite and declaring themselves its equal. But that wasn't my first interpretation, which kinda means this art with this card is not really my thing...

[@Eduteck__]

Every time I watch one of your videos my body fills with joy and inspiration for the craft. I really love the way you talk about art!

[@p2trivej]

Not a big fan when the art was revealled, but someone mentioned this was supposed to be a prank. A grattiti done over a mural of classic beauty. Hence, faithless looting. I remember seeing pictures like this back in my college, so it makes some sorta sense in the context of the magical school. I appreciated the art more. It turns out that's not the case. Oh well.

[@woodsmithjr]

When this game becomes unrecognizable through universes beyond and art and looks like this we will have lost something we can't get back. I will not want to play it anymore

[@pvtpain66k]

Your video from 6 years ago, Framing Magic juxtaposed with this hard defense of a very different to the traditional style.

[@resistor5416]

cool art but i dont like it for mtg it would be fine as a secret lair which are typical more stylized. When i think of mtg I think of Raymond Swanland, Steve Prescott, and Igor Kieryluk. All of whom were able to apply their style but have it enhance and not overpower the work piece that the art was supposed to represent

[@takecourage92]

I always loved the faithless looting art. Never changed my view on it, and I think it's awesome Sam has chosen to highlight it. It's not for everyone, but it's an alt-art card.

[@MrGGLz]

NGL I actually like the piece in the full art treatment.

[@ricepresidents]

I understand the sentiment about challenging pieces of art, but at the end of the day I find it deeply unpleasant to look at. I'd rather have something more aesthetically pleasing on my cardboard and save the challenging pieces for museums/galleries.

[@hil449]

Then don't buy it

[@ricepresidents]

@@hil449 way ahead of you

[@MaeseEidos]

I still think it was a big mistake to use this art in Mystical Archive and not in New Cappena where it fits perfectly. Same thing with the Cast Down wich was obviously meant to be in Cappena and ended up in Commander Masters Baldurs Gate or something. The reception of a piece that, to a person not versed in art reminds of Andy Warhol (if you're lucky) doesn't fit inside an "old book of powerful spells" but certainly does in New Cappena. I personally really dislike the art, but not exactly because of the piece, but because I have seen other works of Mazur that I really would have loved in magic cards like Hope Dead, Siren or Dream Predation (yes, I'm aware those are slightly older works). I really dislike this piece, but I'm really glad they keep trying to make new things as extra versions; I'm perfectly aware I'm not gonna be a fan of all of them, and that's good, I don't need a boring algorythm to feed me only art that is not gonna make me feel, that's the opposite of what I want. I'm also happy that you took the time to defend this position with calm, I'm sure Mazur aprecciates it a lot.

[@TeaHauss]

Imma say it, this is my favorite faithless looting, and its a HUGE plus that my opponents hate it

[@zztha156]

I haven’t been in magic social media for a long time but I’ve been playing since 2013. I LOVED the faithless looting art. I thought it was trippy and refreshing. And very brave for a magic card art

[@DorkmasterFlek]

Thank you for doing a video on this! When I first saw this art I, admit I did not like it. But I have come around to really appreciate what Carly did with it.

[@sams.975]

It took me some time to come around, but i adore this art. It's a jarring piece, and its reception proves its effectiveness. That some can say it "doesn’t depict the spell" is intensely ironic. The irreverence to traditional style and expectations perfectly encapsulates the spell. This piece is *potent*. It didn’t land here by accident. It landed with a sledgehammer, and it succeeds at every level.

[@jackthecoolkid1995]

This was the card that got me into collecting art cards alternate styles of art. I can attribute this one art to much of how I have found myself as a player today. It's one of my favorite art pieces on a card, ever. I'm so glad someone else is talking about it in a positive way. Thank you Sam.

[@LeonBelmont1000]

You must have terrible taste lmao.

[@SmuggyOcelot]

@@LeonBelmont1000 "someone has a different opinion than me, I'm going to cry about it" because apparently people can't have different opinions on the internet. Art is subjective. The idea of "bad taste" is complete bullshit

[@LeonBelmont1000]

@@SmuggyOcelot Art being "subjective" means everything is free from ridicule because if everything is art, nothing can be good/bad. Another dipshit position to take, well done.

[@SmuggyOcelot]

@@LeonBelmont1000 lol what you say means nothing to me; you are nothing to me. No point in arguing with someone who thinks they know everything also, so you're saying people can't have their own opinion?

[@LeonBelmont1000]

​@@SmuggyOcelot I'm everything to you if your ego hinges on responding to my comment. I'm just imagining you defending eating feces with the "some people enjoy it, therefore its not bad". Your position sucks, and it always will.

[@eliluke2427]

This is my favorite Magic card. I have it in foil and treasure it. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a piece of artwork more.

[@alejandrorivas4585]

Even if I don't like it, I'm glad its target audience such as you resonated with and cherish it! I love her broader portfolio I just dislike this piece

[@Beldurkin]

I agree that this painting might not have been suited for the card frame. A lot of her signature style is lost or muted. That said, I can't not notice this art whenever it's present. It's presence is that powerful.

[@MagizardInternet]

I don't like the art for Faithless Looting, but I like using that particular version. It appeals to me. I think though the one detail that breaks the style for most people is the mask that kinda makes it look like it has googly eyes. That said, I absolutely love her Social Climber art. It fits so well and the aesthetic feels like a painting you can expect in a social climber's home in the high rise buildings of New Capenna.

[@Carnane]

As an early defender and lover of this piece, I’m so happy to see Sam take a deep dive in defending and appreciating it.

[@Resuarus]

Definitely here for Sam roasting unhinged internet comments.

[@housemana]

sooo, you're leaving, then? because Sam isn't doing any of that. and nor should he. this is easily his worst video and worst take. it would be artistic suicide if he attempted to white knight any harder on such a terrible hill to die on.

[@Resuarus]

@@housemana Wow, you're really clever. I'm sorry you can't appreciate that there are many art styles out there that aren't just high detail fantasy art and that not everything is for everyone. That just makes your life suck more, tbh. Hope you enjoy your infantile nerd rage, though. Obviously his video was pretty effective at roasting perspectives like yours if you're so mad about it. 🙂

[@someguy4405]

imagine responding to "this is a bad take" with "your life must suck" and then trynna claim the other guy is mad lol

[@Resuarus]

@@someguy4405 Imagine thinking pointing out his life probably isn't that great if he's getting twisted over art on Magic cards means I'm mad. It's a simple statement of fact: if you can't enjoy a broad swath of art and you get man baby rage over seeing one piece of art you don't like in a game with tens of thousands, your life is gonna be less enjoyable. It's a sad disposition to have, and I kinda feel sorry for people who can't enjoy things. But if you're gonna throw a public tantrum, people are gonna point and laugh lol

[@someguy4405]

@@Resuarus when someone states their opinion without attacking you and you jump straight to attacking them it makes you look angry people who can distinguish good things from bad things have easier lives i think

[@DoctorWhoBlue]

I guess I'm one of the rare people who actually likes this version of Looting. I always vibe with the more abstract compositions in this game.

[@MrMeltJr]

I gotta say, seeing the full piece, in the context of her other work, makes me like it a lot more. You're right that the card frame really did it a disservice.

[@DerpyHippo]

the moment I saw this faithless looting card, I immediately fell in love with it, I absolutely fell in love with her style. it became my favorite printing of the card. When I found out that there was a lot of backlash on the artwork I was stunned, finding out that so many people were hating on the artwork made me feel so sad. I'm hoping she gets more chances to do art for Magic.