'More than a hobby:' West Allis artist who designed Magic: The Gathering cards proves the real magic is in the craft

WEST ALLIS, Wis. (CBS 58) -- First released in 1993, Magic: The Gathering took the collectible card game world by storm.

Now, more than 30 years later, tens of millions still play what's largely considered the first modern trading card game around the globe.

One of the biggest draws? 

The detailed and colorful artwork on each playing card, designed and created by artists.

And it's how John Matson of West Allis first got his big break in the industry.

“Paint, I had a love/hate relationship with later on, but it was always drawing and colored pencils," Matson told CBS 58's Ellie Nakamoto-White, during an interview inside of his home studio.

For Matson, he doesn't recall a time when he wasn't interested in art.

“I’d always ask for art supplies for birthdays, Christmas and happily everybody that I knew of obliged me so," Matson said. “Soon, my Saturday mornings were spent going to some art classes that my parents indulged."

He first fixated on science fiction which used to inspire his drawings.

"Coming home from a screening of Star Wars, I’d be at home, and I’d fill my sketchbooks with my own version or some science fiction epic," Matson said laughingly. “Curiously, the big bad guy looked a lot like Darth Vader, and it was like ya know, jeez.”

He attended Milwaukee High School of the Arts for four years where he said he learned a lot from fellow classmates and his teachers.

Then, the wheels began spinning, with the idea of turning his favorite hobby into a career.

After graduating from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design. Matson began bringing his portfolio to different art shows and events, attempting to network and find the right connections.

Soon after, it paid off.

“I got a call from one of the Magic: The Gathering art directors and yeah, that was a good day," Matson said. "Super excited. It was a great opportunity to kind of cut your teeth in the business.”

Then the real work began, after he was assigned his first ever card -- Storm Elemental.

From there, the designs -- and the dreams -- kept coming to life.

Now, Matson has made more than 100 Magic: The Gathering cards that are in the pockets of players worldwide.

“There’s people that I’ve met overseas who they’ll tell you there’s one particular card that meant so much to them," Matson said. 

In his studio, he has an entire scrapbook filled with his cards in chronological order of issue.

“I try to hold onto at least one copy of all of these things," Matson said. “Take a look from the back to the front and you’ll see a journey of somebody learning how to paint.”

And as to if he's ever played the game?

Surprisingly, only once.

“It literally happened where I had some card doing some damage to the other player and it was just like tiny little things every turn and he literally could not draw a card to save his life," Matson said. "I won and I decided to retire undefeated.”

Now he works as a freelance professor teaching illustration at his alum MIAD, while taking on personal commissions,

“Growing up, I got voted quietest in high school," Matson said. "All you need is one foot in the door."

To check out Matson's work, click here.