Thoughts Regarding Sketching and Generating Ideas

I do not do enough (or any really) sketching. At one time, I would doodle and scribble away for hours, filling paper with monsters, but now, nearly all of my time making art is spent completing work planned out for my books or assignments for clients. Sadly, having time to draw for only the sake of drawing no longer fits into my schedule. Most of the time, if I have time to draw, I need to be working on the next piece for the next book. But when the planets align and I find myself with an opportunity to draw far from my studio, I try to make the most of it.

This past weekend, I found myself in line at my favorite local record store, Retrofit, for Record Store Day. I knew that I would be in line for some time, so I packed up my sketching tools and my sketching chair before walking down to get in line. Because I rarely have time to sketch, and suddenly had several hours to do nothing but sketch, I spent a bit of the time thinking about sketching, what I sketch, the thought processes behind my mark making, and I thought I would share some of it all with you. For all of these, I used a very faint grey marker to work up general forms. This is followed by using two black ink pens to complete the drawings. At the end, I often use the faint grey marker to blend and add form.

This was my first sketch of the morning.

 

My only motivation was to make marks on the paper. I let my hand go where it wanted to, and this usually means I will circle around familiar shapes and forms that I like to make and see. This meant that I ended up with a pretty standard monster that leans more towards a bird. I am ALWAYS attempting to push myself and to explore, but sometimes I do not try too hard, and I just want to have fun making marks on the paper. My only thought on this one is if the bird is wearing a hat, or if that's the bird's head. We may never know. It was a fun sketch, and I'm glad I did it.

This was my second sketch of the morning.

 

While there is nothing wrong with the first drawing, I wanted to push myself and really start to see what I could come up with. I wanted some external stimulus to base this drawing on. I was facing a street and a construction site, and neither offered up much in the way of interesting visuals. Looking at the palm trees that line the street, I had my imagination sparked by shapes on the trunks. These are shapes I have seen countless times before, but I never used them to directly influence a drawing. I was mindful not to focus on too many shapes and forms that I am drawn to. While some of the forms of the spikes may be seen in my work, I used them here in a way I do not normally. I made it a point to keep the entire figure on the paper as well. This established limitations on my design - WHICH IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING. I wanted to make this one approachable (it having eyes and therefore maybe a face) as well as alien (the rest). This one came together, and it is the one I am the most pleased with. This is the sort of design that I have put aside to include in the Grand Bazaar at a later date. 

Let me take a moment to add that sketching and exploring are CRUCIAL to an artist. The fact that I do not do it more is an issue for me and my art. But I have been doing this for a long time and have a massive backlog of ideas and concepts. But that backlog came from spending all those hours sketching and drawing earlier in my life. Having the time to sketch now allows my years of experience to flow out of me into new ideas - stronger, more fleshed-out ideas. So, having time to do this really makes my art better. So I need to remind myself constantly and make the time to do MORE of it.

This was my final sketch of the morning.

I allowed the marker to move on the paper and go where it wanted to go. I purposefully didn't want to go into this one with an idea or plan. My goal was to respond to each mark I made or simply let the marks exist as they are. I scribbled a lot and then went back in with the black pens to pull the forms out of the scribble. I also wanted to push things in this one beyond what I usually would do. That is why there is a balloon head and a long, bent neck. I wouldn't normally do these things and that is exactly why I did them. If a sketch 'fails', there is no cost except the short time you worked on it - BUT even then, you haven't failed. You have learned. You have tried. And you have a drawing. Take the time, make the time, and DRAW!

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

A Second Look at Older Work - The Dreamblade Gear Man

This coming June will mark twenty years for me in the gaming industry, and this is also my twenty-sixth year as a working artist. I have made a lot of work over these years, and as I focus on larger projects with multi-year timelines, it is hard to keep this blog updated regularly. I have kept this thing going since 2009, and I would like for it to continue. To that end, I thought I would look back at works I particularly liked, enjoyed making, or seemed to fall through the cracks and went unnoticed.

Today, I have another miniature design that I did for the now long-dead miniatures game, Dreamblade. Dreamblade will always be near and dear to me as it was the first game I ever worked on and one of the times I felt most free as an artist working in the gaming industry. This is the "Gear Man" design for an unproduced set of the game. I wonder to this day if they had started any of the sculpts for these and if somewhere there had been or still is a prototype of it out there.

Unreleased Gear Man - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

Gear Man turnaround - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

I always liked this design of the asymmetrical body form and offset head, as well as the big hands for smashing. I can imagine that the mini would have been one color with a nice wash or dry brush over it. The mini would end up being used in kit-bashed custom creations by gamers and would have lived on and on. Or not. We shall never know since this one never saw the production finish line.

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

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

A Second Look at Older Work - Mimic and Reward

This coming June will mark twenty years for me in the gaming industry, and this is also my twenty-sixth year as a working artist. I have made a lot of work over these years, and as I focus on larger projects with multi-year timelines, it is hard to keep this blog updated regularly. I have kept this thing going since 2009, and I would like for it to continue. To that end, I thought I would look back at works I particularly liked, enjoyed making, or seemed to fall through the cracks and went unnoticed.

Today, I have ANOTHER piece for Pathfinder done for Paizo sixteen or so years ago. There are only a few, but there are some classic D&D monsters that I have never illustrated for Dungeons & Dragons. And of those few, there are even fewer that I HAVE illustrated for other companies. One in particular is the Mimic. For some reason, I have never had to illustrate a Mimic for a D&D product, but sixteen years ago, I painted a Mimic for the new (at the time) Pathfinder GameMastery Guide. It was on a section about risk and reward... or shall we say Mimic and Reward.

