Talisman: The Dragons (Part 3)

A dragon for every occasion! Today I have for you even more dragons that I produced for the aptly named new expansion of Talisman, The Dragons. It appears these dragons are continuing the trend from Wednesday, and are spitting all over the place. Naughty rude dragons, their mothers did not do a good job of raising them. Enough talk, bring on the dragons...

Plague Dragon
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

Shadow Dragon
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

I really looked forward to working on the Plague Dragon, always fun to make with the gross textures, colors and forms. The idea that is was belching up a purple and green cloud of fly filled poison was fun. Then there is the Shadow Dragon... Personally, this is my least favorite of all the dragons I produced for this assignment. At least the final is printed small. I think it is impossible to love everything that you produce after it is all said and done and I think everyone has pieces they really like and don't like very much. The Shadow Dragon for me in in that latter category. They all can't be Zombie Dragons!

That is all for a very dragon filled week! I will be back here on Monday with the last dragon post! Until then...

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

Talisman: The Dragons (Part 2)

The dragons continue! Today I have for you more dragons that I produced for the newest expansion of the Talisman board game, The Dragons. Today the dragons all appear to be spitting up their dinners. I guess they got out into the yard and ate some grass. Naughty dragons, now someone is going to have to clean that up. Enough talk, bring on the dragons...

Amber Dragon
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

Swamp Dragon
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

After working on these for awhile I had to start coming up with new and interesting angles and presentations to stay engaged and excited about the piece. Don't get me wrong, it is totally awesome to have to paint 10 dragons, but if I had to paint all 10 in the same view doing the same thing it would have gotten old really fast. Some of these really lent themselves to being presented in different ways, like the Amber Dragon. Since I needed to show off that is had amber like wings with the bones of it's victims suspended in them that really lent itself to being back lit.

That is all for today, see you back here on Friday for MORE dragons! Until then...

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

Talisman: The Dragons (Part 1)

I have for you a week of new work! The newest expansion for the board game Talisman, The Dragons, is finally out and I can now share with you all the work I did on this set. The name of the expansion should give you a clue to the what I have in store for you. In total I produced 10 dragons for the set, but I am told three flew away to future sets, but fear naught, they will surface eventually. Enough talk, let's get with the dragons!

Storm Dragon
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

Zombie Dragon
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

I think I started working on these at least a year ago and I feel like I was working on dragons for months. There were so many and every time I turned around there were more! I could not look at a dragon for several months. After 10 dragons there are some I really like and a few I wish could have been a little more then they ended up. In the end I do think that the Zombie Dragon is my favorite. For all the obvious and not so obvious reasons...

See you back here on Wednesday for MORE dragons! 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... Demon: Juiblex!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Demon, and to be more specific, the Demon Lord Juiblex! I knew when I got back around to "D" on the second pass I needed to do a demon or devil. There was a little part of me that still is crying out to do a dinosaur, I guess that means there will be a definite third pass. Of all the demons in the Monster Manual there was one that instantly jumped out at me, the massive pile of slime and eye that is in a constant state of exploding and reforming. I present to you my version of the Demon Juiblex...

Demon: Juiblex
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

The Demon Lord of slimes and oozes... Juiblex was just an excuse to have a whole lot of fun drawing a big mass of mess. It shoots jets of acid and filth out of it's body, which is covered in eyes, as it collapses in on itself and reforms. Yeah, why would any group of heroes even consider fighting with this thing? All I know is that it was really fun to draw.

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 another exciting week on the blog. See you back here on Monday for the arrival of... DRAGONS! Until then...

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

SHADOWCORE

Shadowcore is HERE! Shadowcore is a new blog featuring the works of a very talented group of artists, and somehow I am part of this group! Here are the artist you can expect to see over on the Shadowcore blog: Adam Cook, Anna Christenson, ME, Christopher Rahn, Chuck Lukacs, Craig J Spearing, Eric Braddock, Eva Widermann, Kieran Yanner, Raven Mimura, and Tyler Jacobson. I am humbled and honored to be listed among such talented artists.

A huge thanks needs to go out to Craig Spearing for initiating all this and doing all the work to get it up and going. Even though Shadowcore has just launched I am really exciting about what it will become. Head on over and start following! You will not be disappointed!


That is all for today, see you back here tomorrow! Until then...

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

DZ Magz Issue 10

I have an interview in the newest issue of DZ Magz. DZ Magz is a Flash based downloadable ezine that interviews and showcases a wide variety of artist and creative professionals. You can download for free issue 10 of DZ Magz on their website. Here are a couple screen captures of my section of the ezine, you will have to go and download it to see the rest...

DZ Magz Issue 10, now available!

Telling my secrets in two languages!

A big thanks to everyone over at DZ Magz for their interest in my work and for approaching me for the interview. To get Issue 10 or any of their back issues, for free, head on over to their website!

That is all for today, see you back here tomorrow for something exciting news! Until then...

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

Hymns and Wretched Offerings to the Golden Ones

As mentioned last month the great and powerful Jim Pavelec is releasing a book project he has been working on for some time, "Hymns and Wretched Offerings to the Golden Ones". The Kickstarter for this book is ending in just 3 days, so if you want to take advantage of the Kickstarter incentives you better head over there and pledge your devotion and money! The link to the page is HERE.

