The DOODLES, DESIGNS, and aRT of CHRISTOPHER BURDETT: Fantasy Flight Games

Showing posts with label Fantasy Flight Games. Show all posts

Friday, July 3, 2026

Revisiting - Runebound: Mists of Zanaga Expansion (Part 3)

I am still looking back while I make new things now. At the start of my career, I did a LOT of work from FFG. I think at one time, they were the on-ramp for many a gaming career. Back then, they had a lot of work to go around. Talisman was the first project I worked on for them, but one of the next was on Runebound. I cannot tell you anything about the game, except that I painted three elder gods for it in 2009, and they came out in 2010. I have a copy of the expansion my three cards are in, but I haven't looked in the box since 2010. This is one of those three elder gods, and it is a spider.

Arachne the Weaver

Runebound: Mists of Zanaga

4 x 6 - Digital

I have something extra for you. Here is the original drawing for this piece that I have never shared before. The drawing and the painting are both very small, especially compared to the size I work today. I am not sure if I have this drawing still or not, but I didn't sell many of these early pieces. I was learning a lot about making art and painting sixteen years ago, and in this piece, I can see clearly what I was already getting right, what I was getting very wrong, and some things that I have never been able to escape.

Arachne the Weaver drawing

Runebound: Mists of Zanaga

Pencil on paper (paper size likely 9x12)

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

Friday, June 26, 2026

Revisiting - Runebound: Mists of Zanaga Expansion (Part 2)

Ravin the Ravenous

Runebound: Mists of Zanaga

4 x 6 - Digital

Ravin the Ravenous drawing

Runebound: Mists of Zanaga

Pencil on paper (paper size likely 9x12)

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

Friday, June 19, 2026

Revisiting - Runebound: Mists of Zanaga Expansion (Part 1)

I am still looking back while I make new things now. At the start of my career, I did a LOT of work from FFG. I think at one time, they were the on-ramp for many a gaming career. Back then, they had a lot of work to go around and soul-crushingly low pay rates to go along with said work. Talisman was the first project I worked on for them, but one of the next was on Runebound. I cannot tell you anything about the game, except that I painted three elder gods for it in 2009, and they came out in 2010. I have a copy of the expansion my three cards are in, but I haven't looked in the box since 2010. This is one of those three elder gods, and it is a snake.

Set the Deceiver

Runebound: Mists of Zanaga

4 x 6 - Digital

If you were wondering, I got paid a total of $100 for this work. That included thumbnails, drawing, and painting. That is a ton of work over many days for that money. Oh well. Live and learn. I think this is my favorite of the three I did, but you might have your favorite from the other two. I will share over the next two Fridays.

I have something extra for you. Here is the original drawing for this piece that I have never shared before. The drawing and the painting are both very small, especially compared to the size I work today. I am not sure if I have this drawing still or not, but I didn't sell many of these early pieces. That said, a quick search turned up MANY other drawings I didn't know I still have, but not this one. I was learning a lot about making art and painting sixteen years ago, and in this piece, I can see clearly what I was already getting right, what I was getting very wrong, and some things that I have never been able to escape.

Set the Deceiver drawing

Runebound: Mists of Zanaga

Pencil on paper (paper size likely 9x12)

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

Monday, March 16, 2026

Revisting the DXR-6 Disruptor

I will continue to be saying this for a while longer: I am REALLY BUSY writing the next book, so the blog will continue to mostly be posts looking back at older work. Today I am sharing a Star Wars piece I painted in 2013/14 for a board game and it ended up making the roads. So, here we are again!

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle

Imperial Assault Core Set

10.127 x 9 - Digital

One of the main reasons this piece is being revisited is that one of the reference images popped up again on the socials. It reminded me of this one, and so here we are. More to the point, I shared this photo likely the day after it was taken, but with no context, I was not breaking any NDA.

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle - Reference
Photos by Achsa Nute

Here are images of the piece taking shape with the thumbnails and the final drawing. This one was focused on the figure and blaster, so background and environments were not needed, and it let me make it all one big explosion.

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle - Thumbnails

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle

12 x 9 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD (a LONG time ago)

This art has ended up on at least three cards. The first time, it was hilariously and severely cropped. Like, why even at that point? I was thrilled when it was released so that the art could finally be seen. It is likely out there elsewhere in books, cards, and stuff, but I may never track them down.

