A Question for the Professionals

[Evil_Clown]

Hi.

As a wannabe concept artist, I have a few questions about technique to ask.

As you go from idea to finished product what is it you are doing?

Here is my method, I just want to see if there are any ways I can better my method or streamline it.

1) I pick and idea, for example - Hero vs Monster.

2) I then try to think of some decent poses or composition, I sometimes look around photos or other images to find poses that I like and then i use those, changing them as needed.

3) I draw out the poses and use constant reference to make sure the poses are anatomically correct and look natural

4) I think start on the value painting, trying to find my lights and darks and work on this loosely.

5) I then move on to a colour version and again paint loosely in my own style until I feel the image is complete.


Now - Am I using too much reference? Or is there no such thing? Am I relying too much on other photos and images or should I be using my own imagination more?

Also, when it comes to value, I find it difficult often to paint lights and darks on the many different surfaces and angles that 3d objects throw up. How do the professionals get around this? I know one can study light and value, but surely remembering how it changes when it comes into contact with every item from any angle is impossible.

I would just like to know if my method is incorrect so I can study the necessary things to remedy this.


Thanks for reading.

[Lightship69]

H i matey
I am going to try and help you out as much as I can, but you seem to be asking for a panacea for all ills here or an instant concept artist book. I have looked for one of these myself and so far have found nothing. But all is not lost!!

ok first things first there is a brilliant book from Ballistic publishing its details are as follows

Concept art D'artiste Digital Artists Master Class.

It has works in by George Hull, Andrew Jones, Nicholas Bouvier and Victor Antonov the Isbn number is as follows ISBN 1-921002-33-6 try the library they might have it or could get hold of it for you, but I bought the thing its brilliant.

They talk you through concept work such as the hand of god scene in the matrix and show how the thing was assembled and developed it is really usefull stuff if you want to know how a concept artist thinks and works. This may give you a valuable insight into the world of concept art.
To my mind your use of references is good. It is one of those things we use to ensure that we are doing the right thing or that what we have created looks right, as you grow and progress the use of references will recede a little as your confidence and expertise grow but they will still be there.

As to light values and composition I was on the imagine fx forum asking questions and a guy called Alan Lathwell helped me out enormously with a simple bit of advice and that was "do the thing in black and white" the reflected lights and secondary lights etc are easier to work out. Do a good scetch and fill in the details in black, white and shades of grey and the lights become easier to work out, then once you are happy go on and colour away.

The other thing he said was for the action scenes with the characters in the sketch be sure of the line of action to give that dramatic edge, Look at cartoon caracters and the work of Preston Blair when people are lifting or swinging a sword or whatever forces are at work upon them and actions follow or inter act with these forces they are easier to spot in cartoon references as they are wildly exagerated. I looked and he was spot on.

I hope this ramble helps you out, If it doesnt then just say shut up lightship youre drunk again and I will smile and do exactly that without the slightest offence.

All the best Graham N (aka Lightship69)