The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: August 2016

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Air Caste Courier - Warhammer 40K: Conquest - Process

Back in December of last year I first shared with you my contribution to the Legions of Death expansion to Warhammer 40K: Conquest, the Air Caste Courier. Today I have for you the process and steps that went into making that piece. To start things off here is what final version of the card looks like as well as what the final version of the painting looks like...

Air Caste Courier (Modified final)
Warhammer 40K: Conquest - Legions of Death
14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board with digital edits
Original available over on my web store

Air Caste Courier (Original)
Warhammer 40K: Conquest - Legions of Death
14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board
Original available over on my web store

There were some revision requests made after the painting was completed that involved global changes to the piece so they were done digitally, which is why there are two versions of this piece.

As with everything I create, there was a photo shoot for reference and then I got started on thumbnails for this piece. It needed to depict a big headed blue alien from the Warhammer 40K universe carrying a case onto a dropship as it prepares to take off. Pretty straight forward even though the alien is a little silly. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Air Caste Courier - Thumbnails

Did I say reference? Here is a look at one of the many images taken during the photo shoot to work out this piece. It was also the image used for the approved thumbnail, option "C".

Air Caste Courier - Reference

Photo by Achsa Nute

With an approved thumbnail it was time to get started on the final drawing for the piece. Here is how said drawing turned out...

Air Caste Courier - Drawing
Warhammer 40K: Conquest - Legions of Death
17 x 14 - Pencil on paper
Original available over on my web store

There was some concern the head was not long enough and I was asked to extend it. I still think it ruins the perspective a bit and makes the whole face appear to be more parallel to the viewer than it is meant to be, but I make the revisions requested of me. There were some other little edits here and there to the drawing that I was asked to make as well. I made all of these edits digitally since I didn't want to risk messing up the final drawing with an incorrect revision and I did not have time to redraw the entire with with the revisions. Here is how the revised drawing turned out...

The revised drawing was approved and I was ready to get started on the painting. For some reason I took a photo of my work space right before I got to work on this painting. It was mixed in with all the process images I took and I had completely forgotten about it. For those interested in seeing what my painting space looks like, here you go...

Work space before painting begins

The painting portion for this one was relatively straight forward. Just fumbled my way through it until I had a finished painting, or so I thought. As mentioned before, there were some global revisions requested after the painting was considered completed by me. Making these revisions digitally took a lot of the guess work, anxiety, and risk out of making them. Here is a look at the piece coming together (including digital revisions)...

Here is an animated version of the painting coming together so you can better see the stages building on each other as well as the edits that were done digitally. Besides making the entire piece more yellow, there were small changes to his anatomy were the interruption of the miniature and the painted figure were ambiguous.

Here again is the final version of the Air Caste Courier painting as well as an image of the final production card for you viewing pleasure. It is funny how some of the things I was asked to edit, revise, and change in the final are not even visible on the final card do to cropping. Oh well, that is the way of things...

Air Caste Courier (Modified final)
Warhammer 40K: Conquest - Legions of Death
14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board with digital edits
Original available over on my web store

Air Caste Courier in handy dandy card form

That is 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

Monday, August 29, 2016

Coveted Peacock - MtG - Conspiracy 2: Take the Crown

With the release of Conspiracy 2: Take the Crown, the newest expansion for Magic the Gathering, I am pleased to bring you my contribution to the set, the Coveted Peacock! Here is how the final Coveted Peacock turned out...

Coveted Peacock - Final

Magic the Gathering - Conspiracy 2: Take the Crown

14 x 11- Acrylic on board with digital edits and finish
PRINTS available at OMA!

ARTIST PROOFS available over on my web store!

This was a crazy piece to work on and much of the craziness was of my own doing. I decided I was going to try to paint this one traditionally and that led me on a roller coaster of a ride. In the end the piece is mostly still my original painting, but to get it to where I wanted it to be for the final, I did do some digital edits and finishes. Here is what the original painting for the Coveted Peacock looks like...

Coveted Peacock - Original

Magic the Gathering - Conspiracy 2: Take the Crown

14 x 11- Acrylic on board

Original - SOLD

All originals associated with this piece, drawings and the painting, will debut at Illuxcon 2016 the week of Oct 19 - 23. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in making an offer. Prints of the final version are available now and artist proofs will be available once I receive them. Here is a look at the final card version of the Coveted Peacock...

Coveted Peacock in handy dandy card form

The Coveted Peacock was not the only card of mine in this set. My Ravenous Leucrocota from the Theros block has returned to make an encore appearance! Hopefully this will mean I will have foil artist proofs of the Ravenous Leucrocota available soon as well. Here is a look at the Ravenous Leucrocota in all its glory...

Ravenous Leucrocota

Magic the Gathering - Journey Into Nyx / Conspiracy: Take the Crown

12 x 8.7 - Digital
PRINTS available at OMA!

