Star Wars: Balance of the Force - Arcona Rumor Monger PROCESS

Back in January I shared with you the Arcona Rumor Monger that I created for the Balance of the Force expansion of the Star Wars Card Game. The time has finally come that I am sharing the process that went into this piece that was originally produced WAY back in March of last year. So we are all on the same page, here is how the final piece turned out...

Arcona Rumor Monger

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Thumbnails came first (surprise surprise). The reference shoot for this was fun and I channeled my inner Arconan to get my head around this piece. I always work out some ideas of what I want to do with a piece ahead of time, then shoot the reference, and then begin to work up the thumbnails. This allows me the flexibility to adapt and work off the unexpected elements that occur in the reference shoot as well as having a strong foundation from the reference. I always come up with better solutions to a piece when I can physically act it out. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Arcona Rumor Monger - Thumbnails

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

If I remember correctly, all of the thumbnails were winners, but option 'A' worked best for the piece. The Star Wars cards can have a lot of chrome (the elements of the card that border and lay over the art) and this piece was going to have a huge strip over the top third of the piece that I was going to have to leave room for. Option 'A' allowed for this gap the best and told the story of the rumor monger. With a selected thumbnail it was time to get started on the drawing...

Arcona Rumor Monger - Drawing

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Using my reference more I flesh out the final drawing, making sure everything is in its place and the piece overall is working. At the time I was working on the drawing I was still working through the figures in the background. Playing with the idea of how much I wanted to do with them and how far I was going to push the piece for myself. As you have seen in the final, I added a lot to the background that was eventually covered up in the final card. Those elements are for me, the things I do to make the piece mine. SO... I keep mentioning reference... well, I will tease you no longer, here are some of the reference shots that I used for making this piece...

Arcona Rumor Monger reference for all your Arcona reference needs... RAWR!

The drawing was approved and it was now time to get started on the final painting. The process is the same, the subject matter and the number of correction layers can vary. In eight easy steps here is how the Arcona Rumor Monger took shape...

Arcona Rumor Monger - Process steps

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

As an added bonus, here is an animated process step thing that I through together so you can see each layer adding to the image. Some of the changes between steps can be very small or very large... that is just how I work. 

Arcona Rumor Monger animated process thing...

I have walked through the actual steps of my painting in a lot more detail on other posts so I will not go through it all again here, but if you have any questions please feel free to add them in the comments below. Now that I had a finished painting it was turned in and approved without revisions... which is always good. Again, here is how the final Arcona Rumor Monger turned out...

Arcona Rumor Monger

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

 

 Arcona Rumor Monger in handy card form

 
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

Journey Into Nyx Prerelease

As mentioned on Friday, I was invited to attend the Journey Into Nyx prerelease this past weekend at a local gaming store, Gamescape. This was my second prerelease event and it still is a crazy and interesting experience. A huge thanks to Ben Bloodworth, everyone at Gamescape, and to all the players for making the weekend's prerelease events super fun. Always great to connect with the local players and see their enthusiasm for the game. Many photos were taken, and here are some of the highlights...

Always peddling my wears... signing cards... sketching the sketches...

Look no further for all your print needs! I have monsters on paper for your every need!

Also, my monsters apparently like to look to their left a lot.

More in the market for something that is one of a kind and made with my hands? I have that for you too! Matted, framed, and ready to hang on your wall.

The players were ready for some Magic the Gathering at midnight and that is what they got!

Ben and crew explain the procedure and are about to get things started.

After some frantic shredding of card packs the night's games begin and I have a couple of Ravenous Leucrocota in my procession. RAWR!

Did a bunch of token sketches this time around. It all started with a germ squirrel.

The squirrel zombie was followed by a pair of Vizzerdrix with a hint of zombie.

Back to the squirrel theme with a squirrel elemental.

Lastly, there were some ghost monsters, kitty cats, and some water ponies. RAWR!

I was certainly kept busy sketching, thanks everybody!

Thanks again to Ben for involving me with the Journey Into Nyx events and to everyone that came out to play, it was a really fun time! 

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

Journey Into Nyx Prerelease - TONIGHT!

This very Magic filled week on the blog continues...

I am proud to be returning to Gamescape in Tallahassee to take part in the Prerelease events for Journey Into Nyx! This weekend of Magic begins tonight and continues all weekend. I will appearing at Gamescape tonight and again tomorrow (Saturday). You can get all the details about the Prerelease events and when I will be there over on their Journey Into Nyx Prerelease Facebook event page.

Memories of the Theros Prerelease.

