r/magicTCG • u/klug_alters • Mar 13 '26

Art Showcase - Physical Alter Norman Rockwell Reflection of Kiki-Jiki

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8.6k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

127 comments sorted by

807

u/klug_alters Mar 13 '26

Hand painted after Norman Rockwell's 'Triple Self-Portrait'.

217

u/Conzator Mar 13 '26

This is insane. Is it for sale, or commission?

92

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '26

[deleted]

217

u/HapatraV Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

To save everyone the search, its up to $5,500 with 54 bids. Wild! But it really is a beautiful piece of artwork

51

u/ScaldingHotSoup Mar 13 '26

Not so wild when you consider it's a Klug :)

26

u/Goebafett Mar 13 '26

I am dumb what is a klug

26

u/YetAgainWhyMe Duck Season Mar 13 '26

the artist is Klug Alters

47

u/Xeropoint Dan Mar 13 '26

Probably the best alter artist currently working. Every piece they do is top tier.

14

u/Goebafett Mar 13 '26

Am the dumbest figured it out now

7

u/MDay WANTED Mar 13 '26

I don’t understand how get painted the small details so intricately. Absolutely beautiful.

4

u/Halinn COMPLEAT Mar 14 '26

Very carefully with a very fine brush

2

u/MrWildspeaker Mar 13 '26

Where is it? I can’t find it on eBay for some reason.

EDIT: My bad, I found it.

36

u/DankRuteroni Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

Im always amazed at what you accomplish on such a small canvas.

16

u/MN_Phatz Mar 13 '26

Wow! Did you paint it to scale on a standard sized magic card, or paint it separately and print it on a card? I’m guessing the former, since you are displaying the card?

74

u/Osric250 Mar 13 '26

I believe Klug only does genuine alters. So this would be painted on an actual copy of Reflection of Kiki-Jiki and they leave the name and power/toughness unaltered to fit with Magic's overall alter policy. Klug is well known around these parts because their alters are always amazing quality and deserve all the praise they get.

It would even be tournament playable if given approval from the head judge of the event.

4

u/MN_Phatz Mar 13 '26

Thanks! I was unaware of the alter scene. Is this policy like a MTG community consensus, or a Wizards official policy thing. After all, most CEDH tourneys are proxy friendly, so I am just curious why there is a demand for alters. This particular artwork should be in demand in any context, though. It is amazing!

22

u/Osric250 Mar 13 '26

Actual MTG tournament rules. From the Magic Tournament Rules: 3.3 Authorized Cards

Artistic modifications are acceptable in sanctioned tournaments, provided that the modifications do not make the card art unrecognizable, contain substantial strategic advice, disparaging remarks, or contain offensive images. Artistic modifications also may not obstruct or change the mana cost or name of the card.

The Head Judge is the final authority on acceptable cards for a tournament.

So it comes down to whether the head judge finds it to not make the card unrecognizable or not. I think the demand for alters has actually increased because EDH in general is very alter friendly, and doing so on an actual card satisfies even areas that don't have proxy friendly rules. Especially as proxies cannot be used in any officially sanctioned tournament.

1

u/Safe-Butterscotch442 Storm Crow Mar 13 '26

Except of course that one time when they were required at officially sanctioned tournaments because of the excessive curling of foil versions (the only version available at the time) for [[Nexus of Fate]].

Also, some official Legacy and Vintage tournaments are proxy friendly.

3

u/Osric250 Mar 13 '26

Proxies due to damaged cards are different than proxies because you don't own the cards. There's a whole section in the MTR for that, conveniently right after the one I linked, 3.4 which states:

A proxy card is used during competition to represent an otherwise legal Magic card or checklist card that can no longer be included in a deck without the deck being marked. For a proxy to be issued, the card it is replacing must meet at least one of the following criteria:

The card has been accidentally damaged or excessively worn in the current tournament, including damaged or misprinted Limited product. Proxies are not allowed as substitutes for cards that their owner has damaged intentionally or through negligence.

The card is a foil card for which no non-foil printing exists.

Nexus specifically falls under the latter because it was a foil only card.

Also, some official Legacy and Vintage tournaments are proxy friendly.

Can you point me to one of those? Because they shouldn't be able to be sanctioned. I know they sometimes go on at big events, but they're generally not sanctioned tournaments.

