The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: Emi Tanji

Showing posts with label Emi Tanji. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Cranium Rats in Disguise - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for my favorite contribution to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse. As I mentioned before, I have never worked on anything Planescape related in the 19 years I have made monsters for Dungeons & Dragons, so it was a real treat to finally stick my tow into this realm. Last time I shared a pointy walking plant, today, I smelled a rat. Here is the final painting for the Cranium Rats in Disguise.

Cranium Rats in Disguise

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Emi Tamji

I was asked to design and illustrate the Cranium Rats in Disguise. I knew instantly that this would be a fun one. It is just so silly and cool at the same time that I needed to make it special. The Cranium Rats in Disguise was described as:

A mysterious figure surrounded by cranium rats walks down an alley toward the viewer.
Figure: The figure is covered in a ragged cloak and wrappings and walks awkwardly. We can't see any of the figure's features. It's suggested that the figure is actually all cranium rats wearing clothes, but we can't be sure.
Alley: The alley is a creepy alley in Sigil's Hive Ward. It's filled with trash and razor vine.

After reading that, I was ready to get to work on some thumbnails. As I have stated countless times here before, I start nearly all of my projects with a photo shoot as I act out the monster and get my head around the physicality of it. Once I feel like I have enough reference, I start scribbling. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.

Cranium Rats in Disguise - Thumbnails

These were well received, but the hat on top of the cloak in option 'C' was, of course, the best one. I was asked to make the background doorway arch more similar to option 'B,' but the figure was perfect as it was. I was happy to make the updates and got to work. Here is the updated thumbnail that I submitted.

Cranium Rats in Disguise - Revised thumbnail

The revised thumbnail was approved without additional notes or revisions. It was now time for my favorite part, the drawing! I always create a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here is the Cranium Rats in Disguise drawing.

Cranium Rats in Disguise

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

11 x 14 -Colored pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Emi Tamji

The drawing was approved without comment, and it was time to start on the final painting. Here is the painting of the Cranium Rats in Disguise taking shape.

Cranium Rats in Disguise - Process

As with most of my D&D work these days, the painting goes quickly. I am thankful that I have been doing these long enough that I can sit down and knock out the painting in one sitting. It was not always this way, but after 25 years, I am glad to finally have this luxery of having done this work countless times. Practice does pay off. The biggest challenge for this piece was to get the contrast right for the figure and the limited background. It needed to be readable and fleshed out, but not to the point that it overwhelmed the figure. I believe I hit the right balance with it. This is likely one of my favorite recent works, and it is getting a miniature! Here, again, is the final painting of the Cranium Rats in Disguise.

Cranium Rats in Disguise

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

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

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Razorvine Blight - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for one of my contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse. I have never worked on anything Planescape related in the 19 years I have made monsters for Dungeons & Dragons, so it was a real treat to finally stick my tow into this world. Granted, only making two pieces leaves me still very much clueless about the gaming world of Planescape. Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse focuses on the city of Sigil and the various planes that can be accessed there (and if I am mistaken in this, sorry, I sadly do not know much about this one D&D realm). I made a plant and some rats, so today, we are starting with the plant. Here is the final painting for the Razorvine Blight.

Razorvine Blight

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Emi Tamji

I was asked to design and illustrate the Razorvine Blight. There are other sapient plant monsters in the worlds of D&D, so I had some limitation to keep in mind, other than that I was free to explore this new monsters. The Razorvine Blight was described as:

This is a sapient plant creature made of razorvine, an uncontrollable hazard endemic to Sigil. Like the astral blight and needle blight, it should appear vaguely humanoid, like it took on the shape of one of the city’s pedestrians.

I can get behind all of this, so I got to work on some thumbnails. As I have stated countless times here before, I start nearly all of my projects with a photo shoot as I act out the monster and get my head around the physicality of it. Once I feel like I have enough reference, I start scribbling. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.

Razorvine Blight - Thumbnails

These were well recieved and I was asked to update option 'B'. I was happy to make the updates and got to work. Here is the updated thumbnail that I submitted.

Razorvine Blight - Revised thumbnail

It wasn't quite where it needed to be yet and I was asked to make some additinal changes to the thumbnail. I was feeling pretty good with where this one was when I submitted it.. Here is the revised and updated thumbnail that I submitted.

Razorvine Blight - Revised and updated thumbnail

The revised and updated thumbnail was approved without additional notes or revisions. I was now approved to take it to the next process phase. I always create a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here is the Razorvine Blight drawing.

Razorvine Blight

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

11 x 14 -Colored pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Emi Tamji

The drawing was approved without comment, and it was time to start on the final painting. Here is the painting of the Razorvine Blight taking shape.

Razorvine Blight- Process

This piece falls in line with my other recent works in that I completed it in record time. I am finding that I can get in a groove and get these isolated figure pieces done very quickly. This has not been something I have necessarily been focused on doing but instead has happened over time on its own. I mean, one would hope if you do something repeatedly that, you will become quicker and better at doing it. It is nice to see that playing out for me. Some of the color and deco were already worked out for me in the style guide, but for me in all of my D&D pieces I am aiming to make something that looks cool nad checks all the boxes with the assignment. In the end, I beleive I was asked to make some of the leafs more pointed here and there, but that was the exstint of revisions at the end. Here, again, is the final painting of the Razorvine Blight.

