An Ode to Angel Ascendant
Why Sorcery's Angel Ascendant represents the best of what TCG art can be
Artist:
Lindsey Crummett
At every turn, Lindsey chose the harder path — and succeeded. A deep look at why Angel Ascendant is a landmark piece in TCG art history.
Immediately after seeing Angel Ascendant at the Beasts of the Bay's Gothic release party I knew this was the art that needed to be spoken about. This is not a sentiment I carry lightly. Sorcery has incredible artists with an art direction from Erik Olofsson that allows them freedom to capture the card's sentiment as seen through the mind of the artist. To me, what Lindsey Crummett did with Angel Ascendant represents how many light years ahead of the competition Sorcery is in the TCG space. The art beautifully captures a scene but it does it the hard way. It allows us the audience a freedom to interpret and fall into the scene and imagine what is taking place. The art is literally understandable while also allowing for storytelling to the n-th degree. The art fundamentally respects the audience to be able to interpret the piece. This interpretation, this joy of storytelling is what keeps me engaged in the art of Sorcery and its fine artists.
I first saw Angel Ascendant in non-foil and saw the agony of an angel screaming in unbearable pain. My mind instantly transported the character into being born on the battlefield in the most painful manner before their ultimate rebirth. The agony I saw in the character was unimaginable, but was it from the sights they had seen on the battlefield or was it the creation of wings in their birth? It was unclear, vague, but in the most beautiful way that allowed me to story tell how I wanted. This is one of many places where Lindsey has succeeded with this art. She has found a way to tell a perfectly clear story but at the same time it is unclear. It is also compelling imagery that draws the viewer in to try and tell the story of the art.
I also feel Lindsey's mastery of the imagery in the use of colors. It would be easy to bathe the angel in blinding white and golds as if kissed by heaven itself, but she didn't do that. She opted for a much cooler tone with the lightest of blues, pinks and purples. These colors do not scream benevolence, to me they muddy the message in the most complimentary way. It does not visually represent what my mind conjures of the glory of ascendance and it is precisely this duality that keeps me guessing about the scene. What truly is happening here?
The form of the character is the pièce de résistance for me. It would be trivial to make a gorgeous art piece in this pose by making the character female and gathering the gaze at their side boob. Many games would askew their art in this manner, as it is a slam dunk win. What Lindsey has done though is going for the hard win and projected this androgynous character into the scene. Again, it feels like at every aspect Lindsey has chosen the tough path and succeeded at every step. From composition, to color palette, the art screams perfection in its visual storytelling abilities by going away from the typical wins a TCG's art might go for and I wanted to applaud her for that.
“Angel Ascendant”, Lindsey Crummett, 2023
I wrote the above text about my visual love affair and knew the story could not end there. I reached out to Lindsey and needed to know more about how this art came to be and what were her intentions.
"So now, as for my thoughts on the painting… it's wonderful to hear your thoughts, because I do purposefully try to suggest themes and ideas vaguely and more symbolically so that the viewer can inject themselves into what is happening. I believe being 100% literal doesn't leave much room for the viewer, but of course this does depend on the subject matter and brief of the card. Still, I think you can always find a bit of room for the viewer to interpret…"
"… they are definitely meant to invoke the divine. As you said, rather than a bright white light, I always loved the idea of colors we as humans cannot yet perceive. I leaned into bright indigos and magenta as they made me think of iridescence, which seems ethereal to me because it's constantly changing depending on where you view it from."
"As for some of my not so traditional choices, I was trying to think of the subject matter of angels and demons as the good and evil impulses in human nature. Violence, war, and the manipulation and subjugation of others for your own gain represent the evils of humanity. A dreamlike, symbolic battlefield where countless wars have been fought, young lives pointlessly lost, sets the scene. Amidst these horrors you can also find angels; people driven by empathy, compassion, the desire to help people they don't even know. In my mind, I was imagining a young medic on a battlefield. Dodging bullets and land mines, putting his own life at risk driven to help others, while all those surrounding him are trying to take lives. His pose is one of being overcome with the horrors of war, his eyes are clenched shut to them as he tries to regain the strength and belief in humanity to continue. Within the continuing of that mission lies the birth of an angel; a protective function. These people are all around us, in hospitals bringing babies into the world, in hospices gently caring for those leaving this world, and in our everyday lives refusing to stop believing in humanity."
"Lastly to touch on the male/female subject. I did have a young man in mind, but was definitely leaning towards the androgynous. Perhaps in my mind this is the blend of masculine and feminine in balance that the world needs. Like the pharaohs of ancient Egypt believed that masculinity and femininity both needed to be present to lead a society."
Digital concept sketch, 2023
I was so pleased to hear Lindsey's reply and the thought with which she put into the composition. She had recently posted to Instagram a concept sketch of the piece and I just think how different the feelings are that it invokes. Still striking, but I'm glad she went in the direction she did.
"Angel Ascendant was meant to be one of the few beautiful things of blossoming hope against all odds in an otherwise very dark set. It is a powerful and magical image to have someone grow wings gain strength because of a strong faith."
The Collector's Story
Angel Ascendant was an early sale for Lindsey once Gothic released. I happen to be friends with the owner of the art, Gregg Sutton, and wanted to get not only his blessing on this article but also to hear his story about how this art connected with him and why he might be so quick to snatch up the art.
"My wife and I got the first box of Gothic release date and started cracking packs. This has been an exciting ritual we adopted after release of AL, so we experience all the new art together. We feverishly sort through all the cards with sparks of emotions and at the end of a box, compare our favorites. It was no coincidence that we both had Angel Ascendant on the top of our stacks. I admired the striking battle scene as a reminder from my Grandfather's story of the Korean War where he laid on the battlefield and closed his eyes as an angel told him to stay low and he would be safe. My wife connected to the wings on the angel, similar to the tattoo she bears on her forearm, purple glow, and strength the angel grips in his hands. All in all, it is an amazing piece of art. I believe many can relate in some way to it given the pain and struggle everyone experiences at some point in their life. I am honored to have this piece in my home and know it will be cherished and admired… just as soon as the framer finishes and I can get it on the wall!"
This is what Sorcery art can represent. A world of storytelling all captured in a single image. A visual journey for us as the audience to interpret and decipher rather than being spoon fed a formulaic story about some successful IP. A chance for those in games to jump backwards 30 years to the dawn of something new and inventive. A place where games can take daring chances in art choices and challenge the audience with them. To me Angel Ascendant embodies every aspect of what other TCGs are unable and unwilling to do. They lack the freedom and vision to let the hand-painted art drive the world building and let the players play around in those worlds.
Thanks to Lindsey Crummett, Erik Olofsson, and Gregg Sutton for sharing their stories about Angel Ascendant.
Check out Lindsey's amazing work and reach out to her for APs, originals, commissions, prints and more:
