Might not use this anymore.

Well, I think I am going to start using Tumblr instead of this. I get way more traffic out of it. Blogger just doesn't seem popular enough.

The Warlord

Currently working on a centaur warlord! You know....those half man half horse things? Yea....Still in super early stages, but I will eventually finish it I think!

Ramble? Sorry, I don't fight....

I must be doing something wrong when I can't get many page views. How do I get my work seen more on such a vast ocean of so much other great art work? I ask this to my self a lot and I just can't figure it out. Perhaps I don't have enough work out there? I have finally become confident enough to produce more work with acceptable quality, but to be able to share it with everyone is the biggest task yet.

This is like being an explorer of space, like Star Trek. Adventuring into the unknown and exploring new life. That is how I feel about my art work. Always exploring into what I don't know and discovering new things to apply to my knowledge. I have dedicated 95% my brain power to art and simple mathematics. Solve a quadratic equation? Forget it! Maybe a few years ago when I had to learn it, but I quickly took that knowledge and left it as a distant understanding of math. I always get yelled at by my boss for not being responsive to him. My brain functions as if in another world entirely. Doctors call it ADD, when it's actually just my mind exploring ideas and in depth thoughts.

Well that's enough of random rambling from me.

The Starbound Outlaw

Her it is! Took me about 9 hours to do, but I learned a lot from this one.

Music Stimulates Creativity

I always need to have music to work. Different types of music promotes different types of motivation. My favorite type of music is Classic Rock. Although I could listen to it all the time, it is one of genres that doesn't spark my creative hand. However, it does still stimulate my brain to come up with ideas. It all starts with an idea.

When I work on my art, I listen to things that I wouldn't normally. Electronica is at the top of my list for creative music. Now, I'm not talking about Skrillex, that isn't music in my opinion, because it doesn't have a form of harmony to it. It all sounds like a bunch of random stuff thrown together and called music. Anyway, I could go on about why I hate that type of music, but that isn't the point of this post. Electronica on Pandora has a variety of things, sometimes it throws in a dubstep that usually gets an immediate thumbs down. But there is a lot of good stuff out there.

I am currently working on trying to finish my latest WIP, The Starbound Outlaw. Hopefully I finish it today because I have to submit it to a local art show!

Sci-fi week!

This week, we are challenged to design a futuristic space outlaw. Here is where I am with it so far. Basic lines and color.

Hopefully will finish this on Friday.

The Butcher is coming!

Here is a piece I did today. Took about 7 hours to complete. It was done for a weekly character design on conceptart.org

Enjoy!

Did I mention I hate snow?

Yes, I live in Michigan, the northern part that gets all the snow. My body is really soar after having to shovel off a roof. A roof that is technically an overhanging roof that covers our deck. And it has a special kind of plastic roofing so, on top of chopping off chunks of snow and ice that weighed about 40 pounds each, I had to only step on the trusses of the roof, while trying not to slide off the slippery plastic material. Tomorrow....relaxation day and hopefully some time to character design. I would like that.

Calling it...

I'm going to declare this one as finished. Time to move on to bigger and better things!

Application of new style/technique

Well I took what I learned from that last portrait, the style of it, and applied it to another piece that is much more refined, clean and not rushed. It's still a work in progress, so if it looks unfinished, you know why.

Moar Practice!

It's been about a week or so since my last update. I have been busy with school, studying and practicing my rendering skillz.

Here is a new portait I did for practice. A few hours worth right here, mainly because I was studying up on a lot of techniques and what not. Normally doesn't take me so long, but hey, I learned a bunch of sweet stuff!

It's Done!

I finally finished this piece. Pele the Volcano Goddess. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. Next week, I'm not sure if I will be able to get in on the next character design....I will try!

Ordered a tablet monitor!

Well, I already spread the news of this all over facebook. I FINALLY was able to order a tablet monitor called the #Yiynova #MSP19U

Their first model (#MSP19) had a horrible digitizer, but they responded to their customers and released the new model, MSP19U. With a new digitizer in it, it is now equivalent to the Wacom Cintiq, for a FRACTION of the price. Yes, I love Wacom, but man do they have a steel grip on the industry. They were the only ones, until now, that had a high quality tablet monitor. 

When it arrives, I will probably poop myself. Very excited. I will let you all know how it works out!

9 hours straight!

When I really get into a piece of work, I usually don't stop until my stomach says, "hey, I'm hungry, feed me!"

Yesterday I was having an excellent time rendering out my version of #Pele the Hawaiian Volcano Goddess. For 9 hours straight, I worked on this and I must say I don't impress myself often but this turned out quite well. My new found rendering technique has proven to be quite amazing and clean. My next hurdle is to get draping clothing look good. I did have a reference but it didn't turn out exactly like it looked. Non the less, I am still pleased with where I got, even if the skirt part does suck!

It isn't completed yet; maybe another 2 hours and it will be done.

New Rendering process

I thought I would share my new discovery of rendering. My new header reflects the end result. For those of you who are new to digital art here is how I went about it.

I first made a sketch, made sure the sketch was as good as I could get it, anatomy, proportions, etc. Usually I would make a new layer under the sketch, but this time I did the opposite. I made the new layer over the sketch and did a 50% opacity color block in. From there I just built up on it with the other colors. I must say, it makes for a VERY clean look compared to what I used to do.I will be sticking with this process from now on. #persistencepaysoff

Canvas size: 7000x4000
Resolution: 50 (If you didn't know, DPI is used for printing, so if you have a large enough canvas, DPI doesn't make a difference.)
Brushes used: Hard round and Soft Round. I only used 1 custom brush, and that was for the details in the eyes.
Opacity: between 50 and 80. 100 for the hair.

Reference used for positioning of the nose. ಠ.ಠ

Under Development!

Well, I have had this blog for a while, just never went anywhere with it until now.

I am the lead concept artist for Clam Stab Studios.We are currently in early development of  Ouroboros, our first game. Visit the link and like us on Facebook to receive updates on a regular basis! I am really excited to be with this team of talented people. I will try and post regular concepts on here for all of you art fans!

I am also a moderator on conceptart.org and help lead a character of the week community thread! If you are interested in participating, drop by!

Right now my blog is a little bland but I am working to change that! Thanks for following!