Gorgon Miniature

Today, I have for you a miniature based on one of my designs. I updated the Gorgon for the release of 5E. This is acutally the second release of a miniature for this design. An unpaintned version was released in 2021. This one is always a funny monster to me and is not the only time I have working on the Gorgon. To start things off, here is my design of the Gorgon. 

Gorgon - Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual - Redesign

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Here are a pair of images of the miniature so that you can compare them to the design. 

Gorgon miniature

Monster Menagerie Revivisted 

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

Star Spawn Seer Miniature

Today, I have for you a miniature based on one of my illustrations. I updated and painted the Star Spawn Seer for Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse. I have been biding my time for this one. Not sure why I figured it would eventually become a miniature, but I have expected one to be made since I painted this one. We can add this to the growing number of miniatures based on my work, where I used myself as the reference. To start things off, here is my painting of the Star Spawn Seer.

Star Spawn Seer

Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Emi Tanji

© 2022 Wizards of the Coast LLC

This one looks great and is nice and awkward and gross. You can't go wrong with that. I always find it interesting to see what had to be changed and what comes directly from my painting. Here are a pair of images of the miniature so that you can compare them to the illustration.

Star Spawn Seer

Ghost Light

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 NEW Spectator Miniature

I have a recently released miniature based on my designs that has already been turned into a miniature. This time around, the miniature getting an update in the Spectator. I redesigned the Spectator during my work leading up to the release of 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons. To start things off, here is my design of the Spectator.

Spectator (originally Gauth during the concept push)

5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Monster concept

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The first Spectator miniature was released in 2015, with a second 2D acrylic mini released in 2023, and finally, the most recent version last year in 2024. While the miniatures have varied, they have continued to stay true to the original design. Now, the most recent purple and it looks GREAT! Here is a look at the new mini.

 Spectator

Adventures from Baldur's Gate

Lastly, here are images of the previous Spectator minis to see how it has changed over the years.

The previous newest Spectator miniature from  2024.

 

Spectator 2D Miniature from 2023.

 

The original Spectator miniature from 2015.

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

A NEW Gazer Miniature

I have a recently released miniature based on my designs and illustrations that has already been turned into a miniature. This time around, the miniature getting an update in the Gazer. I redesigned and illustrated the Gazer for Volo's Guide to Monsters. To start things off, here is my illustration of the Gazer.

Beholder Gazer

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2016 Wizards of the Coast LLC

The first Gazer miniature was released in 2019, with a second 2D acrylic mini released in 2023. The original was so tiny, and the second was more visually faithful to the design. This most recent version is a perfect combination of the two previous miniatures, merging diminutive size and detail. Here is a look at the new mini.

Gazer

Underdark Expeditions

Lastly, here are images of the previous Gazer minis to see how it has changed over the past six years.

Gazer 2D Miniature - 2023

Gazer Miniature - 2019

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

A NEW Fire Snake Miniature

I have a recently released miniature based on my designs and illustrations that has already been turned into a miniature. This time around, the miniature getting an update in the Fire Snake. I redesigned and illustrated the Fire Snake for its Monster Manual appearance for the launch of 5th Edition. To start things off, here is my illustration of the Fire Snake.

Fire Snake

Dungeons & Dragons - 5th Edition Monster Manual 

8x11 - Digital

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

It has been ten years since there was a Fire Snake miniature released, and I never imagined that it would get another version, let alone one that matches my original painting, in addition to being a vast improvement to the overall quality of the piece. The Fire Snake is a juvenile Salamander (which I also designed and illustrated), and I had a ton of fun working on its design and painting, so it is so cool to see it return. Here is a look at the new mini.

Fire Snake

Underdark Expeditions

Lastly, here is an image of the original Fire Snake mini to see how it has changed in the last ten years.

Fire Snake

Icon of the Realms: Elemental Evil Miniatures

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

Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures - Ankheg

Today, I have for you another, and the last to my knowledge Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures release of a D&D monster that I updated for 5th Edition. If you know me and this blog, you know my love of the Ankheg and that it was one of my favorite assignments when doing the design push for 5E D&D. Having always been a fan of it and then illustrating it for the second 4E Monster Manual, the Ankheg has always held a special place in my monster heart. My work with it for 5E only secured its place in my top D&D monsters. With the prepainted miniature coming out last year, it is nice to see an unpainted version showing the entire monster. To start things off, here is the illustration of my redesigned Ankheg.

