Blufferfish - Magic: the Gathering - Unfinity

I have been waiting a long time to share this new Magic the Gathering art! Before the Monstrous War-Leech and the Bribe Taker, I created this piece, but as sometimes will happen, there were delays in the project, and what was to be the first of a three-card run has ended up the last of a three-card run. Now that Magic the Gathering: Unifinity is finally coming out, I can share the mighty Blufferfish. I was asked to depict a pufferfish-like creature swollen and working for the crowds. It needed to have glowing bits and a little attitude. This called for some very unflattering self-portrait reference images (that I will possibly share when I do the process post for this piece). I present to you the Blufferfish.

Blufferfish

Magic the Gathering - Unfinity

14 x 10.27 - Digital

Prints available at OMA!

ARTIST PROOFS available over on my web store!

Art Director - Dawn Murin
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast

I had more time in my schedule when this piece rolled around, so not only did I have time for a tonal study, I was able to spend more time on the drawing and fully render it. A keen eye might notice a change between the drawing and the tonal study. I will share more about this when I do the process post.

Blufferfish - Drawing

Magic the Gathering - Unfinity

14 x 11 - Pencil on paper

Art Director - Dawn Murin

Original - SOLD
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast

Blufferfish - Tonal study

Magic the Gathering - Unfinity

14 x 11 - Pencil on paper

Art Director - Dawn Murin

Original - SOLD
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast

In the coming weeks (or months), I will share the steps and process of making this piece. Until then, here is a look at the final card.

Blufferfish in handy dandy card form.

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

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

Augmented Reality Test Using Interstellar Express Assist

As I first mentioned in July, the day job has us doing some testing and experimentation in augmented reality (AR). As we moved forward with the work, I utilized some of the work that I did on Interstellar Express to make several animated shadow boxes that you could interact with and explore. This is a direct extension of the work I shared with you in July. Mainly, it was a test to see if I could make looping gifs and then import them into Aero, make them clickable, and create something animated and interactive. After trying out some options and proof of concept tests, I generated the following video.

Augmented Reality Test Using Interstellar Express Assist

Initially, as a proof of concept test, I did a flat version, which you can still see in this video. I always intended these to be shadow boxes, but to ensure all the pieces worked and I wasn't wasting time, I made a flat version first.

We continued, and in cases continue, to do stuff with AR at the day job. I have one additional test from earlier in the year to share with you soon. The team has moved on to doing some work in 3D, and some back brought that work back into AR. I have been focused on other work lately, but in time I hope to share some work in that direction as well.

That's all for another exciting week on the blog. Next week will be weird, so I am not sure if there will be any posts, but you never know. Until then...

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

Aartuk Warrior - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for one of my contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Spelljammer Adventures in Space. This is the second of two contributions to the book, depicting Aartuks. The Aartuk are a plant monster that can be found in space, as these things typically are. Here is the final painting for the Aartuk Warrior.

Aartuk Warrior

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

The Aartuk are established Spelljammer monsters, but this time around, they were getting reworked and updated. Most of the design work was already done when I received the assignment, but with all of these, I am given the room and freedom to flesh out the creature and add some RAWR to it. The Aartuk Warrior was described as:

This is a Medium creature, about 6 feet in diameter. This aartuk should have an aggressive posture. For example, one of its branches (arms) could be raised threateningly. Its head-stalk should be extended. Aartuk Description. Aartuks are intelligent vegetables. An aartuk’s body has the general shape of a five-pointed star and is covered with thick, flexible bark that can be white, tan, brown, or green. The aartuk needs three or more of its branches to walk, while the tips of its branches end in suction cups that allow the aartuk to climb vertical surfaces and along ceilings. Each suction cup houses a cluster of three retractable pseudopods that can be used to handle and manipulate small objects. The head of an aartuk surmounts a six-foot-tall stalk that can extrude from the center of the star. This head contains the aartuk’s sensory organs.