The many cards this art has been used on.

There may be more, but I only know of these three.

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

Friday, February 10, 2023

Arkham Horror: The Labryunths of Lunacy - The Return of the Faceless Abductor

I recently noticed that an old piece I created for the Call of Cthulhu card game expansion, Silver Twilight Lodge, had made a return appearance. And when I say old, I mean over a decade. This piece was originally released in 2011, so I likely painted it in 2010. For a painting this old I still like it a great deal, and I know I was figuring out a lot with this piece. I produced this piece at a formative time when my skill set was advancing rapidly. While it might not look like it now, this was a piece at the cusp of my abilities. It was not met with much enthusiasm either. I believe this image received two 'likes' on Facebook at the time, and one of those was me. For many reasons, it is nice to see this piece pop back up. Maybe, just maybe, this time around, it will get some love. For its return, the card was included in a new Arkham Horror card game expansion, The Labyrinth of Lunacy. To start things off, here is a look at the front of the box for this new expansion.

The Labyrinth of Lunacy, an Arkham Horror card game expansion

This piece was called initially Nightgaunt, as that is the type of monster it is. When it was released, it was given the title Faceless Abductor which I am sure made more sense in gaming terms and added more spice to the game. No matter; it is nice to see this one come back around for a second look at the world. Here is the final art for the Faceless Abductor, as it was in 2011 and in 2022.

Faceless Abductor

Silver Twilight Lodge - Call of Cthulhu Card Game

(and now The Labyrinth of Lunacy - Arkham Horror Card Game)
9.3 x 6.9 - Digital
© 2011 Fantasy Flight Games

Lastly, here is the new card for the Faceless Abductor. As I never played either the Call of Cthulhu or Arkham Horror card games, I do not know if the monster stats are different or how different the game mechanics are for their monsters. Either way, here is the new card in all its glory. RAWR!

Faceless Abductor in new handy dandy card form

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

Monday, August 9, 2021

Designing the Fashion Forward Trandoshan

If you know me or my work at all, you will know of my love for Star Wars and, in particular, the alien reptilian species, the Trandoshans. For decades, the bounty hunter Bossk from the Empire Strikes Back was the beginning and end of what Trandoshans were. Over the years, the species was fleshed out, and more examples of these space lizards can be seen in various comics, toys, and cartoons. When I began working on the Fantasy Flight Star Wars games, I made it clear I wanted to paint as many Trandoshans as they would give me. What I didn't tell them is that I had a plan to establish a look at feel for the armor and attire for the Trandoshans I would illustrate. I am not sure if anyone noticed or cared, but I went about coming up with my take on a Trandoshan esthetic, and I wanted to use today's post to share what I had been working on and how the designs varied and what they meant.

Everything began with a quarter-page illustration that focused on the AT-PT walker, but since it was described as having two Trandoshans in it, I quickly made them the piece's focus. Here is that piece.

AT-PT

Edge of the Empire

7 x 10 - Digital

I do not recall how the Trandoshans were described, but I envisioned them as a scout group for a military-level operation. I don't think the Trandoshans had a standing military during the Empire, but if they did, I saw them wearing heavy armor, camouflage, and long, scaled armored coats. There is still some mix and match going on, but they are moving light in hostile territory with a walker for support. While I still like how this piece turned out, I knew my look for the Trandoshans was still not realized.

Trandoshan Hunter

Imperial Assault Summer Organized Play Kit

11 x 14 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Original - SOLD

This piece, the Trandoshan Hunter, was where the look for the Trandoshans finally took shape. This was the second of my Trandoshan pieces for FFG and was the first to allow me the room and freedom to focus on the figures and attire and to explore their clothing and equipment. These pair of space lizards are very much in the vein of Boosk. They are hunters and prepared for anything. They are armored, have plenty of bags, pouches, and bandoliers, and have an array of weapons and devices on their gauntlets. I am pulling from established Star Wars motifs and styles as well as throwing on a lot of my design choices. I still look to this piece as a prime example of 'my' Trandoshans.

