BLOG-a-versary!

Six years ago today this blog started and 819 post later it is still going. Somehow. For some reason. The blog continues on. Through highs and lows, the ups and downs, the blog endures! A hearty THANKS to EVERYONE who comes to the blog, comments on the posts, and in general lurks around this thing that I am creating. I couldn't keep doing it without you all.

Not much else to offer today except my thanks to those that come to the blog. The only visual for the day in my new pencil nub jar that, like the blog, continues on and on. You might remember my last jar from a couple years back. This is the one started after that one. Not sure what this has to do with a BLOG-a-versary, except that it too marks the passage of time, and hopefully growth...

The jar of nubs continues... 

It might not look like much now, but there are a bunch in there.

It is a bigger jar from last time too.

Again, many many thanks to everyone that frequents the blog and I hope the tales of my successes and failures help you all in your own journeys as artists or at least offer some amusing entertainment!

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

BLOG-a-versary!

Yesterday was the actual day, but today works just as well. This time way back in 2009 I thought I might start up a blog... Well, today marks the beginning of year five and I have 660 posts now in the archives. It seems so surreal every time I hit one of these milestones because I am still not sure how I got to this point. How have a filled this blog up with so much content? How have I been able to get three posts up a week for all but a few occasions? Why do you all keep coming back to read my ramblings and look at my silly monsters?

Whatever the reasons of how, when, and why it does not change the fact that the blog is still going and it does not seem like it is running out of steam just yet. A hearty THANKS to EVERYONE who comes to the blog, comments on the posts, and in general lurks around this thing that I am creating. I couldn't keep doing it without you all.

I think I will wrap things up with images of the local mastodon skeleton that is apparently hiding in plane sight just a few miles from my house. You never know what you are going to find lurking outside your front door...

Mastodon skeleton and Giant Armadillo replica

Photos © 2013 Christopher Burdett

Again, many many thanks to everyone that frequents the blog and I hope the tales of my successes and failures help you all in your own journeys as artists or at least off some amusing entertainment!

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

600th post on the blog!

Post number 600! Every time I hit one of these big numbers I am a little dumbstruck. Each time I find it hard to believe that I actually made it this far. And each time I find myself saying the same trite repetitive things... I think... No matter if I am or not, it is the way I feel.

As always, thanks to each and every one of you who follows, lurks, and otherwise finds themselves on the blog. I have said it before and will continue to say it, I would not be able to keep doing all this with out you all stopping by, commenting, and otherwise following the blog.

This is the time I hint about things to come and stuff in the works... but unfortunately this time around a lot of what I have in the works is so far out from being released I can't even hint at what it is. Suffice to say that I have some super fun stuff waiting in the wings to share with you all in the future! I can mention that I am trying my hand at real paint again. This is for a personal project and I was able to get over a super scary early stage last night... so I am a little more confident in mentioning the whole thing. It could still all crash and burn on me... but I am trying to stay positive... for now. I do have this nice image of my palette...

Giving this another try... will see how it goes...

Still putting one foot in front of the other while I make my way through this crazy thing called art. Maybe it will all make sense in the end. Even if it doesn't, I sure have had a lot of fun drawing monsters, and maybe that it has to be able. Speaking of monsters, here are some recent meeting notes monsters. Idle hands find their way to drawing monsters... RAWR!

© 2012 Christopher Burdett

© 2012 Christopher Burdett

© 2012 Christopher Burdett

Derp monster bids a heart felt farewell! ....DERP!

© 2012 Christopher Burdett

Again, many thanks to all of you for hanging around while I yammer into the internet with my parade of monsters. At this point, I guess I better keep it going, 1000 post seems like it will be here before I know it!

That is all for another exciting day 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

IMC 2012 - Painting & People are awesome

A couple last items regarding IMC 2012 and that should just about cover everything. I have some images of the painting I was going to work on as well as some images of why people I know are so awesome.

I piece I was going to do this year was based on a Science Fiction short story supplied to us. I really enjoyed the story and was looking forward to working on this piece. It went through several iterations as I worked on the composition. It began as a really complex image and I slowly streamlined it down to the moment in the story I felt most strongly about and that I wanted to illustrate. Not sure how much I can talk about the actual story at this time and I would hate to spoil it for anyone that wanted to read it. I will say I spent a lot of time planning it out, shooting reference, and working on the drawing. My main goal at IMC this year was to learn how to use color, light, and value better. Little did I know in the hour and a half I actually was able to spend in the studio that Pete Mohrbacher was going to show me a new way to go about creating my under painting that was going to turn the way I paint on its ear. You will get to see the results of that hour and a half with Pete beginning in August. To be honest, I am not sure if I will ever return to my IMC piece and finish it up, but I am looking forward to having time to work on some personal work. Here are some images of the piece...

