Upcoming Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia Monster Sneak Peek

In the middle of another busy stretch so the I have a quick sneak peek of things I am currently working on for The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. There are three monsters that I am working on that are currently leaving the drawing table, on the drawing table, and waiting to be on the drawing table. That is about all I have time for today as far as the blog goes. ENJOY!

Process images from the Uncanny Scribe

Look for the finished image next week here on the blog!

Process images from the Quincaillerie (Ken-Kel-Lay)

Look for the finished image in the coming weeks here on the blog!

Initial sketch for the Lammergeier Transport

Still a lot of work to go before this one hits the blog.

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

Gen Con 2017 Recap - Day 4

All good things come to an end, even Gen Con. After a late night Saturday it was a very early morning on Sunday. Everyone survived the night and made it to their tables on time and the show began again and no one was the wiser to the level of exhaustion that loomed over the artist show like a fog. The morning was a bit low key, but as the day went on spirits brightened. Sunday of Gen Con this year was the single best day for me at any con. A good way to end the convention and always nice to leave with less than you bring. It is not always about sales, but sales are important to insuring that the convention experience is not a financial hindrance. Going into the convention my thoughts were not on sales, it was about seeing friends that I have missed and having a chance to catch up with people I only see once or twice a year. In the end of Gen Con it is nice to know that I was able to kill two birds with once stone.

Sunday is a shorter day on the floor, but there is tear down and packing up of the car. Each year it is a little easier and a little quicker. Many folks have to head home after tear down but those that are staying the night usually get together and we feast on Japanese food. It has become a tradition and it is a wonderful way to end the con. Good food, good drinks, some quiet time with friends, and a chance to relax and reflect on the past four days. We usually are all awake enough for a brief outing afterwards, but it is an early night for use all as the convention catches up with us. Another Gen Con done and it is one for the record books. I wonder what Gen Con 51 has ins tore??? Here are some images from day 4 of Gen Con 50...

It is like they never moved. This room was full the night before and it is even more full now. I can only imagine at the fun being had in there!

This year's balloon sculpture was a huge golden dragon. This was the best view of it that I was able to get the entire weekend.

Signed some more Magic cards.

Tools for the Job card next to the painting. Regular and mini me versions of the art.

Since Sunday is the last day and busy and there is a finite about of time I am limited on how many drawings I can do. Here is a Gen Con 50 dragon on the back of a Magic proof.

Only did one Pokemon on Sunday. This was a new one for me.

A bunch of Trandoshans needs signing and I was more than up to the task.

Looking around at the fun. I wish these images gave a better feeling for the crush of people.

I found Pikachu... and now I wish I hadn't

These Catan sheep were all over the place. Never knew why.

The walls came down while I was at the car getting the wheelie cart and all the boxes and packing material. I have to get the paintings down immediately or risk the walls coming out from underneath the paintings.

What was a mighty art show...

...is now a barren waste of tables.

All the art and all the crowds are now gone. I immediately get lost once the walls and art is gone. I loose track of where my table is.

The crowds are gone. The banners are down. Soon the rooms will be empty. 

Gen Con is officially over for another year...

That is all for another exciting day 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

Gen Con 2017 Recap - Day 3

Continuing my coverage of Gen Con 50 we arrive at Saturday. For me, and I think many in the art show, Saturday was the slowest day. I think there were a lot of events and activities taking place elsewhere and everyone was super busy enjoying games and having fun. That said, if I had the Saturday that I had this year on any other day on any other year I would be thrilled. Compared to the rest of the weekend, it was the slowest day. A ton of the day for me was spent drawing. While I enjoy drawing at this point in the weekend I had done a ton of it and was getting a little tired of trying to help everyone AND work through a stack of sketches. But that is what I am there for so I do the best I can. While Saturday was somewhat more laid back in Gen Con excitement, Saturday night was when the artist go out on the town for some music, dancing, and fun. It has become a tradition and the crowd has steadily grown in size. I think the first year there were five of us and I lost count of the group this year. All in all it was another fun and adventure filled day at Gen Con 50. Here are some images from the day 3...

A little B Boy Pichu action for all your B Boy Pichu needs!

Some more Star Wars Destiny cards showed up to be signed.

A quick look around to see how the crowds looked.

A super cool Beholder puppet. The main eye moved around and the mouth worked. Always cool to see what is being made by folks. RAWR!

A set of four Marvel/DC sketch cards on game blanks. These were a little weird and not necessarily what I normally do. The Colts fan/Deadpool mashup was a little weird. They wanted me to do a Wonder Woman and I told them only if Wonder Woman could look like a man or a monsters.

They passed.

MORE Pokemon!

AND EVEN MORE Pokemon!

This person wanted a Magic artist proof with a female video game character on the back.

Mother Brain is a female character... so they got NES Metroid Mother Brain.

A final Pokemon for the day. Lapras is this person's favorite and they still have not caught one in Pokemon Go.

A Playmat full of rats. My contribution is the top right one. I saw it again once it was filled and it turned out super cool!

A look out at the crowds as we leave for the evening.

Gen Con is the best four days in gaming and sometimes I loose perspective on that since I spend all day in the artist alley. There is so much more to Gen Con than the massive exhibitor's hall (which contains the artist alley). There are many other halls, rooms, and even other venues that are not in the convention center filled with people gaming and having fun. Much of this goes on for 24 hours a day. The year before I started showing in the art show I came to Gen Con to check it all out. I ended up spending a lot of time in the art show talking to friends, but I did try to see a lot of what Gen Con had to offer. I know I only scratched the surface and Gen Con has grown so much since then. One of these days I will see a little but more of Gen Con... one of these days...

