More Sketchbook Sketches!

I would like to thank everyone that purchased my first run of sketchbooks, they were such a hit they are all sold out! Fear naught, I will be making them available through LuLu.com very soon so that anyone that still would like one can have one of their own. In the meantime I have some more of the sketches that went into the books to share with you...

Dangly dragon monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Teeth beak monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Peeved reptile monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

And so wraps up another year on the blog! Hope you all have enjoyed what I had to share. I have a lot of new work coming down the pipeline I look forward to sharing with you in 2011.

I hopefully will be back on track on Monday, I have been sick for over a week now and it has really interfered with EVERYTHING. SO if I am silent a lot of next week, no worries, just getting caught up. Until then...

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

Pathfinder: Bestiary 2

I received my copy of Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 2 in the mail last week and was happy to see some old friends. Though I didn't have the chane to produce any new pieces for the book, the Redcap, Gryph and Badger I had previously produced showed up in it...

Redcap, Gryph and Badger
©2010 Paizo Publishing

If you look closely you might notices a little typo on art credit, the Gryph is in fact and the Witchwyrd is not. The book is filed with a lot of awesome monsters! Hopefully when number three comes around I will get the chance to add some new monsters to it. As a fun side note Paizo has also released a poster of all the monsters from Bestiary 2... Gotta kill 'em all!

See you back here on Friday for the last post of the year. Nothing huge and monumental... yet. Until then...

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

POW! Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings!

Happiest of Holidays to one and all. Here's to hoping for an exciting and prosperous 2011!

POW! Happy Holidays!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

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

Sketchbook sketches

Did somebody say 'sketchbooks'? A couple of weeks ago I made the remainder of the first print run of my sketch books, creatura libri, available. They have been going fast and I have been drawing lots and lots of original sketches in them. Here are some of those sketches...

Crow monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Lizard monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Spiny hairy lizard monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Spiky amphibian monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Raspy tongued bird monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Mutant sad toad monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Evolving spiny lizard monster - RAWR!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

I have maybe one or two of my sketchbooks left. If you wanted to get one of the first print run with an original sketch in it, head on over to my first post to get all the details.

See you back here on Friday for some holiday cheer! Until then...

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

Fresh from the drawing table... Manticore!

I have for you today another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Manticore! "M" was a good letter for options. I was on the fence between Manticore and Minotaur for a while, the the big kitty man won this round. Having produced a Manticore for Talisman last year I was eager to revisit it. I present to you my version of a Manticore...

Manticore
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

I wanted to go with a more passive Manticore for this drawing. Granted, when the adventurers arrive it will be ready with a toothy maw and growls and roars, but in the down time I imagine just like any big kitty it would clean itself. Inspiration hit me on this one while I was drifting off to sleep... visions of a giant kitty man licking the back of it's hand paw ready to wash it's face. This may be one of the less flattering reference photos I had to have taken of myself. ...must delete those files...

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

That is all for today. 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

Self promotion and meeting notes

A few weeks ago I told you about about.me and the interesting potential it offered to act as a hub for all your links on the web. A one stop home page to let people know where to find you on the web. Since it is still in beta it is having a gradual roll out so you have to sign up and reserve your name and wait for an invite to create your page. My invite finally showed up this week and I am pleased to say my page if up and working. about.me/christopherburdett is now live and feel free to stop by and see all my exciting links!

about.me/christopherburdett

I also have some notes from a recent meeting to share. Before you pass judgment, this is how I take notes in meetings and you should not think I am not paying attention. Active hands active brain... or something... anyway, one with the monsters...

Get that guy some cupcakes, STAT!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Raspy tongues are neat.
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

The happy puppy want you to throw the ball...
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

That is all or another exciting week! See you back here next week for some stuff and things! Until then...

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

Night Reign

Way back at the very beginning of 2009 I did some line art pieces for Destiny Games Publishing for their new 4th Edition D&D project titled Night Reign. This was some of the first freelance work I took after getting back on my feet as a freelancer (see 2009 - The year I got serious for more info on that). They were creating a new campaign setting that was 4th Edition compatible and it sounded like a fun project to get involved with. Unbeknown to me the project was finally released in March of this year. I stumbled over this fact a day or two ago and I am happy to finally share the pieces I produced for Night Reign!

Dragon Breeder Summoner
© 2010 Destiny Games Publishing

Tiefling Monk
© 2010 Destiny Games Publishing

These were a much needed ego and moral boast at the time I created them. Sadly I still didn't have my head around the whole use reference thing. They were a lot of fun to create though. There was another version of the Summoner that was initially rejected and it is for the best now that I look back at the drawings. At the time I was really attached to the first version... now, not so much. I hope you enjoy this blast from my past, it is really nice to finally share these, even if they are practically two years old.

