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Vault Episode 13: Howard Lyon

An episode of the Small Lake City podcast, hosted by Erik Nilsson, titled "Vault Episode 13: Howard Lyon" was published on March 9, 2026 and runs 105 minutes.

March 9, 2026 ·105m · Small Lake City

0:00 / 0:00

Summary

A good life in art rarely follows a straight line. We sit down with fine artist Howard Lyon—whose work spans Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and the worlds of Brandon Sanderson—to trace a path that runs from a tech-filled childhood in Mesa to global conventions, cathedral-quiet studios, and a thriving creative home in Utah. Howard unpacks the moment tabletop fantasy turned from hobby to compass, and how video games quietly trained him for a painter’s life: mastering color, text...

Episode Description

A good life in art rarely follows a straight line. We sit down with fine artist Howard Lyon—whose work spans Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and the worlds of Brandon Sanderson—to trace a path that runs from a tech-filled childhood in Mesa to global conventions, cathedral-quiet studios, and a thriving creative home in Utah.

Howard unpacks the moment tabletop fantasy turned from hobby to compass, and how video games quietly trained him for a painter’s life: mastering color, texture, and collaboration while learning to deliver on deadlines. He shares the Venn diagram that guides his career—where passion meets market need—and the two jaw-dropping calls he turned down: art directing Diablo 3 and joining early League of Legends. Those no’s weren’t about ego; they were declarations for oils, story, and the long game.

We dive into how Magic changed everything. Unlike hyper-specific RPG scenes, card art builds personal bonds through play, creating a rich secondary market of prints, signatures, and playmats that pays forward for years. Hear the backstory of Harmless Offering, why Death’s Shadow won’t stop resurfacing, and what happens when you sign cards in Tokyo, London, and Rome for the same smiling superfans. That credibility led to collaborations with Brandon Sanderson, whose visual, empathetic storytelling cultivates a fanbase as generous as it is passionate.

Why Utah? Howard explains the secret sauce: world-class painters, open studios, and a refreshingly uncompetitive culture that lifts everyone. We explore a shifting art market—Western staples endure while fantasy rises with the Star Wars and Pokémon generations—and why museums like George Lucas’s story-focused collection will anchor that future. Along the way: travel-fueled plein air trips, baking bread as a healthy non-monetized hobby, and a simple rule for creatives everywhere—show up, be ready, and keep choosing work that keeps you alive.

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