A Second Look at Older Work - The Termite Head

And then it was 2026. This is going to be a very busy year for me, and because of this fact, I will likely be pulling back a bit from the blog. I will be sharing things from the past, keeping you updated as I can on what is keeping me so busy (more on that REALLY soon), and still doing my best to share my journey as an artist. But know that if things go quiet here, it is because a LOT of exciting things are happening behind the scenes.

Today, I am sharing a miniature design that I did for the now long-dead miniatures game, Dreamblade. Dreamblade will always be near and dear to me, as it was the first game I ever worked on and one of the times I felt most free as an artist working in the gaming industry. This is the "Termite Head" design for an unproduced set of the game.

Unreleased Termite Head - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

Termite Head turnaround - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast 

This was a one and done design for this particular assignment. I did one drawing, they loved it, and did the turnaround, and it was done. Always nice when that happens. But again, the feet, why are they so small? Why did I draw such small feet on things twenty years ago?

That's all for another exciting Monday on the blog. See you back here on Wednesday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability, head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

2025 Art vs Artist

This will likely be my final blog post for 2025. I always enjoy the Art vs Artist posts, so I am thrilled to share mine for 2025. 2025 marked a noticible turn in the work on book two, but I will go more into that hopefully soon. Needless to say, things are really moving now and I have been thrilled with the work this year. I present to you my 2025 Art vs Artist.

 

2025 Art vs Artist

Just a few of the many pieces I created in the past year.

That's all for another year on the blog! See you back here next year. Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability, head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

IX 2026 Announcement!

I am thrilled to announce a convention that I will be attending in 2026! Notices went out last week, and I can now announce that I will be returning to the main show of Illuxcon in Reading, PA, in October 2026. We love IX, and it is a truly unique experience to attend and be a part of. I will share more once we get closer to October. And with the crazy year ahead of me, come October, I will have a lot to share!

Come see galleries of amazing artists at Illuscon 2025!

That's all for another exciting Monday on the blog. See you back here soon! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability, head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

A Second Look at Older Work - The Dreamblade Executioner

I have been sharing these posts, looking back at older work, for a while now, and they will become a more common occurrence on the blog in the new year as I transition away from art creation to writing on my next book.

Today, I am sharing a miniature design that I did for the now long-dead miniatures game, Dreamblade. Dreamblade will always be near and dear to me, as it was the first game I ever worked on and one of the times I felt most free as an artist working in the gaming industry. This is the "Executioner" design for an unproduced set of the game.

Unreleased Executioner - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

Executioner turnaround - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast 

For the original design, I held back a little bit, and I was asked for more detail, and more of everything. Save one thing. In my original design, the Executioner's head was in a half hood, so you could see an open mouth yelling and eyes in the eye holes of the hood. I was asked to remove all of that and give him a full-faced hood. I was told that one of the reasons for more detail was that this was a common mini and would have few paint passes, and his clothes would likely be just black, or black with a little wash or dry brushing. Not sure why I gave him such little feet. A mystery for the ages. 

That's all for another exciting Friday on the blog. See you back here next week! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability, head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

The Gathering is the Magic Clip: "Christopher Burdett - Ravenous Leurocota"

During Gen Con 2022, I had an excellent opportunity to speak with the folks behind the upcoming documentary about Magic the Gathering, The Gathering is the Magic. It was a lot of fun and always a good time to talk about art, monsters, and more. I eventually was a part of a follow-up interview where I spoke about my work on the game in greater detail, as well as other topics. Another clip from the more recent interview has been shared, so I am now sharing it with you.

The Gathering is the Magic - A documentary about how Magic the Gathering brings people together, fosters friendship, and inspires with art and storytelling.

 

In the interview, I was asked to discuss the cards I created for Magic the Gathering. It was fun to reminisce about the art and monsters I made, the fan response to them, and the behind-the-scenes stories regarding the cards. This clip is about the Ravenous Leurocota. Enjoy the clip, and check out what else The Gathering is the Magic has been sharing! 

The story of the Ravenous Leurocota and how the art expanded, and happy accidents.

That's all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog. See you back here on Friday! Until then... 

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability, head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Resplendent Knight - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I am thrilled to share another new piece from The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia! This illustration is for Book Two: The Completed Circle and is the next chapter art in the book. The hero has returned! Older, wiser(?), changed, and different, he is no longer the farmhand we once knew. He is bolder, more violent, and seems to relish in the destruction. Our hero charges into the Warren to save his companion and to bring justice to the Basilisk. He fights alone, needing no one but his wits and sword. Will he save the day?

Resplendent Knight
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle
11 x 14 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper

Original - Contact me if interested
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

Resplendent Knight - Drawing 

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

Here is a look at the sketch and tonal study for the Resplendent Knight to show where it began.

Resplendent Knight - Sketch 

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

Resplendent Knight - Tonal study

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

As a bonus, I have some images of the rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape. Again, this one had a more typical progression for me. As the background was more simplistic with the explosion, smoke, and dark environment I addressed that first. I then worked on the figure, then the Grynk, and finally again to the background when I added the white. I did something a little differently with the explosion. I went in first with an ink wash along the edges, followed by white pencil and paint. The layering of the pencil and paint over the ink gives me the specific look that I wanted. 

 

Encounter at the Poisoned Dagger - Process

© 2025 Christopher Burdett

That is all for another exciting Monday on the blog. See you back here on Wednesday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability, head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

A Second Look at Older Work - The Dreamblade Damsel in Distress

I have been sharing these posts, looking back at older work, for a while now, and they will become a more common occurrence on the blog in the new year as I transition away from art creation to writing on my next book.

Today, I am sharing a miniature design that I did for the now long-dead miniatures game, Dreamblade. Dreamblade will always be near and dear to me, as it was the first game I ever worked on and one of the times I felt most free as an artist working in the gaming industry. This is the "Damsel in Distress" design for an unproduced set of the game.

Unreleased Damsel in Distress - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

 

Damsel in Distress turnaround - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast 

This was one that was outside my wheelhouse, but I ended up still liking it in the long run. It did go through some revisions early on, but in the end, it came together quickly. I always enjoyed the details and design of the garment. Not a fan of the trope of the distressed damsel, but the game mechanics would have likely flipped those expectations on their ear.

That's all for another exciting Friday on the blog. See you back here next week! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability, head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com