A Second Look at Older Work - Air Devil

This coming June will mark twenty years for me in the gaming industry, and this is also my twenty-sixth year as a working artist. I have made a lot of work over these years, and as I focus on larger projects with multi-year timelines, it is hard to keep this blog updated regularly. I have kept this thing going since 2009, and I would like for it to continue. To that end, I thought I would look back at works I particularly liked, enjoyed making, or seemed to have fallen through the cracks and went unnoticed.

Today, I have one of several pieces I did for a game that was never completed. Originally painted in 2010, the project never saw completion, and the work I did was shelved due to NDAs. In 2015, I received permission to share the work I did on the game as long as I didn't talk about the specifics of the project. That was the only time I shared this work. I always liked the work I did for the game, and they always had a soft spot in my art heart for them, well, most of them. The images I created would have been used as hero art for various monsters encountered in the game. I loved the photo studio quality to them, and I played around with the lighting as well. I believe this was one of the first that I completed for the project, and it is still one of my favorites.

Air Devil

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

As a side note, you can see more about this monster here on the blog. This was also one of those times I likely underbid myself in an attempt to get the project. I will never know what I could have likely been paid for this work, but I know I wasn't paid enough. But I learned from it!

That is all for another exciting Friday on the blog now that I have concluded my May blog break. 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

Fretwork Colony - MtG - Drawings

I am at Illuxcon this week so I have left the monsters in charge of the blog. The monsters decided to share the drawings that I did for my work on Kaladesh, the most recent expansion to Magic the Gathering. All of these drawings will be available for the first time at IX9. Lastly we have the Fretwork Colony...

Fretwork Colony - Toned drawing

Kaladesh

14 x 11 - Pencil on paper

SOLD

© 2016 Wizards of the Coast

Fretwork Colony - Drawing

Kaladesh

17 x 14 - Pencil on paper

SOLD

© 2016 Wizards of the Coast

 

That is 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

Fretwork Colony - MtG - Kaladesh

As mentioned on Monday, the entire set of Kaladesh, the newest expansion to Magic the Gathering, was spoiled last week which means I can now share all of my cards coming out in this set. I have previously shared the Salivating Gremlins and Narnam Cobra. Today I am sharing the last of the three cards featured in Kaladesh. I present you with the Fretwork Colony...

Fretwork Colony

Magic the Gathering - Kaladesh

14 x 10.2- Digital

PRINTS available at OMA!

© 2016 Wizards of the Coast

A swarm of insects, both neat and challenging to create all at the same time. I was tasked with designing and illustrating these weevil-like creatures as they devour and destroy some buildings. I was a little uncertain about this piece when it was all said and done, but looking back at it now, I think it definitely gets the job done. I will share more about this piece in the fullness of time when I break down the process and steps. A HUGE thanks goes out to Cynthia Sheppard for the Fretwork Colony assignment!

While the final for this piece was digital, the original drawings associated with this piece will debut at Illuxcon 2016 the week of Oct 19 - 23. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in making an offer ahead of time. Prints will be available soon and artist proofs will be available once the set is released and I receive them. Here is a look at the final card version of the Fretwork Colony...

Fretwork Colony in handy dandy card form

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

Fresh from the drawing table... Centipede (Giant)!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Centipede (Giant)! Continuing with the "C" monsters we arrive at one of my favorite types of monsters, the giant insect. They come in every species and in every size, but no matter the details they are always GIANT. I present to you my version of a Centipede (Giant)… 

Centipede (Giant)

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original - Currently not available

© 2016 Christopher Burdett

Most likely the Giant Centipede came about naturally, or naturally enough. In the deep forgotten tunnels of the earth some prehistoric or forgotten breed of centipede still dwells and only because of the adventure's lust for gold and XP did humanoids and Giant Centipede ever cross paths. Or perhaps the aberrant energy and radiation that ripped through time and space to allow the Beholders and Mind Flayers into the Realms has mutated creatures deep in the earth resulting in wild forms of life. Or it some some Cleric and their 'giant insect growth' spell and one thing led to another and now the land is full of giant insects. ...yeah, it was probably the idiot with the spell.

