Monday, August 31, 2015

Numenera: Into the Deep - ANOTHER Kickstarter Monster Preview

A couple of weeks ago, I had ANOTHER piece spoiled over on the Numenera: Into the Ninth World Kickstarter! As before, this piece is hot off the work station and was completed a short time before Gen Con. This particular freaky deeky shark critter was the first of these monsters that I created for Into the Deep. It is so new it does not even have a name, so without further ado, here is ANOTHER  Preview Monster...

Jybril
Numenera: Into the Deep
12 x 9 - Acrylic and pencil on board
Original - SOLD
© 2015 Monte Cook

There will be more about this critter and its companions in the fullness of time. What I can say is that this was a really excellent project. There were no art orders, I was just asked to come up with several new monsters, and I was given the room to come up with a bunch of my own creations. Can't go wrong with that!

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

Friday, August 28, 2015

Fresh from the drawing table... Bear (Black)!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Bear (Black). The mundane monster of the letter "B" continue with BEARS! There are three bears in the original Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual and today I have the first one, the Black Bear.  I present to you my version of a Bear (Black)… 

Bear (Black)
9 x 12
Pencil on paper
Original - Currently not available
© 2015 Christopher Burdett

Sad bear is sad. The life of a mundane monster can be hard, sometimes harder then that of a regular monster. This sad black bear waits in chains for some unknown fate. If it is lucky it will not find itself the victim of strange and cruel wizard experimentation. The last thing we need is a 100 foot tall sad black bear... and we know that tentacled bears are the work of druids. Hopefully this bear will find itself eating wizards and not the target of sport or being a unmotivated guard animal. Sad sad sad bear.

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 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

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Frenzied Ghoul - Process - Call of Cthulhu: The Thousand Young

Today I have for you a process post for a recent Call of Cthulhu piece. This time around is the Frenzied Ghoul from The Thousand Young! I first shared this piece to you in February when it was first spoiled. The set has come out and now I am overdue in sharing the process. Here is how the final Frenzied Ghoul turned out...

Frenzied Ghoul
Call of Cthulhu: The Thousand Young
11 x 14 - Acrylic, pencil, and gouache on board
© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

The Frenzied Ghoul was one of the first pieces that I completed last year after deciding to switch from digital to traditional paint. While this offered certain challenges with handling the paint and completing the assignment, the steps I took to reach the final painting remained consistent. I started off everything with a reference photo shoot and a series of thumbnails. This assignment called for a snarling blood coated Lovecraftian Ghoul (which meant it appeared as a hairless canine biped) running around in a cave, and I was ready to make that happen. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Frenzied Ghoul - Thumbnails
© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

I liked all of these directions, but I liked some more then others. They would all offer a lot of fun with lighting and shadow and loads of blood. Option "A" was the winner with a couple of notes. While production liked the the in your face grabbing nature of the Ghoul there was some concern that the Ghoul read "recoiling in fear" rather than "about to eat your face". They also wanted a little more spin on the POV. All of these things were easy to address and I sent off a new thumbnail that Incorporated the revision notes...

Frenzied Ghoul - Revised thumbnail
© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

This new thumbnail hit the mark and I was given the go ahead to move along. This of course meant it was time for me to work up a finalized drawing. Now that I am working traditionally I wanted to create my final drawings at 100% the intended size. This allowed me to become comfortable with the image at the size I would be painting it as well to insure that I was including enough detail in the drawing. In the past I have drawn larger then the final painting size and shrunk the drawing down to paint on. This allows for a nice dense drawing to work from. In contrast, I am not a fan of enlarging my drawings to then paint on. I don't like what happens with the line weight of the drawing and the density of the detail is never to my liking. This all meant I needed to start drawing larger then I typically did when working digital. Since the painting is 11x14 I am now drawing on 14x17 paper. Here is how the final drawing turned out...

Frenzied Ghoul
Call of Cthulhu: The Thousand Young
14 x 17 - Pencil on paper
© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

The drawing was approved without comment and it was time to paint! I think this was my fourth or fifth painting last year after switching media. Not that I am still figuring some things out even today, a year ago I was very much exploring new and frightening territory. Each painting felt my my first. Here is a look at the painting coming together in all its glory...

Frenzied Ghoul - Process Progression
© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

The photos might not give the best representation of what is actually happening on the image due to the lighting and glare, but hopefully it gives a good impression of how the image took shape.

A year ago one of the first things I would do is lay down some tonal values with marker on the mounted paper to start working up some major forms. I have since stopped doing this step. These days I just jump in with paint. You might notice a lot of pencil work once the detail begins to take shape. Up until recently I was still relying heavily on pencil in my paintings. Colored pencils are still a part of my work, there are marks I like in my work that only a pencil can provide. As my confidence with the paint has increased my reliance on the pencil to make the desired marked has lessened. The same goes with gouache, I was using a bit of gouache at the end of the paintings as a last level of detail. I no longer am using gouache in my work, I have found it an unnecessary step and can achieve the desired effects with acrylic paint and pencil.

