Artist Trak's Stuff - Updated 11/17

Eh, I figure I might as well finally get around to starting up an art topic and posting some pics.

First up, character designs for my party in Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge:

[image=[url]http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/918/bosskfightersketch.jpg][/url]

Bossk in his Conan-inspired fighter garb. He's currently at Level 6, and he wields a claymore. He's one of the heavy hitters of the party.

[image=[url]http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/2338/dengarrangersketch.jpg][/url]

Dengar as a ranger. He's at Level 5, currently and uses a longbow and a spear. He's situated directly behind Bossk in party order. He has learned some spells from the alchemist spellbook and knows Charm, Heal Wounds, and Itching Skin.

[image=[url]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/4134/4lombardsketch.jpg][/url]

4-LOM the bard. He's at Level 6 and is equipped with a sling and stones. He plays a lute, which puts enemies to sleep, and a harmonium, which irritates the enemies. Positioned directly beside Dengar and behind IG-88, 4-LOM uses the mage spellbook and knows Energy Blast, Armor Shield, Terror, and Direction.

[image=[url]http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/1581/greedothiefsketch.jpg][/url]

Greedo is a thief. He's at Level 6 and wields a cutlass and dirks. He can rob enemies blind and has quite the highest personality stat, so he usually does the talking.

[image=[url]http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/9439/ig88fightersketch.jpg][/url]

IG-88 really has no idea why he's dressed like that. He's a Level 6 fighter and is equipped with the Sword of Striking. He has more personality than Bossk, who has all the charm of a rock.

[image=[url]http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7540/zuckussalchemistsketch.jpg][/url]

Zuckuss is an alchemist. He's at Level 6 and is positioned behind Greedo and beside 4-LOM. Zuckuss knows the most spells of the party; Acid Splash, Poison, Stamina, Heal Wounds, Cure Lesser Condition, Stink Bomb, and Blinding Flash.

Now onto one more pic that has nothing to do with my Wizardry 6 party...

[image=[url]http://img804.imageshack.us/img804/2829/pepanshandiwork.jpg][/url]

A Kubaz up to no good.

That's it for now. I'll save the rest for a later update. And if anyone's curious... those are all pencilled. I didn't feel like inking them and mostly played around with Photoshop to adjust the darkness of the linework to look like they're inked. The last image was colored in Photoshop, my primary image program. I prefer to work in black and white and use other mediums to color, but I also wish to become adept with digital mediums as well.

 

Love your works and the great details.

Welcome to the art forum

 

Thanks. I dunno how often I'll be able to update this thread as I've been mired in a backlog of projects lately (well, alright, that's pretty much the norm). Mostly, I draw for fun; it's a hobby. I'd like to turn it into a career, though I am hesitant on that, as I feel that one should keep their jobs and their hobbies separate. But, I have pursued portfolio reviews nonetheless and am putting together yet another portfolio of choice images to submit to Dark Horse at some point.

 

An in-progress image from my sketchbook that I've been working on periodically for a while.

[image=http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/1959/yavin4battlewip2.jpg]

I'm about half-way through the image and the stippling is taking the most time. Though, once it's finished, it's going in my portfolio.

 

a great scene with all the details and the pose of the characters

 

Thanks. This originally was gonna be for something on SWFanon, but I had gotten some details wrong. I plan to do a painted version of it, mainly because I haven't painted in a while due to not having a subject in mind. This pencilled version, though, is just being worked on periodically for portfolio purposes and shading/texturing exercises. I don't plan to color this one, due to the colors hiding the pencils.

And speaking of exercises...

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/QuickmanEXE/MatrixZuckuss.jpg]

Just a drapery and foreshortening exercise that I decided to color in last summer and it eventually wormed its way into my portfolio.

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/QuickmanEXE/Doodles/ZuckussSketch.jpg]

Another foreshortening exercise that remains in the sketchbook.

 

and real nice.

Do you work with watercolours or oils too?

 

Awesome pieces!! Your detail is really impressive

 

My preferred paints are acrylics, though I have worked in oils and watercolors before. My preferred coloring medium overall is colored pencils, though since getting a Wacom tablet, I've been doing more work digitally. I prefer to do my linework by hand, though, as I have greater control with a pencil and pen than I do with my tablet.

 

I finished that pencilled pic earlier this evening.

[image=http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/4030/yavin4battle.jpg]

It was scanned at 200 dpi and resized. The stippling of the bricks and rock took the most time.

 

Wow, very cool!! The Strippling looks amazing!

 

Your art looks like retro RPG sourcebook art, in a very good way. I have no idea how to get into that sort of thing, but you'd be perfect for it. And i adore that IG-88, ha.

 

Thanks.

