What Actually Happens When You Commission an MTG Alter — From First Message to Final Card

From the initial form to the return of your card: here’s exactly how a commission unfolds — no vague timelines, no surprises.

You’ve been looking at altered cards for a while now. You’ve saved a few favorites. Maybe you stopped mid-scroll at a borderless Dual Land and haven’t quite forgotten it. And now you’re wondering: how does this actually work?

The process is simpler than you might think — and more considered than you might expect.

It starts with a form

A lot of collectors hesitate before reaching out to an artist. They imagine long back-and-forth exchanges, vague timelines, uncertain pricing.

That’s not how I work.

Every commission starts with a request form. You tell me which card you have in mind, what kind of alteration you’re interested in, and what you’re looking for. No pressure. Just the information I need to tell you honestly whether I can do what you have in mind, and at what price.

The form exists because your time matters too.

Feasibility, price, and timeline — confirmed before anything begins

Once I receive your request, I look at it carefully. The card, the complexity of the extension, my current schedule.

I come back to you with a clear answer: whether I can take on the project, at what price, and which month I can assign to you. If the project isn’t right for what I do — whether that’s a question of theme, timeline, or complexity — I tell you directly. I only accept commissions I can give real attention to.

A €50 deposit to hold your slot

My monthly slots are intentionally limited. I don’t work in volume. Each card gets a dedicated painting month, which gives it the time it deserves without me rushing.

Once we’ve agreed on the project and the price, a €50 deposit holds your place in my schedule. From that point, your card becomes a priority.

You ship the card. I handle the rest.

This is often where hesitation sets in: the moment of entrusting something precious to someone else.

For collectors in Europe, insured shipping is straightforward to arrange. For those outside Europe — particularly in the US — I recommend a more practical alternative: purchasing the card on Cardmarket from a European seller, who can ship it directly to my studio. That way, you avoid a transatlantic round trip for something valuable. Hand delivery is also possible by appointment, if you’re in the area or passing through the South of France.

Every card that arrives here is handled with the same care I’d give my own materials.

(For high-value cards, I explored this in more detail in the Library of Alexandria case study.)

When your month arrives, your card gets my full attention

I begin by studying the original illustration: its palette, its light, its overall atmosphere. The extension needs to feel coherent with what already exists — not cover it. I work in successive layers of acrylic, building the atmosphere gradually. If we’ve discussed it, touches of gold leaf or metallic paint can also be added at this stage.

Final balance, then your card comes home

Once the project is complete, I send you a photo for your approval. Then I share the full cost breakdown and payment schedule by email: the €50 deposit at booking, then the balance plus return shipping at the start of your painting month. For larger commissions, a split payment can also be arranged. No surprises along the way.

I pack the card carefully with protective materials and ship it with a tracking number.

When it arrives, it’s not quite the same card you sent me. It’s the only one in the world in that state.

Curious about whether an altered card holds its value? I wrote about that too — you can read it here.

Ready to start? Explore the commission options or submit your request directly.

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