Revisiting the Monsters - Vampire

In 2010, sixteen years ago now, I began a personal project to redesign most, if not all, of the monsters in the original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. That original MM had a profound effect on me and led me to eventually work on the game. While I was already working on the game when I began this project, it did prove useful as I have redesigned many D&D monsters in my career on the game. In the end, I completed over 100 drawings for the project and even had a gallery show featuring the work. 

I thought it would be nice to look back at some of my favorites. Today brings us to the Vampire. Enjoy!

Vampire redesign (2010)
© 2010/2026 Christopher Burdett 

That's 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

Vampyre (Vampire) Rock in the Papers in 1999

Strangely, I, apparently, have only ever mentioned the project that launched my entire career here on the blog. I shared the trailer and a few thoughts and details in 2017. To catch you up to speed: In the summer of 1999, which was also the second to last semester for me at university, a low-budget vampire movie was filmed here in Tallahassee, FL, mostly using students from the film school as crew and a little bit of money from Roger Corman (yes, that Roger Corman). The writer and director of this vampire movie was Andy Ruben, who had recently begun teaching at the university in the film department. Andy has made films of varying notoriety. He brought in a couple of people from LA, whom he had previously worked with, and that included the person handling the special effects makeup for the film. After a series of perfectly timed events, I found myself working for free on a movie making monster effects and drawing some storyboards. One thing led to another, and when I graduated, I left for LA and did my time in the industry. And we know how that turned out.

"Vampyre" Rock in the papers with zombie face in the upper left by me.

Jump ahead twenty-six years, and over the weekend, two copies of the local newspaper's coverage of the film's production came into my possession. I swore I had one around here somewhere, but I haven't seen this in many, many years. A strange time capsule and a reminder of the unlikely beginning of over two decades of making monsters. While I was not mentioned in the article (because why would I be?), the face next to the title of the article is the very first piece of makeup effects I ever created. The face cast was brought from LA as a raw foam cast. I added details, texture, paint, and finish to the face, and I think that I may have made it into the film. Which, by the way, I finally saw, for the very first time, earlier this year. Andy gave me a copy of the movie in 2017 after we reconnected online after I tracked down his YouTube account. Eleven days after he gave me the movie, he passed away suddenly. Needless to say, it took a little while to get around to finally watching it. It was an amazing time capsule and reminder of that wild summer. I am so glad to have finally watched the results of all of our work.

Some of those mentioned were missnamed - oops!

I often wonder where everyone who worked on Vampire Rock ended up. How many are living the LA dream still? Who have we lost? What new adventures did they make for themselves in the last twenty-six years? I know the answers to a few from that summer of vampires. I hope everyone found what they were looking for, because I know I did. It just took a few twists and turns to get there.

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

Looking Back - Prince of Lies - Angel Season 5

I was recently reminded of work that I did back in 2003 when I was working in Los Angles. The work I am speaking of is the Prince of Lies from season 5 of Angel, episode 13 - Why We Fight. I have never shared anything related to the Prince of Lies on blog before, so this seemed like as good a time as any. The Prince of Lies was played the most excellent Camden Toy, who I was lucky enough to work with several times as well as to get to know him in regular life. Here is how the Prince of Lies appeared on screen...

Prince of Lies from season 5 of Angel, episode 13 - Why We Fight

My main involvement with the Prince of Lies was to design him. He was described as a VERY old Nosferatu like vampire. I had begun a drawn version of my design, but I was not allowed to proceed and was forced to create my design in Photoshop as a photo collage. I worked on this design right in the middle of my photo collage days in the industry, the powers that be kept me from drawing as much as they could and forced me to make these 'photo real' designs. This of course did wonders for my drawing skill set and my self esteem. All things considered, this designed turned out okay. Looking at it now I would definitely have approached some things very differently - less egg headed, my brow detail and wrinkles, pushing and pulling various other areas. But in the end it got the job down so I have to consider it a win. Here is my design for the Prince of Lies...

Prince of Lies Concept Design

8.5 x 11 - Digital

© 2003 Almost Human

The design was created over a head shot of Camden to insure that there would be no surprises moving forward with producing the makeup. The design was approved, as far as I remember, without issue or notes from production. There were some in house changes that were planned though. The teeth were not being well received by the boss for one thing, though I thought they were working and Camden would have fun with them. There were other little tweaks and changes that are to be expect with the translation of the design into something real. Here is the sculpture for the face piece of the Price of Lies...