If you are in the Tallahassee area this weekend I had to see you out at Gamescape. I will be signing Ravenous Leucrocota and I will have prints, artist proofs (of my Theros cards), and original art with me for all your Magic needs! If you can't make it I will be sure to bring you some photos from the weekend here on the blog next week.

That is all for a very Magic filled 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

Journey Into Nyx - Toned Paper Ravenous Leucrocota

On Monday I shared with you my contribution to Journey Into Nyx, the Ravenous Leucrocota. Today I have for you the toned paper drawing that goes along with this piece. Since my final paintings are digital my originals for my Magic work are the original line sketch and the final toned paper drawing. Here is how that final drawing turned out...

"Ravenous Leucrocota" - Magic the Gathering - Journey Into Nyx

12 x 9 - colored pencil on toned paper

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

I noticed that I never signed this drawing when writing this post... this will need to be corrected. Can't have a drawing going around all naked with a signature. I even looked at it before scanning to make sure it was all set and nothing needed to be tweaked at the last minute. Oh well...

You know this piece will look amazing on your wall! As of right now this piece is still available :)

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

Magic the Gathering - Journey Into Nyx

Journey Into Nyx, the newest expansion for Magic the Gathering, is almost upon us and I have one card in this set! It was actually spoiled two weeks ago, but since I have been taking a bit of a break from the blog I have not had a chance to post about it until now.

My contribution to Journey Into Nyx, the Ravenous Leucrocota, was another opportunity for me to not only illustrate the card but to design the monster featured on the card. As I have mentioned many times here on the blog, I really love designing and illustrating the monsters that I work on. Like the Breaching Hippocamp the Ravenous Leucrocota is based on a preexisting mythological creature. Enough talk, bring on the RAWR...

"Ravenous Leucrocota" - Magic the Gathering - Journey Into Nyx
PRINTS available at OMA!

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Ravenous Leucrocota

In the coming weeks I will bring you the process that went into designing and illustrating the Ravenous Leucrocota. As always, many thanks goes out to Jeremy Jarvis for including me on this set! It is a real honor to be sharing this set with so many amazing and talented artists.

That is all for another very 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

Taking a break: Frotor Demon - Angel Season 4

The blog break continues as I am still overwhelmed elsewhere. In my absence, here is some stuff I have never shared from my days in the Makeup FX industry! Today I have for you the Frotor Demon from season 4 of Angel...

Before you say anything, yes, I have already shared the Frotor demon with you. In fact, it was in October of 2010 that I shared it with you as well as showed you how I would have designed it if that assignment had come to me in 2010 rather then 2003. While you think you have seen everything to do with the Frotor Demon, I still have some never before seen images and secrets to share!

Not to repeat myself, but this demon had some info that Angel needed and in the process of questioning him this demon gets his head slammed down on a bar top. There was some mention of a horn to grab, maybe some talk of a be forehead to make it easier on the actor... after all this time... does it really matter? Monster... I designed it... it was on the show... years later I redesigned it... and now it is on the blog again! EXCITING!

While I was the designer on this monster there was an entire team of my skilled coworkers that saw to the sculpting, molding, casting, and everything else that went into seeing this creature come about.

Enough talk, here is the Frotor Demon... 

RAWR! I am still the Frotor Demon! I still won't open my eyes for some reference photos.

The actor portraying the Frotor Demon really liked to tell us how he had been a Ferengi. Mentioned it several times. Not sure if he thought it gave him street cred or was trying to impress us. Star Trek Enterprise was filming in the sound stage next to the Angels sound stages at the time, it took a lot to impress us back then. ...like that day we ran into Patrick Stewart, that was impressive... most impressive...

Here is the original concept that was sent to production - I shared this in the original post in 2010 about the Fortor.

What you have not seen are these recently unearthed original thumbnail sketches that I did when trying to come up with an idea for the Frotor. Looks at those bad bad drawings. These were mocked openly at the time. I know they are bad... but have some respect. That first one was obviously selected long before I could really get any work done on the other thumbnails.

Look what else I found while digging around! It is the actual original final drawing for the Frotor Demon! Ever wanted to own a piece of Angel history? These could be yours for the right price! Send me an email if you are interested! RAWR!

Here are some images that have never been seen of the painted makeup pieces. I took these as reference if this creature ever had to be painted again... which I did. The boss man did the original and I did the second set.

Here are some more images of the painted makeup before it went to set. I sometimes felt like we could send drastically different painted sets of makeups and no one would notice. We spent a lot of time and effort making things match that were on screen for second if not less.

Horn details! Got to make sure you get everything the same each time.

Don't forget the hand and arm appliances. Those are important too!

Back on set and the makeup is on the guy that once played a Ferengi.

Get all the sides and all the details...

