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. 

Rikala, Homarid King

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

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!

Gen Con exclusive final MtG artist proofs are now on my store!

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

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

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

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

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

Gen Con 2026 NEXT WEEK!

Next week will see the start of Gen Con 2026! The best four days in gaming will once more roll for initiative in Indianapolis, IN, this coming July 30 - August 2. I will be returning to the Art Show after missing last year due to a last-minute emergency (everyone is totally okay!).

I will have all my monsters and, of course, some surprises that I will be sharing with you throughout the week. We will be in a slightly different location than I have been previously. Typically, you will find us in the lower left quadrant near the out rows, but this year, you will find us way up in the upper right quadrant, one row in at table 86. In some ways, it should be easier for you to find us! I hope to see you in Indianapolis next week!

My Gen Con booth in 2024.

You can find the Grand Bazaar and more at Artist Alley table 86!

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