My life as a crappy artist - Quartz Neck Demon

You of course remember the Quartz Neck Demon from episode 12, You're Welcome, from season 5 of Angel, right? Any good Angel fan would, right? I barely recall this demon and I designed it. So that everyone is on the same page, this is the Quartz Neck Demon...

I am the Quartz Neck Demon and I work in a lab and have a have a 401K. RAWR?

I was able to find some more time to take a fresh pass at another demon that I designed while working on Joss Whedon's Angel series. This time around the Quartz Neck Demon was the lucky winner. Here are my original designs for the Quartz Neck Demon from 2003...

My God... it is full of LINES...
If I just add some more scratchy lines to the whole thing it will somehow get better, right? I am shocked with the utter blandness of this piece, but he does have a weird piece of jewelry thing piercing his face.
© 2003 Almost Human

This was a kind of throw away background demon that we could not spend a lot of time on due to budgetary restrictions. We were using a modified cowl from another demon and creating a new face piece for old Quartz Neck. The props department supplied the hunk of rock in his neck. Not sure if this guy even had any lines or how pivotal his role was, all I know is that he dies so that the neck rock can be acquired. I could almost do anything with it and I did almost nothing. Even though we were limited I could have stretched it a little... maybe... For the this new reworking I threw all the limitations out the window and started with something fresh something... newer...

Taking the Quartz Neck Demon back!
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

I decided when I started this reworking that I wanted to add some rock or crystal like formation to his body. That quickly got out of had. I blame my recent work on a crystalline creature that really caught my imagination. I also wanted to play up his face jewelry that got played down in the final design. That is about that really. I had a lot of fun drawing this guy and I just can't wait to do another one. Slowly but surely trying to erase my mistakes of the past ;)

That is 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

Now available at my local mall...

Since May of last year I have had framed prints on display and for sale at a local gaming store, Gamescape. Some months back they moved into a much larger indoor mall storefront and my prints followed with the move. I have updated and changed out stock from time to time, but now that the prints are in such a high traffic area there has been a lot more interest in them.

Prints on display at Gamescape! Gotta buy them all!

It is nice to have my prints right next to the related merchandise that the target audience is interested in buying. Happy that you got a Sahuagin miniature in your booster pack? Here, buy a print of a Sahuagin Priest. Did your Gamma World players just get devoured by a giant mutant beast? Here, buy a Anglerphant print to remember the occasion.

Hey! Yeah, you... Target Demographic, get over here and look at me!

I have been meaning to get some pictures of all this to post here for a while now. It was a little crazy the first time walking by the store and seeing the prints in the front window. I am told they do get people's attention... though I am not sure if that is in a good way or a bad way. I want to extend a huge thanks to everyone at Gamescape for their continued support and interest in my work!

While in the food court of Tallahassee Mall be sure to stop by Gamescape and check out everything they have to offer... including my prints!

That is all for another exciting day 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

Fresh from the drawing table... Vampire!

I have for you today another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Vampire! "V" had but one monster listing, so the decision was rather easy. The only hurdle for this monster was my rather strong dislike for the contemporary incarnation of the Vampire. I pressed on and came up with a monster more of my liking. I present to you my version of a Vampire...

Vampire
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Vampires are not pretty. Vampires do not sparkle. Vampires are MONSTERS. Vampires are extremely powerful but their power is balanced by their weaknesses. Being a Vampire is not a treat or something to strive for. Did I mention that whole part about them being monsters?

Moving on... I wanted to catch this particular Vampire in the process of changing back into it's human guise after landing in bat form. Basically, image him saying, "SKREEEEEEEE!" and you will have the whole experience. I was really torn in how extreme to make his monstrous form, looking at this again I wonder if I erred on the said of caution. That can always be fixed later. I will leave you with the reminder that Vampires are monsters... MONSTERS!

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

That is all for today 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 Frustrating Wait...

