"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 one is from November, but as it was traveling to Canada, in this day and age, it would likely take its time to get there. And it finally arrived at its forever home a week ago in a new month and a new year.

Shifting shadows with a focus on the dragon elements - RAWR!

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

Vanish into the Night - 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 final chapter art in the book. Can't really tell you too much about this one. It being the end of the story and all. You will have to wait for the book to learn more about what is happening.

Vanish into the Night
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

Vanish into the Night - Drawing 

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

Here is a look at the sketch and tonal study for Vanish into the Night to show where it began.

Vanish into the Night - Sketch 

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

Vanish into the Night - Tonal study 

Digital 

© 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. Again, this one was straightforward. As I have nearing the completion of the chapter plates, I really hit my groove and stayed in it. These final few pieces were a joy to work on, and they FLEW by. I addressed the figure first, then the deep background, and then filled in the world around the figure. 

 

Vanish into the Night - 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

Revisiting the Monsters - Ettin

In 2010, sixteen years ago now, I began a personal project to redesign most, if not all, of the monsters in the original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. That original MM had a profound effect on me and led me to eventually work on the game. While I was already working on the game when I began this project, it did prove useful as I have redesigned many D&D monsters in my career on the game. In the end, I completed over 100 drawings for the project and even had a gallery show featuring the work. 

I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favorites, and to start things off, I am sharing the double trouble that is the mighty Ettin. Enjoy!

Ettin redesign (2010)
© 2010/2026 Christopher Burdett 

That's 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

Magic: The Gathering in Miniature III Show!

I am thrilled to announce that I will be part of the Magic: The Gathering in Miniature III Show, taking place at Nucleus Gallery in Alhambra, CA. From January 31, 2026, to February 15, 2026, a collection of Magic the Gathering artist proofs adorned with drawings and paintings on their back will be on display. After that, for the following year, the cards will be available online through the gallery. There is a show page for the gallery that has all the information, previews, details, and artist list. Each artist was limited to three proofs this year, and there are over 300 proofs celebrating the 33rd anniversary of Magic the Gathering. This time around, I had some fun, let the marks guide me, tried some new techniques, and came away with some pieces I greatly enjoyed making. Here are the cards I will have in the show!

Magic: The Gathering in Miniature III

Nucleus Gallery in Alhambra, CA.

January 31, 2026 - February 15, 2026

 

What Sort of Bargain

Marker, ink, and acrylic paint on a Magic the Gathering artist proof

Obstruction

Marker, ink, and acrylic paint on a Magic the Gathering artist proof

But not the Deputy

Marker, ink, and acrylic paint on a Magic the Gathering artist proof

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

Unwinnable Odds - 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 penultimate chapter art in the book. The hero in the bowels of the Warren, seeking to bring justice to the vile Basilisk, has come face-to-face with Giant Eaters. What hope does he have against such... Unwinnable Odds. Will he survive the day?

Unwinnable Odds
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

 

Unwinnable Odds - Drawing 

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

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

  

Unwinnable Odds - Sketch 

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

Unwinnable Odds - Tonal study

 Digital 

 © 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. This one was straightforward. Started with the main character focal point and worked my way down the grasping hands. I finished with the background because I wanted to try something different and experiment with the process. I had some fun, which is the point of it all. And a BONUS bonus image to start things out. 

A look at the drawing table while I was working on the line art.

I shared this with those subscribing to my mailing list. You too could subscribe! 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

Unwinnable Odds - 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

A Second Look at Older Work - Two-Faced Freaks

If you ever asked what I was drawing twenty years ago, this post is for you!

Today, I am sharing a miniature design that I did for the now long-dead miniatures game, Dreamblade. Dreamblade will always be near and dear to me, as it was the first game I ever worked on and one of the times I felt most free as an artist working in the gaming industry. This is the "Two-Faced Freaks" design for an unproduced set of the game.

Unreleased Two-Faced Freaks - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

Two-Faced Freaks turnaround - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast 

This one was turned into a custom one-of-a-kind miniature many moons ago. I shared images and a link to see more cool custom Dreambalde miniatures from the sets that were never produced. You should check it out if you have a chance!

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

2025 Holiday Card - May you find something special during the holidays!

Another year and another holiday card. This year's card again came late and was the second of our series of postcards. With so much going on, these seem to be pushed further and further to the last minute. Which means they need to be done very quickly, around many other things. But once again, we managed. Hopefully, they have all reached their destinations, but who knows with international mail these days? I present you with: May you find something special during the holidays!

May you find something special during the holidays!  - 2025 Holiday Card

8x10 - Pencil and acrylic paint on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 That is all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog. See you back here soon! 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 Bazaar - January 2026

2026 has begun, whether we want it to or not, and I have a major update from the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. If you are part of my mailing list, you already know what I am about to share. At the end of 2025, I officially completed the main art phase of the next book, The Completed Circle. And, as of January first, I have begun writing the book. I can say, as of today, it is all going very well. There is much to do, and in time, I will be creating more art for the book, as that is always the way of these things. But a significant milestone has been reached, and the book is actively taking shape. I will have the two final chapter plates to share with you in the coming weeks. For now, here is a look at the production board as it currently stands.

The current state of production in the Grand Bazaar.

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

Revisiting the Monsters - Bugbear

While I plan to update you all with things on Monday, and why I am so busy, and why I am sharing even more older work. Let's just say, for now, that I am really, really busy.

In 2010, sixteen years ago now, I began a personal project to redesign most, if not all, of the monsters in the original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. That original MM had a profound effect on me and led me to eventually work on the game. While I was already working on the game when I began this project, it did prove useful as I have redesigned many D&D monsters in my career on the game. In the end, I completed over 100 drawings for the project and even had a gallery show featuring the work. 

I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favorites, and to start things off, I am sharing the very first one that I completed, the Bugbear. Enjoy!

Bugbear redesign (2010)
© 2010/2026 Christopher Burdett 

Two years later, in 2012, I shared the painted version of this drawing. I was making my transition from digital to traditional, and this was one of the first pieces I used to practice and learn what I was doing. I still very much enjoy how this turned out.

Bugbear
© 2012/2026 Christopher Burdett 

That's 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

Gen Con 2026 Announcement!

I am thrilled to announce that I will be returning to Gen Con in 2026! I will see you Indianapolis for the best four days in gaming July 30 - August 2, 2026. Gen Con is one of my main events of the year and has been for over a decade. It is a lot of work, and now that I know I am in the show, planning begins NOW.

Gen Con calls and we will answer that call.

My Gen Con booth in 2024.

No picture from 2025 as we had to cancel last minute. 

 

That is 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

A Second Look at Older Work - The Termite Head

And then it was 2026. This is going to be a very busy year for me, and because of this fact, I will likely be pulling back a bit from the blog. I will be sharing things from the past, keeping you updated as I can on what is keeping me so busy (more on that REALLY soon), and still doing my best to share my journey as an artist. But know that if things go quiet here, it is because a LOT of exciting things are happening behind the scenes.

Today, I am sharing a miniature design that I did for the now long-dead miniatures game, Dreamblade. Dreamblade will always be near and dear to me, as it was the first game I ever worked on and one of the times I felt most free as an artist working in the gaming industry. This is the "Termite Head" design for an unproduced set of the game.

Unreleased Termite Head - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

Termite Head turnaround - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast 

This was a one and done design for this particular assignment. I did one drawing, they loved it, and did the turnaround, and it was done. Always nice when that happens. But again, the feet, why are they so small? Why did I draw such small feet on things twenty years ago?

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