The Return of the Beasts - Beastly Fighter

Continuing to look back as I work forward. At one point, I had the time and the energy to do practice drawings, studies, and simply draw for the fun of it. These days I nearly exclusively draw with an intended goal. But fourteen years ago, it was quite different. At the time, I was completing a series of Beastly characters. I was working with reference to build my skill sets, and in the end I made a lot of weird animal warriors. This is an alligator with a sword. 

Beastly Fighter

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
© 2012/2026 Christopher Burdett

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

Revisiting the Monsters - Ogre

In 2010, sixteen years ago now, I began a personal project to redesign most, if not all, of the monsters in the original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. That original MM had a profound effect on me and led me to eventually work on the game. While I was already working on the game when I began this project, it did prove useful as I have redesigned many D&D monsters in my career on the game. In the end, I completed over 100 drawings for the project and even had a gallery show featuring the work.

I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favorites. Today brings us back to my second pass through the book with the Ogre. Enjoy!

Ogre redesign (2011)
© 2011/2026 Christopher Burdett 

That's 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

Revisiting Dark Heresy: Daemon Hunter - Daemonette

Either in late 2010 or very early 2011, I worked on one of several Warhammer 40K assignments. At the time, I was doing a lot of them for very, very low pay, as was common at the time. Learning a lot and making monsters for pennies on the dollar. One of the assignments was for a quartet of monsters from the RPG supplement Dark Heresy: Daemon Hunter. I always liked these monsters a lot, and I can see things starting to click for me in the creation of these. I thought I would revisit these pieces, share the drawings for them that have never been shared (it looks like I never shared the process either, but that isn't happening today), and show off a monster that is now sixteen years old. This is another one they wanted me to stretch out, again, I prefer the proportions in the drawing over the painting.

Daemonette

Dark Heresy - Daemon Hunter

7 x 10 - Digital
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

Daemonette

Dark Heresy - Daemon Hunter

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

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 Return of the Beasts - Beastly Caster

Continuing to look back as I work forward. At one point, I had the time and the energy to do practice drawings, studies, and simply draw for the fun of it. These days I nearly exclusively draw with an intended goal. But fourteen years ago, it was quite different. At the time, I was completing a series of Beastly characters. I was working with reference to build my skill sets, and in the end I made a lot of weird animal warriors. This is a something or another casting a spell.

Beastly Caster

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
© 2012/2026 Christopher Burdett

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

The Return of the Beasts - Beastly Archer

Continuing to look back as I work forward. At one point, I had the time and the energy to do practice drawings, studies, and simply draw for the fun of it. These days I nearly exclusively draw with an intended goal. But fourteen years ago, it was quite different. At the time, I was completing a series of Beastly characters. I was working with reference to build my skill sets, and in the end I made a lot of weird animal warriors. This is a bird with a bow.

Beastly Archer

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
© 2012/2026 Christopher Burdett

That's all for another exciting week on the blog. I will be away for a bit of next week, so I will be back next Friday! Until then..

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

Revisiting the Monsters - Ki-Rin

In 2010, sixteen years ago now, I began a personal project to redesign most, if not all, of the monsters in the original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. That original MM had a profound effect on me and led me to eventually work on the game. While I was already working on the game when I began this project, it did prove useful as I have redesigned many D&D monsters in my career on the game. In the end, I completed over 100 drawings for the project and even had a gallery show featuring the work.

I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favorites. Today brings us back to my second pass through the book with the Ki-Rin. Enjoy!

Ki-Rin redesign (2011)
© 2011/2026 Christopher Burdett 

That's 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

Revisiting Dark Heresy: Daemon Hunter - Bloodletter

Either in late 2010 or very early 2011, I worked on one of several Warhammer 40K assignments. At the time, I was doing a lot of them for very, very low pay, as was common at the time. Learning a lot and making monsters for pennies on the dollar. One of the assignments was for a quartet of monsters from the RPG supplement Dark Heresy: Daemon Hunter. I always liked these monsters a lot, and I can see things starting to click for me in the creation of these. I thought I would revisit these pieces, share the drawings for them that have never been shared (it looks like I never shared the process either, but that isn't happening today), and show off a monster that is now sixteen years old. For whatever reason, they made me make this guy tall and spindly rather than beefy, but that is their call, I liked him beefy.

Bloodletter

Dark Heresy - Daemon Hunter

7 x 10 - Digital
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

Bloodletter

Dark Heresy - Daemon Hunter

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

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