Stinging Lionfish - Magic: the Gathering - Process

I have for you today the process and steps that went into my Stinging Lionfish painting that was for the Magic the Gathering set, Theros Beyond Death. Of the three pieces created for this set, I believe this was the fan-favorite. My fish painting for Magic seems to be some of my most popular creations for the game. I am not sure why, but they seem to be the ones that receive the most fan love. Hopefully, this trend will continue. Here is how the final painting for the Stinging Lionfish turned out.

 

Stinging Lionfish

Magic the Gathering - Theros Beyond Death 

14 x 10.2 - Digital 

PRINTS available at OMA! 

All of my Magic the Gathering Artist Proofs!  

Art Director - Dawn Murin 

© 2020 Wizards of the Coast

 

The assignment called for an enchanted fantastical lionfish. For me, this felt like a straightforward painting. In my part of the world, the lionfish is a dangerous and destructive invasive species, and I have encountered them in the wild several times. I pulled from my personal reference photos that I took to begin my work on some thumbnails. The card focuses on this individual monster, so it was all about creating an interesting composition while featuring the fish. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.

 

 

Stinging Lionfish - Thumbnails

© 2020 Wizards of the Coast

 

Thumbnail 'D' was selected, but I was asked to make the fins look and feel more like the fish in thumbnail 'A.' Personally, I still lean towards option 'A' as my preferred thumbnail, but that was not meant to be. I updated option 'D' to address the revision notes and submitted an updated thumbnail.

 

Stinging Lionfish - Updated thumbnails

 © 2020 Wizards of the Coast

 

This new thumbnail was approved without any further comments, and I was ready to create the final drawing. As stated before, I was too busy when I worked on this piece to create the drawing and the tonal study. So this drawing ended up being the only traditional original for the assignment. And when it came time to paint, I had to work out the values on the fly. Here is the final drawing for the Stinging Lionfish.

Stinging Lionfish

Magic the Gathering - Theros Beyond Death

14 x 11 - Pencil of paper

Original - SOLD
 © 2020 Wizards of the Coast

 

The drawing was approved, and it was time to paint! As previously mentioned, this felt like it would be a straightforward assignment, and it was for the most part. You will notice that the patterning evolved while I was working on it. The original plan for the fish's markings felt off to me as I was painting, and I updated them as I worked. They soon felt more fitting with the animal and the world it lived in. Here is the Stinging Lionfish taking shape.

 

 

Stinging Lionfish - Process

 © 2020 Wizards of the Coast

 

I believe that I was asked to increase the amount of enchanted starfield on the fish after I originally submitted it. Due to how I work that evidence to show just how much I increased the amount has been lost. All I have is a vague memory of adding more, and that updated didn't take long or require much effort. When it was all said and done the fish was approved and I moved onto the next assignment. Here again is the final painting for the Stinging Lionfish and the final production card. 

 

 

Stinging Lionfish

 PRINTS available at OMA! 

All of my Magic the Gathering Artist Proofs!

 © 2020 Wizards of the Coast 

Stinging Lionfish 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

Mystery Project Phase Two

I have larger blog posts planned, but they are taking a bit of time to compile, and I have a couple things on my plate. To that end, the post I had wanted to share today is not ready. In its place, I have a quick update on the mystery project I shared recently. The first of three pieces for the project is completed, and I have moved onto the second. This happy little bubbler is doing important space stuff. The drawing took a little longer than expected, so I am a little behind where I would like to be with it. I will need to give it some extra attention so that I can begin rendering it. Still, plenty to do on it, but it is taking shape. There will be more on this in the fullness of time.

 

Mystery Project Process

17 x 14 - Colored pencil on paper 

© 2021 Christopher Burdett

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

Line Up Droid Model Animation Cell

Something a little different today on the blog, I have mentioned that I possess an extensive Star Wars collection. The collection has been used as a reference during my work on the Star Wars game properties. Beyond that, it was enjoyable to collect, and I have a small part of it on permeate display at my day job office and in our library at the house. I no longer collect, but from time to time, a piece crosses my path that I can not say no to. Today, I am sharing such a piece that I was able to be at the right place at the right time to acquire. 