Prince of Lies face sculpt

All in all the sculpture for the face stayed true to the feeling of the design. I would have loved to see some of the anatomy to be pushed and pulled a bit more to better follow the design, but that is not my call and it worked, so why change it. I unfortunately have forgotten who the scuplture on this piece was. If I remember correctly the cowl for this makeup was a already existing piece so the only new elements were the face and the teeth. Here is a look at the finished painted makeup pieces...

Prince of Lies face piece and cowl makeup appliances

For some reason I thought I painted these... but looking at them now I honestly can not remember. We did SO much work all at the same time, many of the pieces began to blend together. I painted so many monsters that sometimes I figure I should assume I painted it if I still have photos of the paint job. Each of us in house that painted had our own style and tell tale marks that gave us away. This one looks to be mine, though some of the vein work looks a little off from what I did. This is mostly because I was asked to put them in after I had started working on it.

Note how dead the base makeup pieces look. After all they are just pieces of foam latex. Now see how these pieces of foam latex transform in a second skin once applied to an experienced actor who knows how to perform in makeup. Here an many images of Camden Toy on set as the Price of Lies...

Prince of Lies performed by Camden Toy on set

All image © 2003 Almost Human

I loved the transformation of a human into a monster with makeup. It was not always as rewarding, some people just did not know what to do with the makeups, but Camden is a pro and creates such amazing performances.

Now jump ahead fourteen years. I was recently contacted if I would sign a trading card of the Prince of Lies due to my involvement creating him. I was of course happy to do so. I happen to also whip up a little sketch of the Prince of Lies too. He's gonna get you! RAWR!

Prince of Lies trading card (before signing it) and Prince of Lies sketch card

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 Ghost of 1999 - Vampire Rock

I have mentioned this in passing six or seven years ago here on the blog and I figured it was about time to share more about it. By 'it' I mean the project that started my entire career in motion.

Back in the summer of 1999 a vampire movie was being filmed in Tallahassee, Fl. A film maker from LA had moved to Tallahassee to teach at the film school of Florida State University and fell in love with the area and wanted to make a film based in Tallahassee. I was a student at Florida State University at the time and a lot of the crew for the movie was being pulled from the film school and the local population. There were signs up in the art department looking for people with art backgrounds that were interested in working on the project. One of the positions they needed people for was in the makeup effect crew. I was giving the contact information for a person in LA that would be coming out to oversee and create all the effects. A phone call later I was lined up to be on the makeup effects crew and I was about to get a crash course in makeup effects, make up, painting, being on set, and a ton of other stuff. I even did some story boarding for some of the key scenes of the movie.

I spent most of the summer of 1999 working all night and sleeping during the day and in some cases working all day and all night. It was all a lot of fun and a lot of weird and crazy memories. I certainly learned a lot and it opened the door for me to later move to LA and work in the makeup effects industry making monsters for TV and film. This one project was the beginning of it all. Even though I do not do that work now, because of my involvement and being in LA to meet the people I met and learn all the things that I did it paved the way and allowed me to find my way to were it is now.

As I remember it, the movie had several working titles but eventually ended up with Vampire Rock. In the end Vampire Rock was never released but as far as I know, it was completed. I have never seen it and I have know idea how much of my involvement with the movie is even evident in the final product. In some additional pickup filming done in late 2000, I was helping out with additional makeup effect and had the chance to be onscreen. No idea if any of that was even used. There is a trailer for Vampire Rock over on YouTube if you are interested.
 


While working on Vampire Rock I painted a lot of things, applied lots of make ups, and drew many drawings. No idea where any of the art or photographs are now. If I come across them I will be sure to share them in the future. I am sure they are all horrible, but at the time they were amazing. I should make a point to see if I can dig any of this stuff up.

Fun fact, though it is now abandoned and most likely will one day be torn down, an old Coke warehouse was our base of operations for the entire filming. A LOT of the film was shot in the warehouse and it served as several sets. Our makeup studio was even set up in the building. We had our fair share of shooting at various locals away from the Coke warehouse, but a lot of memories center around this old building.

