BITE SIZE: Aetherjacket by Domenico Cava
Bite Size is a new short form feature I’ll do from time to time. It’s for when I have something to share that doesn’t quite fit anywhere else, and is best enjoyed with a cup of coffee.
If you’re a regular reader of mine from either here or Hipsters of the Coast, you know I firmly believe that some of the best artwork in Magic: The Gathering appears on cards that unfortunately never get a second look. In Aetherdrift, it’s Domenico Cava’s Aetherjacket, a masterclass in making the details count, even when no one can see them (at card size).
Let’s start with the ‘eye’
Dozens of tiny, rotating gears meticulously accounted for, surrounded by the filigree plate that is a staple of Avishkar stylings. Each different metal and material is rendered in such a way as to let the viewer feel texture and temperature. Glass and gold, iron and ore; each is different but come together as one.
The same aesthetic continues down it’s body, undulating in a way that evokes true craftsmanship. Jadeite wings continue this patterning, an inspired design that emulates what we’ve come to expect from ‘inventions’ on this plane. For they are not just utilitarian, but beautiful, and advanced.
Finally we arrive at the business end, a red hot barb that drives home the card’s flavor text:
The Sting Strike model saved thousands of lives during the Invasion and quickly became a bestseller for Shadowblayde Craftworks.
It was a weapon against the Phyrexians, but is wholly unique to this point in time in the Multiverse. This artifact is immediately recognizable as a thopter, a staple creature of the game, but Cava made it his own while building on the design history of the place in which it exists. Ultimately hundreds of tiny details and thousand of artistic micro-decisions were funneled into a painting for a card that will never leave the bulk box. The artist clearly and unequivocally cares about their craft: the storytelling, the execution, and the importance of each and every piece in their paintings, and their portfolio.
Look close at everything, dear reader. Masterpieces can be found everywhere in Magic: The Gathering.
About the Artist:
Domenico Cava is an Italian illustrator who has been creating artwork for Magic: The Gathering since 2022. Best known for his incredible textures and attention to detail, he’s illustrated nearly every card type across his more than two dozen paintings for the game. He is a shining example of an artist who puts their absolute all into each work, regardless of the card it’s destined for, and this truly shows within his body of work. You can see all of his Magic: The Gathering work on his website, follow his work on Instagram, and even get yourself an artist proof.