At last count I am waiting on over 80 finished pieces of work to be released from their NDAs (nondisclosure agreements). This does not even include a bunch of work I did back in 2008 on a project that got canceled that I hope to someday be able to share with you when that NDA lifts. This also does not include all the thumbnails, sketches, drawings, variations and revisions that went into creating all this work.

Some of these 80 pieces have been waiting to be released for a loooong time and other pieces that have been finished more recently are going to have a very loooong wait ahead of them. It is a little depressing to know that a piece will have to go away into hiding for a year and a half, maybe even longer, before reemerging as a finished project.

I know the waiting game is part of the job and I am sure many have waited longer to share more. This doesn't change that is kind of sucks! I do think it was worse when I worked on movies. We would work and work and work on something and then go to set and film for days with it. The movie would come out a year or two later and the fruits of everyone's work would flash by on screen for a second, or sometimes not at all. ...and then your name would be misspelled in the credits.

I sometimes wonder, "What's the worse that could happen if I break a few NDAs?" Not that I am remotely serious mind you! The legal hammer that would drop on my head would be horrifying, not to mention I would never work for that company again. All the same, as the months tick by it can get a little frustrating... especially when I am trying to post three times a week on the blog and I am looking at this big pile of finished work I would LOVE to share.

I continue to wait and hope that soon I will be able to share the work I produced a year ago and hope that it is still relevant and a good example of the quality of work that I can create. I try to find solace in being patient and the fact that so many others are waiting right there with me.

Don't tell anyone... they are secret!
A selection of 'work' that I think in theory I in have permission to share that technically I am unsure on. I think I am safe with only sharing a 100 pixels or so with you.

That is 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

My life as a crappy artist - Aztec Warrior Demon

You of course remember the Aztec Warrior Demon from episode 5, The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco, from season 5 of Angel, right? Any good Angel fan would, right? I barely recall this demon and I was on the design team for it. So that everyone is on the same page, this is the Aztec Warrior Demon...

RAWR! I'm the Aztec Warrior Demon and I love ketchup! OM NOM NOM NOM NOM! Can't get enough ketchup!

I was able to find some time to take a fresh pass at another demon that I designed while working on Joss Whedon's Angel series. This time around the Aztec Warrior Demon was the lucky winner of making me cringe more than all the others. Despite my better judgment here are my original designs for the Aztec Warrior Demon from 2003...

Oh boy... well, at least the chest plate thing is not too bad, might just have to keep that bit. Not sure what is going on above the neck and that sad hand is killing me. Would it have killed me to look down at my own hand and draw it rather then have that mitten ball?
© 2003 Almost Human

Apparently we needed to get closer to my shame, because I did a head study too. You know how something might look weird from a distance and when you get closer it all makes sense? This is not one of those times...

GAH! Oh noes! The mildly displeased monster may have taken notice of us. This demon appears to be slowly melting toward its right side while his helmet is bulging toward the left. Is it just me, or does he look like he is about to cry?
© 2003 Almost Human

Another classic case of me freaking out under a ridiculously short deadline (maybe a couple of hours) and having no solid direction to move forward with. This was a winning combination for me back then... one of those lose/lose situations. If I remember correctly, this demon was an old foe of a band of super hero Mexican wrestlers. The demon made his return after all but one of the wrestlers were dead. The demon would rip the hearts out of people and that just won't fly in Los Angeles these days. Not sure if any of the designs produced actually looked like the final demon or if the sculptor just distilled them all into the final creature. Now was my chance to rework this bad boy from south of the boarder and put right another of my wrongs, with something... newer...

Taking the Aztec Warrior Demon back!
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

I kept that breast plate deal and the bird head helmet. One thing demons don't have enough of these days is FEATHERS. I think the demon would have looked a lot more imposing if the helmet and gear were much bigger and had more bits that moved when he moved. Some facial paint other then the ketchup mouth would have been nice too. Once again, if I had only taken a deep breath and tried to have some fun rather then freaking out about the design maybe I could have come up with something better those many years ago... or maybe not. In the end I am not sure if it is a better design, but I am much happier with the drawing.