Here is a short list of the artist that contributed to the book: Allen Williams, Allison Theus, ME!, Davi Blight, Jim Pavelec, Kim Feigenbaum, Mike Corriero, Mike May, Shreya Shetty, William B. Hand, Sam Araya, Paul Komoda, and Bob Eggleton. I saw a working copy of the book at Gen Con and it was super awesome and can't wait to see the finished HARDCOVER book. That's right, there have already been enough pledges to ensure that the book will be hardcover.

The cover of "Hymns and Wretched Offerings to the Golden Ones"

There are many price points to pledge at and lots of great incentives to get if you take part in the Kickstarter in the next 3 days. What are you waiting for? Head over to the "Hymns and Wretched Offerings to the Golden Ones" Kickstarter page, NOW!

That is all for today, see you back here tomorrow! Until then...

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

Geek Night 2011 wrap up

Geek Night 2011 has come and gone. A fun time hanging and drawing with Lee Bretschneider and Justin Peterson as we got to talk to the students of FSU about monsters, super heroes and thing with top hat and mustaches. Turn out was a little light compared to last year, but there was so much going on in Tallahassee Friday night that is not surprising. Still had fun and it was night to be back for our third year in a row. Enough talk, here are some picture from the night...

Geek Night 2011 table arrangement, now with 200% more signs.

A shot of us all lined up and ready to start the night. Lee Bretschneider was set up directly on my right and Justin Peterson was on the far end.

Lance the Fett and my wife take a break of all the Geek Night excitement.

I think Justin Peterson was the hit of the night with his fully digital set up. People could watch on screen as he worked on his Wacom Cintiq and then get a print out of anything he did that night. Justin always had a crowd of onlookers.

But in the end, we were no match for Droideka...

A big thanks to everyone at the FSU Union Productions for having us out again this year and to everyone that came out! I hope you all enjoy your sketch cards and that you had a fun time. I know I did! If you missed out on Geek Night, don't worry, it looks like I have another event coming up at the end of October again on the FSU campus! More on this soon!

That is all for today, it looks like I have a busy week on the blog ahead of me, lots to share! Until then...

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

Geek Night 2011 - TONIGHT!

Tonight is the night! GEEK NIGHT 2011! If you are in north Florida stop on by the campus of Florida State University for fun and FREE sketch cards. Speaking of sketch cards here are some of the sketch cards that I have ready for folks coming out tonight...

Geek Night sketch cards
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Geek Night 2010 • Union Ballrooms
Friday, September 16 • 8:00 p.m. • Free for all ages

Aim for the giant red arrow and circle that appears on the HUD display.

I will be appearing again with the always talented Lee Bretschneider and Justin Peterson. We will all be doing free sketches and talking to folks. Hope to see you out there tonight. Just like the last two years you will also have a chance to win a free print! Plus video games, board games, and lots more geeky fun!

That is all for this week. I have a full day ahead of me before Geek Night. 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

Directed Studies Week 2

As I mentioned last week, I am conducting a Directed Studies class with a local art student. For my demonstration for the second week I took a piece of photo reference supplied to the student for an assignment last semester. That assignment was to create a character from the reference. I wanted to take that same reference and show how I go about using photo reference to help influence and improve my drawing. This is the end result of the drawing demo, a monkey man with a lot on his mind...

Simian Orator
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Giving my student the option, he asked that I create a character along the lines of the one that he did, a orator type figure, rather then one using a weapon. I opened one of my animal books and came upon a howler monkey and I let that be the reference for the monster side of the drawing. While letting the reference influence my choices I pushed and pulled the anatomy and altered the attire. Always looking to the reference to tell me how I should go about defining my forms. LOOK FIRST and then DRAW SECOND.... repeat. Here is the final drawing next to the supplied reference...

Figure reference and drawing.
LOOK FIRST and then DRAW SECOND

You should be able to quickly pick out where I stuck closely to the reference and where I did not once placed next to the reference... hopefully you could not when just looking at the drawing. Once completed I got out the drawing from week 1 in which the drawing was mostly influenced by the silhouette that I drew. While I was looking at animal reference the waste majority of the drawing was influenced by my experience and the symbols in my head. I put the two drawings side by side to show the difference in feel even in my own drawings when more reference is used...

Week 1 and 2 drawing comparison.
Image on the left is mostly out of my head while the image on the right is much more informed from reference.

If I was creating the image on the left for a project I would have gotten a photo of myself in the pose suggested by the silhouette before beginning the final drawing to help fill in the gaps and add a level of realism.

As a reminder, if you are in the Tallahassee area Friday night, I will be appearing at GEEK NIGHT 2011 on the Florida State University campus! Hope to see you there!

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

Blood Bowl: Team Manager

Starting the week off with something new! Many moons ago, I was approached to work on a little game called Blood Bowl for the good folks at Fantasy Flight Games. I thought of orcs and goblins or even rat men... turns out I was assigned an elf. Not even a dead elf, but a hero to elf kind... Prince Moranion. Not really a monster, but I was tasked to make him look awesome, and I tried my best. Enough talk, on with the monster... er, I mean elf...

