The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia Update and Sneak Peek

A lot is going on with the Grand Bazaar these days. I am more or less back on a regular production schedule working on the images for the next books. On top of that, a lot is happening behind the scenes to be ready for IX in October and conventions, in general, moving forward. This includes finishing new work, getting prints ready, and even making better publicity images of the books. My entire convention setup and appearance is changing, and that is requiring a lot of new construction, organization, and planning. At least by IX, I will be able to share that with you. 

Until then, I can leave you with a pair of sneak peeks at the piece I am currently working on. This is an illustration I planned out over ten years ago but never moved forward with it beyond shooting reference and creating the digital sketch. I have carried it around trying to find a home for it for a decade and finally realized it was always meant to be in the Grand Bazaar. I made some updates to the sketch and prepped it got production. I completed the linework for it over the weekend. I will begin rendering it this week. For now, here is a glimpse at a bad day in the Grand Bazaar.

 

There will be a few beings having very, very bad days in book three, In the Black.

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 Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia - A Year Later

A year ago this week, my shipment of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia arrived. Two massive stacks of books were on a truck and finally at the end of their long journey from China. It was the end of one chapter and the start of the next. It was a shining moment in an otherwise dark time last year as the global pandemic raged. It has been a year, and some things are different, and others are very much the same. The pandemic still rages because of human failings, but the book has slowly gotten out into the world. Not in the way that I imagined it would at the beginning of 2020 when the Kickstarter launched. I still haven't participated in any in-person conventions or events since February 2020, but with IX only a month and a half away, maybe I can be in the same place with my books and showing them to people finally. To celebrate the first anniversary, I did a new photoshoot with the book.

 

The available selection for the first book in The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia series. 

 While there is the main hardcover, there is also a 5th Edition D&D compatible stats guide for all the monsters in the book, a coloring book, and finally, a deluxe edition that contains all of the books, an exclusive clamshell case that holds all of the books, and a signed and numbered bookplate that features an original drawing. These deluxe editions are limited to only 100 copies.

Here are some of the images from last year of the books arriving. It was touch and go for a moment as they were unloaded, but the driver knew his palette jack and truck and got them on the ground in one piece.

 

Two massive piles of books that we ended up unstacking and restacking by hand to do a count and inventory check. 

Here are more images from the new photoshoot for the book. The previous images were fine, but I knew they could be better. I had been kicking this job down the road for a while due to deadlines and life, but it finally all came together. Will these be the last time I take pictures of these books? No. There will always be more.

The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

The Stats Guide 

(Collected Guide of Reference Statistics and Cataloged Research Calculations pertaining to the Beings and Beasts of the Grand Bazaar of Ethra)

The Grand Coloring Book of Ethra VanDalia

Deluxe Clamshell Edition

Lastly, I have a new video featuring a look at the inside of the book. A little sneak peek of what the first book has in store for you. To see more, head to my store for details, images, and buying options.

 

A look at The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia - A book 20 years in the making

That's all for another exciting week on the blog. See you back here next week! Until then...

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

Selected Recent Artist Proof Drawings

Today I have for you a selection of recent artist proofs that I added drawings to. If you are interested in getting any of these for yourself, just follow the links to my store. I recently completed a ton of artist proof, and this is the first batch from those completed drawings. 

The Shimmerwing Chimer continues to be a popular card.

As is the Stinging Lionfish.

I never excepted the Festering Mummy to be as popular as it has been, but then again, is it a zombie-looking mummy.

Always trying to find new and enjoyable drawing options for a metal cobra.

The same can be said for the little lizard that thought highly of itself.

The Shifting Shadow is a popular card, and it is not uncommon for an individual to purchase multiples.

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

Fortune Teller - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I am happy to share another new piece from The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. This illustration is slated for Book Three: In the Black. This piece focuses on a hapless Kiplorb coming to terms with their life choices and how trapping a being not meant for this level of existence may not have been the best idea. The captured being, only known as Uncle, bides its time for now as it shares possible futures for any that place a coin in the bowl. I present to you the Fortune Teller.

Fortune Teller

The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - In the Black
13 x 17 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper
Original - Available
© 2021 Christopher Burdett

 

Fortune Teller - Drawing 

13 x 17 - Pencil on paper
© 2021 Christopher Burdett

 

Typically, I share the final art and the line drawing that will eventually become the line art in a coloring book. As with all of my work, I start with reference images and a digital sketch to work out the idea in my head for these pieces. You should be able to draw a straight line from the digital sketch to the finished art. More detail is added, and elements are fleshed out along the way, but the overall piece is locked in during the sketch. Here is the sketch for the Fortune Teller.

 

Fortune Teller - Sketch 

13 x 17 - Digital
© 2019 Christopher Burdett

Some Kiplorb still possess a dwindling spark of the power their ancestors use to freely wield. Some are aware of the spark and use it to its fullest, and some cause significant troubles as they blindly flex power no longer reigned in my knowledge and experience. When you find yourself in the control of a vastly old and dangerously powerful being, you will so come to the realization that you are now in a cage of your own making, for if the being was to ever escape, your remaining days of life would be spent in great pain.

As a bonus, I have some images of the rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape.  

Fortune Teller - Process

© 2021 Christopher Burdett

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

TOMORROW! CosmicCon: Monsters and Magic: Card Illustration

TOMORROW, Saturday, August 21st, starting at 11 AM, I will be part of a free virtual presentation about my career and, specifically, Magic the Gathering with the Leon County Publix Libraries. Come hang out virtually while I talk about making monsters, sharing work, and taking questions from attendees. 

Head to the Facebook event for all the details and links to the event. More information and links can be found on the Leon County Libraries site and the Tallahassee Art guide. I hope to see you there!

Join me for a FREE virtual presentation about making monsters for Magic the Gathering and MORE! Saturday, August 21st, starting at 11 AM

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

The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia Fine Art Prints - PRESALE

I am thrilled to announce a PRESALE for my new line of fine art prints from the art of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. With conventions beginning again and my first in-person event in October with IX, it was time to unveil what I am planning for all events to come.

These 12" x 18" fine art prints are printed on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag 308. Every print comes stamped, signed, and numbered as an edition of 100. If the samples are any indication, these are the best quality prints I have ever carried, and they look as good as the original artwork. In all seriousness, I am shocked by how good the prints look. The paper quality is outstanding, and it allows the art to look as good as it can. 

The prints are available individually and as a set of seven. This presale will be the only way to have a chance to get the low numbers in the edition. They will be first come, first serve, so if you want to get the number ones of the edition,  you better be quick. Follow the links below to preorder your prints!

Please be aware that the prints are at a reduced price for this presale. They will be going up once they are in stock on the website and at events. Get them now at a discount!

As this is a presale, the prints will not be in stock until Sept 2021.

All of my Grand Bazaar prints are now available on my store.

 

Air Shops

 

Busy Streets

 

Hollow Alley

Keeper of the Clocks

Sunken Stalls

 

The Grand Bazaar

 

The Seated Dead

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

CosmicCon: Monsters and Magic: Card Illustration

This coming Saturday, August 21st, starting at 11 AM, I will be part of a free virtual presentation about my career and specifically Magic the Gathering with the Leon County Publix Libraries. Come hang out virtually while I talk about making monsters, sharing work, and taking questions from attendees. More information and links can be found on the Leon County Libraries site and the Tallahassee Art guide. I hope to see you there!

Join me for a FREE virtual presentation about making monsters for Magic the Gathering and MORE! Saturday, August 21st, starting at 11 AM

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