I will leave you with another pick of the final Aztec Warrior Demon on set. Check out that styling chest plate! Soon all the classy demons will be wearing them. You might notice how his head is totally a different color then his body... yeah, that was all me too...

RAWR! At least I can keep my eyes open while looking at the camera! RAWR!

That is all for another exciting day 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

Fresh from the drawing table... Umber Hulk!

I have for you today another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is an Umber Hulk! "U" only offered two options and I can tell you that the Unicorn is never going to be my first choice. I have plenty of ideas on how to redesign the Unicorn and make it my own, but I would much more enjoy drawing a giant bug man. I present to you my version of an Umber Hulk ...

Umber Hulk
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

I have always liked giant insect monster men and the Umber Hulk is a perfect example of one. I designed several insect demons / monsters when I was working on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and I never felt I ever really nailed it. In response to those feelings of insect monster failings I designed an insect monster man a few years back. A gaming company bought it from me but it never ended up being printed and disappeared into the ether. For this new version of the Umber Hulk I pulled some of the elements I really liked from that unpublished designed and gave it a twist with my current sensibilities. The pincer hands are one of the main carry overs, I just really wanted to make something again with those hands. No matter how it turns out though, it is hard to go wrong with big insect monster men!

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

That is all for today 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

Surge of the Wine-Dark Sea

I recently received my copy of an art anthology I was a part of. Surge of the Wine-Dark Sea is a collection of contemporary artists that are producing work for and in the style of old-style fantasy RPGs. It was a honor to be a part of it and it is a real sharp book to hold in your hands. Over 30 artists contributed work to this book and if you are a fan of this style of gaming and art you really should take the time to go check out Surge of the Wine-Dark Sea!

Surge of the Wine-Dark Sea now available at lulu.com!

I have three pieces in the book and they each received an entire page to stretch their elbows and hang out. You might remember seeing these pieces here on the blog, they were produced for Knockspell #2 and Knockspell #3 released by Mythmere Games. I tip my hat and extend my thanks to Matt Finch, the master mind behind both Knockspell and Surge of the Wine-Dark Sea.

Poison Wine, Polymorph Plaque and Skeletal Minotaur
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Make sure you run right out and get yourself a copy of Surge of the Wine-Dark Sea! It is a really nice collection of old-style fantasy RPG artwork all in one publication!

That is all for another exciting week on the blog! See you back here next week for more fun! Until then...

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

Permanently is a long time...

I received an email a while back asking for the permission to use a suit of armor I designed for Dungeons and Dragons in a tattoo. Since I made that armor as a work for hire agreement I no longer owned control over the armor, so I had no authority to allow or disallow usage. I did ask that if the suit of armor did get used for a tattoo I really would like to see a photo of the finished work. Much to my surprise a photo turned up in my inbox late last week...

Coming at you on a sheet of human paper!

Here is the armor that was used in the tattoo. It is the Tiefling female scale armor I designed for 4th Edition Dungeons and Dragons. Not only is it one of my favorite sets of of Tiefling armor, but it is also one of my favorites from all the armor I designed for D&D.

Female Tiefling Armor
© 2007 Wizards of the Coast

It is rather a shock and very humbling to think someone wants something I created permanently on their body. I hope they are enjoying the tattoo, it is a real honor indeed. I have always said I will not design a tattoo for anybody that asked, and there have been many, but maybe I need to rethink this decision when it comes to work I have already created. Something to think about!

That is all for today, 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

ArtOrder - Ultimate Fighter

Had a few spare moments and got together a submission for the most recent ArtOrder challenge, the Ultimate Fighter. Even though there was a ton of time allotted for this challenge, due to deadlines and other mitigating circumstances I found myself working on this at the eleventh hour and turning it in right before the deadline. All that aside, here is my submission for the Ultimate Fighter...