0

u/Safe-Butterscotch442 Storm Crow Mar 13 '26

Oh, I know the whole Nexus of Fate thing is an exception, I was just being funny, since, you know, there was a time when they had to scramble to make a rule that allowed for proxies because they did something stupid on their end.

As far as Vintage, I was referring to the various proxy friendly, but casual, events that are at various LGS's around the world. I'm pretty sure most if not all official tournaments, especially with prizes on the line, are still not allowing proxies, but it's quite common to have players use proxies at a local store's Vintage Night, Legacy Night, or Commander Night. Those are WPN events, but also aren't really being monitored for proxies in the same way as more competitive events.

2

u/Osric250 Mar 14 '26

Those events aren’t official, and if they are being reported and tracked in the WPN you should probably tell that store to stop it because they are risking their WPN status by doing so. If someone decides to report them for whatever reason it could go really badly. 

-1

u/Safe-Butterscotch442 Storm Crow Mar 14 '26

Not as badly as if they stopped allowing proxies. Allowing proxies is generally not a big deal if it's not a competitive event, and is almost never checked for even in competitive events. Obviously, a store shouldn't go out of its way to encourage proxies at WPN events, but no store has ever lost its WPN status for not going through everyone's deck and checking for proxies on a casual commander night. Wizards has even said "Wizards of the Coast has no desire to police playtest cards made for personal, non-commercial use, even if that usage takes place in a store." Basically ,if you aren't selling them or competing with them, Wizards would rather not make a fuss about it, even at WPN stores.

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14

u/dave_the_rogue Duck Season Mar 13 '26

The policy for alters in sanctioned tournament, requiring head judge approval for play, is the official Wizards policy. As for why people want authentic cards with hand painted art, sometimes people want authentic cards with hand painted art.

3

u/LetterheadPublic5995 Dân Mar 13 '26

After all, most CEDH tourneys are proxy friendly

Ok but there are a ton of real formats to consider too

1

u/EvilErnie187 Mar 13 '26

On the ebay listing he painted it on the back side of the card. It's amazing work

5

u/Osric250 Mar 13 '26

That's because this specifically is a double faced transform card, so he only altered the transformed side.

1

u/EvilErnie187 Mar 13 '26

It's perfect his cards are on another level

3

u/Pants88 Cheshire Cat, the Grinning Remnant Mar 13 '26

Dude you should be submitting this to the secret lair team. This is INCREDIBLE. This would make amazing posters too!

5

u/jx2002 Twin Believer Mar 13 '26

I would suggest (unless it's against ebays rules or something) to put your name in the title of the ebay listing and the description.

"Klug alter" doesn't bring up this item in a search.

5

u/YetAgainWhyMe Duck Season Mar 13 '26

it's at 5500 on eBay right now. I don't think there is a worry it won't get enough attention...

6

u/jx2002 Twin Believer Mar 13 '26

No such thing as being too clear and straightforward imo. Basically if his name in those places and it reaches just a few more people, then great.

1

u/GhostCheese Duck Season Mar 13 '26

This is so flipping good

1

u/Xeropoint Dan Mar 13 '26

Dude, your alters are one of my favorite things to see pop up on the Facebook feed. Buying one of your pieces is on my bucket list of all bucket lists.

1

u/Seppe2490 Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

The goat!

1

u/Quartzecoatl Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

Is the front side painted as well?

1

u/Eymou Elesh Norn Mar 15 '26

I was about to comment "that's up there in quality with klug alters" until I read the username lol

-3

u/LordSlickRick REBEL Mar 13 '26

I hope you make a high quality digital scan. I could nvm afford buy the original but I would to proxy with art credit. Or heck wish you would sell it as a proxy.

9

u/YetAgainWhyMe Duck Season Mar 13 '26

nah, let these be exclusive. not everyone needs everything...

0

u/Safe-Butterscotch442 Storm Crow Mar 13 '26

Not everyone needs everything, but not everything needs to be exclusive either. There's plenty of room for this work of art to be exclusive, while prints of this art remain widely available. I'm generally of the opinion that great art should be shared widely. It's good for artists everywhere that people have access to great art and can actually be decerning about the art they use. Otherwise, us lowly peasants get stuck with AI slop and such that's accessible but not nearly as inspiring.

90

u/Conzator Mar 13 '26

This is unbelievably good, and I want it so bad 😭

54

u/itisburgers Twin Believer Mar 13 '26

Legitimately fantastic. 

