Something Technical

 

So I recently got a commission from a friend to design a quick release steering wheel. At first I wasn't going to do it because well I have no idea about cars but I thought what the heck and decided to give it a go. When I started doing some designs for it, I really had no idea what I was going to draw. I'm so used to drawing guys with big swords and guns that this came as a bit of a shock to the system.

 

The first port of call was to look at camera stands. I always remembered playing with the adjustable stands and thought the locking mechanisms on it could be easily repurposed to create a quick clipping mechanism, which would secure a steering wheel to the dashboard. After a bit of doodling I soon started to get into the flow of ways to make a  quick and easy to use locking mechanism, looking at all sorts of things from pipe locks to sliding locks.

 

The final piece came pretty easily in the end, I was actually surprised at how much fun I had designing the steering wheel itself, when you don't have to worry about anatomy and perspective as such you can really let your creative juices flow! I've rambled on far too long now so I will let the pictures do the rest of the talking, also as a little hint of what's to come is that all this product design has given me a huge inspiration for my next project so stay tuned. Till next time!

George Morland Master Study

 

I've been working on another study piece today and I think I'm probably going to leave it at this stage. I really struggled with the natural parts of the paintings, such as the shrubs and foliage, unlike rocks which you can paint with sharp edges and nice blocky shapes, foliage is very random. I did however have a lot of fun painting the clouds, with a nice texture brush you can get some nice shapes laid down very quickly.

 

I think for the next stage of trying to conquer environments I'm going to study some plants, from  flowers to trees, I want to get a real understanding of how to brake them down into simple recognisable shapes. Hopefully this means I will be able to easily replicate them in my environments, without having to render every leaf and blade of grass. Till next time.

Albert Bierstadt Master Study

 

So university is all done and dusted but I'm not planning on sitting around doing nothing all summer. Environments have always been a weak point of mine, so I'm really going to be pushing to improve them. My first stop for doing this is going back to studying the masters, I want to study a painting that features something that I want to understand how they painted it. In this one for example I was trying to understand how he painted the waterfall and the rocks. I found that the waterfall specifically was almost layered, so this is hopefully something I can take into my own paintings when I need to paint water. Till next time! 

Chapter Logo's

 

Thought I would upload these I had a lot of fun doodling them out. While I was putting my book together I felt like the intro pages were missing something, they looked a little bland as a double page spread of writing. So I decided to make these little logo's, each one is supposed to be a miniature representation of each of the races. The elven one for example features skulls, wood and crystals and not a lot of metal, very much like the design of the elves. Nothing spectacular but I thought I may as well upload them. Few more days left of games proposal work and then I can start cracking on with my heroes of the storm contest piece, so stay tuned for that. Till next time!

The End

 

So the project I have been blogging about for the past eight months or so now is finally finished! The books all wrapped up and ready to be sent off to be printed. It only feels like yesterday when I thought I had plenty of time and the project started out as a sci-fi wildstar inspired world. Oh how things changed!

 

Above you can see the very last three character designs I created and they are up there with my nord characters with how pleased I am with them, especially the bird man, I had so much fun designing him. with these three I really tried to push the idea of them being different branches of a cult yet still retaining similar visual cues. These were in the form of the colour palette, chains and the inclusion of bits of wood, with the symbol of Odin crudely painted onto them. I hope the idea comes across to you guys. Till next time!

Pushing On!

 

 

Vey close to the end of this project now! As you can see from above I'm mainly adding polish, colour and finishing up final pieces for the book, I still feel no where near ready to hand in this project but then again I never do with my work, always room to improve!

 

The above pictures are from left to right a nord baron, huntsman, guardsman and shield maiden. They are pretty much a culmination of everything I have learned over this year, anatomy, colouring my pieces and getting away from line art into fully rendered greyscale paintings. I still have a lot to learn but I am getting to a stage where I feel like I am a lot more comfortable with my work. I hope you guys have enjoyed seeing me grow as much as I have enjoyed pushing myself. Till next time! 

Stressed!

 

So deadlines are getting closer and closer and the panic is really beginning to set in, therefore it seems I have become a concept art producing machine! With at least 50% of one of my races still to go I'm really having to put the hours in, thankfully I enjoy painting so it's not too much of a chore.

 

Above you can see the very nearly finished designs for a nord marshal and foot soldier. To contrast with the other two races I've really pushed the armour on them, so lots of bulky shoulder pads and a much larger amount of metallics. The masks are hopefully going to be the big distinguishing feature, with each member wearing one of these elaborate gilded masks. They also tie back into the backstory of these guys, with them belonging to the clan of the silent man. each member of the clan must at all time hide there face and it is seen as a crime to show yourself in public. I also have some helmet designs, clan emblems and a bear knight to show you guys so just bear with me and you will see them soon ;) Till next time!