The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: Aqualish

Showing posts with label Aqualish. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Tools for the Job - Star Wars - Process

Today on the blog I have for you the process and steps that went into a not so recent Star Wars character illustration produced for the Imperial Assault expansion, Jabba's Realm. The assignment called for an Aqualish to be selecting the right weapons for a pending mission. This was my first chance to illustrate an Aqualish and I had a blast doing it. Before we have a look at the process, here is how the final illustration turned out...

Tools for the Job

Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Deb Freytag

Original - SOLD

As always I started with reference photos and thumbnails. I wanted to do the bird's eye view composition from the beginning, but decided to do some more straight forward compositions too. It does not hurt to cover your bases. The size and limitations of the final card did have an effect on what I was going to do. The Imperial Assault cards tend to be VERY tiny. Here is how the thumbnails turned out...

Tools for the Job - Thumbnails

Speaking of photo reference, here for your enjoyment are some of the images I was working with to create this illustration...

Tools for the Job - Reference photos

Photos by Achsa Nute

Thankfully thumbnail "C" was the winner since, as I said before, it was the one I wanted to do from the beginning. It was now time to get started on the final drawing. Not much to share about the drawing, I drew it, scanned it, and turned it in. If I remember correctly, there were no notes or changes needed. Here is how the final approved drawing turned out...

Tools for the Job - Drawing

Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm

17 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Art Director - Deb Freytag

Original - Available soon

Time for painting! This one came together fairly quickly. Not drama or issues that I recall. The focus is all on the figure an the weapons, so the rest is kind of loose with all the detail on the subject. A quick and straight forward painting does not make for an exciting story on the blog. Hopefully the images can tell a better story of how this being created. Here are some images of the painting coming together in ten easy steps...

Tools for the Job - Process steps

Please understand that the image looks more like the final image throughout the process, the photos I take during the process just do not do the painting any favors. Here is an animated progression of the painting so that you can better see the steps coming together...

Tools for the Job - Animated process

If you may or may not have noticed I made sure to put this Aqualish in some orange. Because Aqualish always look great in orange. Ponda Baba now and forever! Here again is how the final Tools for the Job illustration turned out as well as the final production card. If you missed it last year, the art was used on a different card which allowed it a bit more room to breath and show itself off. Always nice when that happens,

Tools for the Job

Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Deb Freytag

Original - SOLD

Tools for the Job in handy dandy card form

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

Friday, September 8, 2017

Aqualish Arms Dealer - The Return of Tools of the Job

I have for you another Star Wars piece that I did making a return appearance for your viewing and gaming pleasure. This time around the return of a painting comes shortly after its original appearance. Back in July I shared with you one of my contribution to the Jabba's Realm expansion to Imperial Assault, Tools for the Job. Granted, this set did come out in December of 2016, I only got around to sharing the painting on the blog in July. That said, in the upcoming expansion to the Star Wars LCG, Swayed by the Dark Side, the art is returning as the Aqualish Arms Dealer...

Aqualish Arms Dealer

Star Wars LCG - Swayed by the Dark Side

I have to say I am liking the look of the card now that it has jumped to the LCG. Imperial Assault always is limited on space on the cards, so the LCG just give more room for the art to live and breath. Game mechanics come first on all of these products, so if something has to be squished, it will be the art. Just the way of things. Here is how the art originally appeared as Tools for the Job in Imperial Assault...

Tools for the Job

Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm

The LCG cards are also a larger sized card so the art will always look a bit better. Case in point, here is an image of the original painting and the Tools for the Job card side by side...

I fear I sometimes do not take the realities of final production printing into consideration when working on a painting. I focus on making a good image as a painting. Hopefully it all transitions well and does not muddy the final card with too dense of an image.

Lastly, here again is the full painting for both Tools for the Job and Aqualish Arms Dealer. It went to a forever home at Gen Con where it will play with the rest of its Imperial Assault friends.

Tools for the Job

Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Deb Freytag

Original - SOLD

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, the monsters will be taking over things for a little while here on the blog, so we will see what they have in store 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

Monday, July 31, 2017

Tools for the Job - Jabba's Realm - Imperial Assault

Today I have for you a new Star Wars piece that technically is not that new, I just have not shared it yet. This piece was released as part of the Jappa's Realm expansion for Star Wars Imperial Assault that came out in December of 2016. For some reason I am just now getting around to actually sharing it. Maybe because Gen Con is right around the corner and it will be making its debut there, who know. Anyway, here is Tools for the Job...

Tools for the Job

Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Deb Freytag

Original - SOLD

Tools for the Job - Drawing

Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm

17 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Art Director - Deb Freytag

Original - Available soon

This was an interesting one. The main reason I jumped at this piece was because it needed to have an Aqualish in it and I had yet be asked to do an Aqualish focused illustration. The struggle with many of my Star Wars assignments is that they need to have very specific elements usually crammed into a very thin areas do to the bleed requirements and chrome restriction of the cards they will eventually be on. This one was no different. As you can see from the final production card, all the important information just barely makes into the image...

Tools for the Job in handy dandy card form

In the coming months I will share the process and steps that went into this piece as well as additional thoughts regarding making it. If you attending Gen Con 2017, be sure to stop by Artist Alley table 27 to see this painting first hand!

That is all for another exiting 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