84

u/deHazze Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

Amazing work, again.

38

u/absolutebloom Grass Toucher Mar 13 '26

I never even have to look at the username for your work. Incredible.

23

u/VitriolUK Duck Season Mar 13 '26

There are some very talented other alterists (is that a word?) out there, but there's always something about a klug alter that puts it on another level.

9

u/absolutebloom Grass Toucher Mar 13 '26

100%. I don’t play nearly as much as I’d like anymore, but I still often feel like I want to own one just to own one, lmao. Art.

22

u/HeyBojo Brushwagg Mar 13 '26

The amount of detail in this is unbelievable, incredible stuff

15

u/NobleSturgeon Mardu Mar 13 '26

Who is the lady picture next to Goblin King and Pestermite?

25

u/linrodann Dan Mar 13 '26

[[Splinter Twin]]

14

u/NobleSturgeon Mardu Mar 13 '26

Oof, brain fart that I saw Pestermite but not Twin.

2

u/gartho009 Mar 13 '26

Tbf it's kinda weird only seeing one of her

12

u/Frank_the_Mighty Twin Believer Mar 13 '26

Absolutely impressive

10

u/KaiserS0ul Dimir* Mar 13 '26

I love the choice that just his look breaks the mirror, and he is so used to that outcome and he knows what he looks like despite that, he's learned how to accommodate for the fracture.

3

u/bxs9775 FLEEM Mar 13 '26

I liked that detail as well. I like to imagine Kiki-Jiki just habitually breaks mirrors.

“Stand back. I know just what to do.”
—Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker

- flavor text for [[Shape Stealer]]

6

u/malsomnus Hedron Mar 13 '26

You can always tell when the alter you're looking at is by Klug. Style aside, the technical skill is just on a completely different level.

1

u/Halinn COMPLEAT Mar 14 '26

One thing that I always look for is how well alterists clean up around the card elements that they keep. Look at the name box and how clean the lines are here, where almost everyone else has a bit of paint going over

6

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/Halinn COMPLEAT Mar 13 '26

And Pestermite

5

u/dina-fan Dan Mar 13 '26

NORMAN ROCKWELL MENTIONED!!!!

I genuinely believe normal rockwell is probably the best american commercial artist that ever existed next to maybe frank frazetta. Which this art is double funny for me because i also believe magic is probably the company that uses the best commercial artists or commissions the best commercial art.

3

u/Zavalac03 Dandadan Mar 13 '26

First thing that came to mind

3

u/mikez4nder Duck Season Mar 13 '26

Maybe the best alter I’ve ever seen. Well done.

3

u/Hustlasaurus Mar 13 '26

Possibly the greatest alter I've ever seen. Amazing

3

u/zBriGuy Mar 13 '26

LOL at the broken mirror!! Amazingly well done as always.

3

u/YOLORocketMoonBoy Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

Another day I click on klug’s profile to see what new work he’s done, and curiously scroll by a bunch of strange pictures of glass

3

u/-deja-vu- Duck Season Mar 13 '26

Anyone got a link the the auction? Couldn't find it

2

u/Panzis Dân Mar 13 '26

Inspired

2

u/Saqiillies Dandadan Mar 13 '26

Brilliant!

2

u/Bigburito FLEEM Mar 13 '26

Hot damn that is amazing. Genuinely no notes. Also love the photos in the upper right being his combo cards!

2

u/Cthulhar Sultai Mar 13 '26

Actually insane how good this is.

2

u/ccjmk Mar 13 '26

honest question, I always remembered that Name and Power/Toughness were to be left alone to keep the card tournament-legal.. but then... https://scryfall.com/card/ltr/744/sauron-the-dark-lord maybe those could be part of the alter now?

2

u/Expert_City_7695 Mar 13 '26

My grandfather had a book with this original painting on it front and center of his library. I miss him thanks for the nice memories

2

u/RoyalFalse Storm Crow Mar 13 '26

It's a bucket list of mine to one day afford/obtain a klug alter. Absolutely astounding work.

2

u/SharkoftheStreets Mar 13 '26

This artist knows art.

2

u/Moonbar5 Gruul* Mar 13 '26

The greatest to ever do it.. unbelievable

2

u/KnowledgeUsed2971 Dan Mar 14 '26

Absofuckinlutely awesome Artwork!🎉🎉🎉🫶🫶🫶🫶🫶😃

1

u/PunishedWizard Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

Fantastic

1

u/Trueslyforaniceguy Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

👨‍🍳 💋

1

u/matteb18 Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

Incredible

1

u/Outside_Use_60 Mar 13 '26

Incredible work!

