A Second Look at Older Work - Never Released Part 1

I was having too much fun sharing old work, and I am swamped currently and do not have the time to write the posts I really want to share, so we are going to look back at some more old work. This time around, I will be sharing work that was completed but never used or released. I have been given permission to share all of this work many years ago, but it is likely work you may have not seen before.

First and foremost, I can not tell you anything about this work or the project it was created for. I would love to, but I can't, so please do not ask or try to guess.

Starting things off is this little bat dude. This turnaround would have been for something really cool, but it is now a stack of drawings in a binder. This was done back in 2008, and I was given permission to share them in late 2011 and early 2012, and have been filed away ever since. It is crazy to realize that this is seventeen years old now, and that was done only three years into my career in games. Not bad. It has its issues, but it is not bad.

Unreleased bat dude

 Each drawing is 9x12 - pencil on paper

© 2008 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

The project that will never be... Part 2

While at Gen Con I unexpectedly got permission to share with you the following images that I produced for a project that will never be. I got this permission under the agreement that I can not discuss ANY details about this project... not even the company I produced these for. SO, with that in mind I ask that you not try to guess who or what this was and for whom they were produced. I would hate to have to pull this post down.


Earlier this month I shared with you the first of these two unproduced pieces. While the creation of this one was not as colorful as the previous one I shared, there was still a lot to time, work, and effort put into these drawings. SO, nearly 3 years after creating this I can now share it with you. This project may not have worked out the way I had hoped, but at least now I can share with you all the work I did...

Unproduced figure #2

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

Unproduced base #2

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

As before, here are some of the initial concepts that I did for this piece. Again, I was working on paper throughout the entire concept process... cause I like to draw and stuff...

Unproduced base concepts

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

Unproduced figure concepts

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

What was lost to the trials and tribulations of production cancellations now drift off into the microcosm of the internet. ...to be as unseen there as it was unseen in a stack of papers in my house...

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 project that will never be... Part 1

While at Gen Con I unexpectedly got permission to share with you the following images that I produced for a project that will never be. I got this permission under the agreement that I can not discuss ANY details about this project... not even the company I produced these for. SO, with that in mind I ask that you not try to guess who or what this was and for whom they were produced. I would hate to have to pull this post down.

Way back in late 2010 (has it really been that long?) I was asked to design some turnarounds and I threw myself into the project and gave it all I had. After an unexpectedly huge set of revisions AND that project eventually getting killed after I had done my part... well, I was a little bummed out. BUT, nearly 3 years later I can now share my efforts on the project that will never be. It did not work out the way I had hoped, but at least now I can share with you all the work I did...
 

Unproduced figure #1

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

Unproduced base #1

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

Here are some of the initial concepts that I did for this piece. Now a days I do all my early concepts and thumbnails digitally to save time and to make it easier on myself... not on this project. I was working on paper the entire time. I wanted to make a paper trail for the entire process... a process I almost never got to show off...

Unproduced base concepts

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

Unproduced figure concepts

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

SO... I mentioned an "unexpectedly huge set of revisions" earlier. There some confusion, a miscommunication, a change of plans... something... and after I had produced the figure's turnaround, which as you can see evolved juuuuuuuust a little bit of drawing, I had to start over and redo it all. Apparently I and the client were on two separate pages as far as the piece was going to look in the round. I was of the school of "ALL THE TENTACLES" and they were of the school of "some of the tentacles"... of course the clients wins and I redrew it all. Lesson learned! I introduced a new work flow for these types of projects. Here is how the first version turned out so you can compare and contrast...

Unproduced figure #1 - VERSION 1

The copyright is held by a company that asked not to be named

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 Project That Never Was (Part 7)

With all things there is an end and today I complete my coverage of a big project that I worked on back in 2008. The project died before it ever saw completion and the work I produced for it has remained sealed away every since. ...until NOW. Please keep in mind while I can now share my work I can not divulge any other details regarding the project. If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

To conclude things I have for you one of the first and one of the last designs that I did for this mystery project, 'Fledermaus' and 'The Lady Monster'. The little fledermaus of a guy was fun and back in 2008 working on a lady monster almost killed me, but I made it through! I just wish I had gotten the fledermaus drawing a little more symmetrical... Before I say to much, bring on the monsters...

'Fledermaus' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'The Lady Monster' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

These ended with with less of a band then I had anticipated, but due to the secrecy and that fact I have stretched them out over such a long period of time I should have expected as much. It is nice to finally have them out in the world to share, though it have been three to four years since I worked on these. Better late then never!

That wraps up 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 Project That Never Was (Part 6)

Continuing my coverage today of a big project that I worked on back in 2008. The project died before it ever saw completion and the work I produced for it has remained sealed away every since. ...until NOW. Please keep in mind while I can now share my work I can not divulge any other details regarding the project. If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

Today for the sixth installment I have for you two of my favorite pieces from the project, 'Fire Head' and 'Super Fire Head'. I really liked how the armor turned of and there is just something about their legs that I really liked and had a lot of fun drawing... THEY HAVE HOOVES! The floating 'specter of death' skull head wreathed in fire is not to bad either! I wonder what got 'Super Fire Head' all riled up that he popped his seams? Before I say to much, bring on the monsters...

