The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: Star Wars ROTJ

Showing posts with label Star Wars ROTJ. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Jabba's Rancor - Imperial Entanglements - Process

To continue a very Star Wars filled week I have for you today the process and steps that went into Jabba's Rancor, my contribution to the Imperial Entanglements expansion to the Star Wars LCG. I first shared this piece with you in July, just prior to Gen Con when it was spoiled as part of the Bantha Raider Villain Pack for Imperial Assault. This is still one of my favorite pieces that I have created for Star Wars. So that we are all on the same page, here how the finished painting turned out...

Jabba's Rancor

Star Wars LCG - Imperial Entanglements

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Zoe Robinson

Original - SOLD

This piece needed to depict the Rancor that lived under the main hall of Jabba the Hutt's palace. The rancor needed to be holding a Gamorrean Guard in one hand and needed to have the floor grate above casting a shadow on it. I was more then ready to take on this assignment! It was time to get started on some thumbnails and that means doing a photo shoot with a Rancor. Luckily, I know a Rancor I can call upon. Last month I talked about how I use my robust Star Wars action figure collection to help with reference and composition in my work. This is where having an amazing film accurate Rancor figure comes in handy...

Instant grate floor brought to you by the drying rack from our clothes dryer.

Before shooting the figure I worked out several ideas in my head and then shot accordingly. I shot a lot of images of the Rancor from many different posses to cover everything I would need. I also shot a lot of extra... just in case. Using the drying rack from our clothes dryer I was able to achieve the desired shadow pattern on the figure.

Jabba's Rancor - Reference sample

Pulling from my reference photos I worked out several posses and compositions of the Rancor. I used these reference composites to then create my thumbnails and further work out the environment and scene. For my first option I wanted to do something from Luke's POV of the Rancor. As the Gamorrean is about to be eated, Luke looks up at the Rancor. For the other two I wanted to go with something a little more straight forward. Cover my bases and give something that was a little more of a Rancor Portrait. Here is how the thumbnails turned out...

Jabba's Rancor - Thumbnails

Thankfully, my first option, Luke's POV was picked. It was my favorite of the set, but you sometimes never know what will be selected by production. With the thumbnail selected and no additional feedback it was time to work up the final drawing...

Jabba's Rancor

Star Wars LCG - Imperial Entanglements

17 x 14 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

The drawing was approved without note and it was time to get painting. In just 18 steps you too can have a Rancor painting... or not. Here is a look at this piece coming together...

Jabba's Rancor - Process progression

This was a really straight forward painting, excpet when it wasn't. The secondary light source from the grate behind the guard and Ranor's hand was problem from the beginning. Compositionally, it allows a light source to rim light and highlight the guard and to make sure it all reads well over in a corner that would otherwise be dark. In practice it just was not working. This really was the only issue of this painting, but it plagued me almost the entire time. As you can see, I painted it out and repainted it several times. In the end, the most successful solution was to remove the grate. It turned out to be less distracting and actually seems to work better. Maybe if I had used a different color for the light? It took a lot of prodding from my wife, but removing it was the best choice.

To better show the painting coming together here is an animated progression using images I took along the way...

Jabba's Rancor - Animated process

Once again here is the final completed painting as well as an image of the printed card. I am super happy with how the card printed. I have mentioned it before, but I have for the most part extremely happy with how my paintings have been printing. I really hope this continues...

Jabba's Rancor

Star Wars LCG - Imperial Entanglements

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Jabba's Rancor in handy dandy card form

That is all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog, see you back here on Thursday! 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 27, 2015

Jabba's Rancor - Star Wars Card Art

Just in time for Gen Con! I have been approved to now share this piece after a part of it was spoiled on the FFG Website recently. This is the piece that started off my traditional card art on Star Wars last year. What better way then to start it all off with the Rancor! Hard to go wrong with such an icon and cool monster from Star Wars. I have always loved the Rancor and it was really great to be able to paint it for the Star Wars games. Here is how Jabba's Rancor turned out...

Jabba's Rancor

Bantha Raider Villain Pack (among other things)

11 x 14 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Original - SOLD

Those attending Gen Con will be the first to see this piece in person and if so inclined can take it home with them. You know you need a Rancor on your wall! RAWR!

I mentioned that this was the first card art for Star Wars that I painted traditionally last year, well it is now one of many that I have created over the last year. Looking forward to sharing them all in the fullness of time. This painting was originally intended for a different project but was spoiled when reused on an upcoming miniature expansion for Imperial Assault. A HUGE thanks to Zoe Robinson for this assignment and being open to my transition into traditional paint!

Bantha Raider Villain Pack for Imperial Assault

If you look carefully you will see a happy little Rancor... RAWR!

That is all for another exciting Monday on the blog, see you back here on Wednesday for more new Star Wars work! Until then...

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

Monday, June 15, 2015

Teebo

YUB NUB! Today I have for you another little Star Wars study of an Ewok. This time around Teebo, the Ewok scout, warrior, and apprentice to Logray, got some attention with the paint. This was the second of two little Ewok studies I planned to do awhile back, the other being Logray. Here is how Teebo turned out...

Teebo

4 x 4 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Original - SOLD

Slowly making my way through all the named Ewok from Return of the Jedi. This now makes three Ewok pieces counting my Chief Chirpa from last year, Logray, and now Teebo ...or does it? As mentioned many times before with these smaller painted studies the original drawing was created much larger then the intended painting size. Here is how the drawing for Teebo turned out...

Teebo - Drawing

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available, contact me if interested

or come see it at Gen Con 2015 (7/30 - 8/2)!