I suppose the best way to get into that business would be to find the publisher's submission guidelines and put together a portfolio to submit. I'm currently working on a portfolio to submit to Dark Horse. I'd hazard that submissions to RPG publishers would be pretty much the same, as the guidelines for Dark Horse mirrored the guidelines for Lucasfilm Animation, Image, and other companies that I've looked at.

The tricky part is going through the images and finding the best of the best of the best, getting a nice variety of subjects, styles, and themes, and then making copies of the images to send out, as one should never send originals (as is also explicitly stated in many submission policies).

 

I'll take a look at their submission guidelines, then. I believe they may already have several in-house artists, but it can't hurt to send them my portfolio anyway.

In terms of sequential art, Dark Horse artist Mike Hawthorne had reviewed my portfolio and said that i have the storytelling part down pat, so he was one of the artists who encouraged the Dark Horse submission. Though, the thought of working for Star Wars Insider is also very tempting, along with being a good starting point for someone who's trying to get their foot in the door...

 

I had acquired the contact information for Titan Magazines' HR department and will be making an inquiry into portfolio submissions for in-house illustrator positions.

In the meantime, since I haven't finished any images lately (been occupied with other matters), here are a few older images, along with a few photos of two RPG miniatures I had made, along with their model sheets. Keep in mind, I lack a camera with a macro lens. Until I can borrow one, these photos are the best I can do.

[image=http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/5318/louiezuckussfigures.jpg]

The figures on another prop I had made ages ago. The figures and prop were constructed from Sculpey.

[image=http://img233.imageshack.us/img233/7817/louiezuckussscale.jpg]

The figures with my Zuckuss figure for scale.

[image=http://img641.imageshack.us/img641/8128/louierpgsheet.jpg]

A turn-around of Louie.

[image=http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/2245/louiemodelsheet.jpg]

Louie's model sheet.

[image=http://img808.imageshack.us/img808/3087/alchzuckmodelsheet.jpg]

Zuckuss, in his Wizardry 6 duds. The staff was ditched for a spellbook in the final sculpt.

[image=http://img580.imageshack.us/img580/6620/hedoesntlikeyou2.jpg]

A t-shirt design that I need to tweak.

That's it for now until I start delving into my sketches.

 

Very cool!! I especially like that t-shirt design

Good luck with the position!!

 

Oh wow, nicely done! You have a great collection of work!

I would agree that you definitely have the "chops" to make it in the business. The hard part is the waiting game that comes after sending in your portfolio to the different companies. Don't get discouraged if you don't hear anything right away and whatever you do, do not keep pestering the art directors for any news on your submission. It's okay to send a follow-up letter or e-mail after a while, but if you continue to hound them with inquiries, they will consider you a pest and most likely throw out your information.

I took me almost 2 years before I finally got an official Star Wars gig working for Topps trading cards. The key is to never give up and keep on doing your thing. You'll never know what doors will open for you.

I wish you the best of luck!

 

Hm, Kevin Graham also suggested I check out Topps' submission guidelines after he reviewed my portfolio. His favorite pic from that review? [link=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/QuickmanEXE/JaraelPanties.jpg]This risque image of Jarael in lingerie[/link] that was drawn at the request of someone. Jarael is decently covered, but the image is risque, hence why it is merely linked to. But, it's currently Kevin Graham's fave from my portfolio.

Now for a less-risque, perfectly safe, and amusing pic I had done a while back. All digital, an exercise in tightening up my linework, and because I like putting Gands in weird costumes:

[image=http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/QuickmanEXE/Karlessh.png]

He's also a favorite in my portfolio.

 

That's really cute!!

I also like the Jarael one; she's very beautiful.

 

Haha, that's great!

Working for Topps and sketch cards in general is a great way to get your foot in the door. Not only do you get your work exposed to a wide range of audiences, but it really looks good on a resume to have "Lucasfilm approved artist" listed under your qualifications. It is a lot of work to do in a short period of time, but I've been having a blast with it so far.

As for Kevin Graham, I haven't spoken to him personally, but I'm familiar with his work and that's awesome that you were able to show him your portfolio and get some pointers!

 

Again, because I like to put Gands in weird costumes...

[image=http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/5427/tuffasssketchcolor.jpg]

Yes, his silly name was intentional.

And here's a work-in-progress of that Gand (retired) with three of his former recruits.

[image=http://img232.imageshack.us/img232/6306/tuffassmarineswip.jpg]

That's pretty much it for the time being. Though one would think that since one has been confined indoors for over a week due to wrecking one's foot, that one would have gotten some drawing done. But alas, other projects have taken up my time.

 

love your work! Thanks for posting them

 

Nice new work and love the figures and the concept art for them