Ankheg

5th Edition Monster Manual

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Daniel Gelon

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast LLC

While I have designed many monsters for D&D, the Ankheg remains a favorite, and to see it made into another miniature fills me with a great deal of happiness. Designing miniatures was my first work in the tabletop gaming industry and remain a joy of mine. As mentioned above, while the first 5E miniature follows my illustration of the Ankheg, this new version shows the entire monster as it proudly stands entirely above ground. Just look at that abdomen! Here is Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures version of the Ankheg in all its glory.

 

Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures - Ankheg

As it is a favorite, I could not let them all live forever in a plastic bubble. I made sure to acquire two of these plastic beasties so that one could stay in the package and so that one could breathe free and be part of my miniature display. It also gives a better view of the entire monster.

Nolzur's Marvelous Miniatures - Ankheg

Out of the confines of its packaging

Lastly, here is a look again at the prepainted Ankheg miniature from last year. Still love the job they did on this one. RAWR!

Prepainted Ankheg Miniature

 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

Ankheg Miniature

I have been waiting for this one for so long. I figured it was only a matter of time. Given enough sets of miniatures, the good folks at Wizards of the Coast would see fit to produce a miniature based on my design of the Ankheg for 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons. Well, it finally happened, and to make it even better, the miniature is based on my painting of the Ankheg that I created of the 5th Edition Monster Manual. The Ankheg is a special monster for me and my work on Dungeons & Dragons. It was the first monster that I painted for the second 4th Edition Monster Manual, I was asked to redesign it for 5th Edition, and finally, I painted it for the 5E Monster Manual. And now, after all that time, a miniature has been made of my version of this iconic monster. Here is my painting of the Ankheg.

Ankheg

5th Edition Monster Manual

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Daniel Gelon

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast LLC

This is still one of my favorite pieces that I have painted for D&D. For me, it just hits all the right notes. A giant monster that is an insect, it's kind of crazy and weird, there is some nice action with the piece, and it is an isolated figure. I love a good isolated figure piece, and it is what I have loved about D&D Monsters Manuals since I was a child. That bold image of a monster on the page with nothing to stand in the way of your imagination building the world the monster lives in. Here is how the miniature of the Ankheg turned out.

Ankheg Miniature

I am so happy with how this miniature turned out. Not only were they faithful to my painting, but it is a large miniature. As much as I love miniatures, I love large minis the best. After so many years of hoping, it is really satisfying to finally see this monster made real in plastic.

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

Beholder Death Tyrant Miniature

When I was redesigning monsters for the 5th Edition Dungeons and Dragons Monster Manual, one of my assignments was to tackle the Beholder Death Tyrant. This is an undead Beholder and a nasty piece of work for any party of adventures to tackle. I really liked the design I came up with for 5E, and I know my art director did as well. Here is my design of the Beholder Death Tyrant.

Beholder Death Tyrant

Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual - Redesign

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

While I liked the design, I knew it would never become a miniature. The floating disembodied eyes would be a problem for sure. Well, six years later, I was proven wrong! The Beholder Death Tyrant was made into a miniature, and they solved the problems with the eyes brilliantly. It is also very faithful to my design as well. I think it is a great piece, and I am happy to add it to my shelf of miniatures. Here is how the mini turned out.

Beholder Death Tyrant Miniature

I hope to be proven wrong about more of the monsters I have designed for Dungeons and Dragons, as I love to see miniatures based on my work. 

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

#NoobMeVsNowMe

I have noticed a hashtag going around Twitter, and I thought I might join in on the fun. It has artists comparing old work to current work. Mine is not exactly current, but it best illustrates the results of time, hard work, and perseverance. I have repeated many time here on the blog, the best advice I ever received was, "Draw more." You have to stick with it. You have to put the time in. You have to look for reference. Seek out workshops and courses that specialize in the work you want to make. Don't give up, it is hard, and it is rarely quick or easy, and it takes time. 

1996 vs. 2016

From player to maker.

On the left is my Lizardman character that I played in the second edition of Dungeons & Dragons and on the right is the Lizardfolk I illustrated for the fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons book, Volo's Guide to Monsters. SO many bad habits that I fought YEARS to break are in that left drawing. I continued to fight those bad habits into my professional career. Even now, I have to push myself to not fall back on those habits, to be objective with my work, and push myself to be better. Artist continues to grow throughout their careers. We always need to draw more.

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

Into the Jungle - The Return of the Aarakocra

Thanks to the internet I continue to discover where my work has been used in subsequent products with my clients. This time around I have for you the choose your own adventure style Dungeons and Dragon book, Into the Jungle from 2018. This book sees the return of the Aarakocra created initially for the 5th Edition Monster Manual in 2014. Here is a look at the new incarnation of the Aarakocra.