Mimic and Reward

Digital

 GameMastery Guide
© 2009 Paizo Publishing, LLC

 

As a side note, the ghosts are still in the machine, and after all these years, the Patherfinder blog post that spoiled this piece is still live. On top of that, there are actually a few posts still over there in the warner of links with more of my work from around that time. I will likely be sharing some of that other work at some point soon.

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

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

A NEWER Aarakocra Miniature

I have another recently released miniature based on my designs and illustrations that has also already been turned into multiple miniatures. If you had guessed it would be an Aarakocra, then you are most definitely correct! And yes, this is ANOTHER totally new and different Aarakocra mini. They can't seem to stop making them and I have zero issue with this. Here is the final illustration for the Aarakocra that I painted over a decade ago.

Aarakocra

 Dungeons & Dragons - 5th Edition Monster Manual

8x11 - Digital

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The Aarakocra is one of those monsters that means a great deal to me for a number of reasons. This is one of the many monsters I designed for 5th Edition, the species appeared in the movie, they have made a ton of miniatures of them, and they have reprinted the art many, many times. It means a great deal that this monster and the art I did for it are still kicking around after over a decade. Here are some images of the new mini.

The NEWEST Aarakocra miniature for all your newest Aarakocra miniature needs.

Lastly, here is an image of the original Aarakocra mini so you can see how it has evlved for the past eleven years.

 

The original Aarakocra miniature was made for the Icons of the Realms line of minis from 2014. 

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

Toxie and Me

In March, I shared with you why I had to leave LA twenty years ago. I didn't want to leave the conversation about my time in LA on such a negative note. Even though MANY bad things happened, there were some really good times. Becuase, at the end of the day, while SO many were taking advantage of me, there was one group of folks that did the exact opposite, and that was TROMA. 

Troma Entertainment and Llyod Kaufman brought us the likes of the Toxic Avenger, The Class of Nukem High, Sgt. Kabukiman, and many, many more. While based in New York, during my early days in LA, they had offices next door to us (which, thinking back, is crazy cool). I was hanging out with the Troma folks as much as those working at the shop. I worked on several Torma features, including The Toxic Avenger 4, and performed as the Toxic Avenger at events, conventions, and appearances. I worked on the 'official' appearances suit, which just so happened to have been made to my measurements and used my head cast. But it goes further.

When Toxie met Darth Vader!

Troma could have used and abused me all they wanted because I was apparently an easy mark when I was younger. My former employer was not the only one in my life to treat me so poorly; he was just one of the best at it. But Troma, they could have done nearly anything to me, but they didn't. They took the bold approach to be nice to me, to be my friends, and to include me in all of their fun. Sure, getting paid was a rarity, but that was a known reality. But they did all they could to compensate me for my time and energy. I was paid as a makeup effects artist on their projects, but when I was working as Toxie, I would receive lodging, food, transportation, all the DVDs I could carry, and more. At the end of the day, I have amazing photos and even better memories. They looked out for me. They included me. I felt seen, and I felt needed. These are all massive things for me and my happiness.

When Toxie met R2D2!

And that is Doug Sakmann as Sgt. Kabukiman - we lost you far too soon.

Every day I was hanging out with Troma was a day with a smile on my face. And I am serious. Sure, getting into the cold wet suit on the third day of the San Diego Comic Con wasn't the most pleasant moment, but I was the Toxic Avenger at the San Diego Comic Con. I had no reason to complain. Those days as Toxie are some of my most treasured memories of LA. Working E3, SDCC, Mega Con, Comic Shop appearance, and more were pure joy. I got to ride in limos, meet celebrities, eat at Llyod's brother's bakery in San Diego, go to release parties at strange and terrifying (in a good way) places, and BE the Toxic Avenger. Everyone knew me when I was Toxie. Men reverred me, and women adored me. It was a good time. And these are the times that I actually look back on and miss. These were the times I was happy.

When Toxie met Uncle Owen!

This is just my personal experience with a small number of humans that at one time worked for Troma, and this should not be taken as a blanket endorsement of everyone. I am sure they have jerks, too. But yeah, Troma was really good to me when I was out there, and for that, I will be forever grateful. And it is funny how much more I have been thinking about those times and those friends now that I have shared the bad time. The good times have flooded back in.

Remember, Toxie loves you!

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

Ancient Carp Playmat are BACK IN STOCK!

I am thrilled to announce that Anceint Carp playmats are back in stock over at Original Magic Art! They have been sold out for a little while now, but that has been addressed. All mats come with my signature in gold. I no longer carry these on my store or at my booths at conventions. The only way to get one is from Original Magic Art. Get yours today before they sell out again!

Get your very own Anceint Carp playmat exclusively from Original Magic Art!

Each mat comes with my signature in gold!

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 Gathering is the Magic Clip: "Christopher Burdett - Gudul Lurker"

During Gen Con 2022, I had an excellent opportunity to speak with the folks behind the upcoming documentary about Magic the Gathering, The Gathering is the Magic. It was a lot of fun and always a good time to talk about art, monsters, and more. In July of last year, I did a follow-up interview where I spoke about my work on the game in greater detail, as well as other topics. Another clip from the recent interview has been shared, so I am now sharing it with you.

 

The Gathering is the Magic - A documentary about how Magic the Gathering brings people together, fosters friendship, and inspires with art and storytelling.

In the interview, I was asked to discuss the cards I created for Magic the Gathering. It was fun to reminisce about the art and monsters I made, the fan response to them, and the behind-the-scenes stories regarding the cards. This clip is about the Gudul Lurker. Enjoy the clip, and check out what else The Gathering is the Magic has been sharing! 

 

The story of the Gudul Lurker, finding reference all around you, and getting a second look at your art.

That's all for another exciting Friday 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