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AuthorMichael Jay LaRue

Michael is an engineer who has been playing Magic, mostly multi-player and sealed deck, since Urza's Saga. He started his Magic writing on a mission to raise the level of awareness of artistic matters pertinent to the game. Based on the assumption that art can be objectively evaluated by 'the rules of art,' Michael's articles are presented as formal art critiques.. As an artist himself, with an interest in both traditional and computer animation, Michael continues to take art classes, and maintains a respectable drawing portfolio and computer animation demo reel.

Magic Art Matters:
Cavotta Critiques Back!

So Michael’s been running around critiquing various artists in Magic, telling ’em what paintings are good, and why. Well, one artist couldn’t take this treatment – and so Matt Cavotta himself steps forward to talk about his pieces and composition! A must-read for ANY art fan!

The Daily ‘Slaught – Ending On A High Note… WAY High

Not a second too soon, a new piece of Onslaught preview art has become available – and it is outstanding! I feel like a little kid on Christmas morning, having just opened up a gift, and realizing that it was just what I wanted.

The Daily ‘Slaught – Now For A Morph Creature I’d Like To See Sunny Side Up, and More Than Meets The Eye

All right, so we forgot to put up Michael’s effort to be daily yesterday. Would it help if we put up not one, but TWO articles at once? We thought so!

The Daily ‘Slaught: Shoot The Duck! Shoot The – Well, I Think It’s A Duck. It’s Some Sort Of Bird, Anyhow

It just occurred to me: I hope this card has Morph. Because if I was ever forced to use it as my 23rd card in Sealed, I could play it face-down, and never activate its Morph ability, and NEVER HAVE TO LOOK AT THE GOD-AWFUL ART ON THIS CARD. Gah.

The Daily ‘Slaught – An Unique Experiment, And A Look At Snapping Thragg

Hey – in a unique and definitely nonreplicable experiment, I’m going to be looking at a different piece of Onslaught art every day for a week! I chose to address Snapping Thragg first because I find it very refreshing in is execution; its primary strength is in its loose and casual approach.

Magic Art Matters – An Overlooked Gem from Judgment

During my last artwork critique, I offhandedly stated that Worldgorger Dragon was the best red artwork in Judgment. Well, I was browsing through the Magic Arcana archives on magicthegathering.com, and let me tell you I missed a doozie.

Magic Art Matters: Moonlighting As An Artist

Thirty three years ago this Saturday, on July 20th 1969, three brave adventurers from a different era brought to a conclusion a fantastic voyage of epic proportions. Today, I’ll talk about Magic art that centers on the object of their journey.

Magic Art Matters – Judgment First Impressions

LaRue’s back with another art attack – and this time, he’s asking what the two best pieces in Judgment are! One may be Constructed-worthy… The other probably isn’t. Read on!

Magic Art Matters – Digging Up Old Art For Eighth Edition

Three Gravediggers from three sets – and only one of them is artistically flawless. Which Gravedigger doesn’t belong? Check it out for a full art critique of Tempest, Odyssey, and 7th!

Art Workshop: Spelljacked!

A formal art critique of the picture on Spelljack. Know what negative space is? Well, you will after this is done!

Let’s Guess the Friggin’ Announcement!

The Ferrett has promised the revelation of a great secret on Friday regarding the mysterious fate of John Rizzo. My palms began to sweat; what could it be?

How I Became Friends With A Dragon Legend

For This Report, and/or, Who To Blame (if it comes down to that) I am submitting this article for three reasons which are: [1] I had a great time at the Planeshift Prerelease and wanted to share, [2] I was inspired by this article by Jason Dooley at http://www.7towers.net/articles/012501Dooley.htm, who admonishes us to record our…