A Second Look at Older Work - The Dreamblade Trojan Horse

This coming June will mark twenty years for me in the gaming industry, and this is also my twenty-fifth year as a working artist. I have made a lot of work over these years, and as I focus on larger projects with multi-year timelines, it is hard to keep this blog updated regularly. I have kept this thing going since 2009, and I would like for it to continue. To that end, I thought I would look back at works I particularly liked, enjoyed making, or seemed to fall through the cracks and went unnoticed.

To start things off, here is the miniature design that I did for the now long dead miniatures game, Dreamblade. Dreamblade will always be near and dear to me as it was the first game I ever worked on and one of the times I felt most free as an artist working in the gaming industry. This is the "Trojan Horse" design for the never-produced seventh set of the game. I wonder to this day if they had started any of the sculpts for these and if somewhere there had been or still is a prototype of it out there.

Unreleased Trojan Horse - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

Trojan Horse turnaround - © 2006 Wizards of the Coast

This design was likely way too detailed for the miniature it was to become, but I didn't care. I had a ton of fun designing and drawing this one. Sure, it would have been fun to hold a little plastic version of this, but that was never meant to be. Maybe this time around, it will get a little more appreciation from folks. 

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 Grand Bazaar Comes to Illuxcon NEXT WEEK!

Illuxcon 2019 is next week (October 23-27) in Reading, PA. It is one of our favorite events of the year, and as I have mentioned several times here on the blog, this year will be even more special for me. The work that I have been creating for the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia over the past five years will be on display and available for the first time. I will have a new selection of limited edition prints that are distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand as a collaboration between myself and Achsa Nute. I will be hosting a monster making and drawing workshop. Here are more details on all of these things.

Some see me in Studio 411 bright and early at 10am till 1pm for a talk and demo of making monsters!

On the morning of Thursday, October 24th, from 10-1, I will be hosting a monster making workshop. I will talk about the methods and processes I use to create monsters that I have implemented for over twenty years when working on television, film, and games. I will discuss my approach to monster creation with examples of my work and then will do a live drawing demo as I design and render a monster, time permitting. More information about this can be found HERE.

Each edition is limited to 25 prints that are distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand as a collaboration between myself and Achsa Nute.

I will once again be debuting a new series of limited edition hand altered prints at IX. As with last year, these are a collaboration between myself and Achsa Nute. Unlike last year when I only had one print, we created three for this year. All three appear in the book and relate to the character Shaper and their creations. They will be available individually or as a set at a discounted price. More information about this can be found HERE.

Ethra VanDalia 
11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
  Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2017 Christopher Burdett

Last but certainly not least, I will exhibiting all but three illustrations that I created for The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia in the Main Show. All of the work that I have created for the book will be on display and available for purchase for the first time. These sales will be going toward the printing costs for the book that will be coming to crowdfunding early next year unless something unexpected happens.

If you cannot attend and had a particular piece from the book you were interested in, I will be opening up all art for sale to anyone interested on the morning of Friday, October 25. Please understand that people attending the event have first dibs and that with my workshop Thursday, it will not be possible to add one more thing to that day. For those interested, the best way to contact me will be through Facebook Messenger or the contact points on my website (please email or text; I will not be able to take calls). I have not shared all of the work that I have created, but you can see much of it here on the blog. Most posts have links to the main piece from the book. Once Illuxcon is over, all work will not be available again until the crowdfunding for the book begins. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them here, and I will answer them ASAP. Here is a sample of some of what will be at Illuxcon next week.

Hollow Alley
16 x 20 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper
Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2018 Christopher Burdett

Keeper of the Clocks
16 x 20 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper
Original - SOLD

Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2018 Christopher Burdett

The Seated Dead
16 x 20 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper
Currently Available Grand Bazaar Originals
© 2018 Christopher Burdett

That's all for another exciting week on the blog. I will not be back here till after Illuxcon has concluded, and I have returned home. Until then...

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

Limited Edtion Shaper Advertising Prints from the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia @ IX!

I am thrilled to share with you the limited edition prints that I will have available at the Illuxcon Main Show next week! As with last year's print, this is a collaboration between myself and Dear Wife to make a very unique item. Each edition is limited to 25 prints that have been distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand to make each individual print its own unique piece. These prints will also be part of the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia book. If you can not make it to IX this year, do not worry, I will be making any remaining prints available on my store after the event.

Each edition is limited to 25 prints that are distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand as a collaboration between myself and Achsa Nute.

The Shaper Cleaner is often called a Gullet.

The Shaper Sentry is sometimes referred to as a Footman.

The Shaper Assistant has the nickname of Smokestack.

Limited to 25, once they are gone, they are gone.

 

All prints are signed by both Achsa Nute and myself.

While available individually, they will be available as a set for a discounted price.

Here is a closer look at the finished prints. The text below each print is from the book and is from the section corresponding to their entry. If you are attending IX, be sure to stop by to see these first hand, they are each unique with their own personalities and markings.

Here are some images from the distressing and marking process. Dear Wife did a fantastic job on these prints, and I could not be more excited about how they turned out.

All images © 2019 Christopher Burdett

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

Limited Edtion Grand Bazaar Print & Dreamblade Art @ IX!

I am thrilled to share with you a limited edition print that I will have available at the Illuxcon Showcase this Friday and Saturday nights. Not only is this your first opportunity to get a piece from the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia, but this is a collaboration between myself and Dear Wife to make a very unique item. While it is a print limited to an edition of 25, each print is in fact a unique item. Each print has been distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand to make each one its own unique piece. This print will also give you a glimpse at what it in store for the Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia book...

Limited to an edition of 25, these prints are distressed, marked, stamped, and assembled by hand and are a collaboration between myself and Achsa Nute.

Three of the prints side by side to show off how they are unique pieces.

Limited to 25, once they are gone, they are gone.

All prints are signed by both Achsa Nute and myself.

A closer look at the flyer component of the print. Be sure to come see me in the IX Showcase Friday and Saturday night from 8pm - Midnight to get your hands on a piece made Dear Wife and myself!

If that is not all, For the first time I will be selling my art and designs from my work on the miniatures game Dreamblade. I have never made this work available before and now seemed as good as time as any. I have so much work from the game that I decided to bring a sampling of the work that was created for the game... so if you want more, there will be more in the fullness of time. I packaged up all the work for a particular piece together into complete bundles, so some my have only three drawings and other may have five, six, or more drawings associated with it. Now is your chance to get you hands on one of the best assignments I ever had!

I had a lot of drawings to dig through and organize.

When you look at all the drawings you will be able to see designs evolve and take shape.

Though it might not look like much in this image, there are a TON of drawings and art in this stack!

Every piece lists how many drawings come with each design.

I selected work that was done at 9x12 and 11x14. My larger work on the game will have to wait will later when I can better package it and transport it.

That is all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog, see you on the other side of IX! 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: Hiveling Overlord - Draemblade

All good things come to an end. Today I am looking back at the final Dreamblade miniature design that I have never shared before here on the blog. I worked on Dreamblade from June of 2005 till January of 2007 and it was an amazing crash course in designing, drawings, and working in the game industry. Ten years later I have finally shared all of the work that I created for the game. Not sure why it took so long, but it did and it is weird that it is now over. Here is the design for the Hiveling Overlord which was part of the second expansion set to Dreamblade, Chrysotic Plague, released back in 2007...

Hiveling Overlord

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

© 2005 Wizards of the Coast LLC

The Hiveling Overlord, which was originally called the Spider King, was a really weird one to work on and definitely was a challenge for me at the time. Thankfully I was getting smarter about designing and evaluating my own work. Here is the description that I was given when designing the Hiveling Overlord...

"A burn victim "sits" with arms folded, looking forward, a slender sword clutched to his breast. His legs end at the thigh in ragged (but bloodless) stumps. However, growing from the king's shoulders are a set of spider-like legs, that provide all the support and mobility required. The king wears a crown that seem to be spider legs growing from his brow."

Like I said, this is a weird one. I got to work on the the design, but from the beginning I was just not feeling it. I felt restricted by the margins of my paper. I was not feeling the overall design and form. I was spinning my wheels even though I ended up with a finished drawing. I looked at it... looked some more... and came to realization that it was not working and that I needed to start over. I made a quick scan of the drawing for the achieves, but it went no further. Here is my abandoned first concept for the Hiveling Overlord...

Hiveling Overlord - Abandoned first design

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

I immediately got out larger paper and began working up something that was bigger and had more space to live. I addressed everything that bothered me about my first design and pushed it all further. I was instantly happier with what I was creating and I knew that I made the right decision to start over. A lesson that is hard to learn and sometime harder to live by. Here is the version of the Hiveling Overlord that I turned in for review...

Hiveling Overlord - Original

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

As you can see the version I turned in and the final version are a little different. I was asked to revisit the hilt of the sword to make molding and casting easier and some 'ground' needed to be added so the miniature would stand on the base better. Other that that the design was accepted as is and I was given the go ahead to move forward on the rest of the views. Here is the full turnaround for the Hiveling Overlord...

Hiveling Overlord Turnaround

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper (multiple sheets)

© 2005 Wizards of the Coast LLC

Not sure if this miniature ever made a big space on the game scene. For me it always felt it was under the radar both game wise and design wise. Never caught anyone's attention. I sometimes forget this one is mine. Not sure why, but that is how I have felt regarding this miniature. Who knows, maybe there are a ton of people there that totally loved this one. Here is how the production miniature turned out for the Hiveling Overlord...

Hiveling Overlord

And just like that, my posts regarding Dreamblade come to an end. Maybe sometime new will surface in the future, maybe a long lost secret will emerge, or maybe I will find myself revisiting one of the these old designs to see how I would design it years later. You never know... but for now, I say goodbye to Dreamblade, you were an amazing project to work on, if only you had survived a little longer...

That's 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

Looking Back: Blind Envoy - Draemblade

Today I am looking back at another Dreamblade miniature design that I have never shared before here on the blog. We are coming to the end of those designs, only one or two more. Here is the design for the Blind Envoy which was part of the third expansion set to Dreamblade, Anvilborn, released back in 2007...

Blind Envoy

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

This was a companion piece to another miniature released in same set. I worked on both and was asked to give them some similar attributes. The Zungar Envoy shares the big crazy staff with the eye at its top as well as the motif of the figure being blindfolded, or in this case, blind. Production asked for the figure to look quasi military with some eastern influences. Something that felt old but new as well. I very nearly nailed it on the first attempt. I still was drawing from me head a little too much on things I didn't need to, like the cape, and I was asked to reign it in and make it more realistic. Due to safety concerns I was asked to adjust the feather so it was less of a sharp point on the top if his head and finally the cracks at the base of the staff needed some attention. Here is a look at the version of the Bling Envoy...

Blind Envoy - Original

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

With an approved front view I was given the go ahead to do the rest of the turnaround. Here is the entire design for the Blind Envoy miniature...

Blind Envoy Turnaround

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper (multiple sheets)

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

When I was originally working on these I often could not get my head around how these would turn out and if I was giving them what they needed. Now, having created so many miniature designs I have a really good understanding for the limitations and possibilities when it comes to designing something so small. It needs to instantly read from the table top and be unique and dynamic. Paint schemes help with this too and many of the Dreamblade miniatures had bold single color paint work with just a few accents... like the Blind Envoy. Here is how the production miniature turned out for this one... 

Blind Envoy Miniature

That's all for another exciting week on the blog, Tuesday is a holiday so it is a long weekend, 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

Looking Back: Illuminati Pyramid - Draemblade

Today I am looking back at another Dreamblade miniature design that I have never shared before here on the blog. More and more I am surprised just how many pieces from earlier in my career just never made it onto this blog. I will be doing my best to correct this. Anyway... Here is the design for the Illuminati Pyramid which was part of the second expansion set to Dreamblade, Chrysotic Plague, released back in 2007...

Illuminati Pyramid

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2005 Wizards of the Coast LLC

To my memory, I think this piece was the most straight forward miniature that I had to design for Dreamblade. I got the assignment, did a single drawing, and I was done. I had other one and done concepts in Dreamblade, but this one required the least amount of effort on my part to make it happen. Here is the art order for the Illuminati Pyramid...

"Location. Instead of stone, the pyramid sides are composed of a mass of pale arms with bloody fingernails, and the eyes (one on each side) are bigger than shown in the standard depiction of this icon."

Production supplied a bunch of reference and the piece designed itself. I was actually a little concerned with how quickly and easily it went. It seemed to all work out in the end... since there were not changes and the piece was approved for full turnaround. Here is how the full turnaround for the Illuminati Pyramid turned out...

Illuminati Pyramid Turnaround

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper (multiple sheets)

© 2005 Wizards of the Coast LLC

Not sure how much more I have to share about this one. It needed to be a pile of arms in the shape of a pyramid with large eyes on all four sides. Done and done. I did make an effort to give the eyes different emotions on the different side, because reasons. Here is how the production miniature turned out for the Illuminati Pyramid...

Illuminati Pyramid Miniature

That's 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

Looking Back: Dreamscape Prophet - Draemblade

Today I am looking back at another Dreamblade miniature design that I have never shared before here on the blog, which surprises me a lot. I am realizing that I have not shared a lot more Dreamblade miniatures here that I thought I did. Anyway... Here is the design for the Dreamscape Prophet which was part of the third expansion set to Dreamblade, Anvilborn, released back in 2007...

Dreamscape Prophet

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

The art order called for a lawgiver type character with horns carrying a tablet with writing. The figure needed to be pointing the way. The costuming and detail needed to be high and it needed to have a Moses vibe to it. I almost had it on the first pass, but there were a couple things, all in the head and face that needed to be changed. Or rather some elements needed to be pushed further to make it more cool. Here is the original, so that you can see what has changed...

Dreamscape Prophet (original)

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

With an approved front view I was given the go ahead to do the rest of the turnaround. Here is the entire design for the Dreamscape Prophet miniature...

Dreamscape Prophet

9 x 12 - Pencil on paper (multiple sheets)

© 2006 Wizards of the Coast LLC

By the time I was working on Anvilborn I was really starting to 'get it' when it came to working on Dreamblade, designing miniatures, and developing my own visual language and style. Still had a lot to learn, but things were definitely coming together. I had designed quiet a few miniatures by this point and had produced many many drawings. That is a lot of time, effort, and practice... I would hope that I was seeing some improvement. I always liked this design and for me it really marked a turning point from the frantic 'OH MY GOD WHAT I AM  DOING?!?!?!' phase of working on Dreamblade to the 'let's design some really awesome miniatures' phase. It transition was beginning some on the previous expansion and had fully pivoted by the next. If you were wondering, there is something actually written in cuneiform on the tablet. It reads, if I remember correctly, "Dreamblade is the best game ever" and is followed by my initials. I know... it is a bit silly. Here is how the production miniature turned out for this one...

Dreamscape Prophet Miniature

That's 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