Working Conditions

Where, how, and under what conditions I work have been mentioned a time or two, but I wanted to circle back around to this topic again since I have been doing a lot of atypical work lately. That atypical work is, of course, all the writing I have been doing on The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia.

When I am drawing, painting, or visually designing, I must have some sort of exterior stimulus to keep the distracting bits of my brain occupied. This consists of listening to music, podcasts, a television program, or movie. If it is a podcast I can be something new to me, but if it is any of the other options I must love it, and I must know it like the back of my hand. Otherwise, it will become an instant distraction. At my drawing table, I will usually have my phone off to one side with the media playing on it. Headphones or earbuds are a must. At my computer, I will have media playing on the computer or again on my phone, which will be directly under my Cintiq. In both situations, my phone is close another for me to glance at without it becoming a distraction. I have worked this way for many years, and I find it beneficial to my productivity.

When I am writing, I have learned I need the complete opposite. If I am working up one of these blog posts, I need to have all of the media silenced so that I can focus on writing. My need for silence when I am working on the book has increased to the point I need to wear earplugs as I am writing. I must block out any and all audio distractions so that I can completely concentrate on the writing. I am not sure why this is the case, I am simply glad to have discovered this that this works best for me. It is rather funny that I will be working in a completely empty house with no ambient sound, and I will still need to put in earplugs. As long as it ensures I make it to the end of the book, I am happy to wear them.

What are your working conditions? What do you need to do or not do while you are working? Leave them in the comments! 

That's all for another exciting week on the blog. With a hurricane approaching, I am not sure what next week will be like yet, but hopefully, I will be back here on Wednesday after the holiday weekend. Until then...

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

Scorpion Redsign - OHOTMU Reduxe

Over five years ago I redesigned the Marvel villain Scorpion for The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe REDUXE Edition (OHOTMU Reduxe) blog. For whatever reason, this was never posted on their blog, and a quick check shows that no new content has been posted there in over a year. I am tired of looking at these images in my blog queue folder, so I decided it was finally time to share this image. Here is my redesign of Scorpion.

 

 Scorpion Redsign

10 x 13.5 - Digital

© 2014 Christopher Burdett

I had a lot of fun with this piece, just as I did with all the work that I created for this redesign blog. There was nothing but freedom when it came to the redesigning and the deadlines were flexible. I am still pleased with everything I did for them. Here is the original page for Scorpion, unfortunately, I do not know who the original artist was that contributed to this page.

Scorpion from the Marvel Handbook - © Marvel Comics

Lastly, here is the pencil and ink work that went into this illustration. As I began to ink, I realized that the legs were WAY too short in the drawing. It was an easy fix as I inked, and it improved the piece.

Scorpion Redesign pencil and ink work

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

10 x 13.5 - Digital

 © 2014 Christopher Burdett

I am unaware of what the future holds for The Official Handbook to the Marvel Universe REDUXE Edition blog, but I believe this to be the final piece I will have done for them. Glad to finally share it. 

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

Jarred Wyrshlym - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Today's piece of spot art is the Jarred Wyrshlym. This relates to the Ethra VanDalia section of the book. You can read more about this section of the book on The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia blog.

Jarred Wyrshlym

8 x 10 - Pencil and acrylic paint on paper
Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2019 Christopher Burdett

 

Here are all of the monsters appearing in the first volume of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia: Aberrant Stilter, Belled Kreep, Corrupted Knight, Dight-Kin, Eau-de-nil Elder, Ethra VanDalia, Footman, Gray Wanderer, Gullet, Humgruffin Mother, Irritated Girasol, Judicator, Kiplorbic Animal Dealer, Lammergeier Transport, Myopic Rifler, Nimsbane Curse Victim, Ophiomornous Bureaucrat, Petrous Blacksmith, Quincaillerie, Rapacious Guttersnipe, Saint Marque, Smokestack, Thrice, Uncanny Scribe, Virulent Artificer, Woven Egg, Woven Shaper, Xandrell Tree, Yote Arms Dealer, and Zombic Spore.

Here are all of the environmental pieces appearing in the first volume of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia: Air Shops, Busy Streets, Hollow Alley, Keeper of the Clocks, Sunken Stalls, The Grand Bazaar, The Seated Dead, 

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

What the Heck is Going On? - Grand Bazaar Update

I wanted to give you all an update on the production of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia. It occurred to me that it has been eight months since I have done an update like this, which is definitely overdue. A LOT has been going on behind the scenes, and I am thrilled with how it is all shaping up. Here is a rundown of what has been going on.