 This is the original drawing, it was hard to not make the piece all about the spilling guts...

After notes and feedback from the critique I made quick digital revision. I had already planned to extend the image to remove the tangent with the foot, but I had several people point out to me that it was needed.

1.5 hours or there about of working on the under painting and learning how to better construct the under painting. It was a bit of a fight at first and I was resistant to change, but I have since seen the light... and value... and color... I am not putting that time to good use.

Like a beaten dead horse I have mentioned that I was sick and pretty much was bed ridden for all of IMC. As much as that sucked and was a horrible experience my fellow IMC attendees went out of their way to make sure I knew I was missed and that kinda made things a lot better. I received a couple of care packages during the week and I would like to share some of it with you. There are a LOT of people I need to thank and I am just can't remember all the names I need to, I blame the fever. If you are missed, I am VERY sorry and please understand I greatly appreciate everything and your kindness did not go unnoticed. The first care package was a selection of books (brought to IMC by Lauren Panepinto and Orbit Books) gathered up by Julia L. Singh as well as drawings and notes from friends...

 By Drew Baker - THANKS DREW!

 By Michelle Papadopoulos - THANKS MICHELLE!

 By Steve Argyle - THANKS STEVE!

By Kari Christensen - THANKS KARI!

The second super awesome thing to be delivered to me was James Gurney's Color and Light book and it was just packed with drawings, notes, well wishes, and awesome. I was overwhelmed with how great this great this is and awesome it was that so many folks added to it. MANY MANY MANY thanks to everyone involved in this. It is super amazing and will be a cherished item for me...

 I will let Marc Scheff have the last word... Thanks Marc :P

That is all for a packed week on the blog and for my posts regarding IMC 2012. I will be returning to my usual publishing schedule 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

And the winner is...

A week ago I had a little contest in celebration of my four year anniversary of blogging and for my 500th post. The contest was to guess how many pencils were in a jar that I have been filling for the last seven years. I was really impressed with how many of you took the time to post a guess and for all the kind words, it is really appreciated! While no one was able to guess the actual amount, one person did guess within 6 of the actual number... and if you were wondering, the actual number of pencils in the jar was...

306 pencils!

And the winner is, Guðmundur Harðar! The prize pack will be heading off to him very soon, congrats! Again, thanks to everyone who took part in the contest, hopefully in another four years and 500 posts you will have another chance!

I had no idea just how many pencils were in there until I counted them, and once they were all out they almost didn't fit back in. 306 seemed like a lot, but the amount didn't blow my mind until I started doing a little math. It took me about seven years to go through that many pencils, so that is about 43 pencils each year, or on average I go through a pencil every 8-9 days. I knew I drew a lot, I just didn't realize that I drew that much. This related back to my post about "What does it take?" where I first showed off the jar. I have been asked so many times about getting into the industry and being an artist and how I did it... well, I used up a pencil every 8-9 days... and this was AFTER I was already working in the industry, this was me working and trying to improve my abilities. There are no shortcuts to hard work and time.

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

4 years, 500 posts, and a CONTEST!

Two milestones for the blog this week! Not only is today my 500th post, but this up coming Friday (the 17th) will be my 4th anniversary of beginning this blog (how time flies)! I thought I would mark this special double occasion with a contest and prizes!!!

First, I just want to thank each and every person that has been to my blog in these last four years. The blog would be nothing without the people who visit it, leave comments, share links, and in general find my ramblings here to be helpful in their own artistic pursuits. It has kept me going these past four years and hopefully this is just the beginning! It is a little staggering that I have been able to reach 500 posts, to quote C3P0, "I never knew I had it in me". Again, deepest thanks to everyone that comes to the blog, could not have made it this far without your interest!

Now, what was that about a CONTEST?!?!?! It is real simple... Guess how many pencils are in this jar...

Used pencil jar. This jar contains nearly all the pencils I have used up since mid 2005 when I started working for Wizards of the Coast. Even I don't know how many are in here (yet, I will be counting them for this contest).

RULES:

1) ONE PERSON ONE GUESS.

2) Leave your guess in the comments section of this post.

3) The first person to correctly guess the number of pencils wins, if no one guesses the correct amount the first person to get closest wins.

4) I will need to be able to contact the winner, so if you do not have a blogger account make sure you leave an email address so that I can contact you.

5) DEADLINE, you have until MIDNIGHT, FEBRUARY 20th (that's the following Monday of this posting date) to submit a guess.

6) The winner will be contacted via email on or before Wednesday, February 22nd. The winner will also be announced on the blog on this date as well.

7) If something goes wrong, not my fault!

