Posing individual characters is not usually my favorite type of subject, but when the character is compelling enough, I am always willing to make an exception. One such exception had to be the cruel Elder Dragon Nicol Bolas, by far the most impressive antagonist in the Magic Multiverse.

The scene depicted here shows his arrival during the War of the Spark storyline. Hovering above the city, he watches with satisfaction as the fruits of his long-laid schemes finally begin to ripen.

If I had to criticize one aspect of his character design, it would be his somewhat goblin-like face. However, those distinctive facial features also allowed me to emphasize his arrogant grin to great effect.

One of the greatest challenges of this piece was painting the reflections from the two different light sources on his scales and armor plates. Not only do they differ in color and angle, but also in intensity and depth. Capturing those subtle interactions of light was both difficult and rewarding.