Breaching Hippocamp - Magic the Gathering Process

Today on the blog I have for you the process and steps that went into my second of two Magic the Gathering cards that I did for the Theros set, the mighty Breaching Hippocamp. I am a little overdue in sharing this, but I figured I better get to it now that the second set of the Theros block is upon us as well as the fact that it is now the year of the SEA horse... or is it just the year of horse... To get things started and to refresh everyone's memory, here is how the final Breaching Hippocamp turned out...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Magic the Gathering - Theros
PRINTS available at OMA!

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

There was nothing in the style guide for the Hippocamp so the design of the creature was up to me. Designing creatures is what I like to do... so it was a real treat to get to design something for Magic. There were of course some global design elements of the set that I needed to be mindful of but the rest was in my court to come up with a Theros take on this legendary sea horse. The first thing I did was get to work on some concepts...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Concepts

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

There are a lot of these I really like, and still like even today. I feel there is still a lot of potential with many of these designs... but that is another topic for another day. It turns out that I need not have done any concepts beyond my very first one since option "A" was the winner. Now that I had a design it was time to work on some color options and to start thinking about thumbnails...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Color Concepts

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

If I remember correctly, all of the color comps were approved as options that would work, but there was an additional not of option "C" being a good fit to match the native merfolk. Now that I had a color scheme there was really no reason that there should not be some thumbnails happening...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Thumbnails

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

I did options "A" - "C" before heading to Illuxcon back in 2012, but I had not submitted them yet. While at Illuxcon I had some time to talk about designs and thumbnails with the very talented and very generous Lar Grant-West. He gave me a lot to think about and suggested I try a direction that resulted in thumbnail option "D". When I returned home I submitted option "D"... and if I remember correctly, I ONLY submitted "D" with a note saying I have others if you would like to see them but I think this is the best... or something equally silly. "D" was selected with the note to make sure the fish horse was not to appear like it could be flying. Time for the drawing...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Drawing

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

The drawing was approved without note and I was all set to begin on the painting. I was feeling good about this piece, but as I worked on it I realized there were some issues which resulted in some changes as I painted... which ultimately produced a better end product (IMHO)...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Process Steps

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

In just 12 easy steps and many many hours of work, you too can have your very own Hippocamp that breaches. Once the head and forelimbs were sussed out with the oversight of my always helpful wife and then some end of painting tweaks and fixes advice from Lars Grant-West the rest of things worked themselves out. Remember, you should never turn down the help of others and a fresh pair of eyes on a painting can instantly see all the troublesome areas. We are not an island unto ourselves, seek out advice and help... no matter what level you are working at or how much you think you know. Again, here is how the final piece turned out...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Magic the Gathering - Theros

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

I am happy to saw that a lot of folks have really responded well to this piece and it has even been described as (shudder) pretty. Not generally the first word that comes to mind when I think of my work to say the least. But I will take the compliment! Here is how the final production card turned out...

"Breaching Hippocamp" - in handy card form

I would be amiss in not including the toned paper drawing of this piece that I did... RAWR!

"Breaching Hippocamp" - Magic the Gathering - Theros

12 x 9

colored pencil on toned paper

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on the Monday! Until then...

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

Star Wars - Edge of the Empire - Suns of Fortune

Today on the blog I have for you some new Star Wars work! This time around I have a pair of book illustrations that appear in the recently released source book for the Edge of the Empire, Suns of Fortune. Suns of Fortune focuses on the Corellian system (where Han Solo is from) and the surrounding sectors of space, lets have a look...

Exploring Froz

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Enraged Ronto

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Froz was a planet that was completely destroyed by an Imperial orbital bombardment and I was asked to depict a couple of mercenaries... or fortune hunters... or possibly relief workers scouring the still burning wreckage of the planet. The piece required some crazy bleed on two sides of the piece, which is why there is a lot of open destruction on the top and right side. Below, you can see how the piece was cropped down. For the Ronto I was asked to depict and Ronto rearing up and freaking out... done and done! Rontos are fun to draw. Here is how the pieces looked in the book (which is in stores now! and sorry for the crappy images)...

Cropped Froz destruction

It is SO enraged that it had to take on the entire page... RAWR!