Ultimate Fighter
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

The challenge was to "depict the ultimate fantasy human fighter". Jon didn't want to limit us in our creativity so he left it pretty wide open with only a few disclaimers. You can read all the notes and get all the details on the challenge HERE.

Had some fun with this guy, though I think I really only did this piece so that I could revisit my submission to the previous ArtOrder challenge, the 'Shock and Awe' weapon. I hope that fact I included it does not run afoul of any of the submission rules and get me disqualified. Oh well, those are the risks I have to take... Anyway, I figured anyone that could wield the +5 club of dwarfing had to be the ULTIMATE of fighters. Also, two ArtOrder challenges in one submission had to make it twice as good... right? I think he turned out a little vanilla, but I am happy with the drawing and it was nice to have a momentary break from the deadlines.

UPDATE: The Ultimate Fighter challenge is now live and there are over 70 entries! You can see them all over on ArtOrder. Big thanks to Jon Schindehette for highlighting mine, glad to hear he enjoyed it!

That is all for today, see you back here on Wednesday and something that is pretty neat! Until then...

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

Something We Like Interview

Recently, I had the honor to be interviewed by Peter Halim over at Something We Like. Which is only fitting with all the artist I recently pestered to be part of my blog. My interview went up on somethingwelike.com today and hopefully I don't sound like an idiot (well, not anymore then I usually do). If you have a moment head on over and have a look around somethingwelike.com!

After you check out my interview there are SO many more interesting artists to read about over on somethingwelike.com

A big thanks goes out to Peter for including me on his site. Loads to look at and read! If you missed that link earlier, you can see my interview, HERE.

That is 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

What does it take?

I have recently been interacting with a lot of younger artists and people with an interest in art and one point of conversation keeps coming up time and time again. I am continually being asked either, "How can I get to do this?" or "What do I need to do to make work like you?". In 100% of these situations I feel that my answer of, "LOTS and LOTS of hard work and time spent over the course of my entire life and spending all my time working towards my goals." seems to not be taken seriously or not understood for what to really entails. In these situations I always wish I had my jar with me...

The JAR
June 2005 - present.

On a whim when I started working professionally in the gaming industry I started throwing my pencil nubs into an empty glass jar. Very soon it just became habit and with the exception of a few, all of my pencil nubs for the last six years have been going in there. When someone asks, "What do I need to do to make work like you do?" I just want to show them my jar and say, "It takes 10 of these."

This jar also serves as a reminder to me that there will be another jar after it. The goal is to not simply fill it, the goal is to continue working and hopefully to improve. If I was not continually reminded of my skill level and the fact that I still have loads of room for improvement but the world around me, the jar would serve as a personal reminder to keep pressing forward. After all the events of last week I was left looking at the jar with fresh eyes. Even though I am reminded I am not at the level I feel I can be and I am still not working on the projects I think I have the abilities for, eventually I will. The jar proves that.

What does it take to get to that next level? "LOTS and LOTS of hard work and time spent over the course of my entire life and spending all my time working towards my goals." Sometimes, I need to remind myself of this.

That is all for today, 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

Fresh from the drawing table... Troll!

I have for you today another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Troll! "T" had several great monsters to pick from which left me a little indecisive for a time. The Troglodyte caught my eye early on, but I have already done a lot in the Dungeons & Dragons universe with the Troglodyte. In the end the idea of drawing a huge hulking powerhouse of destruction won me over and the Troll made the cut. I present to you my version of a Troll...

Troll
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Is it a plant? Is it an animal? Is it a anilant or planimal? Who knows... but what is known is that it is a relentless juggernaut of destruction. I love to work on big massive hulking creatures (the dumber the better) and the Troll gave me that opportunity. You can keep your sleek lean agile creatures, give me the big slow brutes. Not sure if I explored any new territory design wise with this guy but I sure as heck had a lot of fun working on him ...and sometimes, that is enough for me. I did try to give him the appearance that his skin and horns could be plant or animal in origin or somewhere in between. He does have a big stone hammer and shields wrapped around his shins!

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.        

That is all for today here 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