![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/owwxejgiyksg2nfbv4sw.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/owwxejgiyksg2nfbv4sw.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/owwxejgiyksg2nfbv4sw.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/owwxejgiyksg2nfbv4sw.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/owwxejgiyksg2nfbv4sw.jpg 1600w)
That is, paint them awesomely. You know, like Lunumbra does.
For the past few years, Lunumbra has been creating one-of-a-kind Pokémon paint jobs that sometimes, but not always, cover the text so you can appreciate the card’s beautiful main art.
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/kfzad9jllinymzab0pvv.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/kfzad9jllinymzab0pvv.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/kfzad9jllinymzab0pvv.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/kfzad9jllinymzab0pvv.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/kfzad9jllinymzab0pvv.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/ku3tcsgcqfwjarbtpmvw.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/ku3tcsgcqfwjarbtpmvw.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/ku3tcsgcqfwjarbtpmvw.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/ku3tcsgcqfwjarbtpmvw.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/ku3tcsgcqfwjarbtpmvw.jpg 1600w)
This what makes these cards so great. The customization doesn’t detract from the original art’s intrinsic beauty, but rather, enhances it.
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/dknlhykug2ov3wrzblwt.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/dknlhykug2ov3wrzblwt.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/dknlhykug2ov3wrzblwt.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/dknlhykug2ov3wrzblwt.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/dknlhykug2ov3wrzblwt.jpg 1600w)

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Here’s Lunumbra explaining his process:
Each piece is hand-painted with acrylic paint onto real trading cards . Details are added with gel pens or metallic ink and then two coats of a clear, protective gloss are added to give the card a shine and to help remove any unwanted texture. I take care to ensure every card is as flat as possible with few indications that paint has been added. If text is to be shown or if holographic details are wanted, a toothpick is used to slowly and carefully remove any unwanted acrylic.
Below is a short video showing how he does it:
Lunumbra prefers not to paint old or rare cards as he does not want to, as he says, “deteriorate their value.”
Via Lunumbra’s Facebook and Instagram, have a look at his work:
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/lutbiecoqj4ikygsbat4.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/lutbiecoqj4ikygsbat4.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/lutbiecoqj4ikygsbat4.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/lutbiecoqj4ikygsbat4.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/lutbiecoqj4ikygsbat4.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/mlc4mlwnv9dm0puzkyln.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/mlc4mlwnv9dm0puzkyln.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/mlc4mlwnv9dm0puzkyln.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/mlc4mlwnv9dm0puzkyln.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/mlc4mlwnv9dm0puzkyln.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/b2bapfocqy5ngtynmf8d.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/b2bapfocqy5ngtynmf8d.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/b2bapfocqy5ngtynmf8d.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/b2bapfocqy5ngtynmf8d.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/b2bapfocqy5ngtynmf8d.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/ozabeeiflsbfgylqvpfh.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/ozabeeiflsbfgylqvpfh.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/ozabeeiflsbfgylqvpfh.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/ozabeeiflsbfgylqvpfh.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/ozabeeiflsbfgylqvpfh.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/jrwjlnj8ir3uone6cdjj.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/jrwjlnj8ir3uone6cdjj.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/jrwjlnj8ir3uone6cdjj.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/jrwjlnj8ir3uone6cdjj.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/jrwjlnj8ir3uone6cdjj.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/enyu3sfuyalhbyh2ec0p.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/enyu3sfuyalhbyh2ec0p.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/enyu3sfuyalhbyh2ec0p.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/enyu3sfuyalhbyh2ec0p.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/enyu3sfuyalhbyh2ec0p.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/wwq53atzjyxxoeeopnpy.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/wwq53atzjyxxoeeopnpy.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/wwq53atzjyxxoeeopnpy.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/wwq53atzjyxxoeeopnpy.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/wwq53atzjyxxoeeopnpy.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/vundjlzelzxdyhvyyome.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/vundjlzelzxdyhvyyome.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/vundjlzelzxdyhvyyome.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/vundjlzelzxdyhvyyome.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/vundjlzelzxdyhvyyome.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/wkzuivvl3ma3nvbxwa8l.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/wkzuivvl3ma3nvbxwa8l.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/wkzuivvl3ma3nvbxwa8l.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/wkzuivvl3ma3nvbxwa8l.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/wkzuivvl3ma3nvbxwa8l.jpg 1600w)
![[Image: Lunumbra | Facebook]](https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fill,f_auto,fl_progressive,g_center,h_80,pg_1,q_80,w_80/jhje1nlavpvnauchdwdb.jpg 80w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,fl_progressive,q_80,w_320/jhje1nlavpvnauchdwdb.jpg 320w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_fit,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_470/jhje1nlavpvnauchdwdb.jpg 470w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_800/jhje1nlavpvnauchdwdb.jpg 800w, https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/c_scale,f_auto,fl_progressive,pg_1,q_80,w_1600/jhje1nlavpvnauchdwdb.jpg 1600w)
Terrific work. For more, check out Lunumbra’s Facebook page.
This article was originally posted on February 28, 2017. It has since been updated.
DISCUSSION
This is amazing! I am sure some card collectors are scoffing at his messing up the cards, but this is a great way to make a card that is worth $0.01 into a true work of art. Take notice 5Ban Graphics and PLANETA, this is how card art should look. I fear that the cards are becoming more and more computer generated. Not to take away from the talent pool for those artists, but there is something to be said about the artwork that is colored pencil, acrylics/paint and even the occasional photograph of a modeled or knit Pokemon.