Francesca Baerald

Preferred Medium

Working with watercolors is always incredible; it's quite an unpredictable medium. I must always abide by the flow of water and color on paper. This means that sometimes mistakes or hiccups can happen, but I choose to accept and embrace them, turning them into part of my artwork's authenticity.

However, acrylics and oils are a wonder, and I really enjoy painting with them. I have a very instinctive approach to painting, and the physical contact with my work is essential for me. I love how acrylics and oils have a tactile quality that allows me to create a true connection with the artwork.

I had the pleasure of mixing watercolors and acrylics in some illustrations for Sorcery, with "Mountain Giant" being a perfect example. It was a lovely experience.

Achievements

My biggest achievement is probably having the chance to work on so many different games and settings. I have a very intense and deep connection with my works, so each new artwork feels like a new adventure, a wonderful journey into new lands. It's a fantastic experience that I get to live every day from my studio.

This opportunity has allowed me to work on settings that had a significant impact on me while growing up and that I have admired since I was a little girl. Working on Diablo, Conan, Dragon Age, and many others has been incredibly exciting.

Each project is a new and thrilling experience, enriching my creative journey and making every day in the studio a unique adventure.

Favorite Pieces in Sorcery

Erik's Curiosa

"Erik's Curiosa" is such an iconic piece for Sorcery. What made creating

this painting particularly fun was the connection between my life and the painting—every item you see in the image is inspired by objects I own, each with its own special story. After finishing the painting, I spoke with Erik and we created a name for each item to fit within Sorcery's setting and lore. It was an amazing experience!

Spells Card Back

When I started working on this piece, I wasn't aware it would be used as the back of each card in Sorcery. This artwork blends two of my favorite media: I've painted the decorated border with inks and watercolors, while the Sorcerer is entirely made with colorful acrylics. It's such an honor to have created this piece, knowing how many players worldwide enjoy Sorcery.

Beta Avatars

Having the chance to share my vision of the Elemental Avatars has been fantastic! I wanted to make each one unique, without limiting them by gender, race, or age, while ensuring they were strongly connected to their element and maintaining an affinity between all of them. I enjoyed painting all of them, but I've listened to enough heavy metal in my life to proudly say that my favorite is the Flamecaller. I was also inspired by Metallica's album "Ride the Lightning" for the Sparkmage.