There and Back Again... Again, AGAIN: 730 + 4 Days

This past Friday, March 18th, was the second anniversary of working from home due to the COVID19 pandemic. We attempted to return not once but twice in the past two years, only to find ourselves working from home as Delta, and then Omicron circled the globe. Now, 730 days plus four more, I find myself back in the office for part of the week. Mietze is not happy about this move since, for most of his life, he has had me at home every day to see to his every need. And I can't say I am a fan either, but I have been living at work for over two years now, and it is time to get some of the stress, responsibility, and computer equipment out of the house and back to the office where it belongs. 

While these types of steps do need to happen, and it should be a sign that things are improving, if there is one thing I have learned over the past two years is you can't trust anyone else with your safety. I will continue to err on the side of caution for my peace of mind and the safety of those I interact with outside of work. The good thing is that I am once again around part of my collection and can enjoy it during the workday. Everything seems to be as I left it. So, until they send us all home again when the next variant comes through, I am back at the office.

March 22nd, 2022 - Back in the office again, again... AGAIN.

Looks like everything is where I left it.

That's all for another exciting Tuesday. 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

There and Back Again... AGAIN: 2020 - 2021

At the beginning of August, as the Delta variant surged, we were asked to return to the office. As previously mentioned, we were sent home on March 17th, 2020, and it felt like that would be the way of things for the foreseeable future. While it still feels too soon, August was definitely too soon, and it turned out that it was as we were sent home again only a few weeks after returning. I had hoped we had longer before we made this transition again, but I am not in control of such things, and as of today, we are back in the office. While everything is where I left it, nothing feels correct, and it is all out of sorts. I am sure that is part of the adjustment, but it is unsettling to be sure. My home assistant is not happy about this return, and I am likely to hear more about his dissatisfaction with the state of things when I return home. For now, we make the best of it and hope that the office is as safe as it can be.

 

November 15th, 2021 - Back in the office... AGAIN.

My faithful assistant continued to stay on duty through the ups and downs.

He is once again not happy about the current state of things.

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

There and Back Again 2020 - 2021

For some, this day has already come to pass. For others, it has yet to come or might not even be on the table anymore. Today was the day I returned to the office after working from home since March 2020. While I am reluctant to return, especially since I was comfortable working from home and my productivity was way up, I am not happy with the surge of COVID cases as we are returning. Nothing can be done about it now, the decisions we made and the orders given. I think the loudest cries regarding this move have been from my assistant. He is very much not happy about my return to the office.

 

March 17th, 2020 - The first day I began working from home. 

My assistant was immediately on duty and never left my side.

He is not happy about the current state of things.

 

August 2nd, 2021 - Back in the office as the Delta variant spreads like wildfire.

That's 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

Plastic Galaxy, Star Wars figures, and BEYOND!

I have on more then one occasion mentioned my appreciation of Star Wars, working on Star Wars art, and Star Wars action figures. It should be no surprise that when a documentary about the story of Star Wars toys was being funded on Kickstarter I jumped at the chance to supported it. The documentary I speak of is Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys (they also have a Facebook page too). In all seriousness, I can not speak highly enough about this film. Plastic Galaxy touched me personally and gets to the heart of why these toys and action figures changed everything about toys, merchandising, and captured the imaginations of multiple generations. It can be a satisfying moment to see others articulate thoughts and feelings that you have had for a lifetime with the same conviction and passion. The director of Plastic Galaxy is Brian Stillman and I will bring him up again shortly.

Plastic Galaxy: The Story of Star Wars Toys is available as a tangible object and streaming media, check it out today!

Image from the internet of a Star Wars display from 1981.

They don't make them like this anymore. My time machine usage would focus a lot around this image.

I have shared images before of some of my collection and of the Star Wars figures I use as reference in my art. It is hard to beat highly accurate possible figures that are the perfect reference for project after project. Granted, this collection in no way began as a source of reference, but it certainly did become just that. It all worked out in the end... or at least that is what I tell myself...

Just a few of the many...

Long before Pokemon, you had to catch all of these.

Without a doubt, my Star Wars figures have greatly added in the creation of my art. Reference of all kinds can do nothing but help your work. When that reference is film accurate and possible, it is GOLD! There has only been one or two of my Star Wars assignments that has not involved at least one action figure or toy as reference. Here are just a couple of the many ways I have used my Star Wars action figures to compose my art...

"Salacious B. Crumb" reference images

"The Droid's Task" reference images

After watching Plastic Galaxy I REALLY wanted to contact Brain Stillman and share with him how much his film meant to me and how I use my own love for the toys, and the toys themselves, to create my Star Wars art. Unfortunately it never happened. I never found the right words and I kept putting it off for fears of coming off as a creeper. *Insert all stereotypes of fans and fanatics here*

Needless to say, it was a rather crazy moment this past Gen Con when I found myself standing face to face with Brian Stillman as he was checking out my work. It was even weirder when I realized that he had purchased some of my 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons work from my online store earlier in the year and had not realized it. SMALL WORLD!

I am thrilled to say that I will be part of Brain's next documentary project, a documentary on the art of Dungeons & Dragons! Hopefully not everything I say will end up on the cutting room floor. I will be sure to share ALL the details about this new film as they come available. While it is not Star Wars related, it is certainly very much near and dear to my heart! RAWR!

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