A HUGE thanks goes out to Dawn Murin for including me on this set and for the Coveted Peacock! It was a ton of fun and I learned a bit while working on this one. Keep an eye on the blog as I will be sure to post when the artist proofs become available and as other news and information becomes available. ...and of course for more of my Magic work in the coming months.

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

Friday, August 26, 2016

Lords of Nal Hutta - The Return of Salacious B. Crumb

I have another sighting from Gen Con of my work making a repeat appearance in the Star Wars universe. This time around it is my Salacious B. Crumb that I did for the Star Wars Card Game. It has come back as a half page illustration in the new Star Wars RPG supplement, Edge of the Empire: Lords of Nal Hutta. It looks a little something like this in the book...

One of the first pages of Star Wars: Edge of the Empire - Lords of Nal Hutta

You can't miss the image, it is one of the first pieces when you open the book, which is pretty cool. Unfortunately, it looks like my name got left out of the credits of the book. Oh well, not the first time and most likely, not the last time either. I have always submitted imaged larger than I needed to for all of my assignments, this is what it gets me! Nice to see it printed larger than the original card art. Here is what the original art looks like, to refresh the memory...

Salacious B. Crumb

Star Wars LCG: Darkness and Light

10.6 x 7.9 - Digital

I can't post about Salacious B. Crumb without also sharing what the final production card look like, here it is in the wilds of Gen Con...

Salacious B. Crumb in handy dandy card form as seen at Gen Con!

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday for something magical! Until then...

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

Wednesday, August 24, 2016

4-LOM - Star Wars: Galactic Ambitions - Process

Today I have for you the steps and process that went into my 4-LOM character card for the Star Wars LCG. I felt it was fitting since the piece sold at Gen Con a few weeks ago. I have shared a little about receiving the assignment for this piece when it was first announced and I shared some of the ups and downs of my varnishing woes and how it relates to this piece. While I love these stories there is no reason to cover old ground. Here is how the final 4-LOM painting turned out...

4-LOM

Star Wars LCG - Galactic Ambitions

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

Original - SOLD

Since I had such a short deadline for this piece I hit the ground running and needed to get some thumbnails done super quick. I dug out my 4-LOM figures and shot reference of myself and the figures to get the ball rolling. The assignment called for 4-LOM smashing through a door and firing off its concussion rifle. Pretty straight forward... and it needed to be with only days to spare to get it all done. Here are the how the thumbnails turned out...

4-LOM - Thumbnails

I have not looked at these thumbnails since I turned them in and I am really liking option "A". I might have to revisit that thumbnail for a drawing when I have the time. Obviously, option "B" was selected and after being asked to add more bleed I was approved to get started on the drawing. It seem like no matter how much bleed I add and no matter how strictly I work with the approved templates I never seem to get it right. I am just no good at working with templates or more bleed is purposefully being requested so that the piece can be used elsewhere at a later date. Anyway, here is how the final drawing turned out...

4-LOM

Star Wars LCG - Galactic Ambitions

17 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

Original for sale over on my web store!

The drawing was approved and I was all set to get started on the final painting. You might notice something a little off in the drawing. I thought it was correct at the time, but I must have been getting lazy and not watching what I am doing. The curve of the doorway and face above it are in no way symmetrical. I REALLY should have addressed this in the drawing, but I didn't notice it or, like I said, I got lazy and blew it off. It could have been I was dealing with a 5 day deadline for this painting and I was cutting every corner I could. When you look at painting coming together, notice is step four when I painted in the curve of the doorway, this is when I went in and redrew the curve and the face to make sure it was correct. While this was a bit further along then it should have been, at least I caught it relatively early. Here is the painting coming together in 15 easy steps...

4-LOM - Process steps

This piece came together VERY quickly because it had to and I used every trick I could to make sure it worked and got finished. The fact that it is snowing outside came about as I was working on the piece. I thought it would be fun and allowed me to add steam and smoke to make the image more interesting for myself. It is the little things that make it fun for me. Here is an animated progression of the painting so you can better see the steps in the process...

4-LOM - Animated progression

Here again is a look at the finished painting, glad it has found itself a new home!

4-LOM

Star Wars LCG - Galactic Ambitions

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

That is 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

Monday, August 22, 2016

Star Spawn Miniature - Mansions of Madness 2nd Edition

Very excited to finally share this with work with you today. I have only been waiting 7 years for this piece to finally come out. With the announcement of the 2nd Edition release of Mansions of Madness I can now share the Star Spawn miniature design that I did back in 2009. While I have had to wait a while for pieces to finally come out, this by far is the reigning champ for the most delayed release. Better late then never! Here is the initial design for the Star Spawn...

Star Spawn

12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
© 2016 (2009) Fantasy Flight Games

You can imagine my reaction when I looked into the display case at Gen Con during set up. I did a double take since it had been 7 years since I worked on this piece and it has been years since I actually looked at the drawing. I was told years ago when it was not released with the rest of the Arkham Horror miniatures that it would eventually be out as a part of "something special". Well, that day has come and the 2nd Edition release of Mansions of Madness must be pretty special!

