Showing posts with label Kaijudo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kaijudo. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Rock Bite - Kaijudo - Process

Today I have for you the process and steps that went into the last of my paintings that I created for the now cancelled game, Kaijudo. The painting I will be talking about today was to be a new version of an already existing card depicting what happens when the ground has had enough of your crap... it was also never released before the game was cancelled. Here is the final painting for Rock Bite...

"Rock Bite"
Kaijudo - Unreleased
11.3 x 9 - Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

This piece was extremely straight forward. It was a redesign of an existing card, so a look and feel was established and production was very clear on how they wanted to update and change it. They provided lots of reference and the art order spelled it out perfectly. I got to work on some thumbnails and hoped that I hit all the point as well as adding some of my own voice to the mix. Here are how the thumbnails for Rock Bite turned out...

Rock Bite - Thumbnails
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Thumbnail "B" was the winner. I could have sworn that the art order specified no Beast-Kin falling into the rock mouth, nevertheless I was asked to do so moving forward into the final drawing. Part of the art order requested that there not be a face in the ground, just a mouth, but I found myself slowly working one in anyway. Not sure if it obvious to anyone but me, but there is one in there, albeit subtle. Here is how the final drawing for Rock Bite turned out...

Rock Bite
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original for sale over on my web store!
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The drawing was approved without comment and I was ready to move onto the final painting. This may have been my second painting for Kaijudo, but it was by far the easiest. This one, more then 99% of my other piece, felt like it painted itself. Not sure if it was the subject matter, the fact that piece was mostly rocks and lava, or something else entirely. It was just a really quick and easy paint. Which is nice to have happen! Here is a look at Rock Bite taking shape, I know that a lot of the last steps look alike, but there is stuff happening in there...

Rock Bite - Process Progression
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The only comment after the piece was turned in was that the Beast-Kin's uniforms needed to be another color. I forget the reasoning now, but it had something to do with team colors in the game I think. It was a little awkward since the color they needed to go to was a color similar to the overall palette of the piece. But you gotta make that change! While we are talking Beast-Kin, that one in the bottom corner with both arms up was a favorite of the art director and definitely made him laugh. Too bad it would be almost unreadable at final card size. Here is an animated process progression to better show you the steps and the more subtle changes at the end...

Rock Bite - Animated Process
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

And that is that... I have now shared with you all the process and steps for my work on Kaijudo. Like many games it was cancelled far too soon. But that is the way of things. It was sure fun while it lasted! If you would like to see all my posts about Kaijudo, you can see them all HERE!

Once again here is the final painting for Rock Bite, my unreleased painting for Kaijudo...

"Rock Bite"
Kaijudo - Unreleased
11.3 x 9 - Digital
© 2014 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

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Lava Burst - Kaijudo - Process

Today I have for you the process and steps that went into one of my paintings that I created for the now cancelled game, Kaijudo. While I only worked on the game a short time it was a lot of fun and I was sad to see it go. The painting I will be talking about today depicts a giant robot exploding and throwing lava everywhere, including onto an enemy base, after it fell into said lava. Here is the final painting for Lava Burst...

"Lava Burst"
Kaijudo - Vortex
11.3 x 9 - Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

This was a weird one. There needed to be a lot going on - robot falling into lava, exploding robot, lava spraying out the back of the robot, lava hitting and destroying enemy base... and it all had to be clear and small on a card. Really was a a tough one to get my head around. After some thinking and scribbling I got to work on some thumbnails. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Lava Burst - Thumbnails
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Looking at these now they are still all over the place. Explosions, lava, giant forms... what a mess. Not sure how the art director saw through all this to pick one. The winner was "C" and for me it was just a good as any of the others. I got to work on the final drawing...

Lava Burst
Kaijudo
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original for sale over on my web store!
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The drawing was approved and now I had to make this thing read in color. No worries. In just twelve easy steps the painting came together... or not. To be honest I was not necessarily thrilled about making this one work. I knew if was going to be a tough one. No good worrying about it, just need to dive in and get the painting done. Here is a look at the painting coming together...

Lava Burst - Process Progression
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The real challenge with this piece was controlling the values and making sure the different planes of action were clear. That involved making sure the lava was distinct an separate and that the robot in the foreground was clear and stood out. The same went for the enemy base monster thing in the background. Those familiar with the game should recognize it for what it is even though average person may not. You will notice as the piece came to life that I did a lot with the lava, I got rid of some while making other areas of it more interesting and dynamic. I also pushed and pull the lava's value and color to make sure that there was depth in the spray. Was I successful? Time will tell. Here is an animated progression of the piece to better show the piece coming together...

Lava Burst - Animated Process
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Here again is the final painting for Lava Burst and the card form of the art. There was a bit of cropping on the final card, but that happens. I think it reads well enough and gets the point across. 
"Lava Burst"
Kaijudo - Vortex
11.3 x 9 - Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Lava Burst in handy dandy card form (and don't forget the artist proofs!)

