Wednesday, January 31, 2018

Shifting Shadow - Commander 2017 - Prints NOW AVAILABLE!

I have updated my store with Shifting Shadow prints! Follow the link below to get your very own signed and numbered prints from Commander 2017. I know these are a little late in getting on the store... but better late than never! As always, these prints are limited to a print run of only 50 copies.

Shifting Shadow
 
If you are interested in artist proofs of this card, those are available over on my store as well!

That's 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, January 29, 2018

Woven Shaper - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I have a new piece from The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia! Today's monster is the mysterious Woven Shaper. The mysterious being known as Shaper is responsible for the design and construction of the vast array of Woven organic tools. Not much is know about Shaper, and even less is known about the process and materials they use to create the Woven legions. There are showroom hours available every day at the Woven tower, and if you are lucky, you might even get a chance to meet the legendary Woven Shaper.

If you would like to read the thoughts of 
Reginald Blatherskite, Anointed Seer of the Impure Husk, regarding this monster, then head on over to The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDaila blog!

Woven Shaper
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2018 Christopher Burdett

Woven Shaper - Drawing
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2018 Christopher Burdett

Here are all of the monsters appearing in the first volume of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia: Aberrant Stilter, Belled Kreep, Corrupted Knight, Dight-Kin, Eau-de-nil Elder, Ethra VanDalia, Footman, Gray Wanderer, Gullet, Humgruffin Mother, Irritated Girasol, Judicator, Kiplorbic Animal Dealer, Lammergeier Transport, Myopic Riflemen, Nimsbane Curse Victim, Ophiomornous Bureaucrat, Petrous Blacksmith, Quincaillerie, Rapacious Guttersnipe, Saint Marque, Smokestack, Thrice, Uncanny Scribe, Virulent Artificer, Woven Egg, Woven Shaper, Xandrell Tree, Yote Arms Dealer, and Zombic Spore.
 
As an added bonus, I have some images of the line work and rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape... 


Woven Shaper - Process © 2018 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

Friday, January 26, 2018

Annual Spectrum Tithe

Yesterday was the deadline for Spectrum 25 submissions. I have watched a flurry of excitement, nervousness, and many conversations about submitting and what to submit on social media over the last couple of weeks. This year I have decided to not submit anything.

If today was your planned day to submit...
you might need to plan ahead a little better next time.

It is never an easy decision not to participate (or maybe it is), plenty have said that if you do not participate you are guaranteed to fail. To be honest, I think I will fail either way. Let me see if I can break down my thoughts on all this... but first, statements and opinions are my own, they do not reflect on anyone else nor should they be considered an endorsement or condemnation of anyone or anything. These are my own thoughts and takeaways on this matter, PERIOD.

It is not them, it is me - Spectrum is an yearly celebration of the best of the best in the fantastic arts. Obviously by now it should be clear that I am not the best of the best since I have not been included in all the years of submitting. That is fine. Not everyone can be the best. I have written at length about being happy that you are just 'okay'. Spectrum is a gorgeous book filled with incredible artists and their wonderful work. It has always been that and most likely it will always be that and there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a part of that.

It is not me, it is them - I have found looking objectively at your own work to be one of the hardest things to do as an artist. It has not come to be easily and it is something I battle with constantly. BUT, what I can say is that when I look at the work accepted into Spectrum and I look at my own work, I do see a difference and the difference is not necessarily a fault. It is the basis of the entire work for hire art field, a client is looking for a particular look, style, or type of work. Not matter how good you are, if you don't make the art that the client is looking for you don't get the work. Trying to look objectively, I don't make the work that Spectrum is looking for. YES... I know there is always a rotating group of judges, but if you look at the multiple year' worth of books, you can see a style and look that the books have.

I am just unlucky - Maybe I have submitted my work to the wrong section, maybe I submitted the wrong work, or maybe my submissions actually never made it Spectrum and they never saw them? Or maybe I am just look for excuses. I have had clients submit my work, which is incredibly flattering and lets me know I am at least doing something right. There are tons of submissions every year and if a piece just not jump off the table it might get over looked by the judges... or again, I am making excuses for not getting in.