'Fire Head' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'Super Fire Head' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

That's all for another installment of unreleased monsters that I can't really talk about! I have only one more pair of monsters left to share with you from this project. Stop back by in the near future to see the last of the monsters!

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

The Project That Never Was (Part 5)

Continuing my coverage today of a big project that I worked on back in 2008. The project died before it ever saw completion and the work I produced for it has remained sealed away every since. ...until NOW. Please keep in mind while I can now share my work I can not divulge any other details regarding the project. If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

In this fifth installment of turnarounds I have for you 'Hammer Bro' and 'Gun Bro'. These were big bruiser types and were really fun to work on. 'Hammer Bro' was based a lot on concept work done for the project while 'Gun Bro' was let to me to design and flesh out. Before I say to much, bring on the monsters...

'Hammer Bro' *SMASH* Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'Gun Bro' *PEW PEW PEW* Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

That is all for another installment of a project I can't really talk about. Next time I bring you more from the project I will be bringing you two of my favorite designs from the project!

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here on Monday for something special and new! Until then...

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

The Project That Never Was (Part 4)

Continuing my coverage today of a big project that I worked on back in 2008. The project died before it ever saw completion and the work I produced for it has remained sealed away every since. ...until NOW. Please keep in mind while I can now share my work I can not divulge any other details regarding the project. If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

In this fourth installment of turnarounds and I have for you the last variationsof the 'Devil Dude'. I produced the most variation and did the most work on 'Devil Dude', I guess he was a Jack of all trades and abilities. Before I say to much, bring on the monsters...

'Similar to the rest but slightly different Devil Dude' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'Super Beefy Armor Devil Dude - Now with ring hook action' Turnaround

© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

That is all for the 'Devil Dude'. I for you nothing but new and crazy monsters that I worked on for this project. Be patient, they will be along in the fullness of time...

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 Project That Never Was (Part 3)

Continuing my coverage on the blog today of a big project that I worked on back in 2008. The project died before it ever saw completion and the work I produced for it has remained sealed away every since. ...until NOW. Please keep in mind while I can now share my work I can not divulge any other details regarding the project. If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

In this third installment of turnarounds I have for you more variations on the 'Devil Dude' theme. The 'Devil Dude' Continues to grow and evolve as he get more battle damage, bigger muscles and a bad attitude. Before I say to much, bring on the monsters...

'Broken Horn Devil Dude - with AXE POWER' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'Super Beefy Devil Dude' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

I will bring you some more 'Devil Dudes' soon. There are other monsters in store for you as well, though I did a lot of 'Devil Dudes' I did a lot more other bigger, fun monsters. Those will be along in the fullness of time...

That is all for another 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 Project That Never Was (Part 2)

Back in June I brought you the first post about a big project that I worked on back in 2008. The project died before it ever saw completion and the work I produced for it has remained sealed away every since. ...until NOW. Please keep in mind while I can now share my work I can not divulge any other details regarding the project. If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

In this second installment of turnarounds I have the first of several variations on a theme. The 'Devil Dude' was one of the pieces I was able to have complete control over in the concept phase. It came together really quickly and seemed to be well received. Once designed I had to create a lot of specialized variations based off the 'Devil Dude' template. Before I say to much, bring on the monsters...

'Devil Dude' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'Devil Dude - now with AXE POWER' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

I will bring you more 'Devil Dudes' soon. Looking back I was a little surprised with just how many of these I created. They could have been awesome... oh well... Not every project can see the light of day and not everything that is begun can be completed.

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 Project That Never Was (Part 1)

Way back in 2008 I worked on a really exciting project that promised a really cool finished product. Sadly, as is from time to time, things don't always make it all the way through production and this was one of those situations. Along with the project getting shelves, all my work went along with it... until NOW. The powers that be have allowed me general usages rights to show off my work, BUT I can not talk about the project or any details related to. This does allow me to finally post all the drawings and turnarounds though, and that makes me pretty happy! If you missed any of this series of posts, you can see them here: PART 1, PART 2, PART 3, PART 4, PART 5, PART 6, and PART 7.

Please keep in mind any names I use in referring to my work are of my own creation for clarity in discussion and do not relate in any way to the project.

Starting things off I have for you two turnarounds of a 'Wolf Demon'. This was one of the first pieces I worked on for the this project and it was a really fun critter. It really helped get the look and feel established that carried through out. Some of these creatures were based on the work of a concept artist, while others I got to create from the ground up. I got to give them all my own personal spin and feel, which was really nice. Enough talking, bring on the monsters...

'Wolf Demon' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

'SUPER Wolf Demon' Turnaround
© 2008 Wizards of the Coast

Looking back at these it make me wonder again about what could have been... oh well. No use in looking backwards on this, plenty still ahead! These are just the tip of the iceberg, there are many more monsters to come from this project. So expect to see more of them in the coming weeks, they have waited in hiding long enough.

That is all for another exciting week on the blog. See you back here next week for more monster action and the great trek to the Illustration Master Class! Until then...

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