Notice how there looks to be areas were the paint seems to be peeling and rubbing off? Look at the neck and the base of the 'skull' in line with the horns. Those light areas are not detail, but rather where the paint has rubbed off of the foam latex. This happens most often when not enough adhesive is added to the base layer of paint. Easy mistake and happens from time to time.

Just prior to this monster, that I did not paint, I did paint a makeup and I made this mistake of not enough adhesive and the paint rubbed off and there was some peeling. I caught ALL kinds of hell for that. Many questionable things were spoken of me and my skills. Funny... that a week or two later that it just so happens to occur on this makeup... that like I mentioned, I did not paint. Not a lot was said about this peeling makeup...

WOW! Somehow those hand appliances turned into full gloves... how did that happen?!?!

No, really, how did that happen? We never did find out.

Lastly, we arrive on the Frotor Demon that I redesigned in 2010.

Looking at this now... I would totally do it differently in 2014... Funny!

Taking the Frotor Demon back!
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

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

Taking a break: The Woman's Victim - Angel Season 4

The blog break continues as I am still overwhelmed elsewhere. In my absence, here is some stuff I have never shared from my days in the Makeup FX industry! Today I have for you the Woman's Victim from season 4 of Angel...

This was a weird one. This is not so much a monster, but rather the effects of a monster on a person.  The monster in question is Jasmine and she touched this poor person's face and look what happened! The boss man was really pushing me to do Photoshopped photo manipulated makeup concepts so that is what this one ended up being. All things considered the final makeup ended up being very true to my design... which is nice. I would have been happier with the design if I had done more drawing and painting and less sticking photo elements together. The makeup was to look like there was a hand imprint and it had become rotted and diseased. While the design may not have made that clear (the hand part) I think the final makeup pulls it off. It is always nice to be able to design something and then it gets made and becomes a real thing out it the world.

While I was the designer on this monster there was an entire team of my skilled coworkers that saw to the sculpting, molding, casting, and everything else that went into seeing this creature come about.

Enough talk, here is the Woman's Victim... 
 

My first and only design for the victim's makeup. The boss man oversaw me while I made this so he got what he wanted and then he pushed it threw with production.

The better of only two imperfect images of this makeup that we have.

I always took a lot of photos and then you can pick the best... others felt like they should take one and hope that it turned out. ...*sigh*

The other photo of this is SO laughably bad I dared not post it. The lighting on it is so off that the entire thing is light baby blue... seriously. No mater what I have done to try to correct it has worked.

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

Taking a break: Skip Demon - Angel Season 4

The blog break continues as I am still overwhelmed elsewhere. In my absence, here is some stuff I have never shared from my days in the Makeup FX industry! Today I have for you the Skip Demon from season 4 of Angel...

Skip came about in season 3 of Angel, long before I was ever part of the show or had anything to do with it. The design and original creation of Skip are not my story to tell. What I can share is when he returned in season 4 when I had a chance to be one of the painters on all the pieces and parts that went into him as well as accompanied him to set. Since this was an established monster and makeup I followed the art lead and did what he did to make sure Skip stayed consistent.

While I was one of the painters and went to set with it there was an entire team of my skilled coworkers that saw the the sculpting, molding, casting, and everything else that went into seeing this creature come about.

Enough talk, here is the Skip Demon...

Skip returns to Angel to meet his maker.

Say goodbye, Skip... 

"Goodbye, Skip."

The original plan was to have Skip receive a fatal blow to the head which would crack and break his face. A new face piece was sculpted by the design lead... and was never used. Too much time and effort to switch out the face piece on set since the filming of 'clean' face and 'broken' face would happen on the dame day and loosing hours to switching out the makeup is not in the schedule.

This was the extent of the design work that I did for this episode. I took the photo of the makeup and added the wound color to show production the look for the planed makeup. All of this work went into the before production finally gave the word that it was not happening. We would have to do something else that was quicker.

One of the old Skip suits is cleaned up and readied to be the stunt suit.

Here is all the parts and pieces that go into Skip besides the suits.

I was one of the two painters that made these happen.

Skip and a stunt Skip filmed for two days, so we needed four cowls and four face pieces and a backup of everything else.

Here is a compromise to the broken face makeup... not ever sure this was actually used except as a reference point for the makeup department to figure out something on the day.

Skip on set hanging out.

Showing a little leg for the fans...

Broken face is happening...

A detail of broken face coming together.

Final broken face. Not much more then makeup at this point. A far cry from the separate all new sculpture it could have been.

The actor that played Skip at the shop with a huge painted banner of Skip. And yes, that is the guy that originally dated Pam on the Office.

Mr. Beefy and Skip are best buds... or not...

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