Q. How can I contact you?

A: Please contact me via the contact form on this website or - in case of internet gremlins - you can write to me directly at: waynereynoldsart@ntlworld.com (not a live link; please type this address into your e-mail’s ‘To’ field).

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Do you have original artwork for sale?

A: Yes. However, I have less than 6 pieces of RPG/TCG art left for sale. All my past artwork for MTG, Pathfinder, D&D,  Hearthstone and all the images displayed on this website have been sold. A complete availability and price list is available on request (you can request the list via the form on the Contact page).

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Are you available for artwork commissions?

A: I am available for commercial (published) art only. However, it's not often viable for me to accept commercial commissions from self-publishing clients. My work schedule is usually planned approximately 3 months in advance.

I apologise that it’s not possible for me to accept personal character commissions, repaints or private commissions.

 

 

 

 

Q: Do you sell prints/copies of your art book? (‘Visions of WAR’)

A: A limited selection of 10.5" x 7.5" prints are available to purchase from me at conventions only. Unfortunately my busy work schedule does not allow me any time to sell prints from my website.

 

Please be aware that I do NOT send electronic images of my artwork to private individuals. (Why not? Answer here).

 

I do not stock any copies of my art book, ‘Visions of WAR’. The book now has limited availability from regular outlets, such as Amazon and the publisher, Paizo.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Do you sign cards by mail?

A: If you provide a SAE (Self Addressed Envelope) I am happy to sign up to a maximum of 50 Magic the Gathering cards sent by mail (providing they show my artwork).

If you are a non-UK resident then you must provide alternative means to cover the cost for return postage. The UK post offices will not accept letters using foreign stamps.

I apologise that my busy work schedule does not allow me additional time to make special signatures (Including shadow signatures) or art alterations on cards, nor provide sketches on the backs of artist proof cards.

Please contact me for details of address, artist proof list, signing fees, postal costs and terms.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Where can I find other examples of your artwork on the web?

A: You will be able to find examples of my artwork by typing my name into the search fields of the following sites;
www.wizards.com
www.paizo.com
 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Permission to use artwork?

A: All images on this website are copyright to Wayne Reynolds, and respective copyright holders. Downloading, copying, printing, or any other form of reproduction is strictly forbidden unless written consent has been granted by the copyright holders. This includes "Not - for - Profit" ventures. All licensing queries and use of Wayne Reynolds artwork in a commercial capacity are to be made to the respective publishing copyright holders. Failure to secure permission to use any of the images for commercial purposes is in breach of copyright laws and will result in the copyright owners taking legal action.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Can I interview you?

A: I can paint fairly quickly but I write really slowly. If you wish me to supply interview answers I ask you give me a reasonable amount of time for me to provide answers around my busy work schedule.

 

 

 

 

Q: What medium do you use to create your art?

A: I work exclusively in acrylic paint. I can also use pen and ink, watercolours and coloured pencil, though I use these very rarely. I prefer to use acrylics because they can make the vivid colours like oil paint but they dry really quickly. Acrylics can also be watered down and used like watercolour paint. I paint directly over my pencil sketches. I prefer to use liquid acrylic like Reaper Miniatures paints or Gamecraft Miniature paints. I will occasionally mix the liquid acrylic with Winsdor & Newton acrylic pigment if I need the colour to be particularly opaque

All my artwork is non-digital. I do not use computers to create my artwork.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: What tools do you use to create your artwork?

A: Most of my painted artwork is done on 2mm CS2 art board or 2mm white mounting board by Daler & Rowney. I find it is best to use acrylic paint on a relatively thick surface. Sometimes, when you paint with acrylics on paper, the thin surface "warps" and becomes uneven. Sometimes the moisture in the paint will remove the top surface of thin paper and cause small bits of pulped paper to appear in the colours.
I use Kolinsky sable art brushes sized; #6, #2, #1, #0 and #00. In the past I've used an airbrush to lay down or diffuse background colours. however, I hardly ever use it these days.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: What are your art techniques?

A: I find this incredibly difficult to describe, as most of what I do is on an instinctive level. There’s no way I could describe my techniques and use of colour like other artists can. Although I attended art college, I did not receive much formal education on painting techniques. The work I created at college bears little relevance to the work I produce now. Using what I did learn at college as a starting block, I am largely self- taught.

In a lot of respects, what I do is not that much different to any other artist. I observe things and then transfer what I see or imagine onto a 2d surface. The only difference is the way my brain interprets these images which leads to each artists individual style. This part of the process is a mystery, even to me. This is something each individual artist needs to work out for themselves.

I don't have an established method or rules for painting. I vary my technique depending on the subject matter. Sometimes I start with light shades and then add progressively darker shadows. Sometimes I work the other way round, starting with dark shadows and then adding progressively lighter shades. I often change the mix of colours from each new painting. The range of colours I use for flesh tones on one painting might not get used in the next. Every painting is different from the last one, and I'm always trying new and different ways in which to depict something. Often I might discover a technique that works really well but then forget how I did it when I do the next painting!