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle

Imperial Assault - Core set

10.1 x 9 - Digital

Continuing what I had established, this piece, which highlights a rifle and not the figure, shows off some of the same design choices. Wires, cables, and lights adorn the powered gauntlets that likely bristle with hidden weapons. The layered shoulder and arm armor make a return and there are plenty of straps, bandoleers, and pouches for all your space lizard needs.

Trandoshan Mercenary

Star Wars LCG - Aggressive Negotiation

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

Original - NFS

While this Mercenary painting was my final contribution to the Star Wars games, it holds true to what I established. The armor and equipment should look familiar at this point. The focus of this piece, the knife, was something I wanted to work into most of the other paintings, but the knife was always lost due to which thumbnails were chosen or that, in the end the knife didn't work in the composition. Here it finally is out and upfront. I felt like Trandoshans would always have blades on them, especially the more villainous of their population.

While I was establishing a dominant look for the Trandoshans, I didn't want that to become the only look. Depending on the portrayal in the assignment, I wanted to give them each their own look and purpose.

Exploring Froz

Edge of the Empire - Suns of Fortune

12 x 14 - Digital

For the Exploring Froz piece, I wanted to have a Trandoshan more in line with a scientist or first responder. The planet of Froz was completely decimated and these individuals are evaluating the destruction and looking for survivors. I imagined this Trandoshan to be wearing something lighter but still armored. They likely need to cover a lot of ground and will have to overcome many types of rugged terrain. The arms are exposed for easy climbing, but the body is still protected. Less about weapons and more about survival.

Fool Me Once

Star Wars Imperial Assault - Ahsoka Tano Ally Pack

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Deb Freytag

In Fool Me Once, I wanted to depict two Trandoshans on the job. These two are working the starport and more for show than action. They have little to no armor, but they have their blasters, some straps and belts, and some gauntlets. They have a waist sash that has the colors of which Hutt employees them and to show off who controls the starport. If you will be paying bribes to get that illegal shipment in, you need to know who the credits need to go to.

Rival Explorer

Digital

While the piece was titled Rival Explorer, I wanted to depict a Trandoshan that was neither obviously good nor evil in their dress and depiction. They are merely a rival to the players in the game. This is a neutral depiction of a Trandoshan and should be an example of the non-warrior members of their species. Likely they are pulling influences from many other planets and species and whatever is better for function in the field.

Passk the Trandoshan

Digital

Lastly, we have Passk. He needed to be over the top and fancy. He needed to be very much not like the other Trandoshans that I have painted. I shared some of the design choices for this piece before, but the primary influence for it was the wild red outfit I had my Trandoshan wear in Star Wars Galaxies. The attire in the game was but a starting point, and I pushed it as far as I was allowed to get this look. It was a fun exercise.

As an added bonus, here are a few images of me posing for Trandoshan reference. You might notice some similar elements in each image and how they translated into the final paintings.

Trandoshan Reference

Photos by Achsa Nute

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

Tuesday, May 4, 2021

May the 4th be With You

It is May the Forth! Here is a small selection of the many Star Wars paintings that I have produced for the FFG Star Wars Games over the years. If you are so inclined, a couple items are still available for sale. I am one with the Force, and the Force is with me.

Just some of my work on the Star Wars games from Fantasy Flight Games

A mix of digital and traditional pieces

Remaining available Star Wars items for sale

That is all for another exciting Tuesday 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

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

Trandoshan Mercenary - Star Wars - Process

Today I have you the process and steps that went into my Trandoshan Mercenary painting for the Star Wars LCG set, Aggressive Negotiation. Before we get to that, I wanted to share some thoughts about the significance of this piece. This painting was the very last Star Wars illustration that I produced for Fantasy Flight Games. In fact, this was the final painting of any kind that I created for that company. At the time, I am not sure if I knew it would be, but deep down, I think I might have. I was not originally going to take this assignment. I had gotten into the habit of turning down anything that they offered, but Erik Dahlman specifically wrote this card for me and requested me by name. So I took the job. I had long remarked my wishes to paint a Trandoshan wielding a vibroblade, and there was finally an opportunity in the game for it, so Erik made sure I got that chance. You can't say no to that.

