The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: February 2017

Monday, February 27, 2017

Humgruffin Mother - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I have a new piece from my series of toned paper monsters! Today's monster is the alluring Humgruffin Mother. The Humgruffin Mother is a member of the Assassins Guide and will gladly rent out her children for any job that needs doing. If you have the gold, then she has a helping hand for you.

Humgruffin Mother
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals

I have been making a point to scan the line art of all of these to have a complete record of the process and the various steps. You never know when the line art could come in handy.

Humgruffin Mother -Drawing
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Here are all the other completed monsters for The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia: Aberrant Stilter, Belled Kreep, Corrupted Knight, Dight-Kin, Eau-de-nil Elder, Ethra VanDalia, Footman, Gray Wanderer, Gullet, Humgruffin Mother, Irritated Girasol, Judicator, Kiplorbic Animal Dealer, Lammergeier Transport, Myopic Riflemen, Nimsbane Curse Victim, Ophiomornous Bureaucrat, Petrous Blacks mith, Quincaillerie, Saint Marque, Smokestack, Thrice, Uncanny Scribe, Virulent Artificer, Xandrell Tree, Yote Arms Dealer, and Zombic Spore.

As a bonus, I have some images of the drawing and rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape.

Humgruffin Mother - Process
© 2017 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

Friday, February 24, 2017

Milivoj Ćeran Norse Mythology Art Book

I wanted to share with you today another Kickstarter that is deserving of your attention, Milivoj Ćeran's Norse Mythology Art Book. I have known Milivoj for a number of years now, and I have loved his work even longer. So happy to see that he has a Kickstarter up that features his original works based on Norse Mythology. The Kickstarter is already fully funded and quite a few of the stretch goals have been unlocked, so there is no reason to not jump in and pick yourself up a copy of this book. The previews look gorgeous and I can't wait to get my copy. Again, I encourage you to take this opportunity to back the Milivoj Ćeran Norse Mythology Art Book Kickstarter and get yourself some amazing art!

Milivoj Ćeran Norse Mythology Art Book

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

Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Concussion Rifle - Star Wars: Galactic Ambitions - Process

Today I have the steps and process that went into my Concussion Rifle card for the Galactic Ambitions expansion of the Star Wars LCG. I first announced this piece over a year ago, and it is well past the appropriate time to share the process. Sometimes there just is not enough time, and sometimes things slip through the cracks. Here is how the final Concussion Rifle painting turned out...

Concussion Rifle

Star Wars LCG - Galactic Ambitions

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

Original - NFS

This was originally my one and only assignment for Galactic Ambitions, and it received my entire focus at the time I was working on it. The 4-LOM assignment came later. I started this piece off, as I do every assignment, with a reference shoot and thumbnails. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Concussion Rifle - Thumbnails

I really liked all of these thumbnails. I still do. I would really like to still go back and draw each of these thumbnails into a finalized drawing. The Besalisk are a fun species, and I find so much room for personality in their faces and anatomy. As you can tell by the final painting, option "B" was the winner, and it was just as good as any for me at the time. Hindsight obviously shows that "B" is the overall best pick for the assignment, the card, and the limited narrative of the piece.

Speaking of reference... I shared one of these at the time I first shared the card, but here are the other two reference composites that I used when working out the thumbnails. Nothing like making yourself out to be another monster...

Concussion Rifle reference

Photos by Achsa Nute

With reference and an approved thumbnail, is was, of course time to get started on the final drawing. A short time of scribbling and drawing later, you get your very own finalized drawing...

Concussion Rifle

Star Wars LCG - Galactic Ambitions

17 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

Original for sale over on my web store!

There were no notes or issues with the drawing, and I was given the go-ahead to get started on the final painting. The only real art direction for this piece came with the art order; it needed to be a Besalisk holding the concussion rifle, the rifle was the focus, and it takes place outside. I think I nailed those points. In just 12 easy steps, I had myself a painting. Or not... All things considered, this one did move along rather quickly. The environment was particularly fun. I wanted to do something with a lot of green and bendy trees. Here is the painting coming together...

Concussion Rifle - Process steps

With every painting, I try to do something different. I might want to do something with the color palette, the equipment, and gear, maybe something with the detail levels, or even hide something in plain sight to see if anyone notices. No matter what it is, I try to make each piece enjoyable on several levels. This one is no different. I made it fun, and I hope that reads in the final painting. Here is an animated progression of the painting so you can better see the steps in the process...

Concussion Rifle - Animated progression

There were no notes of changes after the painting was turned in, and this has been a favorite of mine since I completed it. This is not always the case with my work, but that is how it is sometimes. Here again, is the finished painting as well as how it looks on the production card it was made for...

Concussion Rifle

Star Wars LCG - Galactic Ambitions

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

Concussion Rifle 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

Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Pensacon 2017 Recap

I am back from Pensacon 2017 and I had a truly amazing time while there. Last year was incredible and this year was exponentially better. I can not say enough good things about Pensacon and all those involved in making it happen. In my experience of conventions and events, Pensacon is a very special place run by a great team of people. I met a ton of really great people at Pensacon and there was never a dull moment. It was great being able to share my work with so many people and to send some of my monsters home with them. There is so much that is impossible to share here on the blog about my time at Pensacon. Accidental interactions with celebrity guests, great interactions with fans, super great cosplay, and unexpected moments galore are all around the entire weekend. So much fun and so much neat stuff all around! I am already looking forward to 2018!

A HUGE thanks goes out to Mike Ensley for having me out and to all the staff and volunteers at Pensacon 2017. Thank you so much for making my time at the con so much fun and very very memorable!

Here are some images and thoughts from Penascon 2017...

On the out ring the artist alley circles above the vendor floor.

Dear Wife assists in getting the booth ready to go.

As with last year I advertise forwards and backwards.

My favorites from the Thursday night drink and draw. Artist were given time limits and challenges while they drew in front of an audience. The drawings were later auctioned off to raise money for local community support groups.

Great view from the 11th floor of the event hotel.

The vendor floor is ready to go on the first day of Pensacon.

My booth is once again ready to go at Pensacon! RAWR!

My first panel of the convention was talking about makeup effects with an amazing group of artists.

Brain Muir, Robert Kurtzman, RJ Haddy, myself, and the missing from the picture Wade Acuff shared stories about making monsters for TV and movies. FUN TIMES!