A Second Look at Older Work - Never Released Part 2

I am still SUPER swamped, so I have for you another unreleased piece from many moons ago.

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.

Next up is this little horned doggo 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 or early 2012, and they have been filed away ever since. Not bad for being seventeen years old. It has its issues, but it is not bad.

Unreleased horned doggo dude

 Each drawing is 9x12 - pencil on paper

© 2008 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

My Glorkian Warrior Quest Finally Ends

Today, we are both looking back and staying firmly in the present. This might get a little weird, but hopefully it will all make sense in the end. Or not. This story begins at San Diego Comic-Con (or it could be MegaCon... but I am pretty sure it was SDCC) MANY years ago. I was working with Troma Entertainment and performing as the Toxic Avenger, and making a lot of fun chaos. We were set up right across from the artist and musician James Kochalka. If my memories hold, he really didn't know what to make of us, especially the ever inquisitive and yet sometimes oblivious Toxic Avenger. At some point, merch was traded, and I came away with James' album, Don't Trust Whitey. I still have the album and enjoy it. James was super patient with us, and I have nothing but good memories.

Next, we jump forward to 2014, when my friends over at Pixeljam made a Glorkian Warrior mobile game and were doing an art contest. I always try to support Pixeljam, so I made a piece of Glorkian Warrior art and submitted it to the contest. To be completely honest, I loved the game and played it until it was no longer supported on the phone (but it is still on Steam!). In the end, I took third place in the art contest, which isn't so bad. It was enough to win me a prize! I received my prize, a copy of The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza, and proceeded to immediately lose it. It was really odd. In one moment, the book was on my stack of things to read, and the next, it was gone. *Poof* Never to be seen again. Below is my submission to the Glorkian Warrior art contest. 

Glorkian Warrior: The Trials of Glork

Art by Christopher Burdett

Glorkian Warrior © James Kochalka

Now, we jump ahead to about two years ago. I was in our favorite bookstore in St. Augustine, FL. I see where you think this might be going, and no, I did not find a copy of the Glorkian Warrior book by James Kochalka. I found the first volume of the American Elf omnibus by James Kochalka. American Elf was a daily autobiographical cartoon series about James, his wife, their awesome cat, and their lives and adventures. I devoured it. It was raw, funny, embarrassing, and a window into the thoughts and life of a stranger that unfolded over the years. Years that included when we first crossed paths at the convention. I half wondered if any of the Troma antics would make it into James' comics, and they didn't. Having finished American Elf, I was left with the memory of the magically disappearing Glorkian Warrior. 

Jump ahead to a week ago. Through a confusing set of events, I found myself under my nightstand getting something that fell under it. And guess what I found, perfectly hidden from view and wedged between two other books. You guessed it! My copy of The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza was right there for the past nine years, perfectly hidden from sight. Needless to say, I gave it a read and loved it. And so concludes my adventures with James Kochalka and his art and music... or is it? Maybe I will tag James on Bluesky and start another adventure! Only the future knows for sure. Anyway, here is my copy of the book that went missing for the past nine years.

The Glorkian Warrior Delivers a Pizza

Add it to your collection!

And finally, if you are still with us. Here is the original pencil art that I did for the Pixeljam art contest. I do not know where this drawing is, to be honest. It might be in a box, or maybe someone bought it. Another mystery that may never have an outcome.

Glorkian scribblings

9 x 12

Pencil on paper

That's 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

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

Recent Magic the Gathering Artist Proof Art

Today, I have a recent Magic the Gathering artist proof that I added art to its back. All available artist proofs and art options can be found on my store. This one went off to Italy, so I have been waiting for it to arrive at its destination before sharing it. I wonder if this is the last card I will send internationally for the foreseeable future, or if ever again. I present my art on the back of a Magic the Gathering card.

I was asked to put the Pokémon Haunter, so I, of course, threw Gengar in there too. RAWR!

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

The Gathering is the Magic Clip: "Christopher Burdett - Fretwork Colony"

During Gen Con 2022, I had an excellent opportunity to speak with the folks behind the upcoming documentary about Magic the Gathering, The Gathering is the Magic. It was a lot of fun and always a good time to talk about art, monsters, and more. I eventually was a part of a follow-up interview where I spoke about my work on the game in greater detail, as well as other topics. Another clip from the more recent interview has been shared, so I am now sharing it with you. 

The Gathering is the Magic - A documentary about how Magic the Gathering brings people together, fosters friendship, and inspires with art and storytelling.

 

In the interview, I was asked to discuss the cards I created for Magic the Gathering. It was fun to reminisce about the art and monsters I made, the fan response to them, and the behind-the-scenes stories regarding the cards. This clip is about the Fretwork Colony. Enjoy the clip, and check out what else The Gathering is the Magic has been sharing! 

The story of the Fretwork Colony and how a convention last year gave it some new attention.

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

Just Games Rochester's Commander Sealed 2025 Auction Ends This WEEKEND!

THE AUCTIONS END THIS WEEKEND! 

I am happy to once again be a part of Just Games Rochester's Commander Sealed 2025 auction! The auction is once again supporting Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project, and I have several items in this year's auction. You can view all of my available items in the auction on their site. My items include four books which contain an original drawing, and one aritst proof with art on its back. The auction runs through the Commander event the weekend of September 5-7th. There are many other items available from other artists, so there should be something for everyone. Be sure to head over and take part in an amazing cause and get yourself, or someone else, a special item!

Up for action are two Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia coloring books and two stat guides. All four books are signed and have an original drawing in them. Also available is a Salavating Gremlins artist proof with an original dragon art on its back.

A better image of the art on the back of the artist proof.

Each of the stat guides features a dragon friend.

Each of the stat guides features a dragon friend.

The coloring books feature a dragon and a goblin.

The coloring books feature a dragon and a goblin.

The auction concludes this weekend, so be sure to head on over and check out all of the available items and get yourself something special while helping a good cause!

That's 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 Color Wheel of Art

I am likely way late to the game now, but over on Bluesky, folks have been sharing color wheels with their art, taking the place of each color. For some reason, I thought I didn't have enough variation in my work to meet each color need. After very little work, I realized I was wrong and that I had more than enough art to fill the wheel. Speaking of the wheel, here it is.

My art as a color wheel!

While this is my client work and I usually only work in color for my clients, I still wanted to do one of these with my personal work. Obviously, there are some issues, but I think it is funny. Here is the color wheel of art using my personal work.

A color wheel of art with no color!

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