With the announcement of our Sorcery Organized Play Program, we’re offering an exciting preview of not only the future of Organized Play but also an early look at upcoming cards from Sorcery’s highly anticipated Gothic set.
Today we're diving deeper into the captivating artwork for Swap, the Community Champions reward included in our Cornerstone Event Kits. Each Cornerstone Kit will feature three copies of this special promo card, which are designed to recognize and reward community champions who've played a pivotal role in building vibrant local Sorcery communities.
Now, of course, it wouldn’t truly be a Sorcery card reveal without appreciating the mesmerizing art behind it!
So let's get to it!
Controlled Chaos
When Drew Tucker puts brush to paper, the outcome is typically an evocative blur of movement, emotion, and texture, something more conjured than merely painted. True to form, his latest piece for Sorcery: Contested Realm’s Gothic set, titled Swap, brilliantly exemplifies this signature style.
“This is a crazy piece for me,” Drew says. “I imagined that the spell causes all the creatures to panic.”
Indeed, through his depiction, viewers are hurled headfirst into a whirlwind of magical chaos with creatures scattering, colliding forms, and dynamic lines barely holding together the scene. It’s pure chaos distilled onto canvas, yet somehow harmoniously captivating.
Drew Tucker is widely celebrated for his atmospheric and often dreamlike approach, and this hallmark mood shines vividly in this piece.
“That’s a rabbit hole of a question,” Drew laughs when asked about how he creates such ambiance. “But in short, it’s often through saturated color and something close to tonal painting. I also contrast calm and energetic brushstrokes, and play with the subconscious language of color, marks, and shapes.”
He adds, with a wink: “Maybe the truest answer is that my glasses are almost always a bit smudgy - sort of like Monet’s cataracts.”
Finding the Right Reference
Mechanically, Swap opens up intriguing opportunities for surprising plays that are sure to delight or confound players, depending on if they are on the receiving end or not!
Visually, Drew embodied that energy by exploring an equally surprising set of reference photos. With sources, ranging from vintage photographs of mosh pits and police riots to playful explorations of shadows cast on his backyard fence.
The end result? An artwork practically vibrating with motion, every stroke racing toward escape.
“The emotion I was aiming for is that frantic, panicked energy. Pure, visceral chaos," Drew shares.
And with Swap, Drew Tucker captures exactly that, transforming disorder into art in a way uniquely his own.
We're honored to work with such incredibly talented artists such as Drew Tucker. Find out more about our Sorcery artists here.
Keep an eye out for more reveals and insights as we continue to unveil what’s in store!
Discover more about Drew Tucker’s artistic process in our Painting the Realm video series.
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