What I've been up to

[mcotie]

I haven't posted in a while. Been real busy but...
here's some new stuff for Dawnforge by Fantasy Flight Games coming out this month.

http://www.mcotie.com/images/dawnforge_cover.jpg

http://www.mcotie.com/images/man_minotaur_war.jpg

http://www.mcotie.com/images/sildanyr.jpg

There's a bunch more I'll post later.

hope you like em.

Mitch

[softdrawer]

they look very good, ok so here some comments.

the leg in the 1st one a bit too highlighted ( i think ), and the muscles might need some retouch. I also found the perspective a bit strange , here i explain. The mountain and the tower are full of colours even if its far away but the top of the "castle" is all blury and not define. shouldnt it be the opposite ? seems like you wanted to spare a bit of time... ;)

the rest looks outstanding

for the 2nd image ( sketche ) i think the whole picture in action looks nice, maybe give the main minotaur a better motion because he looks a bit stuck to the ground. ( maybe its the legs , i dunno more motion would make him much more scary/angry = more action ) anyway, looks awesome

i dont really have something to say about the 3rd one, maybe the guy could look a bit more surprised or shocked ?...ah well... oh a mabe some leafs shades of the characters but i guess it might just be more finished on the "coloured" version heh.

i think theyre great really

alx

[JoshuaTheJames]

Mitch,

You got some Real fun stuff brother. I swear every time you post you level up! Next is Dante Must Die Mode!(Devil May Cry reference)

-Joshua

[grey]

great stuff mcotie - the solid architecture really brings the pics into focus

also like that top-down perspective on the third piece, smart solution for that narrow ass half-page vertical spec

[Smeagol71]

Jeez Mitch, you have been a busy camper. This stuff is great. Thanks for sharing it with us and keep up the pace my friend, very, very nice!

[Loga4]

Great stuff,mcotie
1rst is excellent,great mood!

[Chris J. Anderson!]

Mitch, Josh took the words right outta my mouth. When I saw these I was impressed at how much you leveled up. Great work!

-Chris

[davi]

i really wish i understood how to express my values in 'linework' as good as you do.

inspiring stuff!

[ChadTHX1138]

Sweet stuff man, I'm lovin your cat! :D

Texas misses you man hehehe

[JoshuaTheJames]

Mitch? Have you ever worked with Vine Charcoal? I would love to see a fantasy piece from you in that medium. Its very easy to get darks and very easy to pick up with a needed eraser for the lights.

-Joshua

[JoshuaTheJames]

Just in case you haven't seen this...

Spread the Holiday Cheer!
http://www.computerpranks.com/download/online-fun/burgerking.htm

Its soo Brilliant!

-Joshua

[benzo]

I gotta take dittos from Josh too. Damn..... great work and incredible improvement! I really like the silheuttes in all of them and the perspective in the last piece. They read well and clear, and have very interesting shapes. Very good structure Mitch!

[My3blka]

Amazing work.

[Presence]

Bravo Scott

[Kortez]

Originally posted by Presence
Bravo Scott

scott?

great stuff mitch, I saw that first pic on your website recently and I was wondering when you'd post it :)

you rock :rock:

[Main Loop]

pretty nice.. but on the first one, there would be more reflected light in the cast shadows on account of it being water, and it being mid-day..

[geoffd]

so fresh and so clean clean. i love your line work, so clean and bold. i always look forward to seeing you work. i still have a special place in my heart for your frost giant... can't wait to see more.

[Phuzion]

Nice. Where were you for Thunderdome? ;p I was all jazzed to see what you'd bring out... I waited, but no mcotie :( Anywho, really nice stuff. I love the pencil works. That last one man! Great pov!! Killah killah stuff. Peace

P.S. The forshortening on the guys knee in the first one is looking a bit funky. I think it'd be easy to fix, it just looks like the quadriceps come down a little far.

[Patch]

I just want to say thanks for both inspiring folks like me and giving us something to aspire to.

Big ol' :beer: to you dood.

[Glenn K]

VERY NICE work mcotie.
I really like the second one.

[DragonGX]

:cool:

[Rusty Red Robot]

Oh, WOW. I love 'em all! Fantastic work!

