The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: June 2015

Monday, June 29, 2015

The Lost Project of 2010 - Part 4

WAAAAAAY back in 2010 I worked on a really exciting project. I created a bunch of monster portraits on neutral backgrounds that were going to live and breath in an super fun game. It is now five year later and that super fun game still has not happened. Will it ever happen? Who knows... What I DO know is that I got permission to FINALLY share the work that I did for this lost project!

I can not share any details from project at this time, but I can share my work from it. All the names have been changed to protect the innocent, and please, do not play the guessing game of what this was or is. I will be sharing my work from this lost project in five parts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5). Here is Part 4...

"S.O.U.S. Scorpion of Unusual Size"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"S.O.U.S. Spider of Unusual Size"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"Furious Olaf"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

As an added bonus, here are the drawings that went into making these illustrations...

"S.O.U.S. Scorpion of Unusual Size" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"S.O.U.S. Spider of Unusual Size" #1 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"S.O.U.S. Spider of Unusual Size" #2 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"Furious Olaf" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

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

Friday, June 26, 2015

The Lost Project of 2010 - Part 3

"Broiler"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"Really Really REALLY Cold Metal Ball Thing"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"B.O.U.S - Bat of Unusual Size"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

As an added bonus, here are the drawings that went into making these illustrations...

"Broiler" #1 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"Broiler" #2 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"Broiler" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"B.O.U.S - Bat of Unusual Size" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here next week! Until then...

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

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

The Lost Project of 2010 - Part 2

"Double Trouble"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"Pointy Horsey"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"Car Insurance Spokesman"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

As an added bonus, here are the drawings that went into making these illustrations...

"Double Trouble" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"Pointy Horsey" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"Car Insurance Spokesman" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

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

Monday, June 22, 2015

The Lost Project of 2010 - Part 1

"Bad Buggy"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"Alligator Hater"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

"NOMS Puddle"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

As an added bonus, here are the drawings that went into making these illustrations...

"Bad Buggy" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"Alligator Hater" #1 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"Alligator Hater" #2 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"NOMS Puddle" #1 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

"NOMS Puddle" #2 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

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

Friday, June 19, 2015

Adventures in Venice - 2015

In May the wife and I went on adventures in Italy and Germany. During our adventures I took 4200+ photos, many of which are potential reference and inspiration. Today I have some images from our time in Italy to share with you. We started in Rome and then returned to Venice for a brief visit. Today, I have images from Venice.

Returning to Venice allowed us to see our favorite places again and to explore things we missed before. We also arrived by a different route to this most magical of cities. This time around we took the train up from Rome so it allowed us to see the country side of Italy which is very beautiful in its own right. Upon arriving we got settled and then headed out to the the island of Murano to eat at one of out favorite restaurants to enjoy some of the best pizza I have ever eaten. The rest of our time in Venice was spent wandering the streets exploring and simply taking in the city and enjoying the magic of Venice. Here are but a small number of my photos from Venice...

When you walk out of the train station this is the first thing you see. The automatic doors slide open and you are facing the Grand Canal and the glory that is Venice.

One of the many beautiful buildings you can see along the Grand Canal. The water buses are a great way to see the sites and give your legs a little rest, because you are going to walk for hours and hours!

Even the hospital in Venice is a magnificent building.

A detail of a column in front of the Venice hospital. One of the things I love about Venice... monsters EVERYWHERE!

A pair of Hippocamps on the facade of the Venice hospital.

We were fortunate enough to be back in St. Mark's Square at golden hour and the architecture was alive with light and color. Everything was aglow in the light of the setting sun and it was thrilling to see.

You can learn a lot about light and color by seeing this first hand.

Love the shadows and light that the architecture creates.

My favorite image from this visit to Venice. This says it all to me and brings back so many memories.

One of the many mask shops in Venice. This one is just off of St. Mark's Square and is one of my favorites.

The Frari Church or Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari (or just Frari) is one of favorite churches to visit in Venice. It is FULL of monsters and some of the most unique and interesting sculptures and displays. If you go to Venice, you owe it to yourself to visit the Frari.

Just look at this thing! Black skinned giants and black skeletons leading up to the ceiling... have you ever seen such a thing? Simply beautiful to behold!

Who doesn't like a good reliquary?

A closer view of the giants and skeletons. LOVE the details like the tore clothes that expose the black skin.

There is also a massive pyramid with a winged lion and several figures. The handling of the lion and the expression is so great. You can read all of the symbolism and meaning behind all of this at the church.

When visiting Venice you will find yourself at the Rialto, and when you do you must visit the best jewelry store in all of Venice, Jovon. It is owned by our friend Marco Jovon and his family has been selling jewelry on the Rialto since 1934. Stop by and have a look at all of the amazing and beautiful things his family creates!

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here next week! Until then...

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

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Snake Oil Salesman - Process - Far Horizons

Today I have for you another process post for a "recent" Star Wars piece. This time around is the crafty Chiven Snake Oil Salesman from Edge of the Empire, Far Horizons! I first shared these pieces last November, so here is how the final Snake Oil Salesman turned out...

Snake Oil Salesman

Edge of the Empire - Far Horizons

I have always been fan of the Chevin and was thrilled to do a pair of them for Far Horizon. If you are wondering about the Chevin, think back to Ephant Mon in Jabba's Palace in Return of the Jedi. If you are wondering about Ephant Mon... there is Google. Anyway... Chevin, big, hulking alien monsters! YAYS! I started things off as usual with some thumbnails...

Snake Oil Salesman - Thumbnails

The Snake Oil Salesman was far and away my favorite piece for this project and one of my all time favorite isolated figure pieces for Star Wars. It was just super fun and offered up a chance to put a lot of character into this creature. The art order called for a big scar across his face, crazy clothes, a assistance droid, and lot of product that he was peddling. Sounds like a fun time in the Star Wars universe to me! I submitted some thumbnails and option "C" for the Chevin and "B" for the droid was selected. Since I now I had an approved thumbnail it was time for a drawing...

Snake Oil Salesmen

Edge of the Empire - Far Horizons

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

The drawing was approved and it was time for some painting. In just nice easy steps the Snake Oil Salesmen took shape... or not, but it did come together really quickly. This piece did lean a little dark, but I think it reads well enough in the end. Here is a look at the piece taking shape...

Snake Oil Salesmen - Process progression

Once again I have for you a handy dandy animated process thingy to better show the process of creating the image. Hopefully this better shows how the image comes together and takes shape.There were not a lot of issues to address or fix along the way, the image just took shape and became a finished painting, always nice when that happens...

Snake Oil Salesmen - Animated process progression

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