Commission a Custom Card – Céline Combes
Painting a card means spending time on someone specific, not on an anonymous order. I work from the card you send me and continue its illustration, sometimes with a few extra references.
This works particularly well when you already like the illustration and want to see it evolve into a painting; less well for very stylised requests (lookalike portraits, pop culture, manga).
I mainly work on Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon and Lorcana.
🎨 Before You Commission
💰 Prices start at €85 depending on the type of alteration (card and shipping not included). Optional finishes (gold leaf, silver leaf, metallic paint) may affect the final price.
📦 Don’t have the card yet? I can find and purchase it for you.
✏️ You will always receive a full-size sketch for approval before painting begins.
👩🏼🎨 Several Ways to Commission
🎨 Alter my card: you have a specific card in mind. → See custom offers
🃏 Order an iconic altered MTG card: Dark Ritual, Serra Angel, Swords to Plowshares… painted on a card I source myself, choosing from my existing designs. → Discover the Oldschool Collection
🃏 Order a Pokémon alter: Pikachu, Charizard, Umbreon… painted in acrylic on card. → Discover the Pokémon alters
🎁 Give a gift card: it lets you or a loved one commission a piece for any occasion (Christmas, birthdays…) → Discover the gift card
An altered card is an official playing card transformed by hand by an artist. The artwork is extended, reinterpreted, or entirely reimagined, while remaining tournament legal.
🎨Extension, not Replacement
My speciality is extension: I continue the existing artwork beyond the frame — I do not replace it.
Exception: land backgrounds (Full Art Landscape), where the entire visual is repainted while keeping the original title.
For any other card, a full illustration replacement may be considered on a case-by-case basis, though it is not my default approach.
Process & Availability
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How it works
Fill out the request form.
I check feasibility and confirm price and timeline.
A €60 deposit secures your slot.
Your card is scheduled for its dedicated production month.
You send me the card (secure packaging recommended). Otherwise, I purchase it for you.
The balance and return shipping are paid before final shipment.
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Current Availability
Open commissions for November 2026 (Updated regularly.)
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Important Notes
Prices do not include the base card or shipping.
Each commission is hand-painted and unique; slight artistic variations are part of the creative process.
Optional finishes are discussed individually once the project has been reviewed.
Alter My Card — Pricing & Extension Types Guide
Several ways to extend your card’s artwork, from closest to the original to the most dramatic. It really comes down to one thing: how much text and rules you want to keep visible versus how much room you want to give the artwork.
MTG Borderless Extension – Three options
All three options keep the card fully tournament legal. What changes is how much room is given to the artwork — the further along the options you go, the more the card opens up to the image.
🟢Option 1 — Signature (€85–125)
The option that keeps the most text. Title, type banner, and rules text all stay visible. Card printed before 2003? Pricing is adjusted accordingly.
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Extends the illustration along the border
Title and type banner preserved
Older card (pre-2003)? The banner has to be repainted by hand — more
intricate work, reflected in the priceStarting at €85 — final pricing depends on the card and its complexity
See a real example: Yavimaya Hollow →
🔵 Option 2 — Masterpiece (from €125)
The balance between extended artwork and readability. Title stays, type banner is removed. The artwork gains presence without losing the card’s identity.
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Extends the illustration along the sides and bottom
Title preserved or faithfully repainted
Type banner removed
Set symbol removed (optional)
Starting at €125 — final pricing depends on the card and its complexity
🟣 Option 3 — Legendary (from €145)
The option that gives the artwork the most room. Title and banners removed, rules box reduced, the bottom of the card fully painted. The card becomes a piece of art first.
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Extends the illustration on all sides
Title and type banner removed
Set symbol removed (optional)
Rules box reduced (flavour text and spacing removed)
Bottom of the card fully painted
Starting at €145 — final pricing depends on the card and its complexity
MTG Full Art Extension
from €160 to €260
I extend the original artwork along the sides and bottom of your card, while preserving or carefully repainting the title banner to keep the card legible and visually balanced. Each extension is hand-painted, unique, and suitable for both play and collecting. Alterations can be done on a single card or a full playset.
