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View Full Version : Available Now! CONCEPTART.ORG FOUNDATIONS: The Mystery of Form, Starring Mike Bierek

MassiveDVD
June 6th, 2009, 12:43 AM
In this moving sequence of images, famous artist Michael Bierek takes the viewer on a special journey into a key fundamental of pictorial representation: form. First he discusses the basics of how light interacts with an object to create a specific value. Mr. Bierek then proceeds to paint a sphere, an imaginary object, and finally a skull. Each object builds upon the preceding one, and through watching each stage the viewer will gain insight into the type of thinking that aids in artist to depict objects both accurately and efficiently.

trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2ZFieMG5Wo

purchase: http://store.payloadz.com/go?id=498276
Jacob Kobryn
June 6th, 2009, 01:25 AM
Looks AWESOME. Form is in my opinion my biggest strength, however...
Brain
June 6th, 2009, 02:30 AM
May I ask for preview trailer on release? *sweet innocent smile*
Hyskoa
June 6th, 2009, 06:12 AM
The Australian guy?
Jacfat
June 8th, 2009, 01:35 AM
This is wat i need :)
donm
June 8th, 2009, 08:09 AM
will get most likely :)
UnidColor
June 8th, 2009, 05:04 PM
Im looking forward to it!:)
MassiveDVD
June 8th, 2009, 06:55 PM
May I ask for preview trailer on release? *sweet innocent smile*

why yes, you may ask for a trailer. :mod:
HunterKiller_
June 8th, 2009, 07:23 PM
why yes, you may ask for a trailer. :mod:

I demand a trailer! :yum:
donm
June 8th, 2009, 08:00 PM
nananananana TRAILER! nananananana TRAILER, TRAILER, batmaaan..I mean TRAILER!
Rist
June 9th, 2009, 12:30 PM
Not sure what the hell its about but I am curious :D
SteFlack
June 9th, 2009, 02:15 PM
I have high hopes for this one as rendering forms is something I struggle with.

Hope it’s out soon.
Liam Harvey
June 10th, 2009, 08:49 PM
oooooooooo awesome!
Brun
June 12th, 2009, 03:40 PM
gonna buy this as soon as my exams are over :D
Brun
June 12th, 2009, 03:51 PM
couldn't resist, downloading now, exams can wait ;)
Mock
June 12th, 2009, 04:18 PM
Buying this now. =)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y278/Orestae/lulz.jpg
SteFlack
June 12th, 2009, 04:46 PM
Can't believe how much this has helped me already and I've only watched it once.

Great work again and a massive thanks to everyone involved.
MassiveDVD
June 12th, 2009, 09:13 PM
;2297476']Can't believe how much this has helped me already and I've only watched it once.

Great work again and a massive thanks to everyone involved.

Thank you for this useful post.
Sascha Thau
June 13th, 2009, 08:36 AM
Thanks a lot to everybody involved.

I literally learnt painting through some of the videos on massive black and this little piece was just the icing on the cake. Now I have a certain logic when I look at shadow and light in real life and pictures. This video showed me that I hadn't thought about it the whole way through beforehand.

A very useful download! Highly recommended for people which want to know more about form!
Jason Manley
June 13th, 2009, 02:26 PM
The thing is, seven out of ten...if not eight out of ten artists on conceptart.org DO NOT KNOW THIS STUFF. One trip through the sketchbooks forums will tell you this.