Space Dwarf - Work in Progress I

Okey finally this what I'm current working on, using the method I mention in my 'New Beginnings' post. Decided to use Games Workshop 'Squats' or 'Demiurg' fluff/backstory to test this style on, they are essential dwarves in space. I left the reference in on this piece, which includes the piece from PolyCount again along with some Squat reference and a piece of a strip from a web comic called 'Beardy Bastards'... yes Warhammer nerd.

So you can see started with a basic silhouette near the bottom then sized it up, I've actually been using parts of the guy on the left of the PolyCount picture as a colour palette as well. Its got wat to go but I think its a good start. I want create a standard generic one at first, with no head gear or fancy backpacks or bits. Then duplicate him and then paint on addition bits and pieces, like helmets  armour, radio/fuel pack, gas mask, etc to make different variants of the guy.

The only thing I'm worried about is that I've done some scratch detail on should pad thats only notice able when really zoomed in, and I did see video recently when trying learn how to do better line work that said that you should keep your artwork the same size if you want the detail to be true and visible. Also if I resize it after I'm finished it will become blurry, but maybe if I resize just this messy paint work it will be fine. As the line work doen after the resize will, define it and make look crisp again... right?

Spaceman - Breaking the Crimbo boredom.

Okey this isn't the piece I've been mentioning but it is start to what I want to achieve, also its related to the project work I want to start to post. It was inspired by a visit from an art director who worked on Strike Suit Zero. My crimbo was practically exciting one due to family issues and also working at Sainsbury's every morning during build up to christmas was stressful, never get between a shopper and tub of brandy butter. Any way below is the unfinished piece I decided to do to break the my boredom/on set craziness.

Appart from the other piece I've been build up to from yesterday and the piece in my new beginning post from, my group project that was done in November this is one only really recent piece I've done... Sad really.

A thank you and list of stuff I want achieve.

Forgot to say thanks to this guys blog, that inspired me to do this Redux and to set up my other Resume/Portfolio blog. So thank you, it also inspired me to get my LinkedIn account up to date and in the long run I can actually hand this content in as criteria for my 'Exit Velocity' module, so thank you.

Also his work has inspired me to create similar assets, I've actually been meaning to create a low poly ogre or creature thing so I could do a paintedly/cartoony texture for it. So thats in idea I'm going ste... borrow. I also like how hes done low poly 3D models of Pokemons so I want borrow that idea as well. I've been wanting to model and texture a space ship for while now as well  and this guys super low poly simple modeled ships have inspired me to do this. Also the ship was to be part of a Game idea I had come up with and was think to start blogging about, but I'm really worried about someone stealing the idea and assets and art work if I start posting it up here. Even if I get a creative commons license I'm worried it won't cover it and it would be still open to stolen.


So anyway stuff I want set my self to do:

- Low poly Ogre/Creature (model my self or maybe as someone else to model) and texture it in cartoony way.

- Low Poly spaceship/fighter texture paintedly as well. (Maybe even animate it bobbing on spot, have parts rotating or have it barrel rolling).

- Low Poly Pokemon model, just like above.

- Maybe starting post, drawing and ideas for my project I want work on over next year.

- Create art work using the style I've started to work my groove into, mention in my new beginnings post. Got a piece on go at moment trying this style, so stay tuned.

- Low poly barrel or/& Sci-fi box/container, with a painted style texture.

- Self-portrait, last one was quite good and if this new style gets better as self-portrait would look good as part of the banner for this blog or my resume page/blog.

I really want get assets with this painted style texture because, I've been creating a lot realistic textures in my current group project for uni. Using source images and its not practically that much fun and doesn't feel as its testing how creative I could be. I feel with this new style I'm using to create concept pieces, that it could also be applied well to textures as well, as my motivation to get into the games industrie is to create fun game and nothing says fun like cute painted big eyed... thing.

Hopefully in my next post new posts I'll start showing my new style of painting.

New beginnings

Okey so final decided to some productive and have reduxed an old blog and clean the slate and made it into my new space for game art stuff. Right here in this post I want express what my aims and objectives that I want to achieve with this blog.

With the current group project I've been working on I haven't had a lot time to create concept art pieces/digital paintings. Even though my role was 2D artist I've mainly been doing texture creation. I did manage to get one piece done. But not much more after that.

I have been struggling for a while to work out what my "style" is, I have been trying for while to do work similar to other people. I find I'm not very good at drawing smooth straight lines, I did watch a video the other day where the guy discuss how you need learn to draw with you whole arm and shoulder. Since we are taught at young age to write with are wrists this is good for short strokes like for writting and cross hatching, but not for long strokes. I tried out his technique but still struggled to achieve smooth lines, there is something about my line work I don't like. 

It feels really childish and really don't like it, but yesterday I start kinder finding myself I feel like I maybe of found my style, will do post on this in moment.

So the other day I watch my friend and fellow class mate Sam draw a dragon, I really like the technique he used and so the next day I tried to do something similar using his method. I ended up falling flat on my face at first hurdle, the line art. I really do struggle with line art, its as I said before likes too childish if my line art was font it would be Comic Sans. So I scrapped what I was doing and had huff for bit. Then I remember the other day, I found the following piece while browsing PolyCount a while ago.

[Source]

It kinder combines the two styles I like and can actually achieve into on piece. The style reminds me of my two only successful pieces I created during 2nd year, my a self portrait and Robot piece.

I'm going go over this more in another post, but this piece and started to inspire me to work different. Unlike Sams method where do line work first then work up to colour, I've started to do similar to what I learnt from Daarken's work starting straight off with blocked out painted in colour layer straight away, and then add in scruffy illustrative-esque lines for details like in the image above. Mess lines seems to be my thing... "Thats my jam!"

I would say Daaken's style in one my preferred styles, it was the only artist study in 2nd year I enjoyed doing. Another guy who inspires me is a swedish concept art student I follow on Deviant Art called Marcus Lindgren or Marcodalidingo, I envy his work and his suppose to be on same level as me. Mega competition from him. Also the artwork for the traps, bases and Mice on the FaceBook game MouseHunt has really inspired me, and is the only reason I even play that game.