Artist: Christopher Rush

Continuing my series on the artists of Magic, today I look at Christopher Rush.

Christopher Rush was one of the game's 25 original artists. He, with Jesper Myrfors, created the design that is featured on the back of every single Magic card (minus double-sided cards and commemorative products). He also designed the mana symbols:

image from here

But he is best known for illustrating the Black Lotus (Alpha edition shown at top), the game's most expensive card (an autographed version sold for over $500K last year).

Per the previous post, I use Scryfall to look up Rush's work. He illustrated 123 unique cards. He was employed by Wizards through 1999 and thus produced art for most of the first 21 sets. His work continues show up in reprints, too. You can look at his work in toto from that latest hyperlink, or check out his art from sets I randomly chose:

- 10 cards in Alpha

- 7 cards in Arabian Nights

- 13 cards in Legends

- 10 cards in The Dark

- 9 cards in Ice Age

- 14 cards in Fourth Edition

The card reprinted the most times with a Christopher Rush illustration is Lightning Bolt, with Canopy Spider close behind.

Rush tended to do close-ups of creatures/objects with simple backgrounds. Below is a sample of either iconic or personally nostalgic cards he has done:

He passed away in 2016, aged 50. Rest in peace.