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

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

Virulent Worm - Kaijudo - Process

Today I have for you the process and steps that went into one of my paintings that I created for the now cancelled game, Kaijudo. While I only worked on the game a short time it was a lot of fun and I was sad to see it go. The painting I will be talking about today depicts a very bad day for a Beast Kin and a possibly good day for a big worm monster. Here is the final painting for Virulent Worm...

"Virulent Worm"
Kaijudo - Eye of the Storm
11.2 x 8 - Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The Virulent Worm was the very first Kaijudo card that I ever worked on and it is unfortunate that it never was released as a real card. It was released as a virtual card as part of the last set that had already been created prior to the decision to kill the project. Since this was the first card I worked on, it was the piece that I worked out all style choices so that the piece felt like a Kaijudo piece. I sent this piece repeatedly during production to my art director to make sure I was on track. Not only was it a new project with a distinct style and look I was working with a new art director.

In the end the all worked out... obviously. Since this was my first card I really spent a lot of time working out the thumbnails for it. I tried to give production a lot to work with and some variation. The card needed to depict a massive worm creature on a rocky ledge of a cave. A Beast Kin was minding its own business as it slogged trough a river of strange goo... little does it know it is WORM GOO. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Virulent Worm - Thumbnails
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The thumbnails were well received, though I am not sure I ever had a favorite. I liked some of the worms in some of the compositions and I liked some of the Beast Kin in some of the others. This turned out to be true for production too. I was asked to do some mixing and matching with elements to work out a final image. With the pieces selected I was given the go ahead to work on the final drawing...

Virulent Worm
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original for sale over on my web store!
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The drawing was approved without comment and it was time to work on my first Kaijudo painting. It was generally a straight forward process, but as mentioned before I checked in with my art director during the painting process to make sure I was getting the look and feel of Kaijudo. Some of this conversation about the piece lead to the worm being pushed much further into shadow. I had thought it needed to be much lighter and brighter and the AD definitely wanted more moody and scary. I was happy to do just that. Here is 12 easy steps is the Virulent Worm taking shape...

Virulent Worm - Process Progression
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The Virulent Worm was approved without comment, and I would like to think that is because of my efforts to reach out the my AD and make sure I was working towards the image they needed me to make. Of my Kaijudo work, this is the only piece that I did this with. I needed the first one under my belt to get a feel for what needed to be accomplished with the paintings. The AD is there to help you and give you the input needed so that you successfully meet your, and their, goals of an approved and effective painting. ADs are your friends in the creation of art!

As an added bonus here is a handy dandy animated process thingy to better show the process and creation of the painting...

Virulent Worm - Animated Process
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Here again is the final painting for the Virulent Worm and the (vitrual) card form of the art. Do to the amount of chrome on the card there was a bit of cropping on the image, but all the important bits are still there. If it had been a printed card it sure would have been a pretty one... of well, these things happen...

"Virulent Worm"
Kaijudo - Eye of the Storm
11.2 x 8 - Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

"Virulent Worm" if it had been an actual real life handy dandy card instead of a virtual card.

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

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Overshields - Kaijudo - Process

Today I have for you the process and steps that went into one of my paintings that I created for the now cancelled game, Kaijudo. While I only worked on the game a short time it was a lot of fun and I was sad to see it go. The painting I will be talking about today depicts a sky base shielding itself from the attack a dragon. Here is the final painting for Overshields ...

"Overshields"
Kaijudo - Vortex
11.3 x 9 - Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Overshields focuses on a the last ditch efforts for a sky base to shield itself from an attacking dragon. The shields needed to be the focus of the piece and the base and the dragon needed to not be pulling too much focus. The shields also need to appear like they were beginning to fail. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Overshields - Thumbnails
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Not sure I had a favorite among these thumbnails. I wanted to make the dragon the focus and I was not too keen on that sky base, but I was making the most of the piece. ...because that is my job and my responsibility of taking on the work. It is clearly obvious now that options "A" and "B" were not right for the assignment and the dragon was too much in focus. "C" fits the bill perfectly... which makes it no surprise to anyone that it was the thumbnail that was selected. Now that I had an approved thumbnail it was time for the drawing...


Overshields
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original for sale over on my web store!
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Apparently in my original drawing I was a little too much off model with the dragon's horns. It was one of those moments where I thought the dragon needed to be similar to the supplied model when in reality it needed to be exactly like the supplied model. The change was quick enough and made digitally. The updated drawing was approved without any further notes and I was approved to get started on the final painting. The Kaijudo pieces allowed me to work a bit more colorful and playfully. Bright and shiny was the Kaijudo way. The painting for Overshields had some rocky moments, but it all came together in the end...

Overshields - Process Progression
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Like magic the painting comes to life. Since the focus was the shields they needed to stand out so I battled with the piece a bit to make that happen. Maybe a pick/lavender sky was not my best choice to make that happened, but I really thought the sky would contrast well with the YELLOW shields. Getting the perspective and forms right on the sky base were also a bit of a pain. I stuck with it and worked it out in the end. I REALLY should have seen to the base in the drawing... but I was rushing and caused myself to spend more time later fixing it.

