Gen Con 2018 - Day 2

Today I am sharing some images and thoughts from day 2 of Gen Con, which was exactly a week ago today. Friday felt slower to me at the table, but sales were up from Thursday, so people were coming by. The morning was definitely slow and it felt like there was a couple completely empty hours before the day picked up and by afternoon it was very busy again. Friday evening is the Art Show award ceremony. Nice to see everyone in one place and there were a LOT of new faces, several of which took home awards. I had a bunch of photos of the winners... but did not get them all, so instead of just showing some I decided to leave them all out. Sorry. A huge crowd of us all went to dinner awards and much merriment was to be had! Friday was a really great day when it was all said and done.

I had a lot of problems with my sleep schedule at Gen Con this year. I was falling to sleep just fine, but I was waking up 3-4 hours later wide awake with a million things on my mind unable to get back to sleep. This lead to me retiring earlier and earlier for the night and then being up longer and longer each following day. Not the best recipe for staying up late hanging out with art family and being my best at the table. In the end I was about to use that extra time awake in the early hours of the day to think about my art, The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia, work distractions, and a game plan for the coming months. All that said, I had an amazing time at Gen Con, I just wish my sleep had behaved a little more so I could have done more.

Here are some images from Day 2 of Gen Con 2018...

After sales on Thursday I had to rearrange the wall to better use the space.

 Good to see that my Wookiee painting is making a return in X-Wing 2.0 and that I will continue to be relevant in the FFG Star Wars games.

 While I did sign a lot of card this year, it felt that I singed a lot fewer.

 Instead of one giant board that everyone signs and doodles on we were all give small sheets that we could work on separately. A MUCH better solution and I bet better for everyone involved. These were all auctioned off for charity.

 Life on the other side of the wall. While I may have been a little slow early in the day it was thankfully busy inside the art show.

 More over the wall...

 ...and one more.

 A gift of dice that is relevant to my interest! Thanks Tina and Jason!

 Steve being Steve.

 Learned that my old Faceless Abductor was reused for the new Arkham game by FFG when I was asked to sign one.

 A view of the crowds I rarely see. This was on our way to the art show awards.

 Our hosts, judges, and presenters for the art show awards. While we may be in the basement, this venue is WAY better than the super hot little room in the Westin hotel.

 This restaurant seems relevant to my interests, but our reservations were for P.F. Changs.

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here Monday for more coverage of 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

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 2016 Recap - Day 2

My recap of Gen Con 2016 continues with some of the happenings in the Artist Alley during Day 2. If you missed it, you can check out Day 0 and Day 1.

Day 2... day 2... hmmm.... yeah, I drew a lot of Pokemon on Day 2. That is about all I remember from that. Evey year I try to make sure I take pictures of everything I draw. It is nice to have a record of the work and to share on social media. Once again I forgot to take pictures of everything. There were several Pokemon, a Jabba the Hutt in a sketchbook, and things I am already forgetting that I never got pictures of. Of well... these things happen. There are out there somewhere in the world running free with documentation. At least most get photographed and then I share the best... or maybe I share them all... only I know for sure.

Here are some images that more or less make up my experiences of Day 2 of Gen Con 2016...

A view from the sky walk from the Westin to the convention center.

The giant balloon sculpture is taking shape. Looking very dragony this year.

Looks like everything is where I left it in Artist Alley.

I choose you Pikachu!

Pokemon assistant at the Artist Alley help desk.

Beholder sketch on a big sheet of plastic. More on this tomorrow.

We got our grubby mitts on one of Steve Prescott's new book of monsters!

Another Charmander has appeared.

Day 2 is in full effect. Looking over the wall to see what is going on...

...and back to the front. These images NEVER give you the full Gen Con experience. SO many people.

Dragon on a sketch card.

Got to see in person the final production card of my Bossk piece.

Pokemon on a playmat.

Jugglypuff got away without a picture being taken, but the new owner thankfully sent us back an image.

Umbreon had a companion piece... but that one did not get photographed.

Pokemon on a Magic card artist proof.

Some more Star Wars cards needed signing.

My SECOND Tyranitar of the con.

One of my favorite Pokemon drawings of the convention, Slowbro.

A view of the sky walk at night. Still full of people coming and going.

That is all for anther exciting Tuesday on the blog, see you back here tomorrow! 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 2015 - Day 2

Day 2 of Gen Con 2015! Yes, Day 2 of Gen Con 2015 was a week ago... but Gen Con was exhausting this year and sleep was super hard to get and things like this blog had to take a back seat. Not sure what else to say about Day 2 except I was really tired and there was a lot going on! It was a VERY full day and there was not a moment to spare. ...okay, that reminds me of a funny story of Day 2. On Day 1 exhibitors can get into the hall at 8:00 am with VIGs (Very Important Gamers) getting in at 9:00 am and the hall officially opening at 10:00 am. For some reason this year I had it in my head exhibitors could get into the hall EVERYDAY at 8:00 am... turns out the rest of Gen Con exhibitors get in at 9:00 am. Thinking I was in the right I just walked in past a volunteer watching the door, flashed my badge, and went to my booth. Oops! The hall was strangely darker then normal and there was NO ONE in there. I needed to work on a commission, so it all worked out... but to realize after the fact I could have gotten more sleep... oh well. Here are some images from Day 2 of Gen Con 2015...

The early morning invasion of gamers on the streets of Indianapolis. Or it is a bunch of commuters fleeing for their lives.

A WIP of said convention commission....

...and the finished commission of Godzilla vs. my Gudul Lurker from Magic the Gathering. RAWR!

All ready for Day 2 of Gen Con 2015! Booth survived the first day, more or less.

Day 2 of Gen Con is when I noticed a sudden shift in the cards I was signing. I began to sign a LOT of Star Wars cards and this shift continued the rest of Gen Con. I was really neat to see that my cards are getting so much use and that I am beginning to be know for my work in the Star Wars LCG.

Another sketch on the back of a Magic artist proof. RAWR!

An unexpected surprise! I got to see my Rancor in card for finally! The newest box set for the Star Wars card game, Imperial Entanglements, was released at the Gen Con and I got to see my card when people brought them to me to sign. I am SO happy with how it printed! Really happy with everything about this piece.

Lots of Star Wars cards to sign!

Really like this comparison... side by side is one of my favorite pieces of Star Wars cards, painted digitally and then my very first traditionally painted Star Wars cards. I am really happy about how well they both hold up next to yeah other. Makes me think I am doing the right thing!

Another sketch on the back of a Magic artist proof. This time around a foil Ancient Carp is eating a guy with an afro and a tennis racket... as per the request of the person buying it. RAWR!

A momentary look up from my booth.

Another glance around at the art show.

The playmat drawings began on Day 2. First off was a happy little beholder... RAWR!

I worked on a playmat that was gridded off into six even sections. My contribution was a minotaur. RAWR!

Loraine Flegal made AWESOMELY AMAZING bingo cards for the artists to use during the con. I got bingo twice with my final square. This was a lot of fun and based on 100% truth if you have ever had a table in an artist alley. If I could combine previous years I could have immediately filled out the card.

Here are a pair of modified Star Wars cards I was asked to do... a pair of Snobby White Spiders! A dashing couple if I may say so myself...

I think the male is my favorite, but how can you go wrong with a hat with a veil on the female Snobby White Spider... RAWR!

Ending Day 2 of Gen Con 2015 was the award ceremony and it was thrilling to see Tom Babbey take home Best in Show! Well deserved and a a great moment to share with all the other artist there. A truly great end of the day and a wonderful half way point of Gen Con 2015.

That is all for Day 12 of Gen Con 2015, Day 3 will be along 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