Thanks goes out to Zoe Robinson for another exciting Star Wars project! There will be more Star Wars on the blog in the fullness of time... RAWR!

That is all for another exciting Wednesday, 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

Basilisk - Lands and Legends

I recently finished a personal piece / commissioned piece of a most monstrous nature. Perhaps you have heard of Lands and Legends, the first in a series of art anthologies being put together by Michael Publishing, LLC? If not, you should head over to have a look at look, there is a very impressive list of artists involved with the project... as well as myself. My contribution to the book is the mighty King of the Serpents, the Basilisk...

Basilisk

© 2014 Christopher Burdett

First, since most of the work I show here on the blog is a year or more old by the time I can share it, if you were wondering what my digital work looks like RIGHT NOW... well, there you go. Secondly, the Basilisk is described in mythology as the king of the serpents and is sometime portrayed with multiple limbs... I took is a bit further and created a God King of the serpents for my Basilisk. I wrote a little more about this monster, but that is for the book.

I created this piece at a higher DPI then I usually work at as well as a larger size then was needed for the commission, so I have a nice huge file of this guy for my own uses. By doing this I also taunted myself with that much area to render with all the details. Speaking of details, here is a detail of the painting so that you can get a better a look at it...

Basilisk - Detail

© 2014 Christopher Burdett

Not close enough? Here is a piece of the painting at 100% for your viewing pleasure. Just look at those pixels! RAWR!

Basilisk at 100%... RAWR!

© 2014 Christopher Burdett

I will have more about the Basilisk and the Lands and Legends book as things progress. In the coming weeks I will also bring you the process that went into making this King of Serpent Kings!

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

The Lost Colossus - Process

Today on the blog I have for you the process that went into my very first traditionally painted piece that was completed for a client. I am of course referring to the mighty Lost Colossus that was for the Legend of the Five Rings: Gates of Chaos expansion. Somehow this one slipped through the cracks. I painted this in late 2012 and the piece was released in August of 2013 (if I remember correctly). Here is for the final piece turned out to refresh your memory...

The Lost Colossus

12 x 16 - Acrylic on board

Gate of Chaos expansion

© 2013 Alderac Entertainment Group

Like every other pieces that I create the Lost Colossus began with a thumbnail stage. Unlike the rest of the pieces I create there was pretty much just ONE thumbnail that I was working with. I REALLY knew what I wanted to do with this piece and before sketching I took a ton of reference photos that I cobbled together to make myself into a four armed three faces giant statue. I really don't recommend doing just one thumbnail... but I have had a really great working relationship with Adrian over at AEG and I was confident that I was moving in the right direction with this piece. I spent a lot of time working out the concept to make sure it was the way I wanted it before turning it in...

The Lost Colossus - Thumbnail

© 2013 Alderac Entertainment Group

I did not make a mistake and my gamble paid off... the thumbnail was approved without issue. Now that I had an approved thumbnail and loads of reference... I was ready to begin the drawing. Since I was planning on creating this traditionally I knew I needed to have a really solid worked out drawing. I did not have the luxury of being able to make revisions and changes on the fly like I can working digitally. I took my time with the drawing and worked everything out...

The Lost Colossus - Drawing

© 2013 Alderac Entertainment Group

The drawing was rejected and I had to start over from the beginning...

Just kidding. The drawing was approved and I was ready to start smearing mud around with stick... and boy, was I nervous about that prospect. At this point in my career when I am ready to start my digital paintings I am mentally already two or three steps into the process working things out and making decisions. I don't really have any fear or worry about the prospect of the painting... maybe something in a piece will need some extra attention, but I know without a doubt that the piece will see the finish line. Not so much with the traditional work yet. I am really hesitant to begin as my mind is filled with everything that could go wrong... including the whole painting going down the tubes. In the process of creating a traditional painting I eventually get to a point where I know it will be alright, up until then though... it is nerve wracking. Here are a bunch of images of the painting coming together...