As I mentioned before, since I was creating two Aartuk images for the book, I needed them to be visually different. This meant that the pose, and later the coloring, needed to be very distinctive and unique. As this is the warrior, and it was requested, I was able to make it look much more aggressive and animated. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.  

Aartuk Warrior - Thumbnails

 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

While the Aartuk Elder was one and done - the first thumbnail I created was the one selected - the Aartuk Warrior had its third thumbnail selected. Looking back at them, I feel that the third option was clearly the correct choice and the one that works best. Looking at them now, the first two read more confused to me rather than aggressive. The third option was selected without notes, and I was given the go-ahead to move forward in this direction.

I always do a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here are the two stages of the Aartuk Elder drawing, the mid-stage line art and the final rendered drawing.

 

Aartuk Warrior

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

 

AartukWarrior

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

As with the thumbnail, the drawing was approved without comment, and it was time to start on the final painting. Here is the painting of the Aartuk Warrior taking shape.

 

Aartuk Warrior - Process 

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

This assignment was straightforward, and there were no edits or changes along the way. Not that edits or changes are an issue, save they don't spiral and become endless, but it is a pleasure to nail it at every step of the process. As I mentioned in my post for the Aartuk Elder, I have been trying to do a better job of noting how long it takes me to paint monsters. If I recall correctly, this one was in line with the elder and was completed with around five hours in the chair painting. This is an informal account, but it has been the standard lately with this level of work. Here again, is the final painting for the Aartuk Warrior.

Aartuk Warrior

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

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

Molydeus Miniature

Today, I have for you a miniature based on one of my illustrations. I updated and painted the Molydeus for Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse. I wasn't expecting this one to be the first miniature from the book to be released, but here it is all the same. I will never complain about an official mini based on one of my D&D paintings. To start things off, here is my painting of the Molydeus.

Molydeus

Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Emi Tanji

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

First and foremost, the Molydeus miniature is fantastic! I love how it turned out, and I love that it is enormous. I thought the monster was a little smaller from what I remember of the assignment, but I guess it is huge now. Not sure why the snake is coming out of the shoulder armor, I didn't think I made it look like that. The snake should be coming out of the demon's back, but it is now in the sholder. I think it is cool either way. For me, it is an overall pleasing mini. It is big, looks cool, has lots of detail, has a complex paint scheme, and feels good when you hold it. I think that checks off every box, and I could not be happier. Here are some images of the miniature so that you can compare them to my illustration.

The Molydeus miniature for all your Molydeus miniature needs

 

That's 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

Aartuk Elder - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for one of my contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Spelljammer Adventures in Space. This is one of two contributions to the book, both depicting Aartuks. The Aartuk are a plant monster that can be found in space, as these things typically are. Here is the final painting for the Aartuk Elder.

Aartuk Elder

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

The Aartuk are established Spelljammer monsters, but this time around, they were getting reworked and updated. Most of the design work was already done when I received the assignment, but with all of these, I am given the room and freedom to flesh out the creature and add some RAWR to it. The Aartuk Elder was described as:

This is a Large creature, about 10 to 12 feet in diameter. Let’s see the creature standing on the tips of its branches. Aartuks are intelligent vegetables. An aartuk’s body has the general shape of a five-pointed star and is covered with thick, flexible bark that can be white, tan, brown, or green. The aartuk needs three or more of its branches to walk, while the tips of its branches end in suction cups that allow the aartuk to climb vertical surfaces and along ceilings. Each suction cup houses a cluster of three retractable pseudopods that can be used to handle and manipulate small objects. The head of an aartuk surmounts

This all sounds like a fun monster to work on. As I was working on two of the same creature, I needed to make sure they looked the same and different from each other as individuals. So their poses needed to be distinct from the beginning. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.  