Not sure if it is strange or expected, but I find myself working traditionally in most of the same ways I worked digitally. I lay down colors early on in a rather sloppy manor with a lot of splatter with the hopes for happy accidents. I build up the image back to front with washes getting more opaque as the details tighten. I generally work the whole image up to a certain point then focus on the background followed by the figures and foreground elements. There is of course a push and pull of the entire image as it progresses to make sure that everything is working as a whole.

Here is an animated process progression of the painting coming together to better show how the image came together. You might notice an major edit to the eye placement at the very end...

Frenzied Ghoul - Animated Process Progression
© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

When I decided to rock a red/green palette I really didn't give it too much thought. These are the colors I would have chosen to use if I had painted this digitally, so why not make those same choices traditionally? It definitely makes the image pop! I was concerned about making the blood read as blood. Blood is a funny liquid, it rather dark and opaque and does not offer up a lot of spectacular highlight. I looked at a lot of blood to make sure I was aiming it in the right visual direction. In the end I was really happy with it.

The final painting was approved by production without comment, which was a huge relief. I am not a huge fan of revisions on a final image, but now that it is in paint I am a little more nervous about possible edits to the final image. As time has gone on, making edits to the final painting has become easier, and there is always the computer to do the heavy lifting if the changes are to major. Here again is how the final image for the Frenzied Ghoul turned out as well the final production card....

Frenzied Ghoul
Call of Cthulhu: The Thousand Young
11 x 14 - Acrylic, pencil, and gouache on board
© 2015 Fantasy Flight Games

Frenzied Ghoul in handy dandy card form - RAWR!

I have definitely learned about about painting in the last year. I look forward to sharing the pieces I am finishing now, but as always, by the time I get to share these newest pieces I will wish I could share a whole different assortment of paintings. I am sure I will have a look at more of my paint journey very soon here on the blog!

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

Monday, August 24, 2015

Great Old One - Miniature

A couple of years ago I was approached to license one of my monster images for a Kickstarter being run by the good folks over at RAFM for a new line of Cthulhu miniatures they were working on. My Great Old One painting became a featured piece for their Kickstarter and eventually became a stretch goal add on as an actual miniature. In the fullness of time an image has surfaced of that miniature...

Great Old One Miniature

RAWR! I love miniatures and I love miniatures of my monster even more. Here is the original Great Old One piece that this miniature is based on. Hard to believe it has been five years since I created this one, how time flies...

Great Old One
12.8 x 12.5 - Digital
© 2010 Christopher Burdett

Not a bad translation of my painting if I do say so myself. I look forward to getting my hands on one of my own. Be sure to check out the rest of the really cool miniatures that RAFM is working on.

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

Friday, August 21, 2015

Fresh from the drawing table... Beaver (Giant)!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Beaver (Giant)! I back to working on the remaining "B" monsters... till I need another break. While there are a lot of mundane "B" monsters remaining I am trying to give them a twist whenever possible. Case in point, a Giant Beaver that is a little bit more then just a really larger version of the mundane counterpart. I present to you my version of a Beaver (Giant)… 

Beaver (Giant)
9 x 12
Pencil on paper
Original - Currently not available
© 2015 Christopher Burdett

Say what you will about massive animals, but I think I would much rather tangle with a beaver the size of a car instead of a man sized beaver with a spear and shield that looks you in the eye before running you though. Not sure if wizards had something to do with all this mess with the highly intelligent bipedal tool using beavers, but I highly suspect it. Of course, crazier things have just naturally happened in the realms, so who knows. What I do know is that you need to stay on these guys good side and give their dens and wide berth.

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 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

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

creatura libri 5 Sketchbook - NOW AVAILABLE!

creatura libri 5, my 2015 sketchbook is now Just  for purchase! Head on over to my store to get your hands on your very own copy! It is available with and without an original sketch on the first page. 32 new pages that are just crammed full of 50+ monsters! RAWR!


A mighty helping of both client and personal monsters!
Including the line drawings for all of my released Magic the Gathering Cards!

Just look at all those monsters! You know you need one of these to be complete!

Supplies are limited so don't miss your chance to get your hands on one of these monster filled books. I will have copies of creatura libri 5 on hand at Space Coast Comic Con and Illuxcon.  Don't forget to pick up a copy of my other sketchbooks too!

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

Monday, August 17, 2015

Numenera: Into the Deep - Kickstarter Monster Preview

A week or so ago, I had a piece spoiled over on the Numenera: Into the Ninth World Kickstarter, and I am happy to announce that I am working on the upcoming Numerera book, Into the Deep! This is hot off the work station too. I completed this particular monster just before leaving for Gen Con, and now it is out in the world scuttling around doing monster things. It is so new it does not even have a name, so without further ado, here is Preview Monster...

Rythcallocer
Numenera: Into the Deep
12 x 9 - Acrylic and pencil on board
Original - SOLD
© 2015 Monte Cook

There will be more about this critter and its companions in the fullness of time. What I can say is that this was a really excellent project. There were no art orders, I was just asked to come up with several new monsters, and I was given the room to come up with a bunch of my own creations. Can't go wrong with that!

