[ceenda]

Hewwo. Haven't posted much on Sijun (or anywhere of late ) due to a busy year at work. Anyhoo, these are a couple of concepts I did for a challenge over on Conceptart. The challenge was to design a bad guy and a base for him too.





All and any crits would be greatfully recieved as my traditional concept art leaves a bit to be desired.

[scottg]

Dude, the base absolutely rocks. That is a strong image. I like you're grand Alchemist as well. Its a good design It dose look like you were rushed a bit. But I still think its a good design.

Later,
scottg
nefandus.com

[The Real Mark]

Wow! - awesome, that looks really cool.

The size of one of the side pods has a different width to the side view. - but who cares! looks sweet

[Paavo]

the city one is absolutely breathtaking.

[ceenda]

scottg: Thanks. Yeah, I have to admit both concepts were rushed. Originally I had planned to do 3 illustrations, but had to cut back.

The Real Mark: Yeah, someone else pointed that out and I was like "oh, that's true actually". Hadn't noticed it at the time, but things like the thumb etc. are pointing the wrong way etc.

Paavo: Cheers.

[EDIT - oh, I'll add this one as it's not worth putting in a thread of it's own. It was a re-design of a "Dr Who" baddie called "Davros", a scientist who creates the infamous Daleks. :p ]

[scottg]

That is awesome!

Hey, I have a question for you. I finally talked my wife in to letting me get painter 8, and it is fun, but I'm not getting the look I want from it. Which is very close to how your work looks. Could I get you to share your brushes and in which category(ex: the acrylic, digital watercolor) you used for you're stuff. I would really appreciate any thing you could share. Thanks.

Scottg
nefandus.com

[ceenda]

Scottg: Heya. These were actually all done in Photoshop as they either started off as speedpaintings (which I find easier in Photoshop because I like to change levels and adjust color balance - which you can do in Painter but I can't seem to understand the dialogs) or were paintovers on a basic 3D scene for perspective setup.

However, for the more colourful work I tend to use a mixture of the Square Chalk (imo, an amazingly lively tool to work with), the Water Blenders (once again, nothing in Photoshop can match it... yet!, the watercolours (great for getting basic colours onto a piece of linework), the Ultrafine Washbrush (from Painter 5.5) and the Palette Knife (which takes alot of getting used to in order to try and tame the sharp-edged effect it gives). Also, look in the FX section for a brush called "Glow", pick a very dark colour and use it to create lighter areas. It's similar to using an airbrush to apply colour using Linear Dodge. And contrary to popular opinion, dodge and burn have reasonable uses, they just shouldn't be the basis of a painting. A bit like lensflares, I think...

But try and experiment with the styles you're already comfortable with. I really like your watercolour work (watercolours being something that terrify me) and Painter's primary function is to emulate these mediums, so experiment with all the tools and the ones you grow attached to will present themselves.

I dunno about Painter 8, but Painter 6 had one of the best manuals I'd ever received with a piece of software. If they've kept up the good work on the documentation front, then read it from cover to cover, you'll be rewarded.

I'll compile my personal set into a BRS file and post it when I get back home, you can import the BRS file into Painter 8 using the library import functions.

[gLitterbug]

Hello Count ceenda! I see the base did turn out well at last. I like its dirty gritty feel.
What I sadly have to admit is that I don�t really like the Grand Alchemist. The concept doesn�t scream alchemist or grand to me. It reminds me more of some religious robes and partly of a chemwarrior maybe, but not more...sorry.

BUT man the next image is crazily awesome, not deserving it�s own thread...PAH... it rocks, I like it actually most of all in this thread! That evil guy is done so well, as are the people in the bg and those tanks.

!

[ceenda]

gLitterbug: Danke Mein Austrian Protoge�! Thanks for the comments. Yeah, I'm a little dissapointed with the design for the character myself. Didn't quite have the Vernian-style wierdness I hoped to incorporate in it, but all the more reason to do more designs.

scottg: Here's the brush file: http://www.ccir.ed.ac.uk/~nanderso/Ceenda.BRS - I haven't used any custom icons or anything. Just collected all the brushes I like into the same library. I don't have the palette knife in there though. However, I use exactly the same one that's in the standard libraries.

[The Machine God]

Dude. The angle on those back canisters on the Alchamist are way off. On the front view they look like they are sticking straight out but on the side view they are angled back. You need to make the ends on the front view more eliptical and not squared off like they are. I like the design of him overall though. Cool concept. I like the base too. Nice and dirty just how I like it. The last image looks good to but I really don't like the colours on the Soloman Kane looking guy. The orange and green really don't seem to fit in the picture to me. Overall great stuff dude.
_________________
Praise the Lard

[scottg]

Thanks ceenda!

[Tedsuo]

They're ugly! Horrible! No one will like them! Aieeeeee!!!






-T

[Mimer]

I like the last picture best as well, and concerning the color of the right guys jacket... I think it works pretty well, and it is nice to see you using a bit more color than usally... But of course the top picture is the best one if you look at it from a technical point of view. Like your work overall! good work man!

[Pringle]

I really dig the first one, the values and textures are really nice.

[Teeb Thoj]

The base has the same dark looming feel as the Gotham City that is portrayed on the animated show. I like the dark grittyness of the building.