Current 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (C - ?): Camel (Wild), Cattle (Wild), and Centaur.

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

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

The Lost Project of 2010 - Part 4

WAAAAAAY back in 2010 I worked on a really exciting project. I created a bunch of monster portraits on neutral backgrounds that were going to live and breath in an super fun game. It is now five year later and that super fun game still has not happened. Will it ever happen? Who knows... What I DO know is that I got permission to FINALLY share the work that I did for this lost project!

I can not share any details from project at this time, but I can share my work from it. All the names have been changed to protect the innocent, and please, do not play the guessing game of what this was or is. I will be sharing my work from this lost project in five parts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5). Here is Part 4...

"S.O.U.S. Scorpion of Unusual Size"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett 

"S.O.U.S. Spider of Unusual Size"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett 

"Furious Olaf"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett 

As an added bonus, here are the drawings that went into making these illustrations...

"S.O.U.S. Scorpion of Unusual Size" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

"S.O.U.S. Spider of Unusual Size" #1 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

"S.O.U.S. Spider of Unusual Size" #2 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

"Furious Olaf" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 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

The Lost Project of 2010 - Part 1

WAAAAAAY back in 2010 I worked on a really exciting project. I created a bunch of monster portraits on neutral backgrounds that were going to live and breath in an super fun game. It is now five year later and that super fun game still has not happened. Will it ever happen? Who knows... What I DO know is that I got permission to FINALLY share the work that I did for this lost project!

I can not share any details from project at this time, but I can share my work from it. All the names have been changed to protect the innocent, and please, do not play the guessing game of what this was or is. I will be sharing my work from this lost project in five parts (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5) . Here is Part 1...

 "Bad Buggy"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett 

 "Alligator Hater"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

 "NOMS Puddle"

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

As an added bonus, here are the drawings that went into making these illustrations...

 "Bad Buggy" - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

 "Alligator Hater" #1 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

 "Alligator Hater" #2 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

 "NOMS Puddle" #1 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 Christopher Burdett 

 "NOMS Puddle" #2 - Drawing

9 x 12

Pencil on Paper

© 2010 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

Blending In RETURNS to TeeFury.com!

UPDATE: It looks like the shirt is now no longer available.  

I am super pleased to announce that my shirt, Blending In, has been brought back to TeeFury.com as part of their Old Skool gallery and is once again available for purchase! Not only is it back, but it is now in three new colors of the shirt and there is no time limitation on its availability. 

What are you waiting for?! Heading to TeeFury.com RIGHT NOW and get yourself your monster insect wearing a car shirt! RAWR! You know you have been kicking yourself since you missed your chance to buy one in 2010...

Blending In is NOW AVAILABLE AGAIN!

As mentioned, my design is now on three new exciting shirt colors, so even if you already have one, you can now replace that old worn-out shirt with one of these new and improved colors...

Totally RAWR Turquoise!

Simply RAWR Silver!

Keeping it RAWR Kelly

Thanks to all the folks over at TeeFury.com for selecting Blending In to be part of their Old Skool gallery. It means a lot that my shirt made an impression on them and is now available again.

Here is the link to Blending In on TeeFury.com one more time, just in case you missed it the dozen time above. Don't miss out on getting yourself one of these exciting shirts that is full of RAWR!

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

Lowdown in Highport - Process

Clearing the books and settling accounts. I am in one of those gaps where I am doing tons of work but nothing is really getting released. I am super busy with client work so I don't have much time for any personal work. This all means that there is a weird lull for new blog content... SO, I am clearing out stuff that has been sitting in the blog queue for just these kind of moments!

Today I have for you  the process that went into the very last piece that I produced for the 4th Edition volume of Dungeon Magazine. Issue 221. While this piece was released at the end of 2013 it is still fresh in my mind... it had a lot of giant insects in it and a SHRIEKER! So that we are all familiar with the piece, here is how it turned out...

Lowdown in Highport - Dungeon Magazine Issue 221

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

This piece needed to have a lot going on in it, giant centipede, giant ants, a big mechanical fire beetle, and a shrieker. In the game the players most likely will have disturbed the shrieker that would then have riled up the insect monsters. Straight forward, but lots to arrange and deal with. I started with some thumbnails to get things rolling...