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

Friday, August 14, 2015

Fresh from the drawing table... Demon (Manes)!

I have for you another drawing that is fresh from the drawing table. This time around it is a Demon (Manes)! I needed a break from all the "B" monsters in my journey though the original D&D Monster Manual, and that means a DEMON! I more or less opened the section on Demons and Devil and pointed to one at random, the winner was the Manes Demon. I present to you my version of a Demon (Manes)… 

Demon (Manes)
9 x 12
Pencil on paper
Original - Currently not available
© 2015 Christopher Burdett

There is a description in the original Dungeon & Dragons Monster Manual about these guys residing on the 666 level of hell in a elemental realm of fire and that these lost souls are now more or less unintelligent demon fodder. After completing this drawing I noticed that this particular demon has taken a different visual direction over the years from where it began. I wanted to be true to the original and use that as a leaping off point. I envisioned these monsters wallowing in the fires of hell until they are called forth as foot soldiers for some Demon Lord. Devoid of any intelligence and only motivated to kill anything that is not a demon they simply wait is a sea of fire. The unlife of a demon...

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 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

Wednesday, August 12, 2015

creatura libri 2 - sketchbook - ONLY ONE COPY LEFT!

With the pending wide release of creatura libri 5, my newest sketchbook, I would like to point out that after Gen Con I am down to my final ONE copy of creatura libri 2 sketchbook. Once this last one copy is gone, they are gone! The last one copy will only be available with an original monster sketch on the first page. Of course, creatura libri 2 is available over on my store, while supplies last! RAWR!

creatura libri 2 - Get them before they are all gone!

A preview of just a few of the monster in creatura libri 2!

creatura libri 2 features both personal AND client created monsters!

If you missed it, THIS IS THE LINK TO GET ONE OF THE LAST ONE COPY OF CREATURA LIBRI 2! Look for the wide release of creatura libri 5 VERY SOON!

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

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Gen Con 2015 - Day 4

All good things come to an end and that includes my coverage of Gen Con 2015. After a crazy and hectic three days we find ourselves at Day 4 of Gen Con 2015. I took it easy the night before and was feeling much better and more rested so that I could tackle Day 4 head on. For me Day 4 was the busiest and there was not a spare second during the day. A group of us walked around the exhibition hall before it was open to the public so that we could finally get a look at everything that was happening while we were at our booths. So many neat things out in the hall to look at and drool over. During set up you can't believe that you have four long days ahead of you and at the end of Day 4 you can't figure out where the past four days went. More and more people are saying that Gen Con is becoming a week long convention with folks arriving the weekend before. I myself begin traveling on a Tuesday only to arrive back home on the following Tuesday, so for me, Gen Con is a week long event too. A super fun week long gaming art party. Here are some images from Day 4 of Gen Con 2015...

Balloon squid from above so you can get a good view of all the balloon tentacle goodness.

Hey, it is that big green monster guy that everyone loves!
I was asked to include some hashtags and stuff to promote this guy, but I forgot.
OH WAIT! I remember! #CthulhuIsComing
I actually have this guy in action figure form... RAWR!

One of the booths had some seriously awesome miniatures on display that we were all drooling over. We could not find any information about these bad boys but they were sure pretty and fun to look at. A sign near these guys would have been nice so that I could pass that along...

I was asked to do a sketch with with a penguin and a turtle. So I did a sketch with a penguin and a turtle. That turtle is so happy...

Sunday was seriously busy. All the people were there doing all the things.

We picked up a super cool Dungeons & Dragons piece by Jeff Miracola at Gen Con... RAWR!

We also got a super cool monster piece by Amy Ashbaugh... RAWR!

AND I picked up one of Tom Babbey's sketch book with an appropriate sketch! All the RAWRs!

A Gudul Lurker on a playmat because that is the Gudul Lurker's natural environment.

There were also a Rancor on a playmat. The Rancor and the Gudul Lurker were both fighting or at least attacking the Tardis on two different playmats. The Doctor was having an interesting day.

My contribution to a playmat that had two teams fighting each other. My bird monster had his sights on a eyeball tentacle monster. Gonna NOM all the eyeballs and tentacles.

Ralph Horsley had a super cool tip jar at Gen Con and he gave it to me after the con ended! Darth Pig for the win! SOOOOO COOL! Thanks Ralph!

All good things come to an end and that includes Gen Con 2015.

In a flurry of activity and chaos the art show begins to come down.

All the hopes and dream go into handy dandy boxes. Until next year Propanel, until next year...

It is like some weird Transformer where everything transforms into boxes.

My booth is more or less packed up... now to lug it all back to my car in the third subbasement of the hotel that is not too far away in the scheme of things. It only took two trips. Not too bad.

It never fails, this poor sign is vandalized every year. Somewhere a maintenance person has a huge box of space "S"s and after Gen Con a new one is put back up.

That is all for Gen Con 2015 coverage, see you back here tomorrow for more blog fun! Until then...

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