For more than four decades, Drew Tucker has been one of fantasy gaming’s most distinctive artistic voices. This year, we’re thrilled to welcome Drew to Gen Con, where he’ll be meeting players, signing cards, and debuting a brand-new Gen Con exclusive art print featuring his original Sorcery: Contested Realm illustration, Remulus Immortals.
Ahead of his Gen Con appearance, Drew shared with us how Remulus Immortals came to life and what continues to inspire him.
History Meets Imagination
Every Sorcery illustration begins with a prompt from Erik Olofsson, but from there, each artist brings their own process, perspective, and personality to the canvas.
For Remulus Immortals, Erik’s brief pointed Drew toward the historical Persian Immortals, an elite military force that served as the king’s royal guard. From there, the real work began.
“I used tons of references,” Drew explains. “Erik sent me toward the historical Immortals, so I did a lot of armor research… and then bastardized it a little bit, because it’s me!”
The challenge wasn’t simply recreating history, it was finding the balance between authenticity and fantasy. While many people immediately think of depictions like the warriors from 300, Drew wanted the painting to stand on its own, grounded in history while unmistakably belonging to the realm of Sorcery.
Finding the Feeling
While the armor came from historical research, the emotion behind the painting came from a much more personal place.
“I was in marching band once,” Drew laughs. “I was a trumpet player. All I wanted to do was play jazz, but instead I found myself in marching band. I hated it.”
Standing in formation for long parades, waiting in the sweltering summer heat before anything happened, became an unexpected source of inspiration.
“I’m not a morning person,” he says. “You’re standing there in the heat, putting on your face, waiting. I’d rather be doing almost anything else.”
That feeling of restrained frustration found its way into Remulus Immortals.
“I wanted that standoff where you’re just waiting. In marching band you’re waiting to march. These guys are waiting to crush somebody.”
Rather than depicting battle itself, the painting captures the quiet tension beforehand, when discipline barely conceals overwhelming power.
Painting with Purpose
The mood of the piece extends beyond its composition, with the armor itself being a key element in setting the tone.
“I wanted the gold armor to feel darker and more intimidating,” Drew says. “Bright gold can feel almost angelic, but that wasn’t what I was going for.”
Instead, the armor is subdued beneath deep shadows, with muted tones giving the warriors a quiet, imposing presence. Heat shimmers through the negative space, softening the distant forms while drawing the eye toward the figures waiting in silence.
“I was trying to articulate the heat, the air, and that energy around them.”
The result is a painting that feels less like a snapshot of combat and more like a breath held just before history changes.
A Conversation with the World
For Drew, every painting is an opportunity to learn something new. “I get excited every time I get to paint. Each painting poses a different problem, and I get to learn so many different things," he shares. That curiosity extends far beyond the canvas.
“I love doing reference work because you get to learn so much about things you didn’t know about. Then when you’re painting, you’re reconstructing your understanding of those things.”
Perhaps Drew describes the process best with a single thought: “When you’re painting and drawing, you’re having a conversation with objects.”
That philosophy feels right at home in Sorcery. Every card begins not as pixels on a screen, but as an artist engaging with history, imagination, and the physical act of putting paint to canvas. Remulus Immortals is one of those paintings best appreciated in person, and you’ll be able to see the original on display at the Erik’s Curiosa booth during Gen Con.
Meet Drew Tucker at Gen Con 2026
Throughout Gen Con, Drew Tucker will be at the Erik’s Curiosa booth signing cards, meeting players, and offering his exclusive Remulus Immortals art print. One hundred percent of every Gen Con exclusive art print sale, whether it’s Alan Pollack’s Bearzerker or Drew Tucker’s Remulus Immortals, goes directly to the artist. It’s a wonderful opportunity to take home a beautiful piece of Sorcery while celebrating the artists who bring the realm to life.
Whether you’ve admired Drew’s work for decades or are discovering his art through Sorcery for the first time, Gen Con is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artist behind the brush, hear the stories behind the paintings, and celebrate the human craftsmanship that brings the realm to life.
We look forward to seeing you at Booth #3046.
Find more at Drew Tucker's artist page
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