8) Don't follow the rules, don't win the prize.


PRIZES!

A selection of prints, a sketchbook, and a selection of miniature that I designed!

A closer look at the loot!

Just my way of saying thanks to you all for these exciting years on the blog. Make sure you add your guess in the comment section below for you chance to win!

See you back here on Wednesday for post 501! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Happy BLOG-a-versary!

Two years and 334 post ago I started this blog! How the time just flies by! As always when I hit these milestones I am shocked by the fact that I have kept this blog going and awed by the support, comments and encouragement that you all give back to me for all my efforts.

Many many thanks to you all on this anniversary and I hope that I continue to provide interesting and relevant post regarding the ups and downs of my life as an artist. Three posts a week always seems like a lot, but I have continued to make it happen each week.

As tradition dictates, I need to now post a panda drawing to mark this milestone. Today I have one that I recently completed. It follows on the theme of bad pandas causing havoc around the world. I guess it has been a very panda filled week! Thanks again to you all for stopping by, here is to the start of another year on the blog!

© 2011 Christopher Burdett

That is all for another exciting week here on the blog, I will 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

300th post and some self promotion!

HOLY CRAP! 300 posts! How did that happen?! Many many thanks to everyone that subscribes, comments and in general lurks this blog. Without you all I would have abandoned it all a while ago. I hope I continue to entertain and inform! I have a lot of projects coming down the pipeline and I really look forward to sharing them all with you as soon as I can.

Speaking of entertaining and informing... Here is a giant panda destroying a city to entertain you...

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

To inform, I have a link that all you self promoters might want to check out. I got turned onto this over the weekend (thanks Rodney). It is about.me and it looks pretty interesting. About.me is currently in beta but you can sign up now and reserve you name. You will be notified when you can actually activate your account later but the important part if that you lock your name in.

They provide a splash page and link hub where you can then direct folks to your blog, online portfolio or Facebook gallery featuring your prodigious drinking skills. Definitely looks interesting and if you are like me and trying to maximize name ownership (Christopher Burdett) on the internet I suggest heading over and reserving your name!

Thanks again to all of you, without your participation and encouragement I could not keep this going!

See you back here on Wednesday, I am trying as we speak to see if I can get some new work freed up for posting! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Thanks everyboday!

Thanks to everyone that has been sending me awesome birthday wishes today! Each and everyone of you rocks!

Party Animal! RAWR!

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

I must be counting wrong...

Somehow this is my 200th post on this blog! Not really sure how I got here but I am as shocked as you are. I would like to thank those who follow and leave comments here, without your participation and encouragement I could not keep this going! I think this is a great opportunity to let you know about some stuff I have coming down the pipeline...

Talisman: The Highland will be upon us soon! I did a bunch of card art for this newest Talisman expansion and I can't wait to share it with you. If you are a savvy Talisman fan... you might have already seen some ;)

Runebound: Mists of Zanaga will be out later this year! This was just recently announced and is the newest big box expansion for the Runebound universe. Like Talisman, I have card art in the set I eagerly look forward to sharing with you. Seeing how awesome this expansion is going to be... I wish I had taken more work on it!

Pathfinder Chronicles: Classic Treasures Revisited is out... I think! As soon as I know the NDA is removed I will be sure to bring you the work I did for this book. All I can say is, "Demon go BOOM!".

I have already mentioned my interview in Knockspell #4, but I was able to see a copy of KS #4 over the weekend and the interview is 3 pages! WOW, I was not expecting so much space in the issue!

I think that is enough of my secrets for now...

Again, thank you to all who frequent my blog, follow me on Twitter and watch me on Deviant Art, I appreciate the time and interest in what I do! In thanks, I will leave you with this panda that I drew for my wife... she said it would be okay.

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

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

Happy BLOG-a-versary!

On this very day, one year ago, I started this blog! So after 174 posts, happy one year anniversary to me :)

Many many thanks to all of you who follow my blog, leave comments, link to me or otherwise frequent these posts. Without you guys I would have no reason to keep posting!

I will be the first to say I am shocked that I made it this far with this blog and that I have so many followers. I knew what I wanted to do with it, I just didn't know if I could keep it going or create any interest with it. So despite my best efforts here we are one year later!

To mark this occasion I will hearken back to the humble beginnings of this blog and post a panda drawing I recently did for my wife. She gets a lot of these from me and she chose this one to be shared with you today. So enjoy!

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

I will see you back here on Friday for something fun that I finished up last night! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Many Thanks! and Ninja Mountain #46 - Critique That!