Prince Moranion
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

There is a little story on how this elf came to be mine, but I am not sure if that would be appropriate to mention here. All things considered, it was a fun piece to work. The silliness on the forums speculating if the game would ever come out due to production delays is another matter. Not much to say other than that, this project went REALLY smoothly for me, and it was over quickly. This was another project I got to see at Gen Con and was given permission to now show. I still have not seen the final production card, but I was told it definitely made it into the game.

That is all for today, 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 Project That Never Was (Part 2)

Back in June I brought you the first post about a big project that I worked on back in 2008. The project died before it ever saw completion and the work I produced for it has remained sealed away every since. ...until NOW. Please keep in mind while I can now share my work I can not divulge any other details regarding the project. If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

In this second installment of turnarounds I have the first of several variations on a theme. The 'Devil Dude' was one of the pieces I was able to have complete control over in the concept phase. It came together really quickly and seemed to be well received. Once designed I had to create a lot of specialized variations based off the 'Devil Dude' template. Before I say to much, bring on the monsters...

'Devil Dude' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'Devil Dude - now with AXE POWER' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

I will bring you more 'Devil Dudes' soon. Looking back I was a little surprised with just how many of these I created. They could have been awesome... oh well... Not every project can see the light of day and not everything that is begun can be completed.

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

Ninja Mountain 105 & Geek Night 2011

I was a little slow on the uptake on this one... I recorded a Gen Con wrap up with Paul "Prof" Herbert and Ninja Mountain members Ralph Horsley, Drew Baker and Jeremy McHugh recently. Apparently it has already gone live and you can not listen to everyone's thought and experiences from Gen Con 2011 as well as the lovely sounds of my load computer. There is some great reflection on the everyone's experiences as well as tips and ideas on how to make your con appearances better. You can find all this in the second half of episode 105 of the Ninja Mountain Podcast. Go have a listen... NOW.

It is that time again, Geek Night 2011 is just almost here! Geek Night, you ask? Geek Night is a yearly fall semester tradition at Florida State University to help welcome students in a fun and geeky atmosphere. I will be returning for my third appearance at Geek Night along with the very talented Lee Bretschneider and Justin Peterson. We will be creating sketch cards on the spot and giving them out to everyone that shows up on a first come first serve basis. The last two years have been a blast and I see this year being even better! I better get started making some sketch cards to have ready ahead of time. If you are in the Tallahassee area the night of Friday September 16th between 8pm - midnight, be sure to stop by FSU campus and say 'hi'!

That is all the updates 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

Even More Meeting Notes

A late blog post on a holiday for most in the United States. Laying low and getting some rest and HOPEFULLY a lot of work done. I still wanted to make sure I got by the blog all the same. Since it is a low key day I have some more meeting notes that I have been compiling over the last several months.

As always, before you pass judgment, this is how I take notes in meetings and you should not think I am not paying attention. Active hands means active brain... or something... anyway, on with the monsters...

Tentacles?!?! Again? Who would have thunk it?
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

*snort*
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Are you seeking a career in monster dentistry?
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

The floating head of Self Doubt wants to whisper into your ear.
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Gorthock like long walk in moonlight, holding hands.
© 2011 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

Directed Studies Week 1

I am conducting a Directed Studies course in Illustration with a local art student and yesterday marked the first day of the fall semester. I got things rolling with a drawing demonstration and took him through an entire drawing, start to finish. I gave him the option to choose from a couple of different options and the idea of a bipedal reptilian monster was picked. I got started on some silhouettes first...

Monster silhouettes!

I quickly got as many of these on the paper trying out different shapes, forms and arrangements looking for something interesting. I let the student pick and we went with (1). I pointed out that some of the smallest and less defined, (2) & (3), to me at least offered a very interesting starting point. I also took this opportunity to talk about planning ahead and fully working up your ideas before moving onto a finished piece. Using (4) I pointed out the sudden difference it made when I added big feet to this silhouette. It suddenly became less threatening and to me looks like it is wearing clown shoes. While working on your silhouettes is the right time to figure these types of issue out... not while you are finishing up an illustration.

As I mentioned (1) was picked as the silhouette to move forward with so that is what I did. Since I could not spare the time to electronically enlarge the silhouette so I did it by hand. I made sure to have my animal books out in front of me and before I started on my sketching I made sure to flip through the pages to find interesting lizards and crocodiles. Understanding the differences between 'silly' and 'scary' animals is very important skill to have. While a frog is amazingly cool and offers tons of important reference cues it is not scary. An alligator on the other hand offers lots and lots of scary reference cues. Time passes and the drawing comes together...

Bipedal reptile monster!
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

From start to finish it was just over three hours of work while talking and explaining the entire process. After the fact I of course thought it would have been neat to capture images of the drawing as it developed... of well. Next time maybe. Here is a side by side comparison of the silhouette and final drawing, you can see the changes that began the moment I sketched out the silhouette by hand. The overall gesture and form is still there though.

Silhouette and drawing comparison.

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