Lowdown in Highport - Thumbnails

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

For me the thumbnails were fine, not great, but fine. Definitely was going to need to work out a lot in the drawing phase of the process. Thankfully, Kate Irwin, my most excellent Art Director on most of my Dungeon (and Dragon) Magazine assignments came back with a great suggestion to make the composition WAY better!

Lowdown in Highport -Thumbnail feedback

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

She took what I have already going on in thumbnail "C" and gave it a nice S curve and gave the piece a lot more movement and flow. Hands on ADs are great to help push a piece that extra bit. She sent back an updated image with the handy dandy green line and I was good to move onto the next step, DRAWING...

Lowdown in Highport

Dungeon Magazine Issue 221

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

Original for sale over on my web store!
© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

With a much better thumbnail I was able to work up a much better drawing. There was a lot to deal with, but I was able to incorporate it all into one image. For me the piece was about the shrieker, fire beetle, and centipede... the ants could take a kike for all I cared, but they were in the art order.

The drawing was approved without any notes and I was ready to start painting. Here is a look at the painting coming together in twelve handy steps...

Lowdown in Highport - Process progression

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

There was some tweaks near the end to adjust the form of the fire beetle's head and mandibles, but other then that the piece came together as expected. I was a little concerned that the color and lighting structure might be a little too much... but I think it all worked out in the end. Giant purple fungi in a dark cave lite by a giant mechanical beetle full of fire, just another average day making art. So that you can get a better look at the piece coming together here is another animated progression things I like to make...

Lowdown in Highport - Animated progression thing

Like some weird magic another monster painting comes into being. Here is the final painting again for you viewing pleasure, well over a year from its original release...

Lowdown in Highport - Dungeon Magazine Issue 221

© 2013 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

Elves of Uteria

Late last year I shared with you some work I was doing for Elves of Uteria as I was working on it... because the work was not covered under an NDA (which is AWESOME!). Elves of Uteria is now out and I got my hands on a copy and wanted to share the work again as a whole for those that may have missed it...

Elves of Uteria

(Michael Bielaczyc & Dane Clark Collins)

Buy it, play it, love it! RAWR!

I was asked to join the project by the most excellent, Michael Bielaczyc, and I was thrilled to join the team and make some monsters. In total I designed and illustrated three monsters and they are still some of my favorite drawings from last year. Here again are the three monsters and an image of the page they appear on in the book for added fun...

Drekava - Elves of Uteria

9 x 12

colored pencil on toned paper

© 2013 Christopher Burdett

Drekava... just hanging... waiting to swallow your soul...

Devouring Ooze - Elves of Uteria

9 x 12

colored pencil on toned paper

© 2013 Christopher Burdett

Devouring Ooze is doling out the free hugs...

Tentacle Crawler - Elves of Uteria

9 x 12

colored pencil on toned paper

© 2013 Christopher Burdett

Tentacle Crawler arrived late for that whole free hugs thing... so it is here to eat you face...

If you have a chance you should really check out the book! Thanks again to Mike for including me on the project!

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

Fresh from the drawing table... Beetle (Giant) - Fire!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beetle (Giant) - Fire! Working my way through "B" is going to take awhile, but it should be a fun ride... because there are a bunch of giant beetles to be drawn! Tackling the first one this week, the (Giant) Fire Beetle... I picked this one to be first because of REASONS, which I will share later. I present to you my version of a Beetle (Giant) - Fire… 

Beetle (Giant) - Fire

© 2014 Christopher Burdett 

The Fire Beetle has mostly been portrayed as a fire spitting creature, or at least a creature that blazed hot internally. I decided I am just going to go for broke and have a giant creepy insect that was literally on fire. Is it a demon? A devil? A creature from the elemental plane of FIRE? Yet another accidental (or purposeful )horror created by wizards? Who knows... but most know to keep their distance from this burning nightmare. Nothing like a five foot tall burning insect that seems a little too smart for its own good. If the bite does not get you it might just decide to sit on you for a slow roasted treat.