Star Spawn making its debut at Gen Con 2016

Here are two views of the complete turnaround for the Star Spawn. You might notice an edit to the texture of the legs that was requested after the final 3/4 view was created. The right wing in the rear view was a separate drawing that was digitally added for the turnaround.

Star Spawn Turnaround

Each - 12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
© 2016 (2009) Fantasy Flight Games

Star Spawn Turnaround

Each - 12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
© 2016 (2009) Fantasy Flight Games

Since I am sharing everything, because why not it has bee 7 years, here is a look at the very rough scribbly thumbnails that I turned in for miniature concepts. This is the highly detailed and clear roughs that I use to turn in 7 years ago. Scribble scribble scribble...

Star Spawn Thumbnails
© 2016 (2009) Fantasy Flight Games

If the release of the Star Spawn in Mansions of Madness after a 7 year wait was not good enough, it looks like a fully painted version of the Star Spawn will be available later in the year! Looking forward to having this fellow on my shelf with the rest of my miniatures. RAWR!

Painted Star Spawn and company

Image courtesy Fantasy Flight Games

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

Friday, August 19, 2016

Overworked Engineer - The Return of Heated Tempers

You may have noticed a few of my freshly spoiled pieces in the coverage of Gen Con 2016 week here on the blog. New pieces finally coming out were not the only thing brought to my attention, the reuse of some of my work also was pointed out to me. As mentioned in my Day 4 coverage of Gen Con 2016, a piece that I had originally created for the Star Wars RPG supplement, Stay on Target, has seen new life as a card in the Star Wars LCG. I present to you the Overworked Engineer...

Overworked Engineer

Star Wars: The Card Game - Redemption and Return

From RPG tp LCG!

If you follow my work, you may better know this piece as Heated Tempers. This was the last digitally painted Star Wars piece that I created for the Star Wars games and was a fun one to work on. I was really happy with some of the work I did in this piece. Here is a look at the original Heated Tempers...

Heated Tempers

Star Wars: Age of Rebellion - Stay on Target

12.5 x 14.5 - Digital

With all the extra bleed I have to put on some of these pieces it is no wonder they see new life in the other Star Wars game products. I just wish I knew about them, but that to fans at Gen Con I got to see one of the cards in person and to sign a few of them.

I tried really hard to channel my inner Bothan when I did this piece. Here again is a look at the photo reference that I used for this piece. I wonder when we are finally going to see some Bothans in a Star Wars movie?

Bothan reference! RAWR!
Photos by Achsa Nute

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday! Until then...

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

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Gen Con 2016 Recap - Day 4

My recap of Gen Con 2016 continues with some of the happenings in the Artist Alley during Day 3. If you missed it, you can check out Day 0, Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3.

All good things come to an end, including Gen Con. Day 4 is finally upon us and Gen Con is wrapping up and all that remains is a frantic last 6 hours followed by tear down. By Day 4 of Gen Con my brain has stopped making long term memories and I am running on auto pilot. That is the way of things at such a huge convention. The carrot at the end of a frantic tear down is an amazing sushi dinner with a ton of friends and a last low key evening of hanging out and saying goodbye.

The funny thing about Gen Con that as it approached there is SO much to do and SO much involved that it feels rather daunting and not necessarily something I want to do. The second I hit Nashville on the drive up and I THRILLED it is Gen Con time again. By the time Day 4 rolls around I can not wait to come back to Gen Con next year. This of course fades at things get crazy with life and prep for Gen Con next year... and so the cycle repeats. Thanks to EVERYONE that made Gen Con 2016 such a GREAT year. So much fun was had, I can't wait till next year!

Here are some images that more or less make up my experiences of Day 4 of Gen Con 2016...

Mewtwo on a blank Pokemon card.

Another new Star Wars piece I had no idea was out. It has been out for awhile and I thought it was not coming out till later this year. More on this soon!

A new Star Wars card that reuses a piece that I did for the Star Wars RGP.

I had no idea that this was out.

A new Eevee has appeared.

Signed more Star Wars cards.

Things go weird the last day of Gen Con when I was asked to start mashing up Pokemon.

I signed a few more Bossk cards.

4-Lom is going to a new home!

What's going on over the wall?

...and over there?

Things stayed busy until the end!

I traded with Jacob Walker for this BEAUTIFUL piece of his! RAWR!

Tear down begins.

Everything in its place and a place for everything.

My lovely assistant, Dear Wife.

Goodbye table 40, it has been a fun 4 days!

What took 5.5 hours to set up takes about 2 hours to pack up.

I am really impressed that the "S" remained on the sign this year. Every year I have attended Gen Con at some point during the convention that "S" seemed to vanish.

That is all for anther exciting Thursday on the blog, 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