Dark Fantasy Artist for Trading Card Game

Fantasy / Creature Artist Wanted for Original Trading Card Game
About the Project

I am currently developing an original physical trading card game and am looking for an artist who would be interested in becoming the main artist behind the game's creatures and visual identity.

The project is currently in the prototype and playtesting stage, and I am now beginning to develop the artwork and visual direction for the game.

I'm looking for someone who enjoys dark fantasy, monsters, creatures and atmospheric environments and would be excited to help develop an original world from the ground up.

This is intended to be a creative collaboration/commission-based project, rather than a traditional employment position.

The Art Style

I'm looking for artwork with a strong dark fantasy / gothic fantasy atmosphere.

Some general references for the level of visual quality and presentation I'm interested in would be the creature artwork seen in games such as:

Pokémon TCG
One Piece Card Game
Magic: The Gathering
Legends of Runeterra

These are references for quality and presentation only. I am looking for an original artistic style and do not want existing artwork copied.

The artwork should ideally feel:

Dark
Mysterious
Atmospheric
Magical
Slightly unsettling
Creature-focused
Detailed but visually clear

I'd like the creatures to feel as though they belong to the same world, while still having their own personality and identity.

The Creatures

The game will contain a variety of original creatures inspired by dark fantasy mythology and folklore.

Some examples include creatures such as:

Hydra
Gargoyle
Pixie
Other original fantasy creatures

There will be a much larger roster developed over time, so I'm particularly interested in an artist who enjoys creature design and illustration.

I'm also open to an artist bringing their own creative ideas to the designs rather than simply illustrating exactly what I provide.

What I'm Looking For

I would primarily need finished creature illustrations that can eventually be used on physical trading cards.

The artwork should generally:

Be portrait-oriented
Have a strong focal point
Include an atmospheric environment/background
Work well when placed inside a trading-card frame
Be high enough resolution for physical printing

I will provide the creature concept, references and general direction for each piece.

However, I would love to work with an artist who can interpret the concept creatively and add their own artistic personality to it.

Starting With a Test Illustration

I would like to begin with one creature illustration.

This is simply to see whether our artistic styles and ideas work well together.

If everything works out, I would like to continue commissioning additional creatures for the game.

The project will eventually require artwork for a larger collection of creatures, cards and promotional material.

Who I'm Looking For

I'm especially interested in artists who:

Love drawing monsters and creatures
Enjoy dark fantasy
Have experience with TCG or fantasy artwork
Can create atmospheric environments
Have a strong personal art style
Are comfortable developing original creature designs
Are interested in contributing creatively to a growing project

You don't necessarily need previous TCG experience if your creature artwork is excellent.

If You're Interested

Please send me:

1. Your portfolio

Especially creature, monster, fantasy or dark-fantasy artwork.

2. A little about yourself

Tell me what kind of artwork you enjoy creating and what inspires you.

3. Your preferred working process

I'd like to understand how you normally approach a commission, from concept → sketch → final artwork.

4. Your availability

This isn't intended to be a full-time position. I'm looking for someone who would enjoy working on individual pieces as the project develops.