Erik’s Curiosa is proud to introduce Juan Machuca, an emerging illustrator from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, whose striking talent makes him a powerful new voice within Sorcery: Contested Realm and a welcome addition to the game’s ever-growing roster of traditional fantasy artists.
Juan’s debut in Gothic marks his first major professional project as an illustrator, a milestone born from years of self-driven study, creative perseverance, and a lifelong love for fantasy and horror art.
With the community voting in the Sorcery Discord and Facebook Group to explore the tribal subgroup of Demons as the next Gothic focus, what better time for Juan to share the process behind his piece, Shackled Demon?
A Lifelong Pursuit of Imagination
From childhood, Juan filled his schoolbooks with strange sketches and stories. “I’ve always been a very imaginative person,” Juan shares. “If I’m not thinking about stories, I’m thinking about developing games, zines, or art. I like to tell stories, and I do this through my art.”
Though he trained in renewable energy engineering, Juan’s creative instincts led him elsewhere. Without access to formal arts training, he began learning illustration through online communities and YouTube channels by artists like Matt Busch and Jeff Miracola, and through the art blog Muddy Colors.
“My work is very influenced by comic books,” Juan explains, “I like to maintain a rhythm through patterns, shapes, and colors. People have described my art as dramatic, and that’s true. I want to make images that live on the edge of emotion.”
Breaking Chains
When Juan received the commission for Shackled Demon, he knew it was a moment of arrival. “The instruction was to create a chained demon,” he recalls. “I came up with two thumbnails, and the one you see now was chosen to develop. Originally, I thought it was supposed to be a small demon, but I was asked to add more chains and something for scale, so I added a small wizard inspired by the classic Gauntlet game.”
The final piece depicts a massive, imprisoned demon stirring beneath a forgotten temple, its chest glowing with a white seal that holds its power in check.
“I imagined a demon that’s been long imprisoned in a dungeon, condemned to guard a temple for eternity,” Juan shares. “The wizard who approaches becomes the chance for escape. You can see dark energy beginning to rise from the demon’s wings, surrounding the oblivious wizard who doesn’t realize the danger that’s closing in.”
A Challenge and a Turning Point
Each Sorcery commission brought unique challenges, but Shackled Demon carried special weight, as Jaun's father was scheduled for a major surgery at the same time as it was being worked on. “It was always in the back of my mind while working on this set, and in some ways, it influenced the mood of my paintings. Even though it was a difficult time, I decided to commit myself fully and create something people would enjoy. Thankfully, my dad recovered, and I’m proud I had this chance to follow my dream.”
Joining the Realm
Juan discovered Sorcery through the YouTube channel Questing Beast and, on a whim, sent his portfolio to Erik’s Curiosa. “Erik replied just a few hours later,” he recalls, “he said he liked my work and he gave me my first few assignments.”
For Juan, joining Sorcery represents a realization of a lifelong goal. “This is a brand new world for me,” he shares. “I’m achieving a dream that once felt impossible. Seeing people enjoying my art makes me so happy. Knowing that something I created is out there, traveling around the world, it means everything.”
As Gothic nears its release on December 5, Shackled Demon stands as both a warning and a promise. It’s a reminder that in the darkness something powerful stirs, waiting to be set free.
Please join us in welcoming Juan Machuca to the Sorcery community, and be sure to connect with fellow players and artists in our community hubs on Discord and Facebook.
You can find out more about Juan Machuca on his artist page here.
Find more at Juan Machuca's artist page
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