Aartuk Elder - Thumbnails

 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

I have mentioned before that when it comes time to do one of these process posts, I often see all of the supporting art for the first time in a year, two years, and even longer. Often I reflect on the thumbnails and how I now understand why they picked the ones they did or lament the ones they didn't. A little time away from the drawings allows you to see them with fresh eyes. In this case, I am so happy that they picked 'A' from the submitted thumbnails. Looking at the three of them again now, I don't really like 'B' or 'C' anymore, and I am glad they weren't chosen. Also, unlike some of my recent assignments, no revisions were requested on the thumbnails. The first one I did was selected without comment, which pleases me. I always like a 'one and done'!

I always do a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here are the two stages of the Aartuk Elder drawing, the mid-stage line art and the final rendered drawing.

Aartuk Elder

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

 

Aartuk Elder

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

As with the thumbnail, the drawing was approved without comment, and it was time to start on the final painting. Here is the painting of the Aartuk Elder taking shape.

Aartuk Elder - Process

 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

There were no significant changes or revisions along the way, I sat down, and over a few short sessions, I completed it. I had my color and texture reference already selected, which meant I only needed to be in the chair, and eventually, the piece would be done. Within the past year, I have been trying to make more of a note of how long I spend painting on an assignment. The thumbnails and drawing are part of the process. The most significant time commitment for me is the painting. After all these years of painting monsters, I have gotten to wonder how long it actually takes me to make one of these. From what I can determine, a standard quarter-page isolated monster takes me about five hours of work. Mileage may vary, but from what I have been able to tell from recent assignments it that if I am uninterrupted and have a plan going into it, I can have a finished piece in the five hour range. Not too bad, I think. Much improved from my early days as an artist when it took me a week to do some pieces. Here again, is the final painting for the Aartuk Elder.

Aartuk Elder

Spelljammer Adventures in Space

 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

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

Kickstarter Roundup - Igniting the Spark

Today on the blog, I wanted to point out a current Kickstarter project that I think you all might be interested in. It is a major documentary about the history of the art and game of Magic the Gathering, and if you have not already checked it out, you should do so NOW!

IGNITING THE SPARK, The Story of Magic: The Gathering

This time around, the amazing humans behind EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: The Art of Dungeons and Dragons are back, and this time they have their eyes set on Magic the Gathering with IGNITING THE SPARK, The Story of Magic: The Gathering! 

In their own words, here is what you can expect from this project:

"IGNITING THE SPARK, The Story of Magic: The Gathering explores Magic's origins, its rapid growth, its enduring popularity, and its massive influence on the gaming industry and people’s lives. How did a card game developed by students at the University of Pennsylvania—simply constructed but with highly sophisticated rules—turn into a multi-billion-dollar pastime and pop-culture juggernaut? Why has it been so passionately embraced by millions of players for three decades and counting? What makes Magic so… magic? Through interviews, archival footage, and deep dives into hidden vaults of long-lost treasures, IGNITING THE SPARK answers those questions, and so many more!"

 

"The production phase of the film is complete and we have a digital distribution agreement in place with The Nacelle Company—the team behind the hit docu-series The Toys That Made Us and The Movies That Made Us (Netflix), Behind The Attraction (Disney+), Center Seat: 55 Years of Star Trek (History Channel), and Icons Unearthed (Vice TV). Specific distribution deals with various streaming services are still being worked out, but IGNITING THE SPARK will appear on at least one streaming channel once the film is finished by Spring 2023. (And likely many more.)

This Kickstarter will primarily help us raise money for post-production expenses, the largest of which include editing, animation and graphics, acquiring the rights to video and photographic assets, color correction, and music. It will expand our creative options, and it's also a unique chance to include you, the Magic players and fans!

The documentary features more than 50 interviews, including the game’s creator, Richard Garfield, and Wizards of the Coast founders, as well as current and former Magic: The Gathering executives, creative leads, art directors, artists, editors, production specialists, and designers. We also sat down with art collectors, store owners, museum curators, cosplayers, casual and professional players, and fans."

I don't know about you, but that sounds amazing and that it is nearly here. They need your support so that they can get IGNITING THE SPARK, The Story of Magic: The Gathering across the finished line. I hope you can support this project at whichever level catches your eye.

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