Friday, April 29, 2022

Syrinscape Kraken Battle Sound Set

I have recently been finding a lot of my art through Facebook ads. Some of the art is being used without my permission (more about this maybe later), while others, like what I am sharing with you today, are using the work correctly - and that makes me happy. I recently came upon a series of ads from the good folks at Syrinscape showcasing all their really nifty sound sets and music scores that can be used to enhance your experience at the gaming table. These are so cool, and I would have loved to have had them when I had the time to play, but I can definitely appreciate them now. 

Beyond the remarkable aspect of what Syrinscape offers, I noticed since they are licensed partners with WotC, they were using official D&D art to promote their offerings. One, in particular, caught my eye.

RAWR! I'm a Kraken, and I offer you some sick music and sound effects!

I, of course, started clicking through links and options to see what my art was being used on. There is an entire selection of music and sound effects to make your battle with that mighty Kraken even more intense and exciting.

There are loads of details and information regarding all their options and products, and I encourage you to head over there to check it all out. There is even a link to a sample of what is in store for you once you try out what Syrinscape offers.

Kraken sample for all your Kraken needs!

Lastly, I will leave you with my full art of the Kraken that I did for the 5E Monster Manual. It feels like I just did it, but it is now over 8 years old. Time files when making monsters.

Kraken
5th Edition Monster Manual
11 x 14 - Digital
Art Director - Daniel Gelon
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast LLC

That's all for anther 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, April 27, 2022

Kobold Sorcerer - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for one of my contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse. This fourth (and final) contribution is a Kobold. Not just any Kobold, but a Kobold Sorcerer wielding fire magic with the glint of dragon power still coursing through them. Here is the final painting for the Kobold.

Kobold Sorcerer
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
11 x 14 - Digital
Art Director - Emi Tanji
© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

Kobolds are a ton of fun to design and paint. There is the chance to bring as much or as little personality to them as you want or what the assignment calls for. This particular Kobold was described as:

"This is a kobold sorcerer of indeterminate gender, standing with one arm outstretched, palm up. Confidence and grandeur of a great dragon suffuses the figure despite their diminutive size (2.5 feet tall). Scattered among the kobold’s shoulder and face scales are gold ones. The kobold’s eyes glow with golden fire. Similar golden fire springs from the
palm of their hand, creating a sinuous shape reminiscent of a dragon with wings unfurled.
 
The kobold is wearing a light, toga-like tunic over one shoulder, and belted around their waist. The belt is festooned with pouches"

It felt like there was a lot of room to bring some fun personality to this one, and I was eager to get started. I gathered up props and clothing and did a photoshoot to figure out the poses and characters I wanted to bring to this piece. I am always a fan of being able to tell a story through not only the face and hands but with the props, equipment, and weapons of a character. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.  

Kobold Sorcerer - Thumbnails
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

Thinking back, I think I was happy with all of these and would have been so glad to paint them all. Looking at them now, there is still something about 'B' I really like. As you likely can see already, 'A' was the winner among the thumbnails. There were a few notes from production that I needed to address. One is that they wanted the Kobold looking a bit more towards the viewer and it giving some side-eye. The other note was to make the fire dragon more like the one in 'B' and wrap the fire around the Kobold's forearm. I made the requested modifications and submitted a revised thumbnail.

Kobold Sorcerer - Revised thumbnail
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

The revised thumbnail checked all the boxes, and it was approved for the final painting. I always do a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here are the two stages of the Kobold Sorcerer drawing, the mid-stage line art, and the final rendered drawing.

Kobold Sorcerer - Line art
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

Kobold Sorcerer
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
Art Director - Emi Tanji
© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

With an approved drawing, it was time to start painting. Kobolds have a set color palette, but for the rest of this piece, I could have fun with lighting, magic, and gear. Here is the painting of the Kobold Sorcerer taking shape.

Kobold Sorcerer - Process
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

I needed to be more mindful of this one than the three others I produced for this book. The reason for this is the in-camera light source of the magic fire dragon. This light source is doing a lot of heavy lifting with focus, light, color, and contrast. The color of the firelight is affecting everything in this piece, and I need to stay on top of that and make sure nothing ends up 'wrong.' Everything in this piece is pushing warm from the fire. This is not a monumental challenge but something that needs to be considered at every step. In the end, I feel I did a good enough job of it, and this ended up being a favorite of the project. Here again, is the final painting for the Kobold Sorcerer.

Kobold Sorcerer
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

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, April 25, 2022

Thraakese Skulls - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I am thrilled to share another new piece from The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. This illustration is for Book Two: The Completed Circle. This piece is one of the supporting images for the book section dedicated to the Ambitious Farmhand. The main protagonist, the farmhand, of the second book is Thraakese, so there will be a fair amount of information, history, and lore regarding their species in the book. I present to you with Thraakese Skulls.

