Welcome to the Hellfire Club - Dungeons & Dragons

I am thrilled to finally share my work on the newly released Dungeons & Dragons set, Welcome to the Hellfire Club. This is the newest set that mixes classic D&D with the Netflix series Stranger Things. This was a pure joy to work on, not because of it being Stranger Things or even Dungeons & Dragons. It was a joy because I got to work fully traditionally on these pieces. The finals are ink on paper, and they were so much fun to work on. This is the first time working on this type of project, so while there are traditional drawings for these and thumbnail variations, I am still navigating what I can and cannot share. So I will be playing it safe and only sharing the final pieces for now. If you come to IX next week, you will be the first to see all of this work, both the finals and drawings, in person at the show. They will be available for purchase there for the first time as well. As I am also not sure what I can share, I will share with you the art for now, and the stories will wait for another day.

Demogorgon Spawn

11x14 - Ink on paper (with minor digital edit)

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2025Wizards of the Coast LLC

Needle Blight

14x11 - Ink on paper

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2025Wizards of the Coast LLC

 

Shieker

14x11 - Ink on paper

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2025Wizards of the Coast LLC

 

Vine Blight

14x11 - Ink on paper

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2025Wizards of the Coast LLC

 

Violet Fungus

14x11 - Ink on paper

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2025Wizards of the Coast LLC

 

Flail +1

11x14 - Ink on paper

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2025Wizards of the Coast LLC

 

Flame Tounge Sword

11x14 - Ink on paper (with minor digital edit)

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2025Wizards of the Coast LLC

When and if I can share more about these, I will in the near future. Again, if you would like to see these in person or to purchase them, I will see you at IX next week in Reading, PA!

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

Campaign Roundup - Stanley

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

Shackling - Tales From Baba Yaga's Garden

Today, we have Melissa Sue Stanley's Shackling - Tales From Baba Yaga's Garden. Melissa shares:

Baba Yaga's Hut is a fascination of mine. I've been drawing, painting, sculpting, and writing about her unique mobile home for over a decade. As I work I dream up little stories about different huts in different landscapes - which led me to the question: where do chicken-legged huts come from?

I turned to my sketchbook for the answer, and began imaging all sorts of juvenile huts. Over years and pages of drawings, I created a strange clearing in the middle of the northern woods where a witch called "The Gardener" returns every 17 years.

I love Melissa's work, and I can't wait to get my hands on one of these. I hope you take the time to check out the campaign!

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

A Second Look at Older Work - Never Released Part 3

I am still SUPER swamped, so I have for you another unreleased piece from many moons ago.

First and foremost, I can not tell you anything about this work or the project it was created for. I would love to, but I can't, so please do not ask or try to guess.

Next up is this beefy stampy hooved burny skull dude. This turnaround would have been for something really cool, but it is now a stack of drawings in a binder. This was done back in 2008, and I was given permission to share them in late 2011 or early 2012, and they have been filed away ever since. This is still one of my favorites from the project. This one would have been so neat. Oh well.

Unreleased stampy hooved burny skull dude

 Each drawing is 9x12 - pencil on paper

© 2008 Wizards of the Coast 

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

The Warren - 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 and is the second of two key locations in the Grand Bazaar featured in the story, The Warren. The first of these locations was shared last week.

The Warren is home to many, including the Nefarious Criminal Despot known as the Basilisk, whom I shared with you in July. The Warren was meant to be a pair of joined luxury towers in the Grand Bazaar to rival Ethra's great tower. Things did not go according to plan, and the project was abandoned only to be taken over by those who wanted a place of their own, away from prying eyes and building codes. While the Warren was not specifically named in the tale of the Completed Circle, it is assumed to take place there. It is not a safe place, but it offers up much adventure for those who dare enter its halls.

The Warren
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle
11 x 14 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper

Original - Contact me if interested
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

The Warren - Drawing 

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

Here is a look at the sketch and tonal study for The Warren to show where it began.