I had the presence of mind to remember to take a several photos of this little piece coming together. Not sure how much information they provide, but I am glad I have them for the archive.

I have a busy June and July ahead of me leading up to Gen Con, so I am not sure how many more personal pieces I will have time for before then. If anything does take shape you can be sure it will show up here on the blog!

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

Monday, April 27, 2015

Logray

YUB NUB! Today I have for you another little Star Wars study of an Ewok. This time around Logray, the Ewok shaman, got some attention with the paint. I have had this one sitting around for awhile waiting to be painted and I finally made the time for it. Here is how Logray turned out...

Logray

4 x 4 - Acrylic on board

Original - SOLD

Eventually, if given enough time I may finally paint all the named Ewok from the Return of the Jedi. With Logray finish this makes two Ewok pieces counting my Chief Chirpa from last year. ...or does it? As mentioned many times before with these smaller painted studies the original drawing was created much larger then the intended painting size. Here is how the drawing for Logray turned out...

Logray - Drawing

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available, contact me if interested

or come see it at Gen Con 2015 (7/30 - 8/2)!

I had the presence of mind to remember to take a couple photos of this little piece coming together. Not sure how much information they provide, but I am glad I have them for the archive.

I am currently trying to clear out the backlog of personal projects that have been sitting around in various states of completion. I have one more little painting that has been sitting around for a LONG time that need to be finished up. Once this last painting is completed I will be able to focus on creating some new personal work. Hopefully this last piece can be completed soon!

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

Monday, July 21, 2014

Gamorrean Guard

Today on the blog I have for you ANOTHER new traditionally painted Star wars piece! It is like I am making a habit of this or something ...as if I am practicing ...studying ...experimenting to learn, as it were. This time around it is a Gamorrean Guard and is the largest of these Star Wars studies so far. It is also my favorite so far. I present you with my Gamorrean Guard...

"Gamorrean Guard"

8 x 8 - Acrylic, pencil, and gouache on board
Original available for sale over on my Web Store!

I have a new frustration ...the images, scans, and digital captures I am getting of my pieces just do not truly represent what is going on in the painting. Oh well... I could have worse problems. ...it is not like digital files loose something when they are printed out.

For this piece I started with a detail from a Star Wars drawing I did for myself last year. The Barada that started off this series of studies is also from the same drawing. I really liked how each of this monsters turned out and wanted to revisit them. Here is that drawing...

"Jabba's Gang"

11 x 14 - Pencil on toned paper
Original available for sale over on my Web Store!

I will say that there is something eerily similar to how these traditional pieces are now coming together compared to how my digital work comes together. Not sure if this is just a sign that I have a very ingrained work flow and habits that transcend media, or if in fact that after years of convincing myself to the contrary that I am actually painting when I work digitally. ...or both ...neither? Some elements take longer in digital while others take longer in traditional. In both there is the same feeling that I am swirling around and around on a piece and it slowly tightens up and at some point the piece just appears in front of me. Here is the Gamorrean Guard taking shape in 16 steps...

If all these separate images are not your thing, I have for you another of those handy dandy animated progressions for you so that you can just stare at different areas and see how they develop... at least that is what I like to do...

Gamorrean Guard - Process progression

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

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Chief Chirpa

YUB NUB! Today I have for you a new traditionally painted Star Wars piece. This time around it is a small portrait of the Ewok, Chief Chirpa. I wanted to work a bit smaller for this one, see how quickly I could finish it and try out some new materials on it. I present you with a very small Chief Chirpa...

"Chief Chirpa"

4 x 4

acrylic, pencil, and gouache on board
Original - SOLD

As with my other Star Wars piece I have been doing for myself the initial drawing is much larger then the final painting... this time even more so. The Chief Chirpa drawing is on 9 x 12 paper. Since I knew it was going to end up so much smaller I decided to work a little looser and quicker on the drawing. Once it was shrunk down to 4 x 4 it really tightened up and was perfect for the painting. Here is how the drawing turned out...

Chief Chirpa - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

I was working very quickly on this one, but still managed to get some images of it along the way. There is only one gap when I realized I had not taken a photo in a while... but you should still see what I was doing... or not doing. Here is Chirpa coming together in paint form...

Here is another handy dandy animated gif of all those images so you can look at them all at once...

Chief Chirpa - Process progression

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

Monday, June 23, 2014

Ree-Yees

While I had others to blame for Cad Bane, this time around it is complete my fault that that I made a Ree-Yees painting. Ree-Yees is one of the MANY aliens seen in Jabba's palace in Return of the Jedi that I have been in love with for the last... 31 years (can that be right?). It was only a matter of time that I produced a piece featuring a Gran, but I figured I would cut to the chase and make myself that is based on Ree-Yees. Here is my portrait of Ree-Yees wandering around on Tatooine or perhaps Kinyen...

"Ree-Yees"

5 x 7 - acrylic and pencil on board
Original - SOLD

Why am I making these little Star Wars portraits? Because I want to. I can say that it is to better improve my traditional skill set... but these pieces are really for me and satisfy an aspect of my creative impulse that I have ignored for a long time. Don't try to read to much into it. Even though I am working at 5 x 7 for my final I have continued to work much larger for the initial drawing. I just draw better at 9 x 12 at least, if not larger, so the drawing for this painting is nice and big...

Ree-Yees - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

As with the rest of my traditional pieces I have tried my best to document the process. I am still very much trying to find my way while working traditionally, so this is as much for me to reflect on how the painting went as it is for you to judge me and laugh... or learn, I guess that is an option too. Here is a bunch of images of Ree-Yees taking shape...