 

 Line Up Droid Model Animation Cell circa 1985

This is an model animation cell from the 1985 Droids Animated Series. It consists of a sheet of paper with photocopied line work and notes, a hand painted aniamtion cell that is stapled to the paper, and various production notes in pen and sharpie. While this is, in and of itself, a very unique item, for me, it has a connection to the Mandolorian series. 

While it would be hard to prove, either way, I am reasonably confident that this idea and the initial design was the starting point for the ferry droid seen in the final episode of the first season of Mandolorian. It is known that Dave Filoni had a long history of pulling from the long history of obscure creations and unused concepts in the Star Wars universe. I am sure Filoni is more than versed with the original Star Wars animated series, and when the time came, he pulled this concept into modern productions.  

No matter the history and current life of this idea, I am pleased to own it and will be framing it for display once the pandemic has ebbed. Here is a selection of images of the model cell.

 

Line Up Droid Model Animation Cell closeups

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

Aradani Studio's PPE Decorative Armor

Last year I shared with you a Kickstarter by the good folks over at Aradani Studio. The campaign focused on the creation of two designs of decorative PPE mask covers. The campaign was funded, and in the fullness of time, I received my unpainted High Elf Warrior mask, and I couldn't be more excited by the quality and look of this fantastic piece of art. I painted mine up and got it ready for use. It has been a little while since I painted on a 3D object, and it was enjoyable to flex those art muscles again. Here is a look at the finished paint job on the PPE armor.

 

Aradani Studio's PPE Decorative Armor painted by yours truly.

Since I have a big head, I got a large model, which fits like a dream. It perfectly fits over the appropriate facial PPE and allows a little of the inner monster out while staying safe in the time of global pandemics. I could not be happier with this, and painting it was a joy. Here is a monster wearing a monster mask.

 

RAWR!

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

The Artist Appeals Interview - LIVE CHAT TOMORROW!

I recently took part in an interview with Erin Sparler for The Artist Appeals. The interview goes live tomorrow, February 27th, at 11 AM EST, and Erin and I will be on YouTube for a live chat when the interview premieres. We will be available for Q&A throughout the interview duration and maybe a little after if questions continue to come in. I will be discussing my career as an imaginative realist artist, working in the tabletop gaming industry, and my book, The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. Come out for the interview premiere and stay to chat! I hope to see you there tomorrow.

 

Be sure to check out The Artist Appeals and my interview once it goes live. 

To chat with us live, see below.

See you on YouTube for my interview premiere for a live chat starting on February 27th, at 11 AM EST.

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

Mystery Project Process

NDAs cover 99.99% of the work that I do with established clients, new clients, and in general, all new types of projects I find myself working on. My work stays under wraps until the client spoils it or the project is released. While I can not talk about who I am working for or what the project is, I find myself able to share some peeks of a new project I am currently working on. I can not wait to share the final product with you, but it will likely be a while before the finished product is released. For now, I can share with you the first drawing taking shape. It is only a crop of the actual image, but hopefully, it will give you a glimpse of what I am creating.

Mystery Project Process

17 x 14 - Colored pencil and acrylic on paper

© 2021 Christopher Burdett

 

 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

Recent Sketchbook Drawings

Last year, I ran a big sale on all of my remaining Creatura Libri sketchbooks. Each book comes with a free drawing, and while I nearly sold out of my sketchbooks, I still have some, so I never ended the sale. I sold a set recently, and I wanted to share the drawings that went into the sketchbook. Also, details on the sale follow. 

You, too, can get a FREE drawing just like the above drawings when you buy any of my sketchbooks - which continue to be ON SALE!

As a reminder, all of my sketchbooks have all been marked down to a mere $10, AND they each come with a FREE original pencil drawing! That's right, for only $10, you can get a sketchbook with a free original drawing. I currently have three volumes of my sketchbook remaining to choose from.

 

The HUGE SALE on all my sketchbooks continues!

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