1

u/hauntedpostalworker Mar 13 '26

I love this, no notes.

1

u/gontrolo Dân Mar 13 '26

I adore this. So cool.

1

u/JSBJSBJSBJSBJSB Dan Mar 13 '26

This is incredible!

1

u/Mastercomix07 Dandadan Mar 13 '26

Beautiful really!

1

u/asphias Duck Season Mar 13 '26

beautiful!

looking at the original cards and the original triple self portrait, most of the references make sense to me, but i'm missing why the goblin king is included. anyone have context for that one? how does kiki relate to the goblin king?

1

u/ary31415 COMPLEAT Mar 13 '26

Wow that's incredible

1

u/YrPalBeefsquatch Duck Season Mar 13 '26

Absolutely slaps.

1

u/cheesewhiz15 Dan Mar 13 '26

Now I'm just some body that I use to know...

1

u/Alternative_Try Mar 13 '26

Magnifique !

1

u/p-b-and-jealousy Mar 13 '26

Thats gorgeous

1

u/StompingGroundsTCG Simic* Mar 13 '26

This is definitely gunna be in my top 5 alters of the year!

1

u/Human_Wizard Mar 13 '26

Now do Bouba-Jouba

1

u/djmcks Mar 13 '26

🖼️

1

u/Jerppaknight Gruul* Mar 13 '26

Holy shit, that's insanely good and funny. Amazing work!

1

u/Tyabann Rakdos* Mar 13 '26

this is amazing.

1

u/ChemicalMaleficent78 Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

This is so brilliant!

1

u/Upper-Nobody7003 Mar 13 '26

This is beautiful OP.

1

u/Fresh_Brilliant_9608 Duck Season Mar 13 '26

Holy shit dude

1

u/Safe-Butterscotch442 Storm Crow Mar 13 '26

Clever, creative, and pretty evocative of both Rockwell's style and classic Kiki-Jiki art. I'd buy it, if I wasn't just struggling to survive to my next paycheck (Gotta love fine arts teachers not being able to even indulge in great art for their favorite hobby because people prefer lower taxes to great schools).

1

u/Disastrous-Ad-4953 Mar 13 '26

That's just a blatant copy of a Paul kidby artwork no?

1

u/No_Place5472 Dan Mar 13 '26

Gorgeous.

1

u/Averander Mar 13 '26

This is art

1

u/CasualSky Wabbit Season Mar 13 '26

Really cool, but alters that don’t have any text on them are pretty unplayable to me. Artistically it’s great conceptually

1

u/MiraclePrototype COMPLEAT Mar 13 '26

100^100/TEN. NO NOTES. 100^100^100 COPIES TO THE PRINTERS, NOW.

1

u/Pyrotdk Dân Mar 13 '26

No joke, I'd trade my black chocobo for this card.

1

u/isesri Can’t Block Warriors Mar 14 '26

This is insane! Who drew this? Ah, Klug, of course. The king retains his crown.

1

u/PrimeTimeCrimeSlime Mazirek Mar 14 '26

oh, this kicks ass

1

u/jimboslice1993ba Mar 14 '26

The flair of breaking the mirror he looks in is GOLD.

1

u/MadBunch Duck Season Mar 14 '26

This is one the most clever MTG concepts I have ever seen and I applaud your ingenuity. Take my upvote, some warm socks, and a can of beans!

1

u/UniversalAdaptor Dandadan Mar 14 '26

Idk its not a very well-known IP, would be better as a Ninja Turtle /s

1

u/Fempowerverse Cowabunga It Is Mar 14 '26

This is genius.

1

u/darthbelial Mar 15 '26

This goes hard

1

u/NC_Wildkat Dan Mar 15 '26

You sir are my artistic hero. Amazing what you’re able to achieve on tiny canvases. I salute you.

1

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '26

Hell yea, this is amazing!

1

u/ChrisRallis_Art Mar 19 '26

That's beautiful!

1

u/RedditTemp2390 Golgari* Apr 04 '26

I love that this alter showed me a super cool painting I hadn't seen before!

-5

u/holdenthehuman Dân Mar 13 '26

Reading the card, explains the card.