Now is not the time - I make a lot of single figure monster images with little to no background. This, in most cases, is NOT what gets into Spectrum (this goes well with 'it is not me, it is them). But that will not always be the case. With my Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia project I will be going larger more involved pieces in the coming year. No idea if these will be any more well received than my current work, but I don't really need to worry about it until the book is publish, after which time I can consider submitting. Currently I don't have a lot of new work that I can or should share in the context of Spectrum. I am busy looking ahead and focusing on my own project and book - I don't have the time to worry about second guessing myself and worrying about getting into Spectrum.

Nothing to show for it - It might should petty, but at the end of the day after submitting I have nothing to show for it. I spend a lot of time and money submitting my art to only get rejection. With Infected by Art, if you submit a certain number of pieces you are guaranteed a copy of the book, if you are accepted or not. That is super great in my opinion! Yes, I have been fortunate enough to be accepted every time I have submitted to IBA so far, but the fact that I would get a book out of it no matter what means a lot to me. I feel like my time and money are appreciated more when something is given in return.

None of this is should be seen as sore grapes. I have nothing but the highest respect to those that make it into Spectrum every year. You all definitely have earned you place in the annual. As I said above, it is a gorgeous book filled with incredible artists and their wonderful work. It is what it is, but I can choose not to participate because I am fair sure of the outcome and need to focus my money, time, and attention elsewhere. 

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

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Commander 2017 Artist Proofs NOW AVAILABLE!

Artist proofs of my Commander 2017 card are NOW AVAILABLE on my store! If you are interested in the Shifting Shadow artist proofs, now is the time to act! I am a *LITTLE* behind in posting these, but better late than never. All of my artist proofs come signed and numbered and the standard APs are limited to 50. As always, there is an option to just buy the artist proof or to get a unique, one of a kind sketch on the back of the card. 

Shifting Shadow Artist Proofs now available!
Don't forget...

All signed and numbered for your enjoyment!

I first shared this piece with you in August of last year. As I said, I am a little behind in getting these up with such a busy stretch of months. I will have prints available next week as well! Keep an eye out on the blog for details! Here again is the full final art of this card...

Shifting Shadow
Magic the Gathering - Commander 2017
14 x 10.2- Digital
PRINTS available at OMA!
© 2017 Wizards of the Coast
That's 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

Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Woven Egg - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I have a new piece from The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia! Today's monster is the mysterious Woven Egg. Long have beings wondered just how the Woven Shaper makes its bizarre and wondrous creations. While only a handful have actually seen one, the rumors of the Woven Eggs have circulated the Bazaar for ages. Shaper cares for its Eggs with loving care, doing its best to keep them secret. Heed a word of advice, do not let curiosity get the best of you, do not try to see an Egg with your own eyes.

If you would like to read the thoughts of 
Agatha Luculent Habile, Acolyte of the Impure Husk, regarding this monster, then head on over to The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDaila blog!

Woven Egg
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2017 Christopher Burdett

Woven Egg - Drawing 
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2017 Christopher Burdett

Here are all the other completed monsters for The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia: Aberrant Stilter, Belled Kreep, Corrupted Knight, Dight-Kin, Eau-de-nil Elder, Ethra VanDalia, Footman, Gray Wanderer, Gullet, Humgruffin Mother, Irritated Girasol, Judicator, Kiplorbic Animal Dealer, Lammergeier Transport, Myopic Riflemen, Nimsbane Curse Victim, Ophiomornous Bureaucrat, Petrous Blacksmith, Quincaillerie, Rapacious Guttersnipe, Saint Marque, Smokestack, Thrice, Uncanny Scribe, Virulent Artificer, Woven Egg, Xandrell Tree, Yote Arms Dealer, and Zombic Spore.
 
As an added bonus, I have some images of the line work and rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape... 


Woven Egg - Process © 2017 Christopher Burdett

That is all for another exciting Tuesday 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, January 19, 2018

Infected By Art Volume 6 Selected Work

I am happy to say that I have had a piece selected for inclusion in Infected By Art Volume 6. I really love IBA, and it is a real honor to included with so many other great artist and their work. You can see a full list of the art included in IBA6 over on their website. As I said, lots of great work! Here is the piece that I did that was accepted, the Virulent Artificer created for The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia...

Virulent Artificer 11 x 14 - Pencil on paper 
© 2017 Christopher Burdett

It is always a little ego bump when my personal work is selected over client work. In the end, you never really know what will be chosen. Here is a link to view everything that I submitted for consideration in IBA6. Congrats to everyone that made it in and a huge thanks to the jury and to Bill Cox for all his work in making IBA a reality. I can't wait to see the completed book first hand!

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