From Logos to Legends: A Journey back to traditional painting with Sam McKinnon

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At the “Quest for the Crown” event hosted by the Beasts of the Bay in Northern California, Sorcery: Contested Realm enthusiasts came together for a weekend of cards, art, and camaraderie. The gathering took place at a venue on Stinson Beach with 36 attendees, a stunning coastal backdrop, and the special presence of three Sorcery artists—Sam McKinnon, Marta Molina, and Drew Tucker.                                                                                                                                  

For Sam, the interview setting felt serendipitous. We sat in a garden beside a pond, which instantly brought to mind his Pond artwork for Sorcery’s Arthurian Legends set. “It’s actually a pretty fitting place to have this interview,” he laughed. The weekend wasn’t just about playing cards, though—Sam also led his first-ever painting class, guiding 20 attendees through a step-by-step recreation of his Sherwood Huntress. “It was my first time teaching a class, so that was really fun,” Sam said. “I think a lot of people had a great time, which was really cool to see.”  That enthusiasm reflects how Sam approaches both his art and the Sorcery community: with energy, openness, and a passion for creating.

Closing Sales, Opening Realms

Sam’s journey into hand-painted illustration wasn’t a straight line. He actually studied marketing at university and worked in sales, setting aside his childhood love of painting. “I kind of just put art out of my life for a bit,” he explained. “I didn’t feel confident enough to pursue it as a career, and I wasn’t sure if it was the right path.” 

But Sam’s childhood was steeped in creativity. Growing up near Montreal, Canada, Sam and his four brothers were surrounded by art thanks to their mother, who taught design at the Academie Internationale de Design in Montreal. Painting—whether acrylic on canvas or Warhammer miniatures—was a constant in their lives. After a few years away from it, Sam felt the absence deeply. “I realized there was something missing, and that’s when I started freelancing,” he recalled.  

At first, freelancing meant logos, product illustrations, and corporate design work. It was mostly digital, faster to produce, and in demand. But when Sorcery creator Erik Olofsson commissioned Sam for a card, he gave him one condition: the artwork had to be hand-painted. “I was really excited about that,” Sam said. “Clients rarely valued traditional painting, so Sorcery was an opportunity to bring back my passion for real paint, with real brushes and textures.”  

Burning the Ships

When Sam decided to pursue art seriously, he didn’t dip a toe in—he jumped. “There’s an expression, ‘you burn the ships at the shoreline,’” he said. “That’s what I did. I quit my job and just began to freelance.” 

It was a risky move. He and his girlfriend (now wife) had just moved out of their parents’ homes and rented their first apartment in Montreal. Money was tight, and he had to find clients quickly. “Looking back, maybe it wasn’t the smartest move,” he admitted, “but I’m proud I made that jump. It was stressful, but it worked out.” 

That bold decision eventually led to Sorcery, where Sam has contributed iconic Arthurian Legends works like Pond, Sherwood Huntress, and Yellow Knight.

Process of painting "Pond", a popular card from the Arthurian Legends set. 

Building a Painting

In some ways, Sam’s creative process may differ from other artists. Instead of starting with detailed line sketches, he begins digitally, laying down blocks of color in Photoshop. “I find I can get ideas down a lot quicker that way,” he explained. Once the concept is approved by Erik, he transfers to canvas and brings it to life with acrylics. Sam was actually first provided a test commission, completing Pond prior to the rest. “Once that was done, I think Erik really liked the results, because he gave me three more to do for the set!”

Originally, Sam sent Erik a digital sketch for a purple knight (left), only to be changed to yellow upon request from Erik. The Yellow Knight here is the final hand-painted version (right). 

Sam also credits his brother Seb McKinnon, an established Magic: The Gathering artist, for pushing him toward Sorcery. “I honestly didn’t think my work was good enough to send to Erik,” Sam admitted. “But Seb really encouraged me. Without him, I might not have done it.” Older brother Seb has been a mentor of Sam’s since a young age, “When I'm creating artwork, even if it's just for myself or for a game like Sorcery, I do like to ask his advice. He might say, ‘oh, you can maybe change this or that’. But in general, he wants me to voice who I am through my work.”

The World of Artist Proofs

Another bridge between Sam and the community is artist proofs (APs). He’s painted over 30 so far, exploring everything from fire breathing dragons and classic knight-and-princess scenes to tranquil animals by the water. “Each AP is both a chance to connect with collectors and a way to practice new techniques,” he explained. “In terms of an AP that stands out to me, I created one for this event, a large frog with a crown on its head. I find, technically, it came out really nice in my view, inspired by a giant bullfrog I saw this summer.”

Always looking to improve, at the Las Vegas SorceryCON last October Sam connected with other Sorcery artists, “Veteran artist Jeff Menges recommended I try fluid acrylics for APs, and that’s really helped me with smoother strokes,” Sam noted. While he sometimes entertains quirky requests for alters, he prefers to keep APs tied to Sorcery’s world. “Someone once asked me to paint Pokémon, but I feel like APs should stay connected to the Sorcery theme.”

Sam is open to artist proof commissions, both your ideas or his own, just reach out to him via his contacts below.

Looking Ahead

Although Sam isn’t part of the Gothic set, he hinted that new commissions may be on the horizon. "Hopefully you’ll see more of my work in the next set.”

If you want to see what Sam’s up to checkout his Instagram and website below. Contact him directly if interested in signed prints, APs, original art (Sam still has Vanishment available), or commissions such as personal paintings.

Final Reflections

Sam’s story is about more than making art—it’s about risk, resilience, and finding a creative home. At the Beasts of the Bay event, surrounded by players, artists, and the ocean breeze, Sam summed it up simply: “It’s just fun to be here, painting, playing, and sharing this world with everyone. That’s what makes Sorcery so special.”

Checkout previous Sorcery content with Sam below: