RAWR! Shirts restocked & new size AND Free Comic Book Day reminder!

My store is now restocked with RAWR! shirts, and if that is not enough we also added a new size, XXX-LARGE! You can now get your very own RAWR! shirt in unisex sizes S - XXX-Large and woman's cut S - L. What are you waiting for? There has never been a better time to get your very own RAWR! shirt!

Get your very own RAWR! shirt!

Many sizes and cuts to choose from!

RAWR!

As a reminder, I will be at Fallout Comic for Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 2nd. I will be be there set up for most of the day with loads of original art, prints, books, artist proofs and much more. If you are in the area, I hope to see you out there AND don't forget the free comics!

Fallout Comics •  1484 Apalachee Pkwy • Tallahassee, Florida 32301.

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

Logray

YUB NUB! Today I have for you another little Star Wars study of an Ewok. This time around Logray, the Ewok shaman, got some attention with the paint. I have had this one sitting around for awhile waiting to be painted and I finally made the time for it. Here is how Logray turned out...

Logray

4 x 4 - Acrylic on board

Original - SOLD

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

Eventually, if given enough time I may finally paint all the named Ewok from the Return of the Jedi. With Logray finish this makes two Ewok pieces counting my Chief Chirpa from last year. ...or does it? As mentioned many times before with these smaller painted studies the original drawing was created much larger then the intended painting size. Here is how the drawing for Logray turned out...

Logray - Drawing

  9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available, contact me if interested

or come see it at Gen Con 2015 (7/30 - 8/2)!

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

I had the presence of mind to remember to take a couple photos of this little piece coming together. Not sure how much information they provide, but I am glad I have them for the archive.

All images © 2015 Christopher Burdett

I am currently trying to clear out the backlog of personal projects that have been sitting around in various states of completion. I have one more little painting that has been sitting around for a LONG time that need to be finished up. Once this last painting is completed I will be able to focus on creating some new personal work. Hopefully this last piece can be completed soon!

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

Fresh from the drawing table... Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier! I am back to making some progress with this project of mine and have returned to completing all of the "B" monsters. There are six giant beetles in the original D&D Monster Manual and I have already completed one of them, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, so I decided to finish off the remaining five. I have worked up thumbnails and concepts of giant beetles and I will be working on their final drawings for the next couple of weeks. The first new giant beetle is ready to go! I present to you my version of a Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier… 

Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

The Giant Bombardier Beetle is the smallest of my giant beetles and may be the only naturally occurring one (though the jury is still out on the Giant Boring Beetle). The Giant Fire Beetle is definitely not of this world or material plane. In the fullness of time you will see that due to their size there is no way the rest of the giant beetles could ever be naturally occurring creatures. I think there was some wizard or vengeful God that had too much time on their hands. While most of my giant beetles will be forces of nature I wanted the Giant Bombardier Beetle to be a real and manageable threat to an adventuring party. You do NOT want to be caught on the wrong end of their boiling chemical spray. I pity a party of low level adventures that disturbs a nest of these giant beetles.

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! Until then...

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

Flayer

Finished up a small personal painting after many starts and stops. This one was meant to be a quick piece in between client assignments, but ended up being stretched over a much longer length of time. No worries, it is finally done and I have another piece to take with me to convention season. Here is how Flayer turned out...

Flayer

4 x 6 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Original - SOLD

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

I am actually happy it took so long to arrive at a point when I could finish this painting. This piece was completed after a long run of back to back Star Wars paintings. I have been learning a lot about the paint and I have been able to turn around and put that knowledge into something I can share right away, rather then waiting a year. This painting started off with a painter at one skill level and was completed with that artist and a different skill level... at least that is how I feel about it. As with some of my other smaller personal work the drawing for the painting is actually a bit larger then the painting...

Flayer

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

As an added bonus, here on some images of the piece coming together. Super sloppy becoming a little less sloppy. The third image is where it stayed for weeks (if not longer) while I was super busy working on client work. The last two images were taken in my last sitting with the piece when it all came together.

All images © 2015 Christopher Burdett

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

Game Mash Monster Tokens

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to work on some monster tokens for the good folks at Game Mash. Game Mash is a new company making print on demand customizable tokens for your table top gaming needs. I was able to fit three tokens into my schedule and here they are...

Green Dragon

Game Mash Monster Token

  8 x 8 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Original available for sale over on my web store!

© 2015 Game Mash

Gorgon

Game Mash Monster Token

  8 x 8 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Original available for sale over on my web store!

© 2015 Game Mash

Peryton

Game Mash Monster Token

  8 x 8 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Original available for sale over on my web store!

© 2015 Game Mash

You can order/pre-order the Green Dragon, Gorgon, and Peryton now! These were fun to work on and a good exercise for me. Switching up the normal work parameters for a new assignment can be fun and challenging, like having to do top down views of monsters that read and are interesting. In my haste to paint these I managed not to take any process images so I am left with just sharing the final paintings and the drawing that I created for them.

Green Dragon - Drawing

Game Mash Monster Token - 9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
Original available for sale over on my web store!

© 2015 Game Mash

Gorgon - Drawing

Game Mash Monster Token - 9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
Original available for sale over on my web store!

© 2015 Game Mash

Peryton - Drawing

Game Mash Monster Token - 9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
Original available for sale over on my web store!

© 2015 Game Mash

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

Come see me at Free Comic Book Day and Space Coast Comic Con!

I have added two new appearances this year!

The first new appearance will be Saturday May 2nd at Fallout Comic for Free Comic Book Day. I will be be there set up for most of the day with all original art, prints, books, artist proofs and much more. As an added bonus, it is Free Comic Book day, so after you see me you can get some FREE comics!

Fallout Comics • 1484 Apalachee Parkway • Tallahassee, Fl. 32301

The second new appearance will be the weekend of September 12 & 13 at the Space Coast Comic Con. I will be a special guest at the convention in sunny Cape Canaveral, Florida. I will have all my art and related items with me as I would at any convention. There will be a Magic tournament at the con so I am looking forward to signing lots of cards. If all goes according to plan I will also be giving a talk about working as an artist in the entertainment industry. More on this ad we get closer to the convention!

Space Coast Comic Con • 8701 Astronaut Boulevard • Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920

Spacecraft and monsters at the Space Coast Comic Con! RAWR!

With two new events on the calender I hope to see you at one of them. Be sure to stop by and say hello!

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

Magic the Gathering and Kaijudo Artist Proofs now available!

Whether you call them Artist Proofs or Whitebacks, all of my blank backed Magic and Gathering and Kaijudo cards are now available on my store!

Standard and foil Artist Proofs can now be purchased through my store with the option to have an original sketch on the back. All Artist Proofs come signed and numbered. The standard artist proofs are limited to an edition of 50 and the foil artist proofs are limited to an edition of 30. And now for some pictures...

A mighty stack of standard and foil Ancient Carps!

Get yours NOW!

More in the mood for the wily Gudul Lurker? I have you covered!

Get yours NOW!

All five of my Magic the Gathering cards are still available with two the cards having an additional foil variant. All three of my published Kaijudo cards are also available at a special discounted price.

All of my Magic the Gathering Artist Proofs for all your Artist Proof needs!

All of my Kaijudo Artist Proofs for all your Artist Proof needs!

I mentioned original sketches and if you choose you can get one on your artist proof. Here are some examples of the sketches you can anticipate. If I am feeling festive I may include some additional tonal work and shading. You never know what monster will be lurking on the back of your Artist Proof. RAWR!

Monster sketches on Artist Proofs for all your sketched on Artist Proof needs!

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

Descent: Dark Elements Cover

A year ago I had the opportunity to work on my first cover assignment for Fantasy Flight Games. Descent: Journeys in the Dark Second Edition, has special organized play adventures available first as in-store experiences and later available through their online store. Their organized play covers are very monster centric which allowed me the opportunity to work on one. I was tasked with portraying a menacing Merriod in a deep dark underground water filled dungeon. Here is how that Merriod turned out...

Descent: Dark Elements

12 x 12.5 - Digital

© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

The Merriods are pretty crazy with their bitey face claw tentacles and they many rows of sharp pointy teeth, but were very fun to work on. This apparently has been out as an organized play adventure for a while now, unbeknownst to me. This adventure was made available for purchase on the FFG web store on Friday and I learned of its release. It feels like so much longer then a year since I worked on this with all that has happened artistically for me since then. Here is how the cover looks on the packaging...

Descent: Dark Elements packaging

(image courtesy the FFG website)

The menacing Merriod is currently getting some love on the FFG website. While it is not the first time, it is not often one of my pieces is so prominently featured on their site. I will take a moment to reflect on this... and then get back to work.

Dark Elements announcement on the FFG website

RAWR!

A big thanks to Andy Christensen for the opportunity to work on this assignment and for all the great art direction throughout this project. I will have a bit to share about this one when I post the process in the the coming weeks. More on this soon!

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

Fresh from the drawing table... Demon Type III (Glabrezu)!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Demon Type III (Glabrezu)! It has been some time since I last posted one of these... actually the last time was July 25th, 2014. I was deep in the middle of "B" surrounded by a lot of mundane monsters and giant beetles when I got a little too busy to keep working on these. To shake off the cobwebs and get back into doing these I opened the Monster Manual at random and pointed... and so I worked on a Demon Type III (Glabrezu), RAWR! I present to you my version of a Demon Type III (Glabrezu)… 

Demon Type III (Glabrezu)

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2015 Christopher Burdett

There are a lot of Demons and Devils in the original Monster Manual and they are all super fun and I really look forward to working on them all. The Demon Type III (Glabrezu) has great pointing claw arms as as normal human like arms, silly Demons. More then anything, this piece was to get back into doing these Monster Manual redesigns. While there are parts I might like to have done differently now that I reflect on the finished drawing, I just needed to get it done and begin to think about these again. One of the biggest challenges is that I was working SO much smaller then I usually do now. I use to work exclusively on 9 x 12 paper and in the last year I have been slowly working bigger and bigger. I am now almost exclusively drawing on 11 x 14 and 14 x 17 sized paper. Going back to the 9 x 12 was a little difficult and I might need to plan for that in the future since I feel this piece was a little stiff because of the size of paper (and jumping right into the drawing head first).

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! Until then...

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

Dungeons & Dragons - Princes of the Apocalypse

Last year I made the decision to begin working traditionally for my client work. The switch came in July/August and Dungeons & Dragons - Princes of the Apocalypse was the first project that I worked on. In some ways I find it very fitting that the first project was to be a D&D project. Princes of the Apocalypse with produced with Sasquatch Games Studio in coordination with WotC and it was a really fun to work on. I contributed two pieces to the book, one has an aquatic troll (RAWR!) and the other has a fire breathing minotaur (RAWR!)...

Scrag Attack

Dungeons & Dragons - Princes of the Apocalypse

  6.5 x 16 - Acrylic, pencil, and gouache on board

Original - SOLD

© 2015 Wizards of the Coast

Emberhorn Minotaur

Dungeons & Dragons - Princes of the Apocalypse

  12 x 9 - Acrylic, pencil, and gouache on board

Original available on my web store!

© 2015 Wizards of the Coast

Since these were my first paintings since deciding to go traditional AND these paintings were for D&D it was a *little* stressful at times. The stakes were high and I was just a little concerned I might not be making the best choice. In the end the paintings got done, my wife did not murder me, and they are in the book (thanks wife and Aaron!). These are not perfect, but they are a really good start and I think each painting since has been better and better. I have a lot to learn, but that IS the point of all this. Growth, advancement, learning new things. I will have more to say about both of these in the new future when I share the process that went into making these.

