Monday, March 30, 2009

Creature concepts - greyscale Photoshop process

I have been working on some creature concepts for a game being made by the good folks over at Awkward-Games. I was asked if I could explain some of my techniques and methods that went into producing them. Here are my concepts for the Sylar creature, I will be explaining my process using concept 'D'.


First I read the description: "Sylars are very scrawny and have a type of thin mane that leads from the back of their head, down their spine (kind of like a horse's), to their tails. The mane however, consists of small 'quills' that dangle fairly loosely from their backs. The usual stance they assume would appear as if they were slightly stooped. Their necks, arms, and legs are long and slightly skinny; along with flat heads. The unit's primary sense of attack is physically clawing with its 13-fingered hands that have extremely sharp and long claws, approximately 3" long."

With this in mind I produce 10 - 12 really fast really loose sketches. These sketches were much looser then I usually tend to work because I know I want to flesh them out in photoshop and I am still trying to figure out the direction I want to take the creature. At about the 4th or 5th sketch I begin to lock in the direction i want to go. I pick my favorite 5 sketches, scan them, and take them into Photoshop.


I now place a multiply layer above the drawing, set it at 75% opacity and fill it with solid black to create a nice grey to work on top of.


Now is a good time to talk brushes. I generally use a very limited selection of brushes, most being default or slightly modified default brushes. I do make and use custom brushes as needed. For most of my work in Photoshop I paint with a brush set to 40% opacity with opacity fade set to pen pressure. I work either on my Wacom tablet or monitor taking full advantage of the stylus' pressure sensitivity. I will work a surface up taking advantage of the fact it will take several passes to reach full opacity and that I can fade completely out with a light touch. For these pieces I used brushes 'A' and 'D' predominately.


I now create a new normal layer and begin painting with a medium grey using brush 'C'. I use brush 'C' very lightly all over to break up the form and establish some base texture. You can still see some of these marks that fell outside the line drawing, I leave them because I feel they add to the over all feel of the piece and I can remove them later if needed. I now switch to brush 'A' and begin to define the forms and establish the lighting for the figure. I work very lightly at first and slowly build up the forms. Once I am at a point I am happy I switch to a darker grey and lay down shadows using brush 'D'. I will now work the figure switching back and forth between the lighter and darker grey (still using brush 'D') to finalize the forms. I use brush 'B' and go back in and break up some of the areas on the head, arms and legs to add a pore or surface texture. I tap the stylus gently to create the desired effect.


Below the current layer and create a new layer and add in the quills along the back. Since this is a feature that very easily may need to be changed later I feel it is wise to separate it. Using brush 'E' at 100% opacity I work the quills in with the 2 greys I have already been using.


I create a new layer above the main painted layer. Using brush 'D' and a very light grey (but NOT pure white) I finalize the forms and make sure that everything is making sense. As before I will now select a darker grey and work back and forth between the light and dark to finalize everything. Lastly, I select pure white and black to add the final emphasis to areas like the eye, teeth, claw, etc, anyplace that would have a dark dark or a light light. These lighter and darker areas also helps to direct the eye of the viewer.


Feeling that I have completed the painting I add the graphic element to separate the figure from the background somewhat. I would now move on to the next figure and repeat. I hope this has been helpful in explaining how I go about creating these images.


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

Friday, March 27, 2009

Artorder Sketch - Construct Concept

If you missed it, last weeks sketches are up over at Artorder as well as this weeks assignment. Here is my sketch for this week...


This weeks theme was to design a construct along the lines of being a randomly evolved killing machine-like wild animal.

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

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Dreamblade - Totem Lord & Bloodcut Martyr

Due to my current workload I am bringing you another look back at my Dreamblade work. Last time I showed you the first design that I had approved so this week I present 2 of the last of my designs that were approved and made it though production. These were for the 5th released set, Night Fusion. I designed a third piece for this set but as far as I can tell it was pumped to what would have been the sixth set. The miniature's stats for this sixth set were released on the Dreamblade forums. No visual representations were never shown for this uncompleted set so I will never be 100% positive of what would have been. I worked with Art Director Peter Whitley on this final sets of Dreamblade. Without further delay I present the Totem Lord (one of favorites) and the Bloodcut Martyr.

My first pass on both designs, the Totem needed to be more 'alive' and the Martyr less 'Zungar' and more like an animal

Final Totem Lord turnaround - WATCH OUT! That beaver has a STICK!

Final Bloodcut Martyr turnaround - You have to be careful with a pangolin, they will crawl you.

Final production miniatures for both pieces

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

Monday, March 23, 2009

Sketchbook 3/21/2009

Here are some excerpts of my sketchbook from over the weekend. I had a very full weekend of painting (which you will see here in the fullness of time), Roller Derby Skate-a-thon, poison ivy, and stopping softballs with my knee.



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

Friday, March 20, 2009

Artorder Sketch - Orcus' Pet Concepts

If you missed it, last weeks sketches are up over at Artorder as well as this weeks assignment. Here is my sketch(s) for this week...


The assignment was to concept a pet suitable for the horror that is Orcus. (A) is a tentacled mouthy abomination from some dark corner of the Abyss, loves to play fetch and reminds Orcus of his mother (the mouths). (B) is Orcus' Kill-arium: hapless adventures go into the top; eventually succumbing to hunger, wounds, or thirst; more hapless adventures go into the top and their weight and movement compress those below; repeat; the resulting fluid out the bottom is a tasty treat for Orcus and he has all those lovely moments of suffering and pain to watch.

I have one additional unofficial submission for a pet suitable for Orcus. It is a little cat named Stinky who steals pens and pencils and loves to make eye contact with you as he slides important objects off tables with his little paw. Stinky truly knows the subtlety of evil...


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

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Dreamblade - Blight Rat

I am in the middle of a few different projects and don't have anything new I can post today. In light of that I am featuring a look back at one of the pieces I designed for the game Dreamblade as well as a tiny look into my office.

I began working on Dreamblade nearly 4 years ago (how time flies) and worked on it for about a year and a half. Dreamblade was one of the most rewarding projects I have ever worked on. Not only did I have the assignment to create monster after monster, but I found myself working on a project with many of the artist that I look up to. I also worked with two very talented and experienced Art Directors that made sure I never settled and always went to that next level, Stacy Longstreet and Peter Whitely. I consider myself extremely fortunate and honored to have found myself on such a project surrounded by so many skilled and experienced artist. ...and did I mention I had to design monsters?!

First, lets take a look at my shrine to Dreamblade. This is a custom shelf I build to hold one of every produced Dreamblade miniature. It has a mirrored back to add to the 'awesomeness' factor. It was build and hung so that it could still be visible when the door to my office is open and closed.


Now for the Blight Rat. The Bight Rat was the first of my Dreamblade designs to be approved, so it is fitting to have it the first here. The design went through 2 different versions and one revision before reaching the final design. It still is one of my favorite pieces.

The evolution of the Blight Rat

Final 3 view turn around with final miniature

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

Monday, March 16, 2009

Sketchbook 3/13/2009 - 3/14/2009

Here are some fresh excerpts of my sketchbook from over the weekend. It was a very full weekend of drawing actually. Hopefully you will see the fruits of these labors here soon.


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

Friday, March 13, 2009

Artorder Sketch - Garreth Humanoid Concepts

If you missed it, the first week of sketches are up over at Artorder as well as this weeks assignment. If you have a moment, head over there, lots of great stuff. Here is my sketch(s) for this week...


The assignment was to concept a tiny scavenger humanoid known as the Garreth that lives around the lair of red dragons. They live off the remains of fallen adventures while in limited symbiosis with the dragons.

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

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Derby Shoes

The Tallahassee Roller Girl FAB had a birthday recently and she got some new shoes. I got to have some fun with paint markers to make her shoes special. Now that she has received her gift I can share a picture of the shoes.


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

Monday, March 9, 2009

Sketchbook 3/6/2009 - 3/8/2009

Here are some fresh excerpts of my sketchbook from over the weekend. It was a very full weekend of Watchmen, Roller Derby, Dungeons and Dragons and sketching.

A Rorschach from memory before seeing the Watchmen and then one after seeing the movie.


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

Friday, March 6, 2009

Artorder Sketch

Jon Schindehette put out a call for themed sketches over on his blog earlier this week. Jon is the Senior Art Director on Dungeons and Dragons and really knows the business, I strongly encourage you to take some time and check out his blog. Here is my sketch...


The theme was to take the D&D creature, the Cockatrice, and move it along it's evolutionary path. My Cockatrice diverged into two separate but linked species. The first became a tool making hunter/gatherer with herding knowledge. The second became a more docile herd animal. As both species developed they both lost the ability to fly and a lot of their feather growth. While the gaze abilities have ebbed over the years for the smaller hunter/gatherers their larger cousin's gaze has become more potent and dangerous over the years. The larger cousin is the center of daily life providing almost everything the smaller needs to survive: leather, meat, born and horn tools, and even polished stone pearls formed in the gullet which are fashioned as body jewelry.

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

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

My other work

When I answer people's questions about my job with, "I make monsters", I sometimes get some blank stares. I have to then follow up with, "I make monsters and I do a lot of instructional animations". When that does not work I ask if they ever watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the conversation can continue. My instructional animations are pretty straight forward. They are targeted to the operators of Child Care Homes and Facilities and cover topics and idea relevant to those setting.


Looks like a nice place for an afternoon

I have recently begun a new course and this one looks like it will allow me to have some real fun. The new course involves disaster preparedness and fire safety. I just hope I don't push the boundaries to much... only one way to find out though.

What would you do if an estranged spouse shots an
employee on the playground in front of children?

FLEE! FLEE FOR YOUR VERY LIVES!

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

Monday, March 2, 2009

Sketchbook

I broke in a new sketchbook over the weekend. Here are some of the pages.



I have not had an official sketchbook in a while. This seems silly to me since I doodle on everything around me and I have my pages I do my work related concept sketching on (but that stuff can't really be shown... NDA and all).

I really enjoy the pleasure of making marks on paper, I have mentioned this before in a Meeting Notes post. To draw when the goal is not the perfect line, a finished piece, to wow a client, or to meet a deadline, but to just put the pencil to the page and see where it goes. To have time for this is a real treat these days and something I want to have more time for. If I do, you most likely will see some of it here!

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