Gen Con THIS WEEK! And Surprises!

We are mere days away from the best four days in gaming, and I wanted to share some of the surprises I have in store for those attending Gen Con. Starting Thursday, you can find me in the Gen Con Art Show at booth 17 in Indianapolis, IN. In addition to everything related to The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia, I will also have concept art and illustrations from my work on seasons 4 and 5 of Angel AND a slew of new Magic the Gathering artist proofs adorned with color art. So, let's get to it!

Come see me at Art Show booth 17!

You may remember that earlier this year at Pensacon, I made available, for the very first time, several of my pieces from my Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. In addition to the remaining pieces, which I will have with me at Gen Con, I will be bringing a bunch of concepts from seasons 4 and 5 of Angel. These will be bundled in sets so that you can get all of the art related to a particular monster or stage of concepting. ALL of these became monsters you can see on the show, and I have talked about and shared about them all before here on the blog. These are one-of-a-kind items that are part of the Buffyverse and should not be missed. But if you do miss out, I still have more art tucked away for a future event.

Concept art and illustrations from seasons 4 and 5 of Angel!

Artist proofs! I have created a number of new color art proofs, which include several cards that are getting the color art treatment for the first time. In addition, I have three Breaching Little Hippocamps and an exclusive 4-up Ancient Carp that is created using four proofs to make one image. The 4-up Ancient Carp comes framed and ready to display. I had so much fun making all of these and learned a lot doing them. But after making so many of them, it will be good to have a little break from them at Gen Con... where I will likely be drawing and sketching all weekend.

Salazating Gremlins in their first color art proof!

The perennial favorite that is the Gudul Lurker.

The Shimmerwing Chimera is also getting its first color art proof!

I can't do an event without an Ancient Carp.

As a special treat, I have THREE Breaching Little Hippocamps!

We wanted to do something fun and special as I near the end of available proofs.

And finally, as a Gen Con exclusive, I have a 4-up Ancient Carp that includes FOUR proofs to make one large image. This will be the ONLY ONE I will likely ever do - especially as I am nearing the end of my original printing of proofs.

Here are a pair of images of the 4-up in its frame. Ready to hang or sit out on a surface, the Ancient Carp is ready for any display choice.

I will also have some proofs from previous events that I have done this year. I have shared all of these on the blog already, but I wanted to include them as they will be available at the show as well.

Shifting Shadow

Loathsome Catoblepas

Coveted Peacock

A fully painted Beholder on a Shifting Shadow

Bribe Taker

It has been a lot of work to get ready for this year's Gen Con, but hopefully, it will be worth it in the end. And again, you can find me at booth 17 in the Gen Con Art Show! I hope to see you there!

As a reminder, find me at booth 17 in the Art Show!

That is all for another exciting Monday on the blog. I will see you back here after Gen Con! Until then...

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

Recent Magic the Gathering Artist Proof Art

Today, I have a recent Magic the Gathering artist proof that I added art to its back. All available artist proofs and art options can be found on my store. This was for a collector that I had previously created a Pokemon card for. While that first card was fun to create, this one was a blast to make. I present my color art on the back of one of my Magic the Gathering card.

A Breaching Seadra and Horsea out for some fun in the sun.

That's all for another exciting Friday 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

Gen Con is NEXT WEEK!

Gen Con is finally here, and I hope you are ready for the best four days in gaming. I will be returning to the Gen Con Art Show starting August 1st through August 4th in Indianapolis, IN. This is the big one for a lot of us, and it is certainly the biggest event that I attend each year. I have been in the art show since 2011 and except for 2020 (virtual) and 2021 (still wasn't ready for events with people), I have been present every year. 

I will be debuting a lot of new art from the Grand Bazaar at the show this year, color MtG artist proofs, and a few surprises. If you subscribe to my newsletter, you have seen most of the new art from the Grand Bazaar already. As always, look for the red walls!

My Gen Con booth in 2023.

