The Lore

Why Stuff of Legends?

It all started with the DC show, Legends of Tomorrow.

It's about a bunch of misfits fixing history, the very same timeline they broke in the first place. They go through every moment in time trying to capture anyone who wasn't supposed to be there and bring them to their correct timeline. In every mission, they always fail miserably and make things worse, but in the end always find a way to pull through together and save the day (more or less). They're not what most people would consider picture-perfect heroes, but they're relatable. Real.

That stuck with me. The idea that anyone has it in them to be legendary. They don't have to be incredibly smart or insanely talented. It's the little things they do, the memorable phrases, the moments throughout their lives that make them great enough for their stories to be told.

As an artist and a bit of a history buff, I'd like to help with that.

That's when I thought of creating artworks anchored to actual people I've met in my life, fictional characters who became an inspiration to many, and just general situations everyone, in one way or another, has experienced in their lives.

It took me a while to find the right medium. I tried digital painting before, but always ended up frustrated chasing perfection. Drawing was worse because I can't hit Ctrl+Z when I make a mistake. Then one day, I was replaying Fire Emblem (for the hundredth time), an old GBA game I've always loved. I thought it was amazing how such low-res graphics drew so much emotion out of me. Everything looked so simple, but the impact of the story was greater than most graphics-heavy games I'd played. So I gave pixel art a shot and surprisingly picked it up pretty quickly! It's quite fitting, too! In a world that's gotten so complicated, I want my art to be simple, joyful, and story-driven.

I finally started Stuff of Legends in 2025. With zero pieces of artwork and no clue how to get them produced, I signed up for my first art convention. An event to be held in just two months' time. I must have been powered by extreme audacity and a crazy amount of luck, because next thing I knew, I had a full table of artwork and a whole thought-out setup, even more extravagant than other older stalls. To my surprise, the booth was a huge success! Just like that, one of the dreams I'd been thinking about for years came to life.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'd say that was pretty legendary.

~Merchant