Razorvine Blight

Planescape: Adventures in the Multiverse

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

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Storm Crab - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for one of my contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants. I somehow missed sharing this before and thought it was already shared when I recently posted the process for the Fomorian Deep Crawler. So, ignore that I said the Fomorian Deep Crawler was the last one of these for this book; the Storm Crab is the final process post for it. Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants focuses on all things giants, including giant crabs that eat young dragon turtles. Here is the final painting for the Storm Crab about to enjoy a snack.

Storm Crab

Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Emi Tamji

I was asked illustrate the Storm Crab, while there was a concept design for this already I was asked to expand on it and make it more my own. I am always up for designing and painting monsters! The Storm Crab was described as:

This illustration depicts a STORM CRAB. The crab is a monstrously large crustacean capable of hunting dragon turtles. Its carapace is wide, like a crab, but also has a narrow thorax that ends in a STINGER. The crab has three long limbs, and two pairs of pincer claws. One pair is larger than the other, and the smaller pair is closer to its head. The shell is spikey and can have bioluminescent algae growing on it.

The crab is attacking a young DRAGON TURTLE that is about half its size. It holds the dragon turtle in its claws, and it is looking to stab it with its stinger to inject a paralyzing venom.

This all sounds fun to work on, so I got to work on some thumbnails. As with some of the others pieces for this book I was battling a very narrow tall composistional space - something that gave me a certain amount of ttouble. In the end, I think I made them all work. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.

Storm Crab - Thumbnails

These were well recieved and I was asked to make a small update to option 'B'. Production wanted more dangling creepy legs to be seen below and behind the dragon turtle. Here is the updated thumbnail that I submitted.

Storm Crab - Revised thumbnail

The updated thumbnail was approved without additional notes and revisions. I was now approved to take it to the next process phase. I always create a final traditional drawing for every project to work out the details and to give myself a tangible product from the assignment. Here is the Storm Crab drawing.

Storm Crab

Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants

11 x 14 -Colored pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Emi Tamji

The drawing was approved without comment, and it was time to start on the final painting. Here is the painting of the Storm Crab taking shape.

Storm Crab - Process

While I did not paint this one as quickly as the Fomorian Deep Crawler, I did complete this one in record time. Again, these were very straightforward pieces, and I had worked out all the details ahead of time. The color and deco choices for the turtle are establishedand I was free to make the crab however I choosed. I went with colors and deco that is familair to me and the crabs I have seen in my life. There were no issues and no edits or changes needed for it. Here, again, is the final painting of the Storm Crab.

Storm Crab

Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants

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

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

Fomorian Deep Crawler - Dungeons & Dragons - Process

Today, I am happy to share the process and steps for one of my contributions to the Dungeons & Dragons supplement, Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants. This is the last of four contributions to the book. Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants focuses on all things giants, including misshapen and horrible giants. Here is the final painting for the Fomorian Deep Crawler, a twisted and evil monster that dwells below the ground.

Fomorian Deep Crawler

Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Emi Tamji

I was asked to design and illustrate the Fomorian Deep Crawler after discovering that the original image created for the book was not entirely created by a human and needed to be replaced. I had an EXTREMELY tight turnaround for this one and threw everything I had at it. The Fomorian Deep Crawler was described as:

This illustration depicts a MALE FOMORIAN DEEP CRAWLER. The fomorian has spent his life crawling and has become very adept at moving that way. His limbs are stretched out and sinuous, and he is as flexible as a contortionist. His movement looks unnatural and disturbing. He could have one of his legs swinging over his head and kicking himself forward. There could be curves to his movement mimicking a centipede or serpent.

The fomorian is in a charging pose, rushing towards something or someone offscreen. There is an urgency to his movement, and he has a depraved look in his eyes.

This all sounds like a fun thing to work on - but it would be nice to not have to remake it in a few hours. I knew the body posistion and composistion for this one would be tricky, so I made sure I could provide a few variations to see what would work best. We shot some reference of me doing my best Fomorian Deep Crawler impression and started scribbling. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.

Fomorian Deep Crawler - Thumbnails

These were well recieved and they chose to move forward with a horizontal composistion, which I was happy with. They wanted to see some of the elements from 'A' and 'B' combined and given a little more twist, which I was more than happy to do. Here is the updated thumbnail that I submitted.

Fomorian Deep Crawler - Revised thumbnail

Fomorian Deep Crawler

Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants

11 x 14 -Colored pencil on paper

Original - SOLD

Art Director - Emi Tamji

The drawing was approved without comment, and it was time to start on the final painting. Here is the painting of the Fomorian Deep Crawler taking shape.

Fomorian Deep Crawler - Process

As I mentioned, I had a VERY short deadline on this one. Basically - get it done as fast as you can. So, when it came to the painting, that is what I did. I think in the end, the painting took less than five hours to complete. I sat down, and I painted it. There was no time to do anything else. In there end there was one revision request, and that was to desatuate the giant a little bit. This was an easy change and with that it was completed. Not bad for less that a days work. Here, again, is the final painting of the Fomorian Deep Crawler.

Fomorian Deep Crawler

Bigby Presents: Glory of Giants

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