Revisiting Monster P.I.

I didn't expect to be revisiting this one, but as I finally, after nine years, got to play through the entire program, I thought it would be fun to take another look at this project and all the monsters I made for it. 

First and foremost, this was created for my day career back in 2017. I originally shared this here on the blog in 2019, and it then vanished as if it never existed. For the project, I named it, created the logo, designed and created all the monsters, designed and created the Hub World in both normal and damaged states, mini game tutorial animations, and more. It was an extremely fun project to be a part of, and it is good to revisit and share it all again. The project was to create a testing interface for reading, word comprehension, and understanding. As you move through it, you will be tested, and if successful, you get a clue to the monster responsible for the damage and then play a fun little timed mini game. At the very end, you have to pick your monster from a lineup. After successfully finishing everything, you can make your own monster using all of the parts and colors.

And as I have finally been able to play through it all, it is a lot of fun and a great mix of testing and fun. Here is the vast majority of what I created for the project.

The Monster P.I. poster that I created using my assets.

Here are the monsters I created in their original forms. I also named all the monsters and created a backstory for each one. Respectively, they are: Zirrple, Dundur, Tromps, Wobbly, and Snerp.

All of their parts and colors are entirely interchangeable, making for many interesting, silly, and fun monsters.

 

Here are larger images of each monster. Cycling movements were added to give them a little more life. Everything was made to be interchangeable, which created some fun and challenging obstacles. 

Dundur, Snerp, Tromps, Wobbly, and Zirrple.

Clues would include tentacle legs, four arms, a spotted body, big ears, or the color. 

The Hub World was another large undertaking for the project. I needed to make the city look interesting and fun. I color-coded each location to the monster that, in its original form, is likely to be attracted to. Meaning that Zirrple likes the library. This was done mostly for myself and the little stories I wrote about each one. In the actual game, the monster will be a unique combination each time it is used. But this allows the location to be visually unique. After you visit a location, take the tests, collect the clue, and play the mini game, the location is repaired, and you can select another location to investigate. 

The Hub world.

The damaged Hub World.

 

The last major contribution to the project was animated tutorials for each of the mini games. They needed to be quick, simple, and explain what you need to do in the game to succeed. Each location had a themed game you could play. The game was timed, and you are rewarded one to three stars based on your performance. 

Game tutorial animations.

Here is a video that the center has used to advertise the game and our ability to create such projects. We are always on the lookout for projects like this, as they are super fun and allow us to really push ourselves and be creative.

Monster P.I.!

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

Revisting the DXR-6 Disruptor

I will continue to be saying this for a while longer: I am REALLY BUSY writing the next book, so the blog will continue to mostly be posts looking back at older work. Today I am sharing a Star Wars piece I painted in 2013/14 for a board game and it ended up making the roads. So, here we are again!

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle

Imperial Assault Core Set

10.127 x 9 - Digital

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games 

One of the main reasons this piece is being revisited is that one of the reference images popped up again on the socials. It reminded me of this one, and so here we are. More to the point, I shared this photo likely the day after it was taken, but with no context, I was not breaking any NDA. 

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle - Reference
Photos by Achsa Nute

Here are images of the piece taking shape with the thumbnails and the final drawing. This one was focused on the figure and blaster, so background and environments were not needed, and it let me make it all one big explosion.

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle - Thumbnails

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

DXR-6 Disruptor Rifle

12 x 9 - Pencil on paper

Original - SOLD (a LONG time ago)

© 2014 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games 

This art has ended up on at least three cards. The first time, it was hilariously and severely cropped. Like, why even at that point? I was thrilled when it was released so that the art could finally be seen. It is likely out there elsewhere in books, cards, and stuff, but I may never track them down.

The many cards this art has been used on.

There may be more, but I only know of these three. 

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

2025 Holiday Card - May you find something special during the holidays!

Another year and another holiday card. This year's card again came late and was the second of our series of postcards. With so much going on, these seem to be pushed further and further to the last minute. Which means they need to be done very quickly, around many other things. But once again, we managed. Hopefully, they have all reached their destinations, but who knows with international mail these days? I present you with: May you find something special during the holidays!

May you find something special during the holidays!  - 2025 Holiday Card

8x10 - Pencil and acrylic paint on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 That is all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog. See you back here soon! Until then...

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

Recent Small Monster Pieces

I recently made several small monster pieces to have with me at conventions. I will have all five at Infinity Con Gainesville this coming weekend. These are all fun little pieces using pencil, marker, ink, and paint. Similar to the larger pieces I had planned to bring to Gen Con earlier this year. These are priced to sell, so I hope they find their forever homes. Feel free to reach out if one of them catches your eye.

