Sorcery Artist Interview: Truitt Parrish

Today we interview Sorcery: Contested Realm Artist, Truitt Parrish. Truitt is one of the earlier career artists for Sorcery, with this being one of the biggest projects in his budding art career. In speaking with Sorcery Art Director Erik Oloffson, I learned that he discovered Truitt through his work on Art Station and selected him for his style's appeal to the art direction of the game. Truitt was very enthusiastic to speak with me and share some interesting information with the growing Sorcery community. As it turns out, we have some similar interests in hobbies and art, and had a few fun conversations. Here goes the interview...enjoy!

Art Fan Pro Tip: This is an 'immersive' interview. Take the time to click the links to discover more information about Truitt's artistic influences and other references throughout the piece!

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: I believe you are one of the younger up-and-coming artists from Sorcery. Tell us about your background to help us get to know you; where you are from, and how you got into painting.

Truitt Parrish: I grew up in northeastern Colorado in a town where there was almost nothing to do, so I was fortunate that both my parents were artists. I ended up just making art as a hobby because of that and eventually went to CU Boulder to get a BFA in art practices where I did a thesis show on the War of the Roses. Right out of college I was contacted about Sorcery which was very fortunate for me.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Your work on Art Station seems to have a very classic style. How would you describe your style and who are your artistic influences?

Truitt Parrish: I like to try to be painterly with my strokes. I enjoy finding the line between realism and clear oil painting brush strokes. I was influenced in college by some older illustrators like Leyendecker and Rockwell, then I gradually started to be heavily influenced by Greg Manchess, Donato Giancola, and David Palumbo. Currently, I am back on older artists and have been really enjoying Frank Brangwyn, Anders Zorn, and Edwin Austen Abbey.

Art Fan Pro Tip: Don't miss the embedded links here. There is an unmistakable quality about Truitt's artwork that resembles the great works of his influences. In my opinion, this is most notable in works by Leyendecker, Rockwell, Manchess, Palumbo, Brangwyn, and Abbey.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Is Sorcery your first professional commission, or have you done other commission work before?

Truitt Parrish: I have done other Commissions but Sorcery is my biggest yet. I have done a couple of single paintings for companies, organizations, and people, nothing as exciting or fun as sorcery though.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: I believe the works that have been revealed thus far are Vanguard Knights, Crusade, and Jihad. Please describe the art concept for each of these, starting with the artistic direction you received from Erik and how the artistic process evolved to the final pieces.

Truitt Parrish: Yes, he started out wanting me to do armies, groups of knights that sort of thing since I have done that kind of image before. Crusade and Jihad were meant to fit together and

complement each other,

I started out with thumbnails and he chose which one he liked, from there I had a huge amount of artistic freedom. I would send in the painting as it progressed and he would give me some direction. Mostly to fit it in with the card compositionally, or to refine some details he wanted a little more.

Honestly, there was so much freedom I was very happy with my experience working with Erik. It was a dream job for me.

I used an approach described by James Gurney relying on maquettes...

...and using references from German artists who painted images of Jerusalem. I believe my main references were painted by Gustav Bauernfeind...

Artwork by Gustav Bauernfeind

Art Fan Pro Tip: Don't miss the fascinating YouTube video link of James Gurney using a technique with a marquette model as a reference for an illustration, and the video vignette on Gustav Bauernfeind.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Are there more Sorcery artworks to come, either already completed and yet to be revealed or potentially in future set releases?

Truitt Parrish: I did a few more images for the game, whether Erik reveals them or when is up to him. But, there is potential.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: What is your favorite artwork to date, be it from Sorcery or otherwise, that you would point fans to from your portfolio? And why?

Truitt Parrish: Hmm, that is a hard question for sure. I have a piece I have really liked for a while I called 'Hunter'. It is a 4'x4' painting of a massive fish with a human swimming next to it.

I am also quite fond of another piece I did before sorcery which is fairly similar to the game pieces. I even named it 'Vanguard'.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: What are your goals as an artist? Is this a full-time professional career path that you aspire to?

Truitt Parrish: I have a couple of IP projects that I am rolling with right now that I hope will come to fruition in the next year or so. I also would really like to go to Grad school in Norway so I am working on a giant narrative project illustrating the relationships between the Vikings and the English around 1066 A.D.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Do you intend to sell your original paintings, artist proofs, art prints, and/or other products?

Truitt Parrish: I am open to selling both proofs and originals, I have been contacted by multiple people about proofs so I am hoping they find good homes so to speak. I do have a little attachment to my originals but if they go to a fan that would make me very happy.

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Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Is there anything else you would like to share with fans?

Truitt Parrish: I encourage people to support Sorcery and support Erik he is a great guy and has put an amazing amount of work into this project. Also if you like my work you can follow my Artstation and get in touch from there https://www.artstation.com/truitt_parrish

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Mike Servati @ Collector Arthouse and TCG Arthouse on Facebook, signing off...