The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

Showing posts with label Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Abyssal Chicken - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus: Process

Last year I had the super fun opportunity to paint the Abyssal Chicken for the Dungeon and Dragons release of Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus. When I first reviewed the book's style guide, this monster really stood out to me, and to honest, there was a secret hope that I would be assigned it. Through my devotion to the art gods, I was lucky enough to get the Abyssal Chicken assignment. I had prepared to do more work for this book, but there were some pieces eliminated from the project before the art orders going out. This left me with only the chicken and a previously created painting making a second appearance.

Today I have for you the process and steps that went into painting the Abyssal Chicken. It was an extremely straightforward and easy assignment, which is always appreciated. I was starting with a great concept design, and it was a monster almost perfectly suited to my tastes. To start things off, here is the final painting of the Abyssal Chicken.

Abyssal Chicken

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

While I always start with a reference shoot for my work, it was not necessarily applicable in this situation. I could have made a maquette, but I was provided a great selection of concept drawings that provided a bunch of different views and action shots of the chicken that gave me more than enough information to create some thumbnails. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.

Abyssal Chicken - Thumbnails

If I remember correctly, all of the thumbnails were approved. They loved them all, and I think I was given the freedom to choose the one I wanted to do, but they were leaning heavily on option C. Needless to say if they were leaning towards an option, I picked it. Now that I had an approved thumbnail, it was time to work on the final drawing.

Abyssal Chicken - Drawing

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Kate Irwin

As with the thumbnails, the drawing was approved without issue. At this point, I was ready to work on the painting, but something unexpected came up. Production wanted to use my unused thumbnails as supplemental art like what was done in the Monster Manuel. Details and alternate views were used to spice up and add interest around the monster entries in the MM, and I guess they wanted to do the same in this book. I was not really comfortable with my quickly sketched thumbnails being used in a book, so I offered to provide them with a more rendered version of my second favorite thumbnail. It was a quick piece of work and would result in an additional drawing to sell and provide with a better looking product. I am not sure it ever got used, but never the less, here it is.

Abyssal Chicken - Suplimental drawing

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Kate Irwin

Now it was time to paint! Like I said, this one came together very quickly and easily. No road bumps, no issues, simply painting a fleshy hell chicken. Here is the painting coming together for your viewing pleasure.

Abyssal Chicken - Painting process

And without much fanfare and no issues, the paint was approved and sent off to production. They can't all be this easy, but when they are, it is appreciated. Here again, is the final painting for the Abyssal Chicken in all its chickeny glory.

Abyssal Chicken

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

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus - Abyssal Chickens and Sibriex's Return!

I recently received my contributor copies of Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus. It is a great looking book and looks to be a fun adventure. As previously posted here on the blog, I produced the Abyssal Chicken illustration for this adventure. It was a really well-received piece and resulted in me making a limited run of Abyssal Chicken prints that I have just a couple left. It turns out that the chicken was not the only piece of mine in the book. The dream monster Sibriex makes an appearance as well. Here are some photos of everything I am talking about.

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus is available in regular and collectors versions

Abyssal Chicken in all its glory - (don't forget about the Abyssal Chicken prints!)

Sibriex returns!

Here are full images of the two monsters from the book in all their gory glory. This was a really fun book to work on, and while I would have liked to have done more for the book, I was a little too busy in the Grand Bazaar at the time.

Abyssal Chicken

Abyssal Chicken prints

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

Sibriex

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

That's all for another exciting Tuesday on the blog, see you back here next time! 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 9, 2019

Remaining Abyssal Chicken Prints NOW AVAILABLE!

The remaining Abyssal Chicken prints made their way back with me from Gen Con. They are now on my store for those interested. I have only a few left, and once they are gone, they are gone. Each print is signed and numbered with an edition of only 20.

Abyssal Chicken

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

Head to my store to get your hands on one of the few remaining Abyssal Chicken prints!

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

Monday, July 29, 2019

Abyssal Chicken Prints at Gen Con!

UPDATE! The few remaining prints of the Abyssal Chicken are now available on my store!

Gen Con 2019 is just a few short days away, and I have a last-minute treat for those in attendance. After several requests, I worked with my printer and make it happen, Abyssal Chicken prints will be available at Gen Con! Each print is 11x14 and comes signed and numbered, but I am only doing a print run of 20, so once they are gone, they are GONE. If any are still available after the convention, I will put them up on my store. And if you were wondering, these prints ARE included in my Gen Con print sale (one print for $20 or FIVE for $40). Here is a look at the final art and the prints themselves.

Abyssal Chicken

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

Only 20 of these bad boy will be available!

11x14 Abyssal Chicken action!

Each print is signed and numbered!

I hope to see you at Art Show table #30 later this week in Indianapolis for the best four days in gaming! There are going to be so many amazing artists this year, and I will be having LOADS of great deals. This is the year not to miss.

That is all for another exciting Monday on the blog, I will see you back here after Gen Con! 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 22, 2019

Abyssal Chicken - Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

It came to my attention last week that my contribution to the upcoming Dungeons & Dragons expansion, Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus, was spoiled in June. With Gen Con next week I am glad to realize this before heading out to the convention. Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus is shaping up to be a fantastic addition to the Dungeons & Dragons universe, and I am thrilled to have been a part of it. While the style guide was full of many neat and beautiful monsters to illustrate, I believe I got the pick of the litter. I present you with the Abyssal Chicken.

Abyssal Chicken

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

Abyssal Chicken - Drawing

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Kate Irwin

In addition to the drawing that eventually became the painting, I produced a second drawing that was fully rendered. This was intended for use as a design element similar to what was done in the Monster Manual. Not sure if it was used, but I was really pleased with how it turned out. This drawing is based on one of the thumbnails that I created for the Abyssal Chicken that was not used. It is a little more dynamic, which is fun.

Abyssal Chicken - Suplimental drawing

Baldur's Gate: Descent Into Avernus

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Kate Irwin

The Abyssal Chicken is a weird and wonderful monster, and I am sure it will be getting a lot of use out there in people's game sessions. As always, a big thanks to Kate Irwin for aways including me on fun monster projects! Lastly, here are some of the images from Twitter that were used when Chris Perkins spoiled it... also there is a video out there where he talks about it too.

Abyssal Chicken Twitter spoiler images for all your... you get the idea.

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