That is all for today, 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

Fresh from the drawing table... Lizardman!

I have for you today another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Lizardman! "L" had so many tempting options but when it came down to it I had only one real choice. Looking at some of my recent D&D work would almost think I have some sort of affinity for big scaly reptile creatures. I present to you my version of a Lizardman...

Lizardman
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Much like the Kobold I designed I had to really stop my first instincts with the Lizardman and come at it with fresh eyes. Having had a history of drawing my own Lizardmen based on the official D&D look I really had to push myself in a new direction. I decided that an even more primitive Lizardman creature would be interesting since I went with a more developed creature for the Kobold. Pressing forward I went with a creature to me at least had a dinosaur feel. I tried to keep the weapons and adornment primitive yet interesting. A savage scouting group of Lizardmen barbarians leap from the high reeds and descend on the players...

As a young D&D player the Lizardmen were both a really interesting monster and player race for me. Targus the Brave, where are you now?

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.     

That is all for today. I hope to have something new and interesting for you 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

Graduate Nurse Babe Sapien!

My wife completed her two year journey through nursing school last night. She was also honored with an Excellence in Student Nursing award. It was a great night for a graduation! I am so proud of her and I look forward to seeing what an amazing nurse she is going to be.

I lent my pencil to make my wife a custom announcement for her pending graduation. She wanted her roller derby alter ego striking a hero pose and I was more then happy to help out. So I present to you Babe Sapien, Graduate Nurse...

Graduate Nurse Babe Sapien
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Graduation Invite

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Congrats to my super awesome amazing mega cool wife! I am so proud to see how all her hard work, sweat and tears has paid off so well and she was recognize for her student achievements!

That is all for today. What a FULL WEEK! I will be back here on Monday with some new. Until then...

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

creatura libri sketchbook now available (supplies limited!)

I have a limited number of my sketchbook, creatura libri, left and I am making them available on a first come first serve basis. Right now I can only ship them to folks in the US. Hopefully when a second edition is printed they will be available to everyone.

The cost, with shipping:

$16 - your very own numbered sketchbook (US only)
$21 - your very own numbered sketchbook with an original drawing! (US only)

Send an email to: *SOLD OUT* and I will send you my paypal info. Supplies are limited and it will be on a first come first serve basis. Please be patient if you don't hear from me right away.

You too can own your very copy of creatura libri featuring 32 pages in all with over 50 drawings of creatures, monsters and things with tentacles!

Just look at them tentacles... those claws! And just in time for the holidays! Grandma will love it!

Be the envy of your friends and enemies by owning a copy of creatura libri with an original sketch by me gracing the first page!

That is all for today. See you back here on Friday for something new! Until then...

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

Ninja Mountain Podcast #87

Head on over to the Ninja Mountain Podcast where you will find the first interviews from Illuxcon 3 recorded by the world famous Jeremy McHugh. If that was not enough incentive on it's own, the first interview on the episode is with me! I sit down with Jeremy to talk about our experiences at Illuxcon and discuss some of my thoughts on monster and creature design. Fresh from my mouth to your ears! Go have a listen. If you are unfamiliar with Ninja Mountain you are missing out, so get on that.

See you back here tomorrow! Until then...

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

Explore Q'barra: Poison Dusk, Black Sun

Today on the blog I am very excited to be finally bringing you a new piece for Dungeons and Dragons! The piece appeared last Thursday in Dungeon Magazine issue 185 and surprise surprise it features lots and lots of MONSTERS...

Warriors of the Poison Dusk
© 2010 Wizards of the Coast

When Jon Schindehette gave me this assignment he said I should be able to have some fun with it ...that was an understatement. I looked at the art order and saw loads and loads of awesome monsters, how could I not have fun! Kobolds are some of my favorite D&D rank and file monsters and I of course love lizard folk... because they are giant lizard monsters. The real treat was to finally have a chance to work on an illustration of a troglodyte since I redesigned them for 4th Edition. I had so much fun with this piece and it really gave me the opportunity to push myself outside my comfort zone. Typically I only create pieces with one, maybe two creatures tops, and well, this has just a few more.

A big thanks goes out to Jon for getting me involved on this assignment! I had a lot of fun with it and really happy with how it turned out. I will be posting a step by step process for this piece in the near future and will talk about everything that went into it.

That is all for today. I will be back on Wednesday with some something for your hands! Until then...

