Eli Minaya

Im glad you enjoyed the thread :)

Thank you!

😁😏

Thank you. Thats exactly the feeling I was going for. The hope was that the peaks would also peek through the text box a bit

Thank you!

Thanks!

Thank you Crim! :)

T'Challa, the Black Panther by @badking.bsky.social

Acrylic & Mixed Media Collage on Masonite, 18" x 24"

The auction for the Commander Face Card is now LIVE:
mtgart.auction/TChalla

I'm glad you enjoyed both :)

Thanks Eric!

:D

Thanks so much :)

Thank you Danny, that means a lot to me :)

Thanks :)

Thanks!

Thank you! :)

Thanks!

That's very kind :)

Thanks man :)

Thanks!

If you're interested in owning the original its up for auction at MtG Art Market

I snuck in an additional black panther. There behind the text box, lying in wait. I couldn’t put C.B in the painting, there were pretty specific rules about likeness when painting Marvel characters. But in my head, like all the kings before him, he manifests for the next BP.

My collage technique is still there in full, but I got to really cut loose with color. A lot of the blacks on the suit are handpainted. It was important to the creative brief that the vibranium appear to glow and light is just better with paint.

The final is at 18" x 24" on Masonite. It lets me see the painting in totality while I'm working on it, without the need to constantly step back. It also let me paint more directly, so there is a lot more painting going with this one than there usually is.

I’m unused to clients considering my perspective and input. That’s never been a problem with Wizards. I’m still learning how to do this job, but I’ve learned if I trust the AD’s with my ideas, they trust me with honest feedback and collaboration.

Merideth and I have worked together before, she was the AD on my first book cover, and she was just as supportive then. It was really great to work with her again on this MTG card.

AD Meridith Mulroney, really let me take some swings with this one and M had my back the whole way. Fighting for these tiny details that meant as much to me as the Black Panther suit. M recognized my investment and supported me all the way through.

The stylistic choice wasnt going to be a problem 'til I was into the painting, but there was

some push back to the references I made to C.B.. I had decided to include the stateflower of South Carolina where he was born. In sketch form, the pushback was that they would be too loud.

I decided early I wanted to pay homage to Kirby stylistically and get as many references to Mr. Boseman as I could. I kept a lot of my choices close to the vest. Mistake #2.

When I got assigned the card, I went into it very selfishly. Wanting only to make a piece of art that expressed my admiration for the character, the artist who created him, but most importantly Chadwick Boseman.