Terese Nielsen
Encyclopedia
Terese Nielsen is a California
-based freelance fantasy
artist.
. Nielsen has produced art for both Magic and Wizards of the Coast
's other products since 1996, in addition to her work as an illustrator of book covers & interiors and movie posters. She has served as a juror for the Spectrum Award
s.
Nielsen illustrated the graphic novella which was included as part of the 1993 video game Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
. In a favorable review, Scott A. May wrote, "Nielsen's dark, disturbing visions carry over to many of the game's hand painted back-drops, drawn from a gloomy palette of deep red, blue, and black."
In reviewing her work "Savant" in the Wildstorm Gallery collection released in 1996, critic Joseph Szadkowski wrote, "Imagine British artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti tickled into a mood by a Sex Pistols album to fully appreciate the Nielsen style." Szadkowski also praised Nielsen's work in the Marvel Comics Code of Honor series (1997).
Nielsen did the cover artwork for the Dungeons & Dragons
setting Jakandor, Land of Legend and Jakandor, Isle of Destiny in 1998, illustrated the covers of three issues of Dragon
, and several Forgotten Realms
novel covers.
In 1999 the Alderac Entertainment Group
published the Gamemasters' guide of the 7th Sea role-playing game, with all art covers since then (main guides and supplements) mainly painted by Nielsen. Also in 1999, she received a nomination for a Chesley Award, Best Gaming-Related Illustration, for her illustration of the card "Ertai, Wizard Adept".
in April 1991. Her brother is another long-time Magic: The Gathering
artist, Ron Spencer
. Terese Nielsen is the ex-wife of Cliff Nielsen
, with whom she illustrated the Marvel
comic book
Ruins
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
-based freelance fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
artist.
Career
Nielsen has gained a fan following mainly because of her illustrations for the trading card game Magic: The GatheringMagic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
. Nielsen has produced art for both Magic and Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
's other products since 1996, in addition to her work as an illustrator of book covers & interiors and movie posters. She has served as a juror for the Spectrum Award
Spectrum Award
The Spectrum Awards are given annually to the best works of contemporary fantastic art. The winners of every year are compiled in a book. The editors are Cathy and Arnie Fenner.-External links:* * , Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America...
s.
Nielsen illustrated the graphic novella which was included as part of the 1993 video game Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers
Gabriel Knight: Sins of the Fathers is a point-and-click adventure game developed and published by Sierra On-Line, Inc....
. In a favorable review, Scott A. May wrote, "Nielsen's dark, disturbing visions carry over to many of the game's hand painted back-drops, drawn from a gloomy palette of deep red, blue, and black."
In reviewing her work "Savant" in the Wildstorm Gallery collection released in 1996, critic Joseph Szadkowski wrote, "Imagine British artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti tickled into a mood by a Sex Pistols album to fully appreciate the Nielsen style." Szadkowski also praised Nielsen's work in the Marvel Comics Code of Honor series (1997).
Nielsen did the cover artwork for the Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
setting Jakandor, Land of Legend and Jakandor, Isle of Destiny in 1998, illustrated the covers of three issues of Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
, and several Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
novel covers.
In 1999 the Alderac Entertainment Group
Alderac Entertainment Group
Alderac Entertainment Group, or AEG, is a publisher of role-playing game and collectible card game products. AEG was formed by Jolly Blackburn in 1993 and is based in the city of Ontario, California...
published the Gamemasters' guide of the 7th Sea role-playing game, with all art covers since then (main guides and supplements) mainly painted by Nielsen. Also in 1999, she received a nomination for a Chesley Award, Best Gaming-Related Illustration, for her illustration of the card "Ertai, Wizard Adept".
Angel Quest
In 2005 Terese was asked by Brian and Alex Tinsman, the founders of Angel Quest, to design, art direct and illustrate a set of 100 cards suggesting 100 random acts of kindness to perform. Some of the quests are as simple as smiling or giving someone a hug and some require more time such as picking up trash in your neighborhood or writing a letter to an individual that has made a difference in your life.
Angel Quest is the first project in which my talents, heart and soul completely converged in a profoundly fulfilling way.
Extreme alteration
One service provided by Terese to her Magic the Gathering fans is an "extreme alteration" where she will radically alter the card by painting over it. These works have been collected and 2 series of posters displaying the altered cards are currently selling on her website.Education and family
Nielsen grew up in Nebraska and graduated from the Art Center College of DesignArt Center College of Design
Art Center College of Design is a private college located in Pasadena, California, and was cited by BusinessWeek as one of the 60 best design schools in the world. The college’s industrial design program is consistently ranked number one by both DesignIntelligence and U.S...
in April 1991. Her brother is another long-time Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering
Magic: The Gathering , also known as Magic, is the first collectible trading card game created by mathematics professor Richard Garfield and introduced in 1993 by Wizards of the Coast. Magic continues to thrive, with approximately twelve million players as of 2011...
artist, Ron Spencer
Ron Spencer
Ron Spencer is an illustrator whose most famous work has been for the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering.- Early life :Ron Spencer grew up on a farm in Aurora, Nebraska. As a child, his reading material included such Marvel Comics as Conan the Barbarian.- Artwork :Spencer is primarily...
. Terese Nielsen is the ex-wife of Cliff Nielsen
Cliff Nielsen
-Work:Nielsen who has illustrated the covers of several children's books, including:* Heir Apparent* The Giver cover art.* The Mortal Instruments series* The Infernal Devices* The Cirque Du Freak series...
, with whom she illustrated the Marvel
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
Ruins
Ruins (comics)
Ruins is a two-issue comic book mini-series, written by Warren Ellis with painted artwork by Terese Nielsen, her husband Cliff Nielsen, and Chris Moeller, who took over for the last seventeen pages of the second issue....
.