I do get over-obsessed with detail. Sometimes I find myself drawn into a certain part of a painting. It's usually a facial expression, armour or costume decoration, or a textured area such as fur.

 

 

 

 

 

Q: Can I send my artwork to you for critique/mentorship?

A: I apologise that, due to time restraints, I'm unable to assume the role of an online mentor, or provide art critiques.

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Q: Do you have any artistic advice?

A: I’m not sure I’m qualified to answer this one, when I’ve had no real formal education myself and perceive my own work as imperfect. The things I can suggest are the methods I use myself to improve my own work.

Keep practicing your artwork. Observation is the key. Look at the world and keep drawing what you see. Just because acrylic paint works for me, it doesn't mean that it'll work for you in the same way. You may find that you prefer inks, oils, watercolours or a digital medium. The only way you'll find out is through practice and experimentation. Most importantly....create artwork in the way that works for you! Your artwork will be better for it. It's taken me over 20 years of practice to be able to paint how I do.....and I'm still trying to get things right!

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Q: Do you sell Playmats?

A: I have an exclusive arrangement with Original Magic Art (OMA) for them to sell licensed playmats of my artwork from Ultra Pro. The playmats can be purchased here. 

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Q: Will you release another art book?

A: Maybe, but probably not for a few years.

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Q. Are there any tutorials or videos of your work process available to watch online?

A. No, sorry. The idea of being filmed while working just feels a little too intrusive. I'm the kind of artist that just wants to get on with the art, without having to explain or talk about it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. Why won't you send out higher-resolution or larger-size versions of your artwork? (Long answer)

A. This is a lengthy answer, and the result of having received an increased number of requests asking me to send or post hi-res electronic files of my artwork. Seems that there’s a large part of the online community who are unaware why these kinds of requests aren’t as viable as they might seem.

 

I’m really pleased that people like my artwork enough to want to see more of it, or see it in higher resolution. Asking an artist to post a clearer copy of an image that you really like seems like a logical and reasonable step to take and maybe even a bit of a compliment, right? However, there are factors which make it extremely difficult for a commercial artist to comply with this request. What may seem like a reasonable request is actually unreasonable.

 

One of the main reasons why it is problematic for artists to post hi res images of their artwork is copyright. Commercial artwork is copyrighted imagery. It is used to enhance or sell a commercial product. In most cases the publishing copyright holder has the sole rights to decide when, where or how an image is to be used in conjunction with their IP (Intellectual Property) The publishing copyright holders release their imagery online in a low res format to help prevent misuse of their imagery. They are designed to be sample images only. In most cases they are the best version of the image you’ll find on the net without buying the product they feature in. (Kinda the whole point).

 

In most cases, artists are contractually required to adhere to the copyright parameters outlined by the publishing copyright holders.

 

By asking an artist to post or send a hi res file of a piece of artwork, you are often asking them to breach legal copyright agreements with valued clients. This applies even if you want the artwork for non-commercial uses, such as personalised game mats or handouts for your gaming group.

 

I think there is a general misinterpretation of how artwork imagery is perceived on the internet. Information can be shared so quickly across the web. Imagery can be shared from one site to another to a point where it’s origin is lost and it is perceived as a random image outside of it’s original context. Artwork and imagery often gets taken for granted as a free resource – after all, many things on the internet are considered ‘free’. Consequently, artwork is increasingly perceived to be without value and artists are being viewed as a free-image archive resource. Even if it's artwork someone really, really likes, it is still perceived as a freebie for the taking. It seems that it doesn’t occur to people that artists make a living out of creating those images. They pay their bills, buy food (and beer) with the money they earn from commissions, from images they have worked hard on. I don't think people realise that when they ask an artist for images, they're essentially asking a craftsman for a freebie.

 

Lastly, once an artist releases a hi res file then they essentially relinquish control of that imagery. There’s no guarantee that the person you’re sending files to is trustworthy. There’s no way to effectively restrict how someone uses that file; where they post it online, in what conjunction they use it, how many copies they can print and the quality of the copies they print. As mentioned before, information gets shared online so quickly. This leaves artwork images potentially open to abuse, to be used without permission by dishonest or opportunist people. Even though these people are in the minority, they can do considerable damage before they’re shut down by the publishing copyright holders.

 

Please bear this information in mind before you ask an artist to post or send their artwork. Apologies to those people who may have received terse replies from me in the past regarding this matter. I try to be as polite as I can. I realise that most people are naïve about the points I’ve raised here, and are innocent of the impracticality of their request. But sometimes patience can wear thin after constantly responding to the same requests.

 

If you want to see larger size or higher quality artwork images then please consider buying the product an image is featured in, or an art print from the artist (if the artist sells prints). This is hardly a complete summary of facts. There are other factors to consider and exceptions to the rule can exist, but I’ve hopefully encapsulated the main points. I hope this has been useful.