It will not be this grand this year (I will be back to a normal 4-panel booth), but I will have all the monsters with me!

If you found me last year it will be extremely easy to find me this year as I am one booth closer to the main exhibitor floor of Gen Con. If you are facing the art show, I am in the left frontmost corner on the inside of the isle. Like I said, look for the red walls, and you will find me. Here are some maps for those who like maps.

I will see you at booth 17 of the Gen Con art show!

I know, that the previous map has a lot of clutter going on, so here is a clearer map that you can use. Booth 17 is practically facing out into the main hall of Gen Con. I am sure I will have loads of fun people watching to do and a good view of the action and excitement that is Gen Con. I won't be able to participate in any of it, but I will be able to see it. So that counts.

Booth 17 for all your monster and Grand Bazaar needs!

Okay, still can't find me? Well, here is one more map that really shows you where I am at. Just head to the corner of the Gen Con art show and you will find me. Here is the entire map of the art show so that you can see where all your favorite artists are set up!

Just behind booth 1, you will find me!

I hope to see you in Indianapolis!

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

Woodbane's Diagram - 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 is one of three color pieces that will appear in book two. I previously shared with you the first. This is a supporting image for The Arrival section of the book. As one of Woodbane's diagrams appearing in his book series, Woodbane's Journal of Beings, this illustration depicts several species native to the continent of Thrakaa that are now extinct. The large quadruped in the center was a swamp-dwelling silt feeder used as a beast of burden and can be seen as the mount in The Arrival illustration.  Moving forward, I plan to have at least one of this style of illustration in the books. I plan to eventually have a book built around them as it focuses on the flora and fauna of the planet. I present Woodbane's Diagram.

Woodbane's Diagram
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle

11 x 14 - Pencil, ink, gouache, and acrylic paint on paper 

Available at Gen Con 2024 - August 1-4
© 2024 Christopher Burdett

Woodbane's Diagram - Drawing
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper 

Available at Gen Con 2024 - August 1-4
© 2024 Christopher Burdett

This is an extremely rare occasion in the Grand Bazaar, where there are two originals available for this piece. There is the finished inked and painted final image, as well as the pencil drawing that was used to work out the image before inking. The drawing was transferred to paper, and the inking and painting went onto that image, leaving the pencil drawing available, too. You can see the drawing above, and below is the finished inks that I scanned before I started painting.

Woodbane's Diagram - Ink work

11 x 14 - Ink on paper
© 2024 Christopher Burdett

This is a tribute to my love of museum displays and scientific illustrations that show cross-sections of things. I have loved them since I was a child, and to this day, they bring me joy. It was a true joy to finally make one of these for my world and my book. Here is a look at the sketch for Woodbane's Diagram to show where it began.

 

Woodbane's Diagram - Sketch

Digital
© 2024 Christopher Burdett

As a bonus, I have some images of this piece coming together. The first image shows the pencil drawing being worked on, and you can see the digital sketch behind the sheet of paper I am drawing on. The rest of the image shows the ink and paint work happening. It has been some time since I did a larger involved traditional color illustration. While I knew I could do it, I felt a little rusty. Thankfully, it all came back to me, and I am happy with the final product. I just know that the more of these I do, the better they will get.

Woodbane's Diagram - Process
© 2024 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

Cranium Rats in Disguise Miniature

Another week and another new miniature to share (though this is the last one for awhile). This time around, we have the Cranium Rats in Disguise mini that is based on my, you guessed it, Cranium Rats in Disguise illustration that I created for the D&D supplement, Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse. I got to design and illustrate this new monster, so it is doubly fun to see it now as a mini. Here is my final illustration for the Cranium Rats in Disguise.

Cranium Rats in Disguise

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Emi Tamji

© 2023 Wizards of the Coast LLC

The miniature holds true to my design and turned out beautifully. I was secretly, and not so secretly, hoping that this one would get a miniature, and I am thrilled that it did. This was one of my favorite pieces for D&D in a while, so it is wonderful to see it in plastic. Here are some photos of the completed mini.

