Art in Unexpected Places - Halloween 2018

I have shared with you before some of the fun stuff one of our neighbors does throughout the year. When it is not revolving art on their fence it is fun Halloween displays. This year they upped their game and did a display that changed throughout the month. While I missed getting a full image of their first display (there was a hurricane that interrupted everything and I did not know that the display would be gone) I got plenty of image of the second and third displays. I have some image to share with you today of their Halloween displays... on Halloween!

Reaper is an art curator when not gathering souls

The subtly of the brush work, the layers of meaning in every image, Reaper truly knows his art

The first display that I missed was a afternoon lunch on the lawn

Everyone was gathered round the table for a fine meal and there were some that got table scraps

Lastly, we have some good old trick or treating

Aren't you a little big to trick or treat?

 Reaper says NEVER! You are never to old to trick or treat!

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

Remaining Limited Edtion Grand Bazaar Prints NOW AVAILABLE!

Prior to Illuxcon I spared with you the limited edition print for The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia that my wife and I collaborated on. More than half of the print run have already sold so I am making the remaining copies available on my store. They are selling fast, so if you would like one I suggest heading over and picking one up for yourself today!

 Limited to an edition of 25, these prints are distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand and are a collaboration between myself and Achsa Nute.

 Three of the prints side by side to show off how they are unique pieces.

 Limited to 25, once they are gone, they are gone.

 All prints are signed by both Achsa Nute and myself.

 A closer look at the flyer component of the print.

That's 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

Illuxcon 2018 - Urban Sketching Workshop

I had the great opportunity to again take part in the Urban Sketching Workshop at Illuscon this year. The workshop is run by Sean Murray and Ron Lemon and it has been the highlight of my IX for the past two years. I highly recommend taking part in the workshop if possible. Last year was my first year in the workshop and it was a crash course to get my brain around the idea of urban sketching as well as looking and thinking about architecture and non-creature stuff differently. Hopefully you can see some of that in all the work that I have completed this year. I have been slowly moving towards building more and more of the full world around my monsters and stories and the workshop last year really gave me the kick I needed to get my brain moving in the right direction. Returning to the workshop again this year I feel I was able to build on the last year's work as well as get a fresh take on things. We visited new locations that offered a lot of character and interesting things to draw. I definitely got a my brain moving in an exciting direction as it pertains to the architecture that will be happening in the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. This year's workshop was a little different too. We were asked to constrain our drawings to boxes for part of the workshop, do multiple studies from different angles of the same thing, and to do one longer piece that was based on world around us that was then modified by us to become something different. These were all fun twists and added a lot to the workshop. I am really looking forward to taking part in it again next year. For now, here are some select images from the workshop...

Multiple studies of this really cool fire plug. I have a whole new appreciation for these objects and will be spending more time looking at them for inspiration. This is also one of the favorite pages that I created this year at the workshop.

Wenches and things at the GoogleWorks.

Part of a furnace for making glass. The glass blowing workspace was active and open for us to draw in at the GoogleWorks while we were taking part in our own workshop.

Lastly, this is also one of my favorites, it was a longer sketch that worked what I saw into stuff that was in my head. This one was a lot of fun, though I feel I was a little hesitant with it. There is way more real world in this one that I would have liked. But it was my first attempt at doing it, so no worries. I hope we do more of this next year! Now that I have done one I wast to do more.

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see yo 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

Illuxcon 2018 Recap

Another Illuxcon has come and gone and while it is a 4-5 day for most it seems to pass in a blink of the eye. I had a truly amazing time this year and while each IX is different and special in its own way, this was particularly great. It is funny when I think back that I use to do daily coverage of IX when I first started attending. I would write my post late at night or first thing in the morning but no matter what I had a blog post up about the previous day. Now I have one big post at the end. I wonder where I found the time and energy to do that. I could use some of that these days since by the end of IX I am exhausted. There is just so much to do, so many people to see, so much art to take in, and so much going on. This year I think I found myself in the GoogleWorks the least of any previous year. Not that I was not there, only my attention and time was spent on events outside of the GW. I had the opportunity to be part of the Urban Sketch Workshop hosted by Ron Lemon and Sean Murray. It was even better than last year, or at least I got a LOT more out of it this year. A lot probably has to do with that fact that I have been going a lot of large environmental illustrations this year and already participated in their workshop last year. Needless to say I will try to take part in the workshop again next year. I will have my sketches from the workshop up on the blog on Friday. I was part of the Showcase again this year and had loads of fun. It was a really great Showcase and while only 8 hours in length it felt simultaneously that it was way longer and nowhere near as long. If every event could be like this year's IX Showcase I would never have want to complain. Then there is being back among the art community and all our art family! So many wonderful people attend IX and while there is never enough time the moments we have are treasured. Got to meet several new folks that are very cool, got to know acquaintances even better, and reconnected with long time friends. It is good for the soul and good for your art. Last year I was energized to return home to draw and keep working on the Grand Bazaar. This year I am even more so energized, but this time around I am energized to write and see that this book is completed in the coming year. There are no events like IX out there that I have ever attended. It is wonderful event. Unfortunately, this year I did a horrible job of taking pictures. It slipped my mind constantly as I was enjoying the moments and did not feel the need to hide behind my phone. Even so, here are some images and additional thoughts from IX 2018...

 I have nothing but the best helpers when preparing for IX

 Our IX weekend in its entirety. This includes everything from clothes, costumes, art, and my entire Showcase table set up. It can be a little scary to have it all on the plane, but it is cheaper than shipping.

