Friday, August 7, 2026

Gen Con 2026 Recap

Gen Con is the best four days in gaming. It is also a lot of work, a lot of stress, and an amazing experience. We had to miss last year, so returning this year felt a little off, a little odd, as if we missed something and are now arriving late. But once I was there, that all went away. There were some mishaps, mostly with tech, but at the end of it all, it was a tremendous four days with new and old friends, loads of art, and a reminder of why I love games and working in games so much. The community at Gen Con and especially in the art show is STRONG. It was a weekend filled with surprises at every turn. I crossed paths with people I worked with in LA, friends I have not seen in years, and met new fast friends. It was very, very good, and also exhausting.

I had the great opportunity to speak about AI and its effect on artists and the gaming industry. It was a hard conversation, but it needs to happen. I do not know what will come of our discussion, but we need to do something before it is too late for us all. I want to add more about the con, but more and more of my life is happening offline and away from tech, all due to AI. So I am here less, sharing less, and second-guessing things I will post. So, I think I will end here. It was a really great show, and you kind of had to be there. Here are images from the con. 

Always a good sign.

GO HOME, Snorlax, you are drunk.

Photos of the crowd waiting the first day never do it justice.

My Gen Con 2026 booth!

I received a mighty boon!

I did a poor job, again, of taking pictures of the show. This is always from being in the moment and never taking photos, the fact that my phone never leaves the booth while I am working, and I as well never leave the booth (except for bathroom breaks). That aside, I did take this one photo from my booth.

And this one too.

I said goodbye to the Poisoned Dagger.

A shot of the audience of the AI panel.

This is one of several emaciated corpses that were created at dinner on Saturday and the only one I can share. I will redact the names of the guilty.

And last, but certainly not least, my very first legendary monster was spoiled on the Sunday of the show! One heck of a way to end a con. 

That is 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

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Rikala, Homarid King - Mystery Booster Commander

I am beyond excited to share with you my very first legendary monster for Magic the Gathering. Last year I was contacted by Kez Laczin because there was a monster with my name on it that needed to be made, and I am not sure that has ever been more accurate than this assignment. I present to you the mighty Rikala, Homarid King!

Rikala, Homarid King
Magic the Gathering - Mystery Booster Commander
14 x 11 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic on paper with digital finish
Art Director - Kez Laczin
 © 2026 Wizards of the Coast
 

And you did read that correctly, this piece is traditional with a digital finish. I created a finished illustration in my personal style, the style I create all of my work for the Grand Bazaar. And after that image was completed, I glazed my art with color and made adjustments to create the final published image. At the end of the day, my traditional piece shines through. Here is the traditional final for this piece.

Rikala, Homarid King
Magic the Gathering - Mystery Booster Commander
14 x 11 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic on paper
Art Director - Kez Laczin
 © 2026 Wizards of the Coast
I made an animated GIF to show the glazed color over the traditional image. 

I could not be happier with this piece. This was a long time coming and likely should have happened sooner. At the end of the day, I am a drawer. I work best with pencil on paper, and I will create the best forms, volumes, lighting, and images when I am drawing. The color then goes down over it to create the image that Wizards needs for the game. But I first created the images I wanted to create. There is also my sketch that was created for approvals before I worked on the final. 

Rikala, Homarid King Sketch
Magic the Gathering - Mystery Booster Commander
14 x 11 - Pencil on paper
Art Director - Kez Laczin
 © 2026 Wizards of the Coast
Lastly, I present to you the published card. I cannot wait to get my hands on these, I am so happy with how it looks on the card. 

That is all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog. See you back here on Friday, or maybe tomorrow, I just don't know anymore. Until then...

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

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

Remaining Gen Con Exclusive Final MtG Artist Proofs NOW AVAILABLE!

I am back from an amazing and exhausting Gen Con. The remaining Gen Con exclusive final Magic the Gathering artist proofs with art are now available on my store. Still plenty to choose from and an opportunity to get one before they are gone. I just wish my images of the art looked as good as they do in person!

Here is a better look at the art on the cards. Again, I sure wish these images looked as good as the real thing. I am extremely happy with how all of these turned out! 

THREE Shifting Shadow proofs remain!
Shifting Shadow, Rejected Thumbnail Shifting Shadow, and Charmander! 

TWO Breaching Hippocamp proofs remain!
Breaching Hippocamp and Gyarados! 

THREE Coveted Peacock FOIL proofs remain!
Coveted Peacock, Articuno, and Ho-Oh! 

That is all for another exciting day on the blog. See you back here very soon! Until then...

