Artist Interview: Dustin Brossard
Today I have the great pleasure of introducing to the community to the incredibly talented Dustin Brossard!
I discovered Dustin through a Sorcery community member who was thoughtful enough to connect Dustin with me when he saw my efforts to work with artists beyond Sorcery and provide them opportunities to showcase their talents through Sorcery card alters. Dustin was a natural fit with his very extensive experience doing Magic: The Gathering alters and his history in the arts and gaming.
This was a fun interview to learn about Dustin's many talents and hobby interests, all of which highlight his incredible creative energy.
Thank you so much for this opportunity, Dustin...
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Please tell us a bit about your background. Where are you from? Where are you currently living? How did you find your passion for art?
Dustin Brossard: I was born and raised in Minnesota and lived there until 2005 until I joined the military. After 13 years of traveling the world and living in different countries and states, I ended up moving back to Minnesota again. There’s just something about the landscape here, all the water, the tall bluffs and trees, it just feels like home to me.
I’ve been doing art since a very young age. My earliest memories are of creating art. I was always drawing and telling stories through my drawings. Even in school I would rather draw and doodle than pay attention in class! I knew I’d be an artist and so did everyone around me. Luckily my desire to create art was nurtured and I was encouraged to keep doing it. I can’t imagine a life where I don’t create some form of art, whether that’s drawing, painting, or in my current job as a tattoo artist.
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: To help introduce your artistic style, can you share a few photos of artworks that you have done and are particularly pleased with and tell them a little bit about them?
Dustin Brossard: I’ve been painting alters for the last 10 years, and I really enjoy the challenge of such a small canvas. I’ve been doing so many tiny paintings on cards that sometimes I don’t know what to do with all the room on a large canvas!
I started out painting miniatures and models, so I’m naturally accustomed to painting small details.
These are some painted alters that I was very pleased with. I do enjoy the challenge of tiny detail and careful blending, so those tend to be the pieces I enjoy the most.
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: How would you characterize your artistic ‘style’? Are there certain concepts or genres you tend to gravitate to and like to explore in your work? What is your preferred medium?
Dustin Brossard: I enjoy exploring the darker themes of art, especially with art that shows the beauty in the mundane or in objects or themes that aren’t considered traditionally beautiful.
My style varies depending on the type of art I do, but I tend to aspire to make art that evokes emotion. I love baroque art and the depth and shadow a lot of that art portrays. I work with acrylics when I paint, and occasionally inks. I like how fast acrylic paint dries, and I don’t think I’m patient enough to spend hours waiting on oils to dry. Maybe someday I’ll give oil paints a shot!
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Who are some of your artistic influences?
Dustin Brossard: I find inspiration and influence in many different places. Some of my favorite fantasy artists would be Frank Frazetta...
... Arthur Rackham, John Howe, Alan Lee, Brian Froud, and so many others. Ralph McQuarrie, Zdzislaw Beksinski, and H.R. Giger also come to mind. The artists involved with Studio Ghibli and the old Rankin & Bass and Ralph Bashki animated films. I also admire the great Boroque artists like Caravaggio and Rembrandt. So many wonderful artists throughout history to draw inspiration from.
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Have you done professional commissioned work, or have had any published work? Or have you primarily created and sold your own work?
Dustin Brossard: When I was living in and going to college for game design in Seattle, I did commissioned work for some startup projects. I did work for a zombie themed board game and a hilarious adult-themed card game! I can’t show that art here, though! I was commissioned to paint miniatures for tabletop board games, which became a second job once I started getting more business, and then I started taking commissions for card alters. I ended up quitting my day job and doing commissioned alters full time for almost a decade until I started tattooing. Now I tattoo full time, but I still do alters and paintings when I’m not tattooing.
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: What are your near-term and longer-term goals as an artist?
Dustin Brossard: I grew up playing Magic: the Gathering, and I always wanted to see my art published on a card. As a traditional artist, maybe that’s why I love painting alters so much, because I get to see my art in that form. But I’d also love to get into illustration for other games, books, and other media. As a tattoo artist, I won my first ever 1st place award at the Des Moines tattoo convention this year in 2024, so my next goal is to win more awards and go for best-in-show. Maybe someday make it on the Ink Master tv show. Anything is possible!
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Had you heard of Sorcery TCG before I reached out to you, or was that your first exposure to it? What are your impressions?
Dustin Brossard: I became aware of Sorcery TCG by watching other artists I knew posting about their work within the game. I loved the importance that Sorcery puts on the art for their game, so that aspect really drew me in and captured my interest. I had already had a long background painting alters for MTG, so painting alters on Sorcery cards was a natural fit. It seems like a fun game to play, sadly I haven’t played a game yet since I live so far away from any game stores that carry it. Hopefully more of my local stores will carry it in the future!
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: How can fans connect with you and see more of your portfolio? My
Dustin Brossard: My facebook and Instagram pages are the best way to see my work and connect with me. For my alters and art, facebook.com/brossardmtgalters and instagram @brossardalters. For tattoos, Facebook.com/brossardink and instagram @inkshaman.
Mike @ Collector Arthouse: Is there anything else you would like to share?
Dustin Brossard: I’m a man of many hobbies and interests beyond art and tattooing. I enjoy restoring classic cars, playing guitar, writing music and singing, and building instruments, especially drums and traditional folk instruments. I am also an antique dealer and collector of antiques and oddities. I play Dungeons and Dragons, I love Renaissance Festivals, and I enjoy cosplay and creating costumes and armor. I dabble in taxidermy and collect bones, cool sticks, rocks, crystals, and fossils. I’m a nature lover and I enjoy hiking and camping, and I have a deep love for trees and the wilderness. Someday I hope to write and illustrate a fantasy novel with my wife, Bobbi.
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Mike Servati @ Collector Arthouse signing off...
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