My first 100 original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual redesigns (A - Z): Aerial Servant, Ankheg, Ant (Giant), Ape (Carnivorous), Ape (Gorilla), Axe Beak, Axe Beak (version 2), Baboon, Badger, Barracuda, Basilisk, Baluchitherium, Bear (Black), Bear (Brown), Bear (Cave), Beaver (Giant), Beetle (Giant) - Bombardier, Beetle (Giant) - Boring, Beetle (Giant) - Fire, Beetle (Giant) - Rhinoceros, Beetle (Giant) - Stag, Beetle (Giant) - Water, Beholder, Black Pudding, Blink Dog, Boar (Giant), Boar (Warthog), Boar (Wild), Brain Mole, Brownie, Bugbear, Buffalo, Bulette, Carrion Crawler, Catoblepas, Cerebral Parasite, Chimera, Cockatrice, Coutal, Crab (Giant), Demon Type III (Glabrezu), Demon (Juiblex), Demon (Manes), Devil (Ice), Dragon (Red), Elemental (Earth), Ettin, Eye of the Deep, Flightless Bird, Frog (Giant), Fungi (Violet), Giant (Hill), Goblin, Golem (Flesh), Hobgoblin, Homunculus, Hydra, Imp, Intellect Devourer, Ixitxachitl, Jackal, Jacklewere, Jaguar, Ki-Rin, Kobold, Lich, Lizard (Giant), Lizardman, Manticore, Mind Flayer, Minotaur, Naga, Neo-Otygugh, Nixie, Ochre Jelly, Ogre, Owlbear, Peryton, Pixie, Purple Worm, Quasit, Ram (Giant), Roper, Rust Monster, Sahuagin, Salamander, Shambling Mound, Treant, Troglodyte, Troll, Umber Hulk, Unicorn, Vampire, Wasp (Giant), Wight, Wyvern, Xorn, Yeti, and Zombie.      

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

The Star-Touched Grove - Process

Way back in November of last year I brought you a piece I did for Dungeon Magazine illustrating a tentacled bear and his pet porcupine grub. Two great things that go better together! RAWR! Today, at long last, I have the process and steps that went into this piece. So that we are all on the same page, here is how the final piece turned out...

The Star-Touched Grove - Dungeon Magazine Issue 219

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

Stop me if you have heard this before... I started this piece off with some THUMBNAILS. Imagine that! Anyway, the assignment was to depict a druid that had been corrupted by the taint of the far realms and in his bear form (wait for it) HE HAS TENTACLES! The druid also has a couple of little porcupine grub pals and at least one needed to be in there too. I got some of my favorite bear and insect reference together and got to work on some thumbnails...

The Star-Touched Grove - Thumbnails

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

"B" was the instant favorite and was selected for this assignment. It was time for some drawing... and that was what I did. Here is how the final drawing for this piece turned out as I built up the details and fleshed out the piece...

The Star-Touched Grove - Drawing

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

The drawing was approved without issue (if I remember correctly) and I was good to go on getting started with the painting. In just 10 easy steps you too can have a tentacle bear... or not. Here is a progression of the image as I painted it...

The Star-Touched Grove - Process steps

© 2013 Wizards of the Coast

This piece was really straight forward. The biggest over all issue was to make sure everything read well since there were two creatures, lots of tentacles, and a tree leaking star juice in the background. I like to crop in really close to my subjects... and this can both help and hinder me, but in the long run I have made it work. As an added bonus, here is an animated version of the painting coming together...

The Star-Touched Grove - Animated progression

The painting was turned in and accepted without revision. Well, there was one note, and that was from Kate, my AD on this piece... she really wanted to see the nose of the bear to be blue to match the tentacles. Unfortunately, she was overruled by other folks at WotC and the nose remained as I had painted it. She sent me a mocked up image with the nose blue and I agreed with her, it would have been fun to see a blue nosed tentacle bear...

If only... the blue nosed tentacle bear...

As always, this piece turned out as well as it did because of the ever present and helpful art directors at WotC, thanks Kate! Again, here is how the final piece turned out...

The Star-Touched Grove - Dungeon Magazine Issue 219

© 2013 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