All of the main art is now completed, the map of the Bazaar completed in July saw to that. I have twelve of the thirty pieces of spot art remaining, which might sound like a lot, but it really isn't since they are quick to create. I have two remaining advertising drawings to produce, again they are quick pieces. AND, most importantly, I am a week or so away from completing the writing for the book! That vast majority of the book has been reviewed by my editor. Once I have completed the remaining sections, she will review all of the new writing, and I will be sitting down with her to review and implement her notes. At this point, the layout will begin as I complete the remaining pieces of art. Things are coming to a head quickly, and I can't share more with you. As it stands, the book with art is currently 256 pages and 74,592 words. I am not sure how the final layout will affect the page count.

Here are some images to put things into context for you visually minded folks. This is my writing spreadsheet from last night.

Writing spreadsheet as of 8/22/2019

I know it might look a little confusing, the remaining sections that I have to still write are now indicated.

The remaining sections that need to be written are indicated

For some context, here is the same writing spreadsheet from eight months again. A lot of writing, editing, and rewriting have happened in this time, and the piece of paper shows the wear and tear it has been through.

Writing spreadsheet as of 12/16/2018

This us my art production board from a week or two ago. There have been some changes since then, but it won't get more attention until the writing is completed. At which point, the section in the lower right will get addressed.

Art production board from earlier in the month

I will have a working copy of the book with me at IX along with all the art from the book. Those attending will get to be the first to see the product of all of my work over the last five years. At least for me, these are exciting times.

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

Hellfire Engine Miniature by Miguel Zavala

I recently came across a cool custom miniature by Miguel Zavala. Miguel has created many custom 3D Dungeons & Dragons miniature models that are available for printing. This time around, he made a Hellfire Engine based on my illustration in Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes that came out last year. I think he did a terrific job on it and I wanted to share it here on the blog.

Hellfire Engine Miniature by Miguel Zavala

Image courtesy of Miguel Zavala

Pretty cool if I do say so myself. If you have a chance, you should check out more of Miguel's work. Here is my painting of the Hellfire Engine so you can see how faithful he was to the original.

Hellfire Engine

Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes

11 x 14 - Digital

Art Director - Kate Irwin

© 2018 Wizards of the Coast LLC

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

Rebec - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

Today's piece of spot art is a rebec. This relates to the Eau-de-nil Elder section of the book. You can read more about this section of the book on The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia blog.

Rebec

8 x 10 - Pencil and acrylic paint on paper
Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2019 Christopher Burdett

Here are all of the monsters appearing in the first volume of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia: Aberrant Stilter, Belled Kreep, Corrupted Knight, Dight-Kin, Eau-de-nil Elder, Ethra VanDalia, Footman, Gray Wanderer, Gullet, Humgruffin Mother, Irritated Girasol, Judicator, Kiplorbic Animal Dealer, Lammergeier Transport, Myopic Riflemen, Nimsbane Curse Victim, Ophiomornous Bureaucrat, Petrous Blacksmith, Quincaillerie, Rapacious Guttersnipe, Saint Marque, Smokestack, Thrice, Uncanny Scribe, Virulent Artificer, Woven Egg, Woven Shaper, Xandrell Tree, Yote Arms Dealer, and Zombic Spore.

Here are all of the environmental pieces appearing in the first volume of The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia: Air Shops, Busy Streets, Hollow Alley, Keeper of the Clocks, Sunken Stalls, The Grand Bazaar, The Seated Dead, 

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

EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: The Art of Dungeons and Dragons - Now Out!

I am a little late in getting this one the blog but better late than never! EYE OF THE BEHOLDER: The Art of Dungeons and Dragons is now out and available for streaming everywhere you like to purchase streamable movies. As you may remember from previous posts that I am featured in the documentary, and I talk about making monster art. There is a really nice review on Geek and Sundry that shares images and clips from the film. Speaking of clips, one of them is me talking about monsters! RAWR!

Just some idiot, talking about monsters while ruining a really awesome documentary

Kelley Slagle, Seth C. Polansky, and Brian Stillman did a tremendous job on the documentary, and I can not say enough good things about it. I HIGHLY recommend you getting a copy and checking it out this weekend. You will not regret it!

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