Aarakocra

Into the Jungle

8x11 - Digital

© 2018 Wizards of the Coast

The Aarakocra has surprisingly made its way around over the past five years. If you are interested in picking up a copy of Into the Jungle, which looks to be a really fun book, here is the cover that sports a gorgeous Chris Seaman cover.

Into the Jungle, for all your into the jungle needs.

Lastly, here are the original illustrations for the Aarakocra. It is the first monster in the 5th Editon Monster Manual if you go looking for it.

Aarakocra

 Dungeons & Dragons - 5th Edition Monster Manual

8x11 - Digital

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

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

Kraken Miniature

I recently found out that a rather large miniature was made that is based on one of the monsters I illustrated for the 5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. The monster I am talking about is none other than the mighty Kraken. I was able to get my hands on one and boy, it is impressive! The Kraken was designed for 5E by the super amazing creature designer Brynn Metheney and I was brought in to illustrate it for the book. I was also asked to rework the head as part of the assignment. Brynn gave this creature an amazing head, but production wanted something a little different in the end. It was a real honor to be able to illustrate one of Brynn's designs and it is still one of my favorite pieces from the Monster Manual. I never thought they would make a miniature of this particular monster so it was a huge surprise to see that they had. Here are some images of the miniature in all its glory...

I am really impressed with all the detail and how much it really matches the designs and illustration. The sculpture did an amazing job. ...and ALL THOSE TENTACLES!!!!

It just looks great from every angle!

YASSSSSS!

The miniature even comes with some little sandbars, a boat and oars, a treasure chest with removable lid, and a skeleton clinging to a ships wheel atop a pile of gold.

I think this is all pretty cool to say the least! Still trying to figure out how and where to display this one since it is WAY bigger than any of my other miniatures. There are worst problems to have! If you want to compare and contrast, I am including my illustration and detail sketches that I created for the Monster Manual...

Kraken

Digital

5E Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Kraken - Detail Sketches

Pencil on paper

5E Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

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

Dungrons & Dragons - Dungeonology

Earlier in the week I went down a rabbit hole of discovering a bunch of my work illegally being used on items for sale (another story for another day). In the process of finding all of the stolen artwork I did learn that some of my work was being used legitimately on projects I did not know about. I discovered that I was credited on the Dungeons & Dragons book, Dungeonology. Dungeonology came out in 2016 and while I was aware of its existence I had no idea some of my work was actually in it. Learning that I had a credit in it I rolled the dice and ordered one to see if in fact the credit was accurate and because I collect things with my work in it. The book arrived and I began paging through to find my reused work. While it was easy enough to spot my name on the first page under contributing artists, finding my art turned out to be a little more difficult. I searched through the entire book twice with no luck in finding anything that looked like mine. Maybe my name being in the book was an error? Maybe my work had originally been in there but it was removed along the way due to edits? Maybe I was not looking hard enough? Well, I began looking through the book a third time, carefully scouring each page, flipping through each supplemental mini book, and unfolding every flap, edge, and map in a the quest for something made with my hand. Here is what I found...

The cover of the Dungeonology is so shiny and fancy!

Looks like just another normal page with no sign of my art...

...but what's this? A secret flap? An extra bit of content and information!

Looking closer... what's this?

FINALLY! I drew that feather!

As far as I can tell this is my only art in the book and I think it is awesome and hilarious. I am eternally grateful for the professionalism for everyone over at WotC and the team on Dungeons & Dragons. It would have been so easy to no give me credit for this, after all it is just a little feather on one page. I have not been given credit plenty of times with other companies, so it is so wonderful when things like this happen. If you are wondering why I had drawn a feather for D&D you just need to look back to 2014. When working on the 5th Edition Monster Manual the artists were asked to supply detail pencil sketches for their monsters so that production can use them as part of the layout of the book. One of the sketches that I did for the Aarkocra was... you guessed it! ...a feather.

Aarakocra - Detail Sketches

9x12 - Pencil on paper

© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

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

Mordenkainen’s Mayhem!

Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes is the newest suppliment to the Dungeons & Dragons and it comes out on May 29th (with a limited alternative cover hitting game stores slightly earlier on May 18). With that knowledge and what I am sharing with you today I think it is safe to say that I worked on this book! I had a ton of fun making a bunch of monsters for Mordenkainen’s Tome of Foes and I am really looking forward to sharing them with you in the coming months. That said, one of my pieces has be spoiled as part of the Mordenkainen’s Mayhem monster competition currently going on over on the Dungeons & Dragons website.

Mordenkainen’s Mayhem!

One of monsters that I did the illustration for won the first battle and will be moving on to the second round of combat. Always nice when the monster wins... though it is only monsters battling. I will just leave this other image here in case you were wondering exactly which was mine (more on this SOON!)...

Winner winner demon chicken dinner!

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