Small Monsters

5 x 7 - Pencil, marker, ink, and acrylic paint on board
© 2025 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

A Second Look at Older Work - Zambit

This is one of the images I had originally prepped for my series of posts that focused on revisiting old, but favorite, monsters that I have done over the past twenty years of my career. While this one was meant to be posted before June, here we are in August, and he has finally made it to the blog again.

Today, I have another of several pieces I did for a game that was never completed. As mentioned previously, I originally painted these in 2010, the project never saw completion, and my work was shelved due to NDAs. In 2015, I received permission to share my work on the game as long as I didn't talk about the specifics of the project. That was the only time I shared this work. I always liked the work I did for the game, and they always had a soft spot in my art heart for them, well, most of them. The images created would have been used as hero art for various monsters encountered in the game. I loved the photo studio quality to them, and I played around with the lighting as well.

Wandering Eye

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

As a side note, you can see more about this monster here on the blog. I do love a reptilian monster, and this one was a lot of fun. I was given a lot of room to have fun with its gear and weapons. Likely, I could draw and paint lizard dude all day. This still remains a favorite of mine for a lot of reasons.

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

Nefarious Criminal Despot - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I am thrilled to share another new piece from The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia! This illustration is for Book Two: The Completed Circle and is the next character piece in the book, the Nefarious Criminal Despot. And now the villain presents himself, or more to the point, the hero(s) must seek out the being known in whispers as the Basilisk to retrieve something dear to them(him). This is a character I created some time ago, and I have been waiting to introduce them to the Grand Bazaar. Whielding powerful mathematics and magicks, the Basilisk is to be feared, but he is not without his place within the Grand Bazaar. If you find yourself in the Warren, it is best to keep your head down and not draw the attention or ire of this criminal mastermind. 

Nefarious Criminal Despot
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle
11 x 14 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper

Original - Contact me if interested
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

Nefarious Criminal Despot - Drawing 

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

Here is a look at the sketch and tonal study for the Nefarious Criminal Despot to show where it began.

 

Nefarious Criminal Despot- Sketch 

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

Nefarious Criminal Despot - Tonal study

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

As a bonus, I have some images of the rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape. 

Nefarious Criminal Despot - Process

© 2025 Christopher Burdett

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

Twenty Years Later - Two Decades of Making Monsters for Wizards of the Coast

Twenty years ago yesterday, I received my first assignment to work with Wizards of the Coast (WotC) to design monsters for a new miniature game they were developing. I had met the art director a year earlier at San Diego Comic Con and had a great portfolio review. I kept in touch over that year as my life completely changed. We would leave LA for a fresh start back in Florida with a better job and 99% less abuse and harassment in the workplace. In June of 2005, when the email arrived inquiring about my availability I jumped at it and tried not to look back.

While the miniature game, Dreamblade, only lasted a few years, twenty years later, I am still making monsters for WotC. Not as many as I once did, but WotC is now my only client in the gaming industry that I still take work from. I never expected this to last twenty years, and I certainly didn't expect the journey that I have had with them. But I guess I am still doing something right if they want me to make monsters for them. 

Various Dungeons & Dragons monsters produced for interior book art

© Wizards of the Coast 

Over the years, there have been some really amazing highs and some lows (in some ways, I likely learned a heck of a lot more from the lows than the highs). I have always focused on monsters, but I have designed monsters, armor, miniatures, and more. I have illustrated cards, magazines, books, and covers. Most of my work has been on Dungeons & Dragons, but my work can be seen in Dreamblade, Kaijudo, several projects I can't talk about, and, of course, Magic the Gathering. Overall, they have been the best client to work with, and I have met a lot of really amazing people because of our working relationship. 

I have worked with some of the best art directors in the business, and through them, I have learned a great deal about being objective with my work and understanding that revisions are all part of the process. I know I will forget some people, but working with Kate, Jon, Dawn, Emi, Stacy, Jeremy, Peter, Cynthia, Taylor, Forrest, Zack, and plenty more has been truly wonderful. I have seen people come, and I have had to see them leave. Every assignment has been an adventure, and you never know what is going to arrive in the assignment email. Sometimes it would be a little scary, but most of the time it was the start of an exciting project. 

Various Dungeons & Dragons illustrations produced for interior magazine art

© Wizards of the Coast

I have some really exciting work waiting to be released. Work I have waited twenty years to make. I can't say more, but hopefully later this year, or early next year, I will be sharing it with you here. This coming work is in many ways a full circle moment for me and a wonderful way to acknowledge two decades of making game art. i do hope to find a way to make more art like this in the future.