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Watch Example 1 – Unique Full Art Extension
Watch Example 2 - Playset Full Art Extension
(Discover how I work on a single card or a cohesive playset)
MTG Full art (Landscape)
from €160 to €260
I repaint your entire card with a hand-painted landscape, while keeping the original title. Each card is unique, playable, and of collector quality. I specialise in basic lands, command towers, bilands, and shock lands. My landscapes draw on real places, observed nature, and my personal artistic style.
✨ Optional Enhancements for your Card
Enhance your card with subtle artistic details
You can choose to add refined embellishments to give your card an elegant, distinctive finish. These options are optional and available depending on the card and the overall composition. Each enhancement is carefully integrated into the artwork to preserve balance and harmony.
Availability and pricing depend on complexity and are discussed individually once your project has been reviewed.
🏅Gold or Silver Leaf – A Rare Speciality
✨ Gold or silver leaf elements carefully integrated into the composition — never applied superficially.
✨ Protected with a professional varnish coating.
✨ For highly detailed areas, premium metallic paints may be used to recreate a luminous effect.
🎨Metallic paint
✨ Hand-painted metallic details to enhance depth and atmosphere.
✨ Can be combined with gold or silver leaf for a subtle, elegant finish.
Pokémon / Lorcana
Custom compositions, sketch included before painting
🟢Pokémon - €160 and €260
I extend the artwork across the entire surface of the card to recreate the creature’s environment. I can keep the creature's name and incorporate it with a subtle halo around it; please feel free to let me know if you'd like this when you place your order.
🔵 Lorcana - €160 and €260
I keep the key elements visible and integrate the artwork harmoniously.
Ready to Bring Your Card to Life?
Limited slots available each month.
Client Testimonials
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The card is superb, which is how it should have been printed in 1994 (...) I think the atmosphere of the card and the ARN set are very well respected, while adding another dimension with the gardens and the water feature, which makes me want to visit this library, which looks much more attractive than in the original card.
Alexandre M.
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Céline has created some of the highest quality alters in my collection and has been a real pleasure to work with. I look forward to working with Celine again in the future. I can’t recommend her highly enough!
PHIL B.
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A very friendly person who has already done more than 10 alters for me, I couldn’t recommend her more!
TOM D.
🧙 FAQ – Céline Combes Alters
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I specialise in landscape-oriented MTG alterations, as well as artistic extensions of a card’s original artwork. Projects are accepted when they fit within my artistic style.
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- You fill out the request form.
- I confirm feasibility, price, and timeline.
- A €60 deposit secures your painting slot.
- Your card is scheduled for its dedicated production month.
- You send me the card, or I purchase it for you.
- The balance and return shipping are paid before final shipment.
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Each commission is scheduled within a specific month based on availability. Total turnaround depends on your position in the schedule as well as shipping time. Monthly slots are limited to ensure quality and focus.
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Altered cards generally remain tournament legal provided that:
- The card name and mana cost stay clearly visible
- The card is not considered marked or altered in thickness
It is still recommended to confirm with a tournament organiser or judge before an official event.
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No. Prices do not include the base card or shipping. The client provides the original card, or I purchase it on their behalf. Return shipping is covered by the client.
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I am not able to certify a card’s authenticity. However, if the flaw is cosmetic (a marker stain, a mark, a damaged edge), I can often incorporate it into the painted composition or cover it. Send me a photo and I will let you know whether it is possible.
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Payments are accepted via:
- PayPal
- Secure payment link via the website
- Bank transfer (France only)
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Yes. Gold or silver leaf, as well as metallic paint details, can be added depending on the chosen composition. These options are discussed individually once your project has been reviewed.
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France:
La Poste or a pick-up point (Mondial Relay).Europe / Other countries:
Shipping is arranged individually depending on destination.
Cards must be carefully protected during shipping to avoid any damage. Return shipment includes protective packaging and a tracking number, provided at the time of shipment.
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The deposit is non-refundable once a slot has been confirmed, as it reserves dedicated working time. In the event of cancellation before painting begins, a solution can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
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Each card is entirely hand-painted. Slight variations are part of the artistic process and ensure that each piece is genuinely unique.