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

Monday, August 3, 2026

What I Was Drawing 21 Years Ago

As I continue to focus on writing the next Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia book, I dig deeper and deeper into the archives to keep the blog active. While I have work older than this in the archives, I found these drawings from early 2005 interesting. These were done just after we left LA to move to Florida, but before I started to work for WotC in June of that year. These were me figuring out things and keeping the energy going and the learning happening.

Maybe no one will find these interesting beyond myself, but now that these drawings are old enough to drink, I look at them a little differently. I see in them the bad habits and the sloppy choices that I would need to correct over the years, but more so, I see what I will become starting to take shape. Things are starting to click, and ideas are forming. The hands of the first one would eventually show up on a creature in my first book. The second piece, after a redesign, is one of the species that will appear in my second book. The third piece has yet to resurface, but its anatomy and body structure have floated through plenty of concepts.  I should have the originals for these around here somewhere. I think.

All images © 2005/2026 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

Monday, July 27, 2026

Gen Con 2026 THIS WEEK!

We are mere days away from the best four days in gaming! Gen Con 2026 will begin this coming Thursday in Indianapolis, IN, and will conclude on Sunday. You will find me at Art Show booth 86 with the whole of the Grand Bazaar and all of my monsters.

I hope to see you at Art Show booth 86!

I am in a slightly different area this year.
Head to the back left corner when facing the Art Show.

As mentioned last week, I will have the artist proofs of four cards I am nearly sold out of debuting at the show with color art on their backs. This includes the final two Ancient Carps and the final three proofs for the Shifting Shadow, Breaching Hippocamp, and FOIL Coverted Peacock. Once these are gone, they are gone forever.

Artist proofs for all your artist proof needs!

Lastly, as mentioned last week, I will be part of the FREE Rolling for Wisdom panel this coming Friday at Gen Con! I hope to see you there!

Come see me talk about what AI has done to me and my art!

That is all for another exciting Monday on the blog. See you back here after Gen Con! Until then...

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

Friday, July 24, 2026

Rolling for Wisdom Panel at Gen Con NEXT WEEK!

A week from today at Gen Con, I will be part of the panel, Rolling for Wisdom: Navigating AI's Impact on Tabletop Gaming! In addition to myself, the panelists will include Elizabeth Hargrave, Steve Hobbs, Justin Gary, and Brian Lewis. The short description: Industry leaders from design, publishing, and law gather for a civil, nuanced conversation about AI's impact on tabletop gaming — and how the community can shape what comes next.

Come see me on this panel next Friday at Gen Con! It is free to attend!

And the long description: What role should AI play in the games we design, publish, and love? Some see an existential threat to the artists and designers who make this industry what it is. Others see a tool that could expand creative possibility. Most fall in between, hungry for a conversation deeper than social media shouting. This panel isn't here to settle the debate. We're here to do something harder: have an honest, respectful conversation about a genuinely difficult issue, in front of a community that cares deeply about the outcome. Our goal is to set a tone. If we can show that people with different perspectives can sit at the same table, listen, and find common ground, we can lay the foundation for an industry initiative to develop humane best practices for how AI intersects with tabletop game creation. Panelists: Elizabeth Hargrave, Steve Hobbs, Justin Gary, Christopher Burdett, & Brian Lewis.

Make sure you come check out the final artist proofs for FOUR of my cards!

All this and a whole lot more will be at Art Show Booth 86!
I hope to see you in Indianapolis! 

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

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

FINAL Artist Proofs for FOUR Cards at Gen Con!

Four of my Magic the Gathering artist proofs have three or fewer remaining. I have added color art to their backs, and these eleven cards will be available at Gen Con 2026 at Art Show table 86! If you have been wanting a copy of the Ancient Carp, Shifting Shadow (first print), Breaching Hippocamp, or FOIL Coverted Peacock, this will be your last chance to get one. Below are images of the art!

Be sure to grab one of these remaining Magic the Gathering Artist Proofs before they are gone forever!

TWO Ancient Carp proofs remain!
Ancient Carp and Ancient Magikarp!

THREE Shifting Shadow proofs remain!
Shifting Shadow, Rejected Thumbnail Shifting Shadow, and Charmander! 

THREE Breaching Hippocamp proofs remain!
Breaching Hippocamp, Breaching Twight Sparkle, and Gyarados! 

THREE Coveted Peacock FOIL proofs remain!
Coveted Peacock, Articuno, and Ho-Oh! 
 
Make sure you come find me at Art Show booth 86!

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