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

Talisman: Sacred Pool (part 2)

Wrapping up my contributions to the newly released Talisman: Scared Pool today. If you missed the PRETTY PONIES, you can check them out HERE. After working on those pretty pretty ponies I moved onto three pieces featuring people. Yes, you heard right, people. I know I tend to be monster-centric but not every art order that comes my way is all about the monsters. It is a good chance to rise to the challenge and do some of the best not so beautiful people that I can...

Warlock’s Apprentice
© 2010 Fantasy Flight Games

Vindicator
© 2010 Fantasy Flight Games

Fortune's Fool
© 2010 Fantasy Flight Games

I am really happy with how the Warlock’s Apprentice and Vindicator turned out and the Apprentice is my favorite piece from this batch. While working on these back in April I was still shaking off some really bad habits and these bad habits almost permanently affected/ruined these pieces. The most grievous bad habits was not using enough reference and the reference I had was not being used effectively. This was all leading me down a road to making... well, to be blunt, crap. I had to make the decision that I can and will do better... to really get serious about these pieces and give them my all. I will be talking more about all this very soon. Needless to say I am really happy to share these with you, they mark a personal milestone for me and my work.

That wraps up another week on the blog! See you back here on Monday for some honest to goodness brand new MONSTERS! Until then...

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

WIP Podcast Episode 20

You should head on over and check out WIP Podcast #20, SUPER DELUXE Illuxcon round table extravaganza! Not only will you find the hosts of WIP: Jeff Himmelman, Caroline Himmelman, Pete Mohrbacher and Anna Mohrbacher, but there are special guests: Drew Baker, Jeremy Wilson, Marc Scheff, Aaron Miller and ME! This episode recaps everyone's highlights and experiences at Illuxcon as well as some great discussion about art and folks thoughts on the industry. What more could you ask for?

More? Did someone ask for more? Well, don't worry, a lot more was recorded at Illuxcon and will be coming your way very soon! Just to clarify, RUN, don't walk on over to the WIP website and give WIP Podcast #20 a listen!

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

Talisman: Sacred Pool (part 1)

Talisman: Sacred Pool from Fantasy Flight Games is now out in stores and I am happy to be able to share my contribution to this newest expansion. PRETTY PONIES! That's right, as part of my duties on Sacred Pool I got to paint some pretty pretty ponies. Of the five pieces I contributed to this set two of them were horses, and in fact they were my first ever horses. I had to bolster my reference library with several books on horses and really work to get my head around these complex animals. Here is how they turned out...

Firemane
© 2010 Fantasy Flight Games

Fel Steed
© 2010 Fantasy Flight Games

When in doubt, add butterflies. So far this has worked well for me and I suggest you do the same. These were a real challenge for me but in the end I am happy with how they turned out. I went back into both of them several times to polish and add more layers of detail. Through out working on them I was constantly gathering more reference. Not sure if it will be apparent in the final cards, but I know it is in there and you can see it here.

I will be back here on Friday with the remaining three pieces I did for Sacred Pool - all the not so beautiful people. Until then...

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

300th post and some self promotion!

HOLY CRAP! 300 posts! How did that happen?! Many many thanks to everyone that subscribes, comments and in general lurks this blog. Without you all I would have abandoned it all a while ago. I hope I continue to entertain and inform! I have a lot of projects coming down the pipeline and I really look forward to sharing them all with you as soon as I can.

Speaking of entertaining and informing... Here is a giant panda destroying a city to entertain you...

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

To inform, I have a link that all you self promoters might want to check out. I got turned onto this over the weekend (thanks Rodney). It is about.me and it looks pretty interesting. About.me is currently in beta but you can sign up now and reserve you name. You will be notified when you can actually activate your account later but the important part if that you lock your name in.

They provide a splash page and link hub where you can then direct folks to your blog, online portfolio or Facebook gallery featuring your prodigious drinking skills. Definitely looks interesting and if you are like me and trying to maximize name ownership (Christopher Burdett) on the internet I suggest heading over and reserving your name!

Thanks again to all of you, without your participation and encouragement I could not keep this going!

See you back here on Wednesday, I am trying as we speak to see if I can get some new work freed up for posting! Until then...

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

A funny thing happened on the way to Thanksgiving...

While visiting my wife's family in Georgia for Thanksgiving we caught up with an old friend my wife had not seen in some time. He now owns a surplus business and while visiting him we got a tour of his warehouses and facility. Really amazing set up and an astounding selection and quantity of items, ranging from electronics to toys to records to traffic cameras. It was a lot to take in and really neat to see.

While walking by a random pile of collectible and books I saw something that caught my eye. Long fingers and claws beckoned me. As I approached I quickly realized I was looking at an old friend... an old friend that is a glove...

RAWR! I am a small part of a monster!