Thraakese Skulls
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle
9 x 12 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2022 Christopher Burdett
 
Thraakese Skulls - Drawing 
9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
© 2022 Christopher Burdett

This piece was my first completed piece of 2022. I am entirely focused on book two these days. This was the first of six smaller pieces I wanted to finish before moving to larger, more involved works. Each section of book two will have at least two supporting pieces of art. They will help flesh out the section and add context to things beyond the Grand Bazaar. The main art for the first three sections of the book are completed, so it only seemed natural to complete the supporting pieces as well. With them finished, I have moved on to much larger pieces that will keep me in the chair drawing for a while. Here is a look at the sketch for the Thraakese Skulls to show where it began.

Thraakese Skulls - Sketch 
Digital
© 2022 Christopher Burdett

As a bonus, I have some images of the rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape.   

Thraakese Skulls - Process
© 2022 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, April 22, 2022

Kickstarter Roundup - Black

Today on the blog, I wanted to point out a current Kickstarter project that I think you all might be interested in. It features fantastic art by an incredible artist, and if you have not already checked it out, you should do so NOW!

 

This time around, it is Steven Russell Black's The Zodiac Grim - A dark art series of the Zodiac Signs! If you are unfamiliar with Steven's work, you are missing out. I have supported Steven's campaigns in the past to get my hands on his art books, and they are treasured in my collection. As an artist that prefers to draw, I LOVE Steven's drawings and pencil work. 

This campaign is "a dark art series of the Zodiac with images that will be haunting and thought-provoking. We have a postcard set and individual prints and offer up the original drawings and paintings from the series that will unfold during the Kickstarter." This is something not to miss out on, and Steven needs your help to make this a reality!

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, April 20, 2022

A New Daruma Begins Its Work

In 2020, when the first Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia book finally arrived at my doorstep, I shared the Daruma that had been with me in the last few years of making the book. With the book in hand finally, it was time for the Daruma to get its second eye. Between then and now, the most excellent Kat Birmelin sent me a new Daruma to be with me on the next leg of my artistic journey. I waited until I was caught up with all of the work I had set out for myself in 2019 (work I didn't complete till late 2021), and I tasked it to get me through the completion of book two of the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. This new Daruma is much fancier than the previous one and has more to carry than the first. Here is an image of the new Daruma waiting to get started.

If you are unfamiliar with the Daruma, you make a wish or goal and fill in its right eye. Once the goal is completed or the wish granted, you fill in the second eye. While my new Daruma now has a right eye, it will be a few years before receiving its left eye. The good news is that those few years will be full of glorious drawing. Here is the Daruma as it is now, diligently doing its job - waiting for me to finish a book.

Daruma's one good eye.

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, April 18, 2022

Bribe Taker - Magic: the Gathering - New Capenna Commander

I am thrilled to share with you a new Magic the Gathering art! This time around, it is for New Capenna Commander, and it is my first extended boarders rare. I was asked to depict an imposing, powerful, and wealthy Rhox surrounded by gold and opulence. That was something I could get behind. I present to you the Bribe Taker.

Bribe Taker
Magic the Gathering - New Capenna Commander
14 x 11 - Digital 
Art Director - Dawn Murin
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast

I had more time in my schedule when this piece rolled around, so not only did I have time for a tonal study, I was able to spend more time on the drawing and fully render it. The drawing and color study will be available through an auction in the coming days. When they go live, I will be posting at length and will update this page with the details.

Bribe Taker - Drawing
Magic the Gathering - New Capenna Commander
14 x 11 - Pencil on paper
Art Director - Dawn Murin
Original - SOLD
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast

Bribe Taker - Tonal study
Magic the Gathering - New Capenna Commander
14 x 11 - Pencil and paint on paper
Art Director - Dawn Murin
Original - SOLD
  © 2022 Wizards of the Coast

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing the steps and process of making this piece, including all the reference and some, but not all, of the secrets. Some of the secrets will have to wait for a later day. Until then, here is a look at the final card.


Bribe Taker is bad photo card form.

AND WAIT! There is more... Did someone say reference? Here is a treat for you all, one of the main images I used for reference when making this piece. I channeled my inner Rhox, and the magic happened!

I am a Rhox, taking your bribes!
Photo by Achsa Nute

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

Friday, April 15, 2022

The Saga - April 2022 - Interview

The most excellent Michael Bielaczyc has begun "a zine for the Sagaborn Roleplaying System and other old school RPGs." The second issue, April 2022, is now out and is FREE! The issue focuses on strongholds in the fantasy game setting. In addition to all this great content, I am interviewed about my work, especially The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia.