I had been drifting away from FFG for a while at this point, and I knew it was only a matter of time that I would full severe ties. My opinion of freelance work, in general, was already changing and my attentions were beginning to be solely directed at The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. When I started working with FFG in 2009, I never imagined the opportunities and projects I would work on, the fantastic art directors I would work with, and the exposure my work would receive. There were a lot of fun times, but in the end, there was only so long I could keep returning to them for work. If I was going to have a final painting with them, I am glad it was this one. If you are familiar with me, my work, or this blog you know my love for lizard monsters. The Trandoshan bounty hunter, Bossk, is my favorite Star Wars character and I have created many Trandoshans for the FFG games. So at the end, there was one last space lizard monster to paint.

In addition to this being my last painting for FFG, this was the last time I produced a traditionally painted image. I had been shifting back to digital work for my client work, and for my personal work, it has become exclusively a combination of colored pencil, white acrylic, and black ink on paper. If I was going to have a final traditionally painting, for the time being, I am also glad it was this one. I really felt like I was beginning to find a sweet spot with the materials. At the end of the day, I draw when I make art. It might be a pencil, digital stylus, or brush, but I am always drawing. With this painting, I finally felt like I was painting. There are marks that I was making with the brush, and I was laying paint down in new ways. I was really excited by what I did in this piece, which is why I am not parting with it.

Time to talk about making this final Star Wars painting! To start things off, here is a look at the final version of the Trandoshan Mercenary.

Trandoshan Mercenary

Star Wars LCG - Aggressive Negotiation

14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

Original - NFS

With all of my creations, I started with reference. Since I am not in my underwear this time, I can actually share some of the images that my wife took of me acting out my best space lizard life. At some point, I will talk about and share with you the look and feel that I was creating my Trandoshans in the various Star Wars games. I really wanted them to have a related look and feel. I was doing my own Trandoshan world-building in the paintings I was doing for FFG. Here is a selection of reference photos for this painting.

Trandoshan Mercenary - Reference

Photos by Achsa Nute

Now that I had reference, it was time to work up some thumbnails. One of the significant challenges with designing card art for FFG was the large amount of chrome the cards have. There were card elements that could potential be encroaching on nearly every side of the card, but we always somehow made it work. It sometimes left you with a painting with a lot of dead space on parts of the composition, but in the end, the card looked good. I knew I was cutting it close with these, but I always tried to push my compositions to see what I could get away with. Here are the thumbnails that I submitted.

Trandoshan Mercenary - Thumbnails

Option 'B' was approved without changes, and I was given the go-ahead to move forward. I was rather surprised I didn't need to adjust anything, but excited that I could produce an image that better fit the surface I was working on. I got to work on the drawing and submitted it soon after the thumbnails were approved.

Trandoshan Mercenary

Star Wars LCG - Aggressive Negotiation

17 x 14 - Acrylic and pencil on board

Art Director - Taylor Ingvarsson

The drawing was approved as well, and I was ready to start on the final painting. Wait, no, stop everything. At the last second, I was asked to shrink the entire image and add a lot of bleed to the top and sides. This came late in my process, and so the edits were made digitally to the drawing as I prepped it for the painting process. In the following animated process, you can see the two stages of the drawing and how much it needs to be reduced. This resulted in a lot more empty space on the sides and top, but as I mentioned before, it allowed all the chrome of the card to sit nicely over the image.

Trandoshan Mercenary - Process

I apologize for the darkness of some of the process shots. It was challenging to get good photos of my work as it is taking shape. The lighting is never perfect; the surface is often wet, which results in dark images with distracting glare. Hopefully, it gives you enough of an idea of how my paintings take shape.

My takeaway from this piece is to always paint as if it is your very last painting. Give the work your all. Commit yourself to the fullest and constantly push to do better. In the end, that painting very much may your last painting, and it better be a damn good one if there will be no more after it.

Here again is the final painting for the Trandoshan Mercenary and the final card it appears on. Once it is cropped and placed with the chrome, it looks great, and this may be the best printed of my traditional pieces. At least, I think so. While the painting was made in 2016 and the work was released in 2017, now, in 2021, this marks an end of an era. I have no more Star Wars work, or FFG work in general, to share with you. Reprints of my work may surface at some point, but for now, we close the book on this period in my working career.

Trandoshan Mercenary

Star Wars LCG - Aggressive Negotiation

Trandoshan Mercenary in handy dandy card form

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