 When in Allentown you will find Peeps and Peeps sculptures

 There was a really great tribute to William O'Connor at IX this year. I had assumed I would never get to see Bill's work again but this weekend I got to have a look at several of his amazing paintings again.

 Came away with an original by David Thorn Wenzel. I have loved his work for many years. This will be a prized piece of the collection!

 My Showcase table this year. Similar to last year, but different.

 My and this fire plug spent some time together in the Urban Sketch Workshop (more on this on Friday!)

 Some of the Magic Artist Proof sketches that I did at the Showcase

 A very cool creature visited my at my table

 AND a couple more Magic Artist Proof sketches

 Somehow I did not remember to take picture of the Showcase until it was over Saturday night and I was almost completely packed up

 If you want you can imagine and see these as everyone setting up at the Showcase

I tend to arrive late for set up since it is quick for me and then I am out before many

 Some crazy sculpting was going on all weekend

 I think this was my school

 I helped out again this year during tear down. If we all help out then it goes much quicker. Fourth floor has always been my preferred floor to tackle. This year I was needed on fourth and second. I wonder what Illuxcon 2019 will have in store for all of us...

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

Limited Edtion Grand Bazaar Print & Dreamblade Art @ IX!

I am thrilled to share with you a limited edition print that I will have available at the Illuxcon Showcase this Friday and Saturday nights. Not only is this your first opportunity to get a piece from the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia, but this is a collaboration between myself and Dear Wife to make a very unique item. While it is a print limited to an edition of 25, each print is in fact a unique item. Each print has been distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand to make each one its own unique piece. This print will also give you a glimpse at what it in store for the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia book...

Limited to an edition of 25, these prints are distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand and are a collaboration between myself and Achsa Nute.

Three of the prints side by side to show off how they are unique pieces.

Limited to 25, once they are gone, they are gone.

All prints are signed by both Achsa Nute and myself.

A closer look at the flyer component of the print. Be sure to come see me in the IX Showcase Friday and Saturday night from 8pm - Midnight to get your hands on a piece made Dear Wife and myself!

If that is not all, For the first time I will be selling my art and designs from my work on the miniatures game Dreamblade. I have never made this work available before and now seemed as good as time as any. I have so much work from the game that I decided to bring a sampling of the work that was created for the game... so if you want more, there will be more in the fullness of time. I packaged up all the work for a particular piece together into complete bundles, so some my have only three drawings and other may have five, six, or more drawings associated with it. Now is your chance to get you hands on one of the best assignments I ever had!

I had a lot of drawings to dig through and organize.

When you look at all the drawings you will be able to see designs evolve and take shape.

Though it might not look like much in this image, there are a TON of drawings and art in this stack!

Every piece lists how many drawings come with each design.

I selected work that was done at 9x12 and 11x14. My larger work on the game will have to wait will later when I can better package it and transport it.

That is all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog, see you on the other side of IX! Until then...

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

Gulf Coast Fan Fest Recap & Illuxcon 2018 THIS WEEKEND!

This past weekend I had the pleasure to attend the Gulf Coast Fan Fest in Biloxi. This was the first year for this particular event, but it is organized, staffed, and run by all the great people that are responsible for Pensacon. It was a lot of fun and I did a horrible job taking pictures while I was there. It was a crazy weekend and past week for that matter. We had a near miss by hurricane Michael that left all of us in Tallahassee without power - and we were all extremely lucky, those in Mexico Beach, Panama City, and elsewhere in the Florida Panhandle have lost everything. The main road between Tallahassee and Biloxi was also closed for over 24 hours. For a short time I was unsure I would even be making it to the convention. Another artist who was suppose to attend from Tallahassee could not make it due to trees down near his home. In the end I was ale to attend and the trip there was quick and easy once the interstate reopened. I got to see a lot of familiar faces from Pensacon as well as meet a lot of new people. My table was next to Roland Paris who we first met at Pensacon, so it was a fun time just seeing him all weekend. Sunday of the con was my birthday and we all went out Saturday night to celebrate. It was a REALLY fun night! Many thanks to Roland, Michael, and Michael! It will be interesting to see where GCFF grows from here. Here are some images I took while at GCFF... when I actually remembered to take them... 

Everything is loaded in and the walls are up. Now to make it all look pretty...

TA-DA! It is now all pretty. Like magic.

Got a chance to meet Dirk Benedict and have him sign my Face figure.

I like the A-Team way more than I should and it was very cool to finally cross paths with a cast member from the show.

 A little sketch on the back of a Magic artist proof.

 BATMAN NO!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Had the great honor to be on a panel with the legendary Ken Kelly!

There were more people in attendance... this is how many there were when I thought to take the picture.

OMG! Ken Kelly! And Brian LeBlanc! And some idiot....

 Part of the celebrity row before the con opened on Sunday morning.

 The row I was on before the con opened on Sunday morning.

 The trouble makers corner.

 My view for the weekend. A wall of copyright theft. I am impressed this one guy was able to work out licensing deals with so many companies... oh wait... he didn't. He is stealing.

 Another sketchy sketch on a Magic artist proof.

Epic Mom and Dad Save the World cosplay!

 Gotta catch'm all! It is much easier when they come to you.

Also, Mr. Mime is the stuff on nightmares.

 Picked up this amazing sketch my Mitch Byrd!

 An end comes to all things. Always amazed with how fast the crew can tear down a convention.

If that is not enough, this weekend I will be at Illuxcon in Reading, PA. Once again I will have a table in the Showcase both Friday and Saturday nights. I have some surprises in store and will be sharing more of them tomorrow here on the blog. Until then, I leave you with a cat...

Helpful cat is not helpful

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

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