Sketches: Shifting Sliver
Magic Arcana
Tuesday, August 19, 2003
This week's "Sketches" goes under the sea to see the evolution of another blue Sliver from Legions, Shifting Sliver. Darrell Riche got the assignment.
1. Art Description
These were the instructions given to the artist:
"Location: Underwater Riptide project
Action: Show a sliver either underwater or breaking the surface of the water, displaying an ornamented organic pattern covering its body."
Interestingly, at the time, Shifting Sliver did not give an evasion ability to other Slivers. Instead it was:
Shifting Sliver
 
Creature - Sliver
All Sliver cards in players' hands have cycling .
Cycling (, Discard this card from your hand: Draw a card.)
2/2
2. Sketches
Here is Darrell's original sketch. Perhaps he was thinking of a mystical cycling ability as he sketched the ornamentation on the Sliver's skin.  The art team was happy with everything except the cute little fishies. They wanted them either replaced with something stranger, or removed altogether.
3. Final Art
Here is a large version of the final piece. Shifting Sliver shifted over to having an evasion ability in development, but luckily the ornamented skin in its concept can still fit. Now it serves more as a camouflage role in the flavor of the card.  4. Card
And finally, here is the card as you can see it in booster packs.
| 
)