About ten years ago, I started hearing from people that they had enjoyed my work since childhood. It always made me feel weird, because that just didn't seem possible. But there is no escaping that reality now. I now have fans who are younger than my career. I do not know what is next with me and WotC, but I will keep making monsters for them as long as they will let me and as long as it fits into my schedule. The Grand Bazaar has priority now, but I always find it hard to tell WotC no. So, a MASSIVE thanks to all my art directors and fans for being a part of this adventure! It has been a crazy ride.

Various Magic the Gathering illustrations produced for card art

© Wizards of the Coast 

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 - Wandering Eye

This month marks twenty years for me in the gaming industry, and this is also my twenty-sixth 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 have fallen through the cracks and went unnoticed.

Today, I have another of several pieces I did for a game that was never completed. As mentioned previously, I originally painted these in 2010, the project never saw completion, and my work was shelved due to NDAs. In 2015, I received permission to share my work on the game as long as I didn't talk about the specifics of the project. That was the only time I shared this work. I always liked the work I did for the game, and they always had a soft spot in my art heart for them, well, most of them. The images created would have been used as hero art for various monsters encountered in the game. I loved the photo studio quality to them, and I played around with the lighting as well. 

Wandering Eye

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

As a side note, you can see more about this monster here on the blog. I always enjoy the weird ones, and this checks all the boxes. While I was asked to stick to certain physical characteristics, I was free to have a little more fun with this one. And for your knowledge, the source material for this one some from long before an animated movie about monsters.

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

A Second Look at Older Work - Giant Scorpion

This month marks twenty years for me in the gaming industry, and this is also my twenty-sixth 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 have fallen through the cracks and went unnoticed.

Today, I have another of several pieces I did for a game that was never completed. As mentioned previously, I originally painted these in 2010, the project never saw completion, and my work was shelved due to NDAs. In 2015, I received permission to share the work I did on the game as long as I didn't talk about the specifics of the project. That was the only time I shared this work. I always liked the work I did for the game, and they always had a soft spot in my art heart for them, well, most of them. The images created would have been used as hero art for various monsters encountered in the game. I loved the photo studio quality to them, and I played around with the lighting as well.

Giant Scorpion

5.35 x 7 - Digital

© 2010 Christopher Burdett

As a side note, you can see more about this monster here on the blog. Another fun one where I could just make a fun monster and enjoy the painting process. I like insect monsters right behind reptile monsters, so I was right at home on this one. This is still very much a favorite of mine and not the only scorpion monster that I have created over the years.

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

Hauteur Girasol Administrator - The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia

I am thrilled to share another new piece from The Grand Bazaar of Ethra VanDalia! This illustration is for Book Two: The Completed Circle and is the next character piece in the book, the Hauteur Girasol Administrator. One of the issues with retranslating a story written thousands of years in the past is that the original writings are incomplete. While I will go into more of this in the book, suffice it to say there are some holes in the story. One of the isolated sections involves a female Girasol that has come to the rescue of the heroes and has slaughtered a group of Gallionic Gallowglass that were asailing the stories' band of heroes. You may remember the Girosal from the first book when their species was nearing its end, but here, they are at their prime and a rising presence on the planet. I look forward to writing and sharing more about them. I present to you the Hauteur Girasol Administrator - and oh so many dispatched Gallionic Gallowglass.

Hauteur Girasol Administrator
The Grand Bazaar of Ethra Dalia - The Completed Circle
11 x 14 - Pencil, ink, and acrylic paint on paper

Original - Contact me if interested
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

Hauteur Girasol Administrator - Drawing 

11 x 14 - Pencil on paper
© 2025 Christopher Burdett

 

As much as I enjoy the large environmental pieces (just see last week!), it is nice to return to a smaller image for this piece. Due to time and production delays beyond my control, I have made the call to make the pieces in the book smaller than initially planned. This will greatly speed things up and result in more pieces from the book being at better price points. A win/win. Here is a look at the sketch and tonal study for the Hauteur Girasol Administrator to show where it began.

 

Hauteur Girasol Administrator - Sketch 

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

Hauteur Girasol Administrator - Tonal study

 Digital 

 © 2025 Christopher Burdett

As a bonus, I have some images of the rendering process of this piece so that you can get a better idea of it taking shape. 

Hauteur Girasol Administrator - Process

© 2025 Christopher Burdett

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