That's all for another exciting Monday on the blog, see you back here tomorrow for more Gen Con coverage! Until then...

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

Gen Con 2017 Recap - Day 2

Day 2 of Gen Con 50! While there were not fewer people in attendance the hall did feel a little bit less packed, but there sure was still plenty of excitement. I spent a lot of the day drawing and it flew by. Loads of great people came by the booth and there was much fun to be had. Friday night is traditionally the artist reception and awards ceremony. The entire art show as a whole gets together, has drinks and snacks, and celebrate the community as well as the few among us that rose to the top to receive an award. This year we moved into a new and larger space to hold the awards ceremony. Before it was held in a very tiny, very hot meeting room in an adjacent hotel to the convention center. This year it was held in a downstairs bar in a nearby building that was super cool and offered more room, CHAIRS, and was a better temperature. There were also convenient bathrooms, we had all the luxuries! The awards ceremony was followed by dinner and of course socializing. Another full day at Gen Con 50! Here are some of the images from my day...

The crowds demand entrance!

Apparently a thing that you can buy and have in your house.

Good to know!

Another year and another beholder on an Ultra PRO giant plastic sheet thing.

Another super fun and super weird Pokemon request.

A Dragonball Z / Pokemon mashup... RAWR!

And more Pokemon...

...and MORE Pokemon.

A quick look around while I catch my breath while drawing.

A playmat sketch on a playmay full of evil weird stuff... RAWR!

This one was super fun. This is a one of a kind playmat made for a fan.

He got it last year and brought it back for me to embellish with some appropriate. Since the Icetromper is on Hoth, I figure why not add the battle of Hoth in the background. Really happy with how it turned out. If I understand correctly, this playmat then went on to be used when the owner won the National Championship in the Star Wars LCG. Not to bad! He said we wants to bring it back for me to add more to it next year.

Finishing off the day with an owlbear sketch... HOOT! RAWR!

Here is a look around my booth during the day...

...again, this does not really give a sense of the crush of people.

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

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

Gen Con 2017 Recap - Day 1

Thursday August 17, a week ago as I write this, was the first day of Gen Con 50 and it was like a powder keg about to explode. The excitement was palpable and the crowds were enormous. All day long we repeated, "It is a Saturday on a Thursday." So many people, so many sketches, so many great conversations, it was a day for the record books. When the dust settled I ended up having the best day at any con... of course Gen Con 50 was not over yet. You really needed to be there to experience the full force of a Gen Con. Thing is, I was in a stationary local and really did not see the show beyond my row in the artist alley and the path to and from the bathroom. I can only imagine what the rest of the con was like, what the attendees were experiencing. The pros and cons of working a show rather than attending a show, I get in early and have a place to sit down, but the adventure and games are out of reach. I think when all four days were added up, Thursday was the most fun for me. The excitement in the air was contagious and everyone was rested, full of energy, and were ready to take on all that Gen Con 50 had to offer. I usually have some time to get away from my table during the convention, but not this year. I managed bathroom breaks and a moment or two to step away and quickly each lunch. I needed to be at the table the rest of the time with little to no down time. If I was not talking to people I was drawing. No rest for the wicked! I could not ask for a better bunch of artists to be around for all four days. Having friends nearby when you are in the thick of it always makes things better. Enough talking for now, here are images from day 1 of Gen Con 50...

Not sure any image can truly portray the crowds awaiting the beginning of Gen Con 50.

My table is all set up and ready to go!

Never be on the receiving end of a Steve Prescott lecture. (JOKE!)

A look over my wall at some of the great folks set up in the next row.

Panorama of the row behind before the doors open...

...and a panorama of our row.

I can't express how THRILLED I am to receive one of these.

This is a hand made 3D version of one of my cards made by a teacher who does these to relax. There are 10 layers of cut card to create a little diorama of the scene depicted on the card. For years I have watched other artist receive them and this year was my first and I could not be happier with this one. I feel like I have finally 'made it' as an artist :)

Another image to hopefully better show off the depth created with the cut cards. There are spacers between the layers and it all fits in a tiny card box. So COOL! So happy!

A Brave Little Toaster sketch on the back of a Magic proof.

The first of many cards signed at Gen Con 50. This was the first time I got to sign this particular card. It is a reprint of my Ghoul painting. Looked great!

Managed to get an image of the crowds in the artist alley. Again, does not give a true feel for the actual crush of people present.

A bunch of Magic foils needed to be signed and I was up for the job.

A collection of D&D themed sketch cards.

This was my first rust monster sketch!

This was my first Pokemon sketch for the con and I think it was my favorite of the weekend.

I did many and I liked many of them a lot, but this one was just so creepy and weird it was hard to see it go.

First SW Destiny cards that I got to sign that feature a reprint of my Mon Calamari Smuggler.

Last sketch on a Magic proof of the day... a squirrel with a nut.

The crowds were still present after the convention closed for the day.

Still way more people than the images let on.

A bunch of us all ended up at dinner and we ordered WAY too much food.

So good. So full.

I took in a little late night walking after everything calmed down.

Took in the sights and took some images of the light.

An amazing day at Gen Con has finally come to an end.

That is all for another exciting Thursday on the blog, see you back here tomorrow for more Gen Con coverage! Until then...

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