Michael is a great human, artist, and game designer. I have known him for years and jumped at the opportunity to be a part of his new zine endeavor. I have been fortunate enough to contribute art to the Sageborn games, and it is great to see them grow and expand. If you haven't checked them out already, you should give them a look. I will leave you with a look at the first page of the interview. You can head over to DriveThru RPG to get the entire issue for FREE.

The Grand Bazaar interview for all your Grand Bazaar interview needs!

That's 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, April 13, 2022

Molydeus - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for one of my contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse. This third contribution is the Molydeus. The demon Molydeus is an established monster, but I was asked to give it a new pass and update it. Here is the final painting for the Molydeus.

Molydeus
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
11 x 14 - Digital
Art Director - Emi Tanji
© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

While this is an established monster, and I was asked to update it, there was plenty of direction from production and a lot to work with. It was described as:

"A 12-foot-tall bipedal demon wielding a demonic weapon. The creature has two heads atop a humanoid-shaped body. The first is a furry, gray wolf head where a human’s head would normally be. The other is a long green demonic serpent that sprouts from its back that arcs over its shoulder. The serpent’s mouth is open in a menacing hiss, revealing long fangs that drip with black ichor. The skin of the demon’s body is deep red, its muscles marred with scars that form the symbol of the Abyss. Its fingers and toes are tipped with wicked black talons, and its legs are “reverse-jointed” like a canine’s. 
In one hand it holds a wicked-looking glaive. The bladed head of the weapon is forged from a black metal to resemble the faces of screaming tortured souls, their eyes burning with yellow light."

While I have never battled this demon or used it against my players, I am still familiar with its appearance. It has been around for a while, and it was an honor to bring it into 5th edition. The snake head on the back is the giveaway. While I didn't have the room to do so, I would have loved to have deformed the anatomy a lot to make the source and growth of the snake part more horrifying and grotesque. But this is not my monster to do with as I please. I still had to check specific boxes and please production. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted. 

Molydeus - Thumbnails
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

At the time I was liking 'C,' but I liked 'B' as well. As a lone figure, it can be hard to describe the scale, and I still feel 'A' makes it look like a small creature. 'C' may present the tallest of the depiction, but as you can already see, 'B' was the winner. But we were not there yet. I was asked to have more fun with the armor. I was told that the armor was more decorative than practical, it is a demon after all, and I could put some crazy skulls on there, or whatever - as long as it was cool and I was having fun. I made the requested modifications and submitted a revised thumbnail.

Molydeus - Revised thumbnail
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

I was getting closer. I can not recall now, but the note to add more fur around the neck may have been forgotten when I was asked to expand the armor. Anyway, I was now asked to give the wolf head a bit more fur. Here is the updated revised thumbnail.

Molydeus - Even more, revised thumbnail
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

And after three attempts, the thumbnail was approved. It was now time to move closer to the painting. I always do a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here are the two stages of the Molydeus drawing, the mid-stage line art and the final rendered drawing.

Molydeus - Line art
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
 11 x 14 - Digital
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC
 
Molydeus
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
 Art Director - Emi Tanji
© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

With an approved drawing, it was time to start painting. Much of the colorwork on this one is dictated by the previous incarnations. Grey wolf head, green snake, and a red flesh body. There is still plenty to do with this, but it gives me a box to work within - which can be nice when other assignments are entirely open-ended. Here is the painting of the Molydeus taking shape.

Molydeus - Process
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

This was definitely one of those 'sit in the chair and get it done' pieces. I was not reinventing the wheel; I was not reaching to create something new and unexpected. I was painting a cool wolf demon with a snake head on its back. At this point in my career, these things can paint themselves. I simply need to be in the chair doing the work, and it finds a way to completion. I understand that this is not really advice or instruction for you to be a better painter, but it is the reality of things. If I had read this ten years ago, I would be less than pleased, but it happens over time. I am at a point I am not actively thinking about everything I am doing on a piece. What I am doing is constantly reacting to what is happening and am engaged in a back and forth dance with the painting. In college, I had a professor talk about this dance, and I thought he was crazy. Jump ahead over two decades, and I am talking about a dance I do with my paintings. I make informed decisions and then respond to what I did. Back and forth, back and forth, and eventually, the painting is done. It is a little like magic. For years I struggled to learn how to do this stuff, then I worked very hard for many years doing it, and now I am working hard, but I am working less towards a painting that *is* finished and more toward a painting that *feels* finished. Like I said, magic. Not sure how it works, it just does and it can take decades to get there. Here again, is the final painting for the Molydeus.

Molydeus
Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse
 © 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

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