Hey guys, I put together this collage of sketches that I’ve done in the past week or so for a new character I’m designing. I’ll be doing a legit concept this weekend, hopefully. I’ve just been exploring some ideas while using my brainstorming as drawing practice. (Please pardon the fact I photographed these, I don’t have a scanner handy at the moment.)
I had an opportunity through work to use one of the Wacom Inklings for a bit. I did couple tests just to make sure I had it working, and finally ended up doing this sketch to see just how accurately the Inkling would read my crosshatching and line-work. All in all I’m pretty impressed with the technology, thought with my drawing style I’m not sure it’s worth using. I could just as easily use a scanner. However, the fact it records everything in vector is cool and if the drawing was not as complex or finely shaded as the one I did the Inkling may work just fine. It should also be considered that while having the little Inkling device clipped to your paper you’re somewhat limited with your hand motions because putting your hand between the pen tip and the page clip interferes with the recording. I’m glad I didn’t buy one, but there may be people out there who would enjoy using this tool.
On a side note, Zero Dark Thirty is an excellent film that you should watch if you haven’t seen it already.
Here’s some Elder Scrolls fan art I whipped up recently. I loved Morrowind and the Dunmer culture in that game, and after playing the Dragonborn DLC for Skyrim recently some of that interest was piqued again. I’d love to design a full dunmer character someday… we’ll see if I ever get to that. I have too many other projects on my plate right now! That said, I do have a new character in the works and should have concept art to post soon. I’ve been taking it back to the basics, drawing with pencil and paper (how archaic) and have really been enjoying the design process. I’m excited to get into 3D but having a lot of fun with the concept phase too, so I don’t want to rush things.
On a side note, I’d like to be more intentional about not only posting what I’m working on here on this blog, but also being more active in the game art community. I have some useful 3D resources that I’d like to get together and upload to my site in addition to having some ideas for tutorial videos that may be helpful to those artists who are just getting started in this field. More updates coming soon! (Supposing I don’t get completely overwhelmed at work by GDC preparations, that is.)
I’ve been looking back over my portfolio and it has been really fun to see the growth over the last year or two. I’m hoping to take some big steps in 2013! Looking at what presentable work I have, I’d really like to create a full female game character with a sci-fi theme. I’ll start doing some sketches in the near future when work allows, so watch out for those.
Speaking of sketches, I’m making a militant effort to stay on task in sketching every day and so far I’ve been thoroughly enjoying the experience. I’ve already found that I’m having an easier time concepting visually and I’ve only been doing it daily for the last week! I’m really looking forward to how a month or two, then a year will have on my ability to draw. Fun stuff. I seriously recommend it for anyone interested in any aspect of art. Sketching flexes our “brain muscles” and helps our minds think more creatively.
Enjoy this Hobbit fan art that I made:
Happy new year everybody!
Here are a couple ZBrush doodles I’ve been working on over the holidays… Both are still WIP.
Starting a new competition! It’s so great to be able to just work on what I want outside of work and not have to juggle school too. (Oh, did I mention that I’M DONE WITH CLASSES!) I’m pretty excited for this comp.
The official thread for my entry is here on the artbypapercut.com forum.
Mood portrait
Rough sketches
School is done. Well… almost. I’m finishing my last glorious class this summer and then I’ll be done. I gotta say, I’m pretty excited. However, now that I’m finishing school I feel as though I’m entering a early twenties crisis. Something has to change or I think I’m going to freak out. Recently, I stumbled across the blog of Stapleton Kearns who says, “Pity the tyro landscape painter, fresh from still life class or naively clutching a promising photograph who tries to compete with a designer who will ruthlessly use his values just as he pleases, rather than respecting the capricious arrangements of styleless nature.” This quote echoes a conviction I have experienced recently; that is to become a bolder artist and person. I do not only want to become ruthless artist, but I want to live ruthlessly. I don’t mean that I want to cruel or inconsiderate to the people in my life. I want to be eager to try something new, to take risks and be willing to fail miserably, knowing that I’ll learn on the way.
In this vein, I’m beginning the journey of re-forging my portfolio so that new opportunities may present themselves. Over the next weeks and months I will be sharing the successes and failures of my journey as I hone my craft.
To start things off and because I wouldn’t feel right posting without at least one picture, here is a speed paint of Jaime Lannister I did last week:
Jaimie Lannister – Approx 4.5 hours
After months of using pretty much all of my free time on this project I’ve finally finished my character called “Maltair!” Here is a turntable of him, captured out of the Unity engine. I used the Unity engine as a learning experience to see how much I could pull off with something that is kind of considered an “indy” tool. I wanted to familiarize myself with the engine and see how pretty I could make a character look. At some point I may take him into Marmoset or Unreal, but I want to show what I pulled off in Unity.
Modelsheets, wireframes, etc… coming soon. (When I have time)
I did this sculpt over the weekend as a test for 3d printing, then took her a bit further and messed around with compositing render passes out of zbrush.
Here are a couple speed paint studies I’ve done recently:
Inspired by Makkon's drawing style over on Polycount
I haven’t done one in ages, so here’s a quickie speed-sculpt done in a little less than an hour. I’m pretty rusty; I need to do more of these!
Here are a couple practice paintings I’ve done over the last couple weeks. I was using photo reference in both cases.
Cate Blanchett – 5 hours
Zhang Ziyi – 1 hour
Another update! I’m continuing to refine my sculpt and have been making good progress. I’m much, much happier with his head than I was a week or two ago. I’m looking forward to spending some more time on this.
I’ve got the majority of the character blocked out at this point. There are a couple few pieces I still need to add (straps for the gauntlet, satchel, etc..) but most everything is there at the moment. A big thing I want to tackle soon is blocking out the forms for the hair, so I can at least get a feel for the overall silhouette of the character.
His head is coming along, but I still have quite a bit of polish to put on his noggin’ as well.