The Lost Colossus - Process steps

© 2013 Alderac Entertainment Group

In just 15 easy steps you too can have a Lost Colossus... or not... In the end this was a very successful test for myself and I was very happy to have faced the challenge. It at least gives me the encouragement that I can create a traditional image on a deadline ... and not die. I am still not anywhere near a 100% success rate with my traditional pieces yet. As mentioned elsewhere, I attempted to create my next two L5R assignments traditionally and had to abandon both and had to complete them digitally. Live and learn! As of right now I am working on my third traditional piece for a client... here it hoping this one makes it over the finish line!

Again, here is how the final painting turned out as well as the final production card that it was made for...

The Lost Colossus

12 x 16 - Acrylic on board

Gate of Chaos expansion

© 2013 Alderac Entertainment Group

The Lost Colossus - In handy card form

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday for a BRAND NEW MONSTER! RAWR! Until then...

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

Raluk Moorclaw, The Ironmonger - Warmachine - Privateer Press

Holy cow! Straight from 2011 the very first miniature I ever designed for Privateer Press is NOW finally out! Can't believe it has been this long... 2011... how times files, and talk about production schedules. So thoses that play Warmachine can now enjoy the mighty Trollkin Mercenary, Raluk Moorclaw...

Raluk Moorclaw, The Ironmonger

© 2014 Privateer Press

Besides a pose change the design seems to have made it through the production intact. Which is always nice! Here is how the final production turned out...

Raluk Moorclaw, The Ironmonger final production miniature

(Image courtesy of Privateer Press)

Since this was my first piece for Privateer Press... and it was done like a million years ago in the life span of making monsters I am not sure I really have any great or witty stories to share about this piece. I spent most of my time while working on this by getting use to the IP, the art director, and the whole process for making miniatures for Privateer Press. What I can share with you is a WHOLE ton of concepts, roughs, and monster man drawings...

Various Raluk Moorclaw, The Ironmonger roughs and concepts

ALL are © 2014 Privateer Press

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

The Droid's Task - Star Wars: It Binds All Things

Over on the Fantasy Flight Games website last week they previewed the newest expansion to the Star Wars Card Game, It Binds All Things. In that preview they showed off a card that I have in this expansion! The long and the short of it is: IG-88 + Jabba's Palace + Rodian = The Droid's Task!

The Droid's Task

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

The Droid's Task in handy dandy card form

When this expansion is officially released I will share the process step and some back story related to its creation. There were some revisions as well as some back and forth with production regarding certain elements... some of which that are no longer in this piece. More on all this in the fullness of time...

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

Spectrum 21 and Artist Selfies

Well... it is Spectrum submission time again. I have written about spectrum several times before here on the blog and you can read more HERE. Not sure I have anything new to add about Spectrum this year save that I did in fact submit some pieces for consideration in Spectrum 21. ...against my better judgment.

If you are going to submit to Spectrum 21 you better hurry, the deadline is today!

I have absolutely no anticipations or belief that my work will get accepted, but if I don't submit I know that it is 100% certain that I will not be accepted. Unfortunately, the pieces I was REALLY excited about submitting I have found myself unable to submit. The License for these images is held by a rather larger company and I tried to acquire the permission to submit to no avail. My art director on the projects tried their best... no luck. I will try again for next year. The pieces fall in a weird gray zone between years so they may be still eligible for submission next year. Oh well... Spectrum time again, time for the best of the best to be honored and I have already established that I am merely, and happily, Okay. 

Hey! On a more positive and fun note, Lauren Panepinto posted a great article about artists and their reference selfies. She got some really great artist to contribute their selfie reference photos and the final illustrations that they belong to and shared them over on Muddy Colors. You owe to yourself to go check out the fun, especially if you don't know about Muddy Colors and especially if you are not using reference!

Selfies... everybody is doing it... why aren't you?

Lauren did a call out on Facebook for additional artist selfies and I could not resist because I have SO many of them. I am every monster I make... so I have just a few silly photos laying around. SEE, all these years of me preaching about using reference is not some personal cause, EVERYBODY uses reference. For my submission of a selfie I went with my piece I did for the D&D Halls of Undermountain book, Wroot the Goblin. It was a fun photo shoot and I am happy with how the final turned out...

  Ridiculous artist selfie and final Wroot the Goblin

© 2012 Wizards of the Coast

Again, take some time if you haven't already to go check out Muddy Colors and the artist selfies! 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