Auld Lang Syne on The Stack
2024 Year in Review
For as long as I’ve been writing, my last (or first) article of the year has been a summation of the things that were, the things that are, and things I’d like to do in the coming year. I’m not quite sure what I’ll call it here on Substack; at Hipsters of the Coast, it was called the Mirror Gallery Reflection, a play off the title of my column. For now, you’re welcome for having a song stuck in your head.
Let’s take a quick look back at the year that was 2024.
Snack Time, Karlov Manor & MagicCon Chicago
This new space began in earnest in February, after the cessation of operations at Hipsters and after much encouragement from both my wife and my buddy Sam from Rhystic Studies. It has become a place where I can write as I always have, but with a little extra freedom. I set a goal of two articles a month (which I nearly hit, despite not thinking I was close) and to keep articles to 1000 words (which I was able to do, and plan to continue).
I wrote my first set review, now entitled Three Works, about Murders at Karlov Manor and it felt GOOD. It was well received, and I feel like I’ve unlocked a format I’ll continue with: find the very, very best in a set, don’t be afraid to say what didn’t work, and make it meaningful.
The year also began with MagicCon Chicago, where I attended with the inimitable Justine Jones. It was a weekend full of my favorite folks, and some of the best food and best company I could have asked for. And I’m very excited to run it back with Justine again next month.
Magic: The Gathering in Miniature II and Commandfest Dallas
After a quick break in March, April started with one of the most exciting auctions I’ve had the privilege to run: the original artwork for Pernicious Deed by Christopher Moeller. Offered from the private collection of one of my best collecting clients, it was the most I had ever sold a work for, and found its way into a wonderful collection of important pieces of Magic artwork.
Fast Forward a week and I was taking off to Los Angeles for the opening of Magic: The Gathering in Miniature II at Gallery Nucleus, the second exhibition of artist proofs I guest-curated in as many years. The show was another smash hit: well attended with strong sales and lots of positive feedback.
And only four days later it was back to the airport to Dallas, TX for Commandfest hosted by CoolStuffInc alongside Andrew Mar. This was our second CoolStuff Commandfest (after Orlando in 2022) and these folks put on some of the best events at this scale. They take care of their artists and their attendees, plain and simple.
Marvelous May & MagicCon Amsterdam
May made way for a quick trip south with my good buddy Sid to the studio of sculptor extraordinaire Tom Taggart, so that we could each pick up the newest pieces in our Marvel original card art collection. Mine is above. The trip also afforded a quick stop by the studio of Dan Dos Santos to talk Magic and Marvel Masterpieces, and see the world’s greatest Silver Surfer card collection just one town over.
The following month was back to the airport for the biggest trip of the year, a transatlantic journey to The Netherlands. I had the privilege to work at 2023's MagicCon Barcelona with longtime art-partner Titus Lunter, and this year’s Amsterdam show was on his home turf. It was the trip of a lifetime, from the Rijksmuseum to Efteling, and it’s times like these this magical adventure doesn’t quite feel real.
Bloomburrow, SCGCon Baltimore & Commander Sealed
July was probably the busiest month I’ve ever had in the four years I’ve been working with artists. In just about three weeks, I sold 68 pieces of newly released art from the Bloomburrow set. It was an expansion all but custom tailored for the artist’s I work with, and the collecting community rose to the occasion. I closed three auctions a night, every night of the week (save for Saturday), for basically the entire month. I was still able to make time to attend SCGCon Baltimore as a guest (thanks again to them) and jam some games with my regular crew as well as my Maryland Vorthos buddies.
Shortly after Bloomburrow, I completed the largest artwork sale of my career (besting the aforementioned), placing the entire contents of an illustrated book, every piece of it’s original artwork, in a collection bound for a museum. Hopefully more on that in a few years once they’re ready.
September was the Commander Sealed charity event in Rochester, NY back with Andrew Mar. I think everyone on this coast should at the very least be checking it out, and if you can go, go.
Duskmourn, IX, and MagicCon Las Vegas
As summer turned to Fall, it was time to get back on the road. Duskmourn was a tough set for me: not my aesthetic, not really my style, and a challenge to write about. I still think folks should check out Sam’s video on it, even if the horror tropes aren’t for you. There is something there for the future.
In October, after a year away from MagicCon Las Vegas I was very excited to head back. It unfortunately overlapped with my hometown show of IX, the largest gathering of fantasy artwork in the world (in Reading, PA), but I was able to squeeze in two days at the art show before zipping across the country for a couple days in Vegas. Both events were a treat as expected, full of energy and meeting folks face to face for the first time, or the first time in a long time.
I also got to sell what is hopefully the first of many Marvel x Magic: The Gathering original paintings, this one being Galvanic Blast (Iron Man) by Bud Cook. I didn’t necessarily need Marvel in my Magic, but these Universes Beyond contracts have an unusual provision where artists can sell traditionally completed paintings; it’s going to be a boon for anyone working on the sets, and I know I speak for a lot of folks in being thankful that this is happening.
2024 is also the year I got my first holiday card from Wizards of the Coast. In the Mirror Gallery Reflection I used to write about the next year maybe being the year it happened. And it finally did. I know where the nudge came from, and I’ll be forever grateful to them. It was the true cherry on top of 2024.
End Step
This past year was amazing. I went across the country and around the world, all because of Magic. I sold original artwork on behalf of more than thirty artists, and curated a nearly 300 piece gallery show. I am living the art life as best I can, and helping as many folks as humanly possible along the way.
And as good as I felt about 2024, I’m even more excited for in 2025. I plan to be at each MagicCon alongside one of my artists. Rich Stein and I are still in conversation about what a rebirth of Hipsters of the Coast might look like in the future. John Dale Beety and I are working on a book. I’ll have some writing appearing in a print magazine sometime in the next few months. There are wheels moving on Magic-related gallery shows in the short term (and not so distant future). Plus my son just learned how to walk! And the year has only just begun!
I’ll still be here writing along the way, still shooting for at least two articles a month in between travel, working with artists, and taking care of my family. There are nearly 400 of you all subscribed to this little corner of the internet. Thank you for coming along for the ride in 2024, and cheers to 2025!