Introduction

Liz Danforth is best known for her art and illustrations, primarily created for the games industry. Her most visible work at present is for the card game Sorcery: Contested Realm, which raised over $4,000,000(US) on Kickstarter. Her card art appears in the game, on one of the exclusive two-player playmats, and will be used in the packaging as well. Those interested in purchasing originals or prints, see below.

Liz also writes fiction and game material, edits the work of others, and worked as the lead illustrator and co-creator for the Deluxe Edition of the second-oldest role-playing game, Tunnels & Trolls. In the last few years, her work appeared in the reboot of Steve Jackson’s Fantasy Trip, Old School Monsters, and related projects.

Since 1978, Liz has worked steadily as an artist, writer, editor, and/or game developer on role-playing games, card games, and board games. She has been a writer and scenario designer for computer and video games. Her credits include work for licensed Middle Earth and Star Trek projects, Wasteland, and work on more than a dozen different collectible card games. She was one of the original artists for Magic the Gathering, creating art for about three dozen of the early cards. She has created maps and illustrations which appear in mainstream and fantasy novels and anthologies. She was inducted into the Academy of Gaming Arts and Design’s Hall of Fame (1995).

She continues to freelance in art, writing, and game design from her home in Tucson, Arizona.

I will be glad to sign your cards (Magic, Middle Earth, or any of the others), discuss possible commissions, (although new commissions are mostly on hold for now), or you can find out where to follow me on social media or where to drop me a line (via mailing address or email).

I am getting many inquiries about the paintings done for Sorcery, especially the “Mirror Realm” original. At this time, neither it nor my other paintings are for sale. If and when that changes, I will notify you if you first email me and ask to be put on the list.

I have made reproductions of much of my art, including “Mirror Realm” for Sorcery and “Hymn to Tourach” for Magic. Signed limited edition prints, playmats, postcards, and canvas prints are available. Please email me for prices and availability.

Upcoming Live Events

Live events are starting up again, and I plan to attend them where and when I can. I will announce details as events are confirmed.

Next Events:

More information as it becomes available.

IX Art Show

October 18-22, 2023 / Reading, PA in the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts

You can find me in the Evening Showcase of artists, on Friday and Saturday evenings of the show. More details on me and my work can be found at imaginativerealism.com/artists/lizdanforth/

imaginativerealism.com

Red Curtain Photo by Gwen King on Unsplash

The “Big Reveal” at IlluxCon

The next Sorcery expansion features the myths and legends of King Arthur. That much is already known to the public. But the artworks have mostly been kept under wraps, at the request of the publisher.

Erik Olofsson of Erik’s Curiosa Ltd https://sorcerytcg.com/about has given me permission to reveal my newest painting exclusively at this year’s IlluxCon.

Sorcery art is done with traditional media. I spent all of July and August painting the most elaborate and complex painting I have ever done, and I am extremely proud of it. I am excited to let everyone see it, for the first time, at my Showcase table at IlluxCon in October.

Red Curtain Photo by Gwen King on Unsplash

Original Art for Sale

I am going to offer ONE of these three paintings for sale at the show. (I have not decided which one, yet.) I will probably handle it as an auction, or set a relatively high price and accept the highest offer… details to be announced later. I will include everyone who lets me know of their interest, even if they are not present at the show. Drop me a line here and I will put you on the list of those to email with more information as the time approaches.

I will have a lot of other original art, prints, cards, playmats, canvas prints, and folios for sale at IlluxCon. For those, you will have to come to Pennsylvania and see me there.


Read More…

Igniting the Spark

Magic changed the game industry. It surely changed the course of my career.

Cavegirl Productions and X-Ray Films are producing a feature-length documentary about Magic, as a game that changed the world in its own unexpected and thoroughly amazing way. Cavegirl founder Kelley Slagle, with husband Seth Polansky, and cinematographer Brian Stillman have been taking interviews, doing the deep dives on the early history of Magic, and the people who were there when it all began some 30 years ago.

Seth and Brian interviewed me for the film earlier this year, and today they launched their Kickstarter to raise funds for post-production work. As I write, they’re over $17,000 of the way, after only half a day.

Read for Free on Patreon…

Patreon Posts


Patreon Is My New Normal

On Patreon, you will find “Liz Danforth is Making Mages and Sages.” This is the platform where I am most active. For three years now, I have posted multiple times a month. In addition, I run weekly live meetups, either a short social chat on topics de la mode, or longer co-working sessions where we all buckle down to some postponed task or creative endeavor that might benefit from companionship and/or accountability.

In my Patreon posts, I show sketches and art (old and new), write about works in progress, or about my travels (when I am able to travel, anyway), my working process, creative endeavors, and general musings. Some posts are open to the public, or they come open after my paying supporters get a first look. Supporters also get deep dives that only they can read. Sometimes I make special offers or give people an early option at buying my work.