Something about “2D illustrated artwork” hits different for me. I can still appreciate a really cool 3D art on a card, but I think the “drawn” artworks are my favourites.
What do you guys like? Feel free to share examples of your favourite card art styles and what would you like to see more of in the future.
I personally wish some of the big hits had artwork similar to this image (credit @the_pokeball_expert on IG)… I can imagine the hype would be… extreme.
my favorite style I tend to describe akin to “national geographic” in the sense that it looks like a picture of the pokemon in its natural habitat. Usually I prefer no people in the art, but if it its in nature and the trainer compliments the pokemon, it’s fine.
As for the particular art style, I have a harder time putting this into words. Sort of clean hand drawn style that feels like it could be a promo poster for an anime or something… idk exactly what to call it…
The two artists who capture this style the best and my two favorite artists would be arita and furusawa (just so happens to be my favorite character art and special art at this time).
edit: here are two more examples from each in a different habitat
Bookmarked for when I continue my Nishida collection…
But sir I beg you – you must add the ethereal, majestic Light Arcanine 
Right?
I LOVE Light Arcanine, but I didn’t want to flood the post with Neo Destiny 
I love that original Himeno style, jungle Exeggutor and fossil Slowbro two of my favourite artworks
I really like cards that make the Pokemon look dynamic, especially when it’s drawn at a cool perspective. I feel like Kawayoo and Kiyotaka Oshiyama do this very well. I also like both of these artists approaches to the environment/background. Oshiyama’s illustrations always make the Pokemon feel alive and that it is one with it’s environment. While Kawayoo’s backgrounds seem like they’re melting around the Pokemon which kind of puts extra emphasis on the creature.
Kawayoo Examples:
Kiyotkaa Oshiyama Examples:
Masago - Arita - Kusajima - Himeno - Harada - Kimura
Dislike comedic, cute or goofy arts. Dislike most cartoonish, modern CG and modern, purely digitized arts. Hate depictions of Pokemon as lap dogs or humans. I put an equal emphasis on holographic treatment and everything outside the illustration box down to the very cardboard itself.
Very picky about anatomy in the non-abstract and how the Pokemon is scaled in the illustration box. A lover of all sceneries, from realism to surrealism, from romantic landscapes to industrial complexes and metropolises. Rendered backgrounds also. Still life and action, though my preference lean towards solitary creatures. And the hand drawn, though there are a number of digital artists I am a huge fan of as well.
Really, you could use any number of adjectives to describe my preference. I have a very wide but very strict taste, and I never compromise with my sensibilities.
I would like to echo Nishida for her ethereal watercolor cuteness, and Komiya for his expressive, vibrant, organized chaos.
But more recently, I’ve really grown fond of HYOGONOSUKE’s uniquely expressive, almost nostalgic art style that reminds me of Microsoft Paint or pixel art mixed with watercolor paintings:
This x1000.
Anything by Nishida.
I couldn’t agree more about HYOGONOSUKE’s artwork, one of my favorite modern artists.
Right up there with sowsow!
I really like the style of lightly hand drawn looking with use of soft colours and lines. my favorite examples being Sowsow or Saya Tsuruta
I love Kimiya Masago’s intimidating pokemon
Reminds me that Pokemon would be absolutely horrifying if they were real
Art is in the eye of the beholder, but I do appreciate when art can make me feel something,
or creates an exceptionally mesmerizing, unique, or dynamic scene or card. It has lots of textures, but clear (perhaps impressionist) elements
But THIS kind of thing is interesting, because it’s not good art, YET it IS great art! Icnonic. Stylized. Dynamic. No one can say they won’t remember this thing, whether they like it or not, which as an artist, I’d argue is something art MUST try to achieve. To have a unique voice.
Here’s a quote from Martha Graham, a dancer, performing artist, and it really hits on what we’re chasing here, I think, in many ways and differently for each person.
“There is a vitality, a life force, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique, and if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium; and be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is, not how it compares with other expression. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open. No artist is pleased. There is no satisfaction whatever at any time. There is only a queer, divine dissatisfaction, a blessed unrest that keeps us marching and makes us more alive than the others.” ~Martha Graham