I made this glove while working on Buffy the Vampire and Angel. I think I made this for Angel, for the Sahrvin Demon army. I will need to do some research when I get home to know for sure. But I clearly remember painting it and recognize the wear and tear from filming. Not sure how this glove made it all the way from Los Angeles to Georgia but it was sure nice to see it again. This makes me wonder what else escaped LA and might be lurking out there in random boxes in warehouses.

See you back here next week, hopefully I will be back on my normal schedule. I also have a big number on the blog to celebrate. Until then...

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

Happy Giant Mutant Turkey Day

Another example why I have ham for Thanksgiving! Hope everyone has safe travels and good family times in the places of the world that celebrate Thanksgiving.

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

Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Misfit Monsters Redeemed

Finally, some new work to share here on the blog! Always difficult to be patient for my comp copies to show up in the mail to confirm that everything made it into the final publication. But at long last I am happy to share my contribution to the recently released Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Misfit Monsters Redeemed. I think the name says it all, MONSTERS! So let's look at the monsters...

Tojanida Fight! (Give in Hursk, I hear death by Tojanida is suppose to be calm and peaceful...)
© 2010 Paizo Publishing, LLC

Tojanida
© 2010 Paizo Publishing, LLC

Tojanida Shell
© 2010 Paizo Publishing, LLC

For this project I was assigned to redesign the Tojanida. The Tojanida has always been this crazy mixed up thing but I was able to get in there and give it some of my monster love. They wanted something along the lines of a crab with a snapping turtle beak with some flippers thrown in and I was happy to oblige. It just so happened that I had a ton of crab reference laying around from a piece I had recently finished for myself so I had a lot to draw from as I worked on these.

Needless to say I had a ton of fun working on the Tojanida redesign and these pieces. It is hard to go wrong when you get to add your own voice to a project this way. As always a big thanks to Sarah Robinson for getting me involved on this projects!

The Thanksgiving Holiday is this week and I am going to be busy with travel and family. I don't see me being able to make any blog posts until next Monday, after the holiday. See you back here in a week! Until then...

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

Blogger Monster

While at Illuxcon a lot of people mentioned having seen my blog, or at least heard that I took part in the blogging arts. On Saturday night I participated in an interview for the WIP podcast regarding my thoughts on blogging and my blogging activities. Since internet was extremely spotty in my room I took to posting and writing my blog out in the hotel lobby during Illuxcon. This lead to many comments along the lines of, "Are you STILL blogging?!" I usually played it off my pressing my fingers together and acted as if I was typing with the whole of my hand. Which of course got me thinking... about monsters... and their blogs. Since I had a lot of time to kill in airports on Monday after all the flight delays I eventually started doodling. ...and a blogger monster appeared.

*CLICK* *TAP* *TAP* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK* *CLICK*

Not my best doodle but airports don't make the best work environment for me. I also didn't have access to an eraser so I felt the need to to continue to darken things I didn't like which only draws more attention to them. I think this is how I now will see myself while I blog, banging away at the keys with my whole hand lost in my thoughts...

See you back here on Monday for actual NEW WORK! I got my comp copies of a recently released Paizo book in the mail this week and I can't wait to share them with you! Until then...

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

Illuxcon 2010 - Wrap up

I am still recovering from Illuxcon. I was up at 4 am on Monday to fly back to Florida on a 5:45 am flight. Due to fog in DC our journey stretched out into a 15 hour trek through 6 airports and we didn't get back to Florida until after 8pm Monday night. The luggage on the other hand... It was not back to us until yesterday afternoon. Thankfully everything arrived more or less intact and in good shape. The heavy handed TSA agents in Altoona gave me fits as they tore through my carefully packed suitcase full of original art and all my gear from the showcase. Glad to say it is all back and safe and I am slowly getting my feet back under me after a truly amazing weekend at Illuxcon.

I would like to again extent huge thanks to Patrick and Jeannie Wilshire for everything they do to make Illuxcon happen. Illuxcon 2 was so amazing and Illuxcon 3 was a thousand fold more amazing. I can't wait until Illuxcon 4 and I know I am not alone in these feelings.

I have gone back and corrected some spelling and grammar issues on my posts about Illuxcon (hopefully I caught them all) as well as linked all the artists to their appropriate web sites. Due to time issues I only linked folks on their first mention. Take a moment and check out all the amazing artists that were at Illuxcon...

Illuxcon 2010 coverage Day 0

Illuxcon 2010 coverage Day 1

Illuxcon 2010 coverage Day 2

Illuxcon 2010 coverage Day 3

Illuxcon 2010 coverage Day 4

One of Lars Grant-West's skulls that he brought for his lecture. This is the closest thing to an incriminating photo I could come up with this year. Will need to try harder next year!

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