Cranium Rats in Disguise miniature front/back

Cranium Rats in Disguise miniature

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

The State of the Grand Bazaar and Other Updates

This post is a bit late, but there is a lot happening everywhere, so I hope you can forgive my tardiness. When I say this is coming to you late, it was already out of date in April when I shared it with the subscribers to my newsletter (an update coming this week or next, so if you don't want to miss out, sign up!). The image I am sharing with you today was meant to go out in January, then it was February, but as mentioned, it didn't go out till April to my subscribers, which means now that I am finally sharing it with you all, it is extremely dated. So, what does this all mean?

As of earlier this year, I was over a third of the way through the art for book two. As I have been diligently making more art (I will be sharing it with you all very soon), I would think we are a bit closer to being halfway done with the art for the book. Yes, there are still some large, complicated pieces ahead of me, but I have my eye on focusing on as many of the smaller pieces first to help push production further along. I am currently finishing up some new small pieces for Gen Con, and once I am back from the convention, I will be back to working on the mid-size rank-and-file pieces that make up most of the book. In book one, there were years when I was working on it, and no one knew, so there was no pressure to update and inform, but now, with the series a known fact, well, it has been hard to find a balance of oversharing versus being too distant.

The completed art for book two of the Grand Bazaar

...as of January, no, I mean February... that's not right. Hmmm... April?

Still no... wait, this is way out of date!

All that aside, progress is being made, notes for writing are piling up, and things are taking shape. So, while it might not look it from the outside, or the inside for that matter, things are moving in the direction they should be. There is the question of how long it will take till we see book two. The answer I am currently giving is: when it is done, it will be done. We are still a few years out till we will have the next book in hand. I am doing EVERYTHING in my power to see this next book completed sooner rather than later, but these things take time. If I didn't have to worry about money, bills, food, and sleep, the book would have been done ages ago. But sadly, I am not at a point where the Grand Bazaar can support me, but you never know what the future holds. 

In other news, after much reflection and work on the book, I have decided to move my Prolific Whittler piece originally completed for book three to book two. It will work better with the narrative of book two, and as the focus of book three shifts, it begins to lose its importance there. And to be honest, I want to see it used sooner rather than later.

Prolific Whittler

The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - In the Black
11 x 14 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper
Original - Available
© 2021 Christopher Burdett

So, to recap, I am working on the book, much art has been made, and more art is still to be made, and then I will write it. 

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

Strong Beast - 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 is one of the numerous pieces of spot art throughout the book. This supporting image is for the Enraged Woofettes section of the book. Depicted here are ancient images depicting the "Strong Beast" that is said to be the large, strong being in the story of the Completed Circle. While a Woofettes has filled that role for a millennia in the telling and retelling of the story, it would seem that they were not originally in that role. I present the Strong Beast. 

Strong Beast
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle
9 x 12 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper
Contact me regarding availability
© 2024 Christopher Burdett

Strong Beast - Drawing 

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
© 2024 Christopher Burdett

 

This is one of the many pieces I completed so far this year. It has been a blur of pencil and paint. Nice to finally be sharing them. Here is a look at the sketch for the Strong Beast to show where it began.

Strong Beast - Sketch 

 Digital 

 © 2024 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. Additional fun fact: While this is the same paper I have used for my work on the Grand Bazaar, this sheet and several others recently used was from a larger piece of Rives BFK that I have had since college, so over twenty years old. I am not sure if it is the age of the paper or if the paper is made differently now, but water does not go down on this paper the same way as all the others of the same type I use. So there was a lot more drying time and a lot of impatient waiting to see if the washes went down correctly and if the pencil was blending the way I desired. In the end, there was no deviation from the image I was able to achieve, just some uncertain moments of waiting for things to dry.

Strong Beast - Process 

© 2024 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