Though it has seen better days, this Coke warehouse was the heart of Vampire Rock filming

While digging up information and details about Vampire Rock I came across a blog post of a person that had actually seen the finished version of Vampire Rock. They seem really negative and extremely critical of the movie. Seems a little unfair since most people will never get a chance to see it and form an opinion for themselves. Like the majority of TV and movie projects, a lot of people worked long and hard on something they believed in and wanted to succeed. Hopefully one day I will get to see the finished movie and get to see how all our hard work paid off.

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

Taking a break...

I need a vacation, a break, a pause, a respite, a lull in the chaos... but I just don't have the time.

For the next couple of weeks to ease my workload where I can I am going to ramp things down here on the blog. I am going to keep up posting on my usual schedule as much as I can... but I am going to be pulling content from my achieves of things never shared from my distant art past. Of course, if current work is released or spoiled I will be sure to share it... but for the next couple weeks I need to take a break.

To that end, here is a picture of James Marsters and myself suited up as the Beast at the Angel Posting Board party in 2003. See, James Marsters makes everything better...

James Marsters and myself suited up as the Beast (circa 2003)

Images © Christopher Burdett

I just need to get through the next couple deadlines and have a little break and then things will be back to normal. In the mean time you will get to enjoy images and work from my days in the makeup effect business. RAWR!

That is all for another exciting Monday on the blog, see you back here hopefully 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

Talisman: Blood Moon

My copy of Talisman: Blood Moon showed up on the doorstep yesterday, so I thought it was high time to share it with you. I mentioned a while back that one of my pieces from the set was spoiled on the FFG website as part of the rules. The piece debuting in the set was actually a piece I created a while back for The Dragons expansion but it was bumped to a later set, so what is old is new again. This new old piece is joined by a returning favorite, the Zombie Dragon. Both pieces ended up as part of the packaging art too! Here are some pics...

Talisman: Blood Moon & my two cards in this expansion.

Dragons coming at you from the sides of the box... RAWR!

Vampiric Thirst
© 2012 Fantasy Flight Games

Zombie Dragon

 © 2012 Fantasy Flight Games

It is always a little weird when older pieces surface (and surface again), especially when they are 2 years old. So much can be learned in that time and different choices could be made. Oh well, I think I would prefer work coming out super late rather then never at all.

That is all for another exciting week on the blog, see you back here next week for coverage of Gen Con 2012 and hopefully a surprise or two! Until then...

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

Vampiric Thirst - Blood Moon sneak peak

The rules for the the newest expansion to Talisman, Blood Moon, went up online last week and to my surprise one of my one of my unreleased pieces appears to be included in the new expansion. As previously mentioned here on the blog I had three dragons produced for the Dragons expansion get pushed to later set(s). The Vampiric Dragon is the first of the three to reappear. Keep in mind I started this piece WAY back in December 2010 - so it is a little out of date, though it is brand new to the blog...
 

 Vampiric Thirst
© 2012 Fantasy Flight Games

I had not worked on this new expansion, so it is nice to see that I will still have new work in it. I am not sure if any of the other dragons will be making an appearance as well in Blood Moon, only time will tell. The gap of an year and a half can really point out changes in process and techniques in approaching a painting. The fact that I just completed two new dragons for a project only helps point out the road I have traveled - but for now you will have to take my word on that. Here is a snippet of the Blood Moon rules featuring my dragon...

 Blood Moon rules

If any more of my dragons appear in Blood Moon you will hear about it here on the blog!

That is all for another exciting day on the blog, be sure to stop by on Friday for another new item! 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... Vampire!

I have for you today another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Vampire! "V" had but one monster listing, so the decision was rather easy. The only hurdle for this monster was my rather strong dislike for the contemporary incarnation of the Vampire. I pressed on and came up with a monster more of my liking. I present to you my version of a Vampire...

Vampire
© 2011 Christopher Burdett

Vampires are not pretty. Vampires do not sparkle. Vampires are MONSTERS. Vampires are extremely powerful but their power is balanced by their weaknesses. Being a Vampire is not a treat or something to strive for. Did I mention that whole part about them being monsters?

Moving on... I wanted to catch this particular Vampire in the process of changing back into it's human guise after landing in bat form. Basically, image him saying, "SKREEEEEEEE!" and you will have the whole experience. I was really torn in how extreme to make his monstrous form, looking at this again I wonder if I erred on the said of caution. That can always be fixed later. I will leave you with the reminder that Vampires are monsters... MONSTERS!

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 today 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