Here is a look at how the pieces appeared in the book, there was a little cropping, but they turned out great in my opinion...

Traditionally painted D&D paintings in handy dandy book 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

1000th Post! RAWR!

And then there was 1000 posts. If someone asks how long it will take to get 1000 posts on a blog tell them one option is three posts a week for just over six very full years.

What is in these 1000 posts on this blog? Well, it is more or less the entire documentation of my career as an artist for the last six years; a lot of the ups and a lot of the downs; a very thorough break down of my process and how it has changed over the years; and a peek at some of my art related adventures. When it started back in 2009 I was contemplating quitting freelance after a couple of HUGE career set backs, a bunch of rejections, and the sobering realization that my skill set was not where it needed to be to get the work I wanted. Now, in 2015 I am currently working 100% traditionally and I have reached nearly all of the goals that I had set out for myself.

A peek at my work space these days (last night actually).

100% less computers then a year ago when it comes to this stage of production.

I have said it before and I will hold to it, to get to this point it has taken a lot of time, a lot of hard work, a focus on what I love (monsters), and some long term and short term goals. It may take you a longer journey or a shorter one, but I feel it can be done. The support and encouragement of my wife though all this has been invaluable and most likely without it I would not have continued to fight through the rough patches to get here. I know I still have a lot of work ahead of me since switching from digital to traditional paint, but that is what the next six years and 1000 post are for I guess.

That handy dandy archive of posts that are just right over there in the right column on this very page. All the secrets and hard truths are right there for the taking.

Thanks to all that frequent and follow this blog. I hope I make the stop worthwhile with all my yammering and images. Let's see where this path leads to next...

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

Crested Dragonette - Drawing

Making some more time to scribble away on some monsters in between.... um, scribbling away on monsters. This time around the pencil and paper brought forth a wily Crested Dragonette. It seems to be a happy fellow with its little hands, its little eyes, it prickly feather bristles...

Crested Dragonette

9 x 12

Pencil on paper
© 2015 Christopher Burdett

Been spending a little time letting the pencil find its own path with the last couple personal drawings. A break from client assignments and more structured personal work. I most likely will be moving back to some of that more structured personal work soon, got to keep an eye on the long view and all. Here are some process images of this drawing coming together...

All images © 2015 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

Star Wars Encores

I have recently had some of my Star Wars pieces make an encore appearance in other Star Wars products. Always fun to see that my work is deemed good enough to be used a second (or third) time. Hopefully it means I am doing something right. The most recent encore was when my DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle piece created for Imperial Assault showed back up a week or two ago as an Adepticon exclusive giveaway...

Trandoshan Hunter - Adepticon exclusive giveaway

Not a bad looking card. Here is how the original art looked for those of you not familiar with it from previous posts...

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle

Imperial Assault - Core set

10.1 x 9 - Digital

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

There is a bit of cropping going on with the new cards, but not NEARLY as much as in the original usage of the card in the the Imperial Assault core set...

The handy dandy DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle card... with CROPPING action!

The funny thing to me is that almost immediately this card was selling on eBay for $50 - $75. I know it is an exclusive card to the con... but it IS a mass produced little piece of card stock. You know, you can get the ORIGINAL ONE OF A KIND drawing for less then what a single one of those cards is selling for on eBay...

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle

Imperial Assault - Core set

12 x 9

Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

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

Another piece that is really making the rounds in the Star Wars universe is a piece I originally produced for the Edge of the Empire supplement, Suns of Fortune. It has also already shown up in the Between the Shadows expansion to the Star Wars card game. Now it is finding a home in the Imperial Assault board game as part of the Rebel Saboteurs Ally Pack...

Hazardous Materials

Star Wars: Imperial Assault – Rebel Saboteurs Ally Pack

This is probably the best representation of the piece so far and show off most of the piece. More or less. Here is how the original piece turned out...

Exploring Froz

Edge of the Empire - Suns of Fortune

12 x 14 - Digital

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

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