 

The Warren - Sketch 

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

The Warren - Tonal study

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

If you are familiar with my work and the Grand Bazaar, you might think the above sketch looks a bit different from the sketches I usually share in these posts. And that is because it is. The Warren got its start in my sketchbook. I am unsure if this is a shift in my process moving forward, but it was an unexpected result of having the sketchbook with me all the time. The current piece I am working on has followed my typical process flow, but we never know what the future holds, that's Ethra's job. I scanned the page from my sketchbook, cropped it to fit the aspect ratio for the book, made a couple of little tweaks, and used it as the starting point for this piece. I could not have been happier with the process.

The Warren - Sketchbook drawing

 Marker and pencil on paper

© 2025 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. As mentioned last time, I used to have a set method of working on these pieces. I had one way, and that was the only way. Again, this one was all over the place. Middle and foreground, and then moving into the background. Sure, why not!

The Warren - Process

© 2025 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

Campaign Roundup - Weber, Hare, and Colin

Today on the blog, I wanted to point out several current artist campaigns that I think you all might be interested in. They feature fantastic art by incredible artists, and if you have not already checked them out, you should do so NOW!

Owen Weber's Prehistoric Creatures Coloring Book

A dinosaur and prehistoric mammal coloring book for all ages, 66 million years in the making. 

First up is Owen Weber's Prehistoric Creatures Coloring Book. Owen shares:

Travel back in time and color your way through 25 different dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals.  A Prehistoric Creatures Coloring Book offers beautifully designed coloring pages of all your favorite dinosaurs, and maybe a few new favorites, illustrated by Paleo Artist Owen William Weber.  This coloring book has creatures from all periods of prehistory, from the Triassic all the way through the Ice Age.  Enjoy bringing to life such creatures as Dilophosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Pteranodon, and Woolly Mammoth, along with many others!  The book features single sided perforated pages printed on quality paper, good for pencils, crayons, markers and watercolors.

I love Owen's paleo artwork, and this coloring book looks like so much fun! Be sure to get one for your dinosaur and coloring book fan!

Emily Hare's Savage Strangehollow

Explore an enchanted realm of vast forests, unforgiving mountains, and uncharted waters.

Next up is Emily Hare's Savage Strangehollow. Emily shares:

Hi, my name is Emily and I am inspired by all things fantasy, folklore and fairytales. In 2017 I invented my own world and it has grown and evolved over the past 8 years. What started as a vast enchanted forest, expanded to include seas, mountain ranges, frozen wastes and tropical rainforests. Rocky plains have now been added!

This is the fourth book and I will be introducing you to new beasts and magical beings, not yet encountered. 

Your pledge will help me to produce a gorgeous hand-painted art book filled with whimsy, wilderness and wild beasts. I'm so excited to be able to bring you this new instalment!

I own several of Emily's other books, and I love her work. If you are a fan of monsters and stories, you should really check this out!

Brian Colin and Creature Curation's Vast Grimm - Escaping Stasis

Expanded rules, adventures, and starter set for the infectious, sci-fi horror RPG. Compatible with Mörk Borg.

Last, certainly not least, is Brian Colin and Creature Curation's Vast Grimm - Escaping Stasis. Brian shares:

The universe is coming to a terrible end because most of humanity has been infected by one of six strains of parasitic würms. Those consumed by the larvae mutate into an alien hive mind, zombie-like species known as The Grimm.

You play as a miserable meatbag who is somehow still alive. Together with other PCs, you form a Legion because not only is there strength in numbers, but hopefully, at least one of your crew is a little slower than you are. Maybe you want to save what’s left of humanity, perhaps you want to earn enough credits to live out the end as gloriously as possible, or maybe you’re searching for pieces to the Gate of Infinite stars in hopes of escaping this ‘verse before it collapses.

I LOVE Brian's work and have other Vast Grimm books. It is all super cool, and you should really check it out if you love games!

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

IX 2025 Just Weeks Away!

Now that it is October, it is time to remind everyone that I will be appearing in the main show of Illuxcon in Reading, PA, October 22- 26, 2025. We love IX, and it is a truly unique experience to attend and be a part of. As the event nears and final schedules are announced, I will share with you some of the things I will be a part of at IX. And I should have a surprise or two as well.

Come see me and many other amazing artists at Illuscon 2025!

That's all for another 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