[alex_86]

I love them all so dont take this the wrong way, they are FKIN awsome. The first one however, seems to grow in contrast as you get towards the bottom of the image. I dont know if thats part of the effect, but it kinda divides the drawing in a not so good way. I personally like the contrast used in the top halve, but thats opinion, the fact is they are still great.

[mcotie]

Thanks everyone. The top illo was tough. It was art directed to the hilt, if you know what I mean. But I manages to get ALL of the elements into the pic that the director wanted. I know there are perspective issues in it. but that is expected if you dont use tools. I use tools on my 72 VW, not my drawings. I guess I like to keep it spontaneous and flowing.

Here are some WIP comps I submitted to the director as I was building the illo. I think I changed this piece A total of 30 times before its completion.
http://www.mcotie.com/newimages/cover_rough1.jpg

http://www.mcotie.com/newimages/cover_rough2.jpg

http://www.mcotie.com/newimages/cover_rough3.jpg

http://www.mcotie.com/newimages/cover_rough4.jpg


Joshua: thanks man, i haven't used vine charcoal since school. Never thought about using it for anything else but sketching gestures n stuff. Guess I'll have to give it a try.

Presence: Scott is my middle name. Never been called by middle name before. Tell you the truth , I have no idea why my middle name is Scott. I'm not Scottish, I drink like I am...
Did you know the Scots were an ancient Irish tribe?

I'm glad some of you have taken a notice in my artwork progressing. I am really busting my ass to improve. Surrounding yourself with people with vision and talent will do you wonders.

Thanks Mates!
Mitch

[endregan]

hey this is a great piece. i see your hard at it :). where do you work at?

i love the colours..

[nardfrog]

dude the second one is fucking siiick

[defcombeta]

great stuff, wowo i love the studies there even better than the colour work

now to study and learn from them

john mac:D

[strych9ine]

Awesome work man! Thanks for the WIP, it's nice to see the thought process on such an amazing work.

[Dez?]

Wow! it's been too long since I've seen your work Mitch and you keep improving everytime I see it. I have a long way to go. thx for posting Mitch.:cool:

[Lono]

that is some kick ass shit mitch!

i love your pencil work man.

-Lono

[vaporize]

you have sense of colors and values. good work

[amphex]

tight stuff mitch !
your pencil work kicks some serious ass :D

[mcotie]

thanks guys.

endregan: Raven Software fulltime. freelance art on the side.

Jens: it's there.

Lono: 'sup! How's Austin treatin ya?


I'll post some new stuff soon.

Mitch

[Miau]

wow i love your pencils !! !! :D
great stuff

[R_M]

The B&W studies are really cool! I actually prefer them to the colour illustration.

[behemot5]

love your work.....

[alkaline111]

hey mitch, awsome shit!! got a quicky for ya.. those greyscale renderings, wheres those just for the art director to see the compostion of the peice or is that how you start off your work? like do you lay down the values and then paint over in color? just wondering.. i love finding new ways to get from point a to b.. or z .... you get the idea, thanks!!

[Belligergerum]

great stuff

[hawkprey]

jumpin jesus on a pogo stick!

Mitch man!

Awesome!

[PhilHolland]

I really like the dramatic perspective.
It really draws you into the "adventure".
Also, A+ on light/dark composition.

Phil

[Dan Milligan]

Mitch,

You're really really good... I mean it. these are really good. Sometimes you can look at someones work and see how much they love doing art.

Dan

[mcotie]

thanks gang!

alkaline111: thanx. both. the grayscales were used to make sure I got all of the elements in the piece that the art director wanted and the way he wanted them before doing it in color. Since it was done completely digital this really gave me quick WIPs to submit as I worked. I then laid in the colors using the grays as my base. But the majority of the work was done in color. It's kinda cheating this way, but I'm still learning to truly SEE color.

Hawkprey: :D thanx dude.

Dan: I'm glad it shows. Even though this piece was quite frustrating to get all of the elements in, I still love what I do. wouldn't trade it for anything.

Thanks everyone else for your response. I'm glad you like these.

Mitch
:beer:

[synthetINK]

awesome stuff Mitch! I love the dynamic camera angles.
-Andy

[cos]

Hey Mitch, you seriously do some of the most epic dynamic compositions I have ever seen, these rock. Congrats on the cover gig too!