Ron Spencer is an American illustrator whose most famous work has been for the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering.[2][3]
Ron Spencer | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Occupation | Artist |
Early life
editRon Spencer grew up on a farm in Aurora, Nebraska. As a child, his reading material included such Marvel Comics as Conan the Barbarian.[3]
Artwork
editSpencer is primarily self-taught though he did attend a two-year college in Idaho.[1][4] He uses various elements of mixed media, including colored pencils, ballpoint pens, watercolors, and acrylic paint.[1] His trademark on a vast majority of his earlier trading cards is a hidden name somewhere in the artwork. For example, the name DALE can be clearly seen in the Alliance expansion card Misfortune. He lists his inspirations as Richard Corben and Swamp Thing illustrator Bernie Wrightson.[1]
He has also created artwork for several books of the World of Darkness series from White Wolf, Inc, as well as the Talislanta line of role-playing games.
Ron Spencer lives in Aurora, Nebraska. He has six children[3] with his late wife Stacie who died in 2009.[5] He is also brother to fellow artist Terese Nielsen.[2]
Plush toys
editRon Spencer has also actively worked with Toy Vault, Inc. in creating plush toys and slippers, with various designs under their horror and fantasy brands such as Cthulhu, "Here Be Monsters", and dragons. Among these designs is the rare Necronomicon plush book.
Altered cards
editRon Spencer releases periodically altered Magic cards also commonly known as Extreme Alteration. The cards are painted over with different artwork incorporating the original picture. Other Magic: The Gathering artists such as Terese Nielsen and Mark Poole also provide this service for their fans.
Bibliography
editMagic: The Gathering sets
editSome cards listed are reprinted from set to set.[6]
- Alpha (1993) - 1 card
- Beta (1993) - 1 card
- Unlimited (1993) - 1 card
- Revised (1994) - 1 card
- The Dark (1994) - 10 cards
- Fallen Empires - (1994) - 8 cards
- 4th Edition (1995) - 4 cards
- Ice Age (1995) - 5 cards
- Alliances (1996) - 2 cards
- Mirage (1996) - 7 cards
- Visions (1997) - 3 cards
- Fifth Edition (1997) - 10 cards
- Weatherlight (1997) - 6 cards
- Tempest (1997) - 10 cards
- Stronghold (1998) - 9 cards
- Exodus (1998) - 7 cards
- Urza's Saga (1998) - 17 cards
- Urza's Legacy (1999) - 5 cards
- Urza's Destiny (1999) - 3 cards
- Classic (Sixth Edition) (1999) - 4 cards
- Mercadian Masques (1999) - 5 cards
- Nemesis (2000) - 3 cards
- Prophecy (2000) - 3 cards
- Invasion (2000) - 9 cards1
- Seventh Edition (2001) - 7 cards
- Planeshift (2001) - 3 cards
- Apocalypse (2001) - 5 cards
- Odyssey (2001) - 9 cards
- Torment (2002) - 2 cards
- Judgment (2002) - 3 cards
- Onslaught (2002) - 10 cards
- Legions (2003) - 3 cards
- Scourge (2003) - 4 cards
- Eighth Edition (2003) - 8 cards
- Ninth Edition (2005) - 3 cards
- Tenth Edition (2007) - 5 cards
- Magic 2010 (2009) - 1 card
- Magic 2011 (2010) - 1 card
Dungeons & Dragons
edit- Ghostwalk (2003)
- Draconomicon (2003)
- Complete Warrior (2003)
- Book of Exalted Deeds (2003)
- Unearthed Arcana (2004)
- Races of Stone (2004)
- Complete Divine (2004)
- Complete Arcane (2004)
- Sandstorm (2005)
- Lords of Madness (2005)
- Complete Adventurer (2005)
- Player's Handbook II (2006)
Hearthstone
edit- Master of Disguise (Classic Set)
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Guest Artist - Ron Spencer". Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
- ^ a b Felt, Kevin (December 17, 2007). "Painter of 'Magic' cards inspiring random acts of kindness", San Gabriel Valley Tribune. Convenience link [dead link]
- ^ a b c "Artist Glad He's Living a Nightmare". Omaha World-Herald. 1995-11-13. p. 16.
- ^ Telfer, Iain (2003-07-14). "An Interview With Ron Spencer". Star City Games. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
- ^ "Obituaries". higbymortuary.com. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
- ^ "Magic: The Gathering - Gatherer". Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved 2011-07-21.
Notes
edit- 1.^ Includes 2 versions of Swamp.
External links
edit- "Ron Spencer Gallery at Pen & Paper". Archived from the original on 2010-08-20.
- An Interview With Ron Spencer
- "RPG Database listing for Ron Spencer". Archived from the original on December 22, 2008.
- Magic: the Gathering - Cards illustrated by Ron Spencer
- Plush Toys