First off, I just want to thank everybody that stopped by this week and read my Getting Serious Posts. I am overwhelmed and humbled by the comments you left me on my blog, Facebook, Twitter and Deviantart. I never imagined that so many of you would respond in such a positive way. If I didn't respond you directly, I am sorry, I didn't expect so many and I tried to keep up with them all. Like I said, I was a bit worried that I was over sharing and putting myself out on the internet to become a target. One must only look to the comments on Youtube to know what I am taking about. Again, thank you very much, I am just happy I can give back to the community in this way after so many of you have helped me this past year. Let us hope for an amazing 2010 for all of us!

Secondly, (I am a week behind on this) the good folks at the Ninja Mountain put out a call for artist to submit pieces to be critiqued on their Podcast. A critique by your peers is always something to be sought out so I jumped at the opportunity. Last week they critiqued a piece I did for the Dragon Magazine article, Barbarian Essentials. It was a great critique, they pointed out some things I had already heard about the piece as well as some new areas I should address in future work. The newest Ninja to join their ranks, Drew Baker, went that extra mile and gave me some additional notes and did a paint over of the piece to show me what he meant. Now that is a critique! Many thanks to Drew, Patrick, Jeremy, and Socar for taking the time to help me with my work. I look forward to taking giving the piece a little more love and sharing it with everyone. You can hear my critique, as well as four others on Ninja Mountain #46.

Dragon Rage Barbarian
© 2009 Wizards of the Coast LLC

Lastly, I have been popping up elsewhere on the web this week and I wanted to show you how that relates to some of the things I talked about in my Getting Serious post. If you missed it, Jon Schindehette mentioned my Getting Serious posts on Wednesday's Artorder, Trying to get inspired. Again on Thursday, Jon mentioned me on a post about Standing out. This time around he was talking about this years holiday card that I sent out. Both times he was kind enough to link to my blog and or website.

I did send him an email letting him know that I had put up my posts that mentioned him and Artorder. The mention of the card was out of the blue and very appreciated. Please do not take this as an open endorsement to spam Jon with everything you do. That would fall under the areas of not acting professional around the client and being an asshole. I just want to show how these kind of additional promotions online can affect your traffic.

Blog traffic from 1/1/2010 through 1/8/2010 (as of 8:00 am EST)

(a) Friday through Sunday: I made no attempts to promote my blog. I was taking a break from my work and the internet as well as it was a holiday. The traffic I was receiving was from random searches and from people catching up on their blog. These days were below average for my blog.

(b) Monday: Getting serious part 1 posted. I promoted on Twitter and Facebook. I had several retweets and some additional promotion on the web by others. This day was above average for a day I post on my blog.

(c) Tuesday: No promotion. This is a completely average day. I did see some traffic coming in from others posts regarding Monday.

(d) Wednesday: Getting serious part 2 posted. Promoted on Twitter and Facebook. Was mentioned on Artorder. I was heavily retweeted and had much more additional promotion and posting on others blogs and Deviantart journal entries. I had a lot of correspondence with people, which was really cool. I even had some art directors that I work with drop me notes to tell me they enjoyed the posts. This was an exceptional day for traffic. I can't ask for a better day.

(e) Thursday: Promoted posts on my Deviantart page. Was mentioned again on Artorder. Saw a lot of residual traffic coming to the Getting Serious post from many other blogs, journals and twitter accounts. A really good day for traffic.

(f) Friday: Still early but already off to a good start. Will be prompting this post on Twitter and Facebook once it goes live.

What does all this equate to? Still learning. I hopefully helped some folks in my own way, which was the goal. I know a lot of people came to my blog and my website, which is usually good. I hope this at least shows how the pieces begin to work together. How the internet and lines of communications can benefit all of us.

I think that is enough for one week. I will be back next week with some art and images, until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

Thank you everyone!

I wanted to take today to thank everyone who has recently started following me on twitter as well as subscribing to my blog, be it through Facebook, Google or Blogspot, not to mention watching me on Deviantart. I have noticed and I greatly appreciate everyone's time and interest. I hope I provide interesting content and relevant information about the projects I work on and the methods I use to create my work. It means a lot to me, because I can't fathom why you all are doing it ;)

I know I have not had a lot of newer work to show lately, not for trying though, 2009 is looking like my busiest year yet. In many ways everything I have been showing lately is new to but a small group of people that worked on these projects. My newer work is coming, we all must be patient. I am rather shocked when I think about just how much I have been working on this year and really look forward to showing it all off when the times comes.

Enough of my yammering, I have a deadline on Friday followed by some really exciting stuff in September. Can't wait to get started on that work! Again, thank you everyone! I am humbled by your interest and comments. Since I can't leave you without something to look at, here are some of the drawing that went into the Dragonborn armor I worked on, enjoy!

If you look carefully you might see where some things changed between these approved sketches and the final paintings.

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com