As an added bonus here is a handy dandy animated process thingy to better show the process and creation of the painting...

Overshields - Animated Process
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Here again is the final painting for Overshields and the card form of the art. There was a bit of cropping on the final card, but that happens. Since the shields are the focus, it helps direct the eyes to the big yellow hexagons in the center of the piece. 

"Overshields"
Kaijudo - Vortex
11.3 x 9 - Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Overshields in handy dandy card form (and don't forget the artist proofs!)

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

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Decay - Kaijudo - Process

Today I have for you the process and steps that went into one of my paintings that I created for the now cancelled game, Kaijudo. While I only worked on the game a short time it was a lot of fun and I was sad to see it go. The painting I will be talking about today depicts a very bad day for an unfortunate Beastkin. Here is the final painting for Decay...

"Decay"
Kaijudo - Vortex
11.3 x 9
Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Decay focuses on a spiked Beastkin getting a very bad touch from an attacker that is mostly out of frame. The touch and spreading corruption was key and needed to be very clearly depicted. I got to work on some thumbnails to play around with the cropping and how "in the action" production wanted the image. Here are how the thumbnails turned out...

Decay - Thumbnails
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

I really liked option "A" but I had a really strong feeling that production would be interested more in option "C". Turns out "C" was the winner. "C" is the over all strongest thumbnail... but my tastes and esthetics lean toward "A". Now that I had an approved thumbnail it was time for the drawing...

Decay - Drawing
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original for sale over on my web store!
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

The drawing was approved without any notes and I was approved to get started on the final painting. The Kaijudo pieces allowed me to work a bit more colorful and playfully. Bright and shiny was the Kaijudo way. I had actually planned on taking the leap into painting traditionally a little sooner then I eventually did. I was gearing up to do one or more of my next Kaijudo assignment in real paint... but sadly that next set go cancelled before assignments went out. My leap into traditional paint was subsequently delayed by several months. ...oh what could have been. The painting for Decay came together very quickly...

Decay - Process Progression
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Like magic the painting comes to life. It is interesting to look back at my digital work now that I have not painted digitally in a while to see how it compares to what I am doing with paint. The striking similarities and the distinct differences. I see a lot of my late stage tweaks in my digital work are usually addressed earlier in the process when I paint traditionally. The details come earlier and easier in my digital work. Pluses and minuses and pros and cons on both sides... but at the end of a traditional painting I have an actual painting.

As an added bonus here is a handy dandy animated process thingy to better show the process and creation of the painting...

Decay - Animated Process
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Here again is the final painting for Decay and the card form of the art. I am really happy with how the Kaijudo cards printed. The longer I worked digitally the better I was able to ensure I had an image that looked good printed. I will now have to figure out the same for my traditional work. I know I making actual paintings that I am happy with their appearance, but I don't know how they look printed. I will know soon enough and then will adapt if needed.

"Decay"
Kaijudo - Vortex
11.3 x 9
Digital
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Decoy in handy dandy card form (and don't forget the artist proofs!)

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

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Magic the Gathering and Kaijudo Artist Proofs now available!

Whether you call them Artist Proofs or Whitebacks, all of my blank backed Magic and Gathering and Kaijudo cards are now available on my store!

Standard and foil Artist Proofs can now be purchased through my store with the option to have an original sketch on the back. All Artist Proofs come signed and numbered. The standard artist proofs are limited to an edition of 50 and the foil artist proofs are limited to an edition of 30. And now for some pictures...

A mighty stack of standard and foil Ancient Carps!

More in the mood for the wily Gudul Lurker? I have you covered!

All five of my Magic the Gathering cards are still available with two the cards having an additional foil variant. All three of my published Kaijudo cards are also available at a special discounted price.



I mentioned original sketches and if you choose you can get one on your artist proof. Here are some examples of the sketches you can anticipate. If I am feeling festive I may include some additional tonal work and shading. You never know what monster will be lurking on the back of your Artist Proof. RAWR!


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, January 19, 2015

New Star Wars and Kaijudo drawings now available!

It is the beginning of a new year! Today is a holiday in the US! There are new drawings from my work on Star Wars and Kaijudo on my store! Head on to my WEBSTORE to see all my available items AND all the following new original drawing additions...

Snake Oil Salesmen
Edge of the Empire - Far Horizons
9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Career Entrepreneur
Edge of the Empire - Far Horizons
9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Daran'Enok
Age of Rebellion - Onslaught on Arda 1
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Narralia
Age of Rebellion - Onslaught on Arda 1 
9 x 12 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Virulent Worm
Kaijudo
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Rock Bite
Kaijudo
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Decay
Kaijudo
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Lava Burst
Kaijudo
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

Overshields
Kaijudo
12 x 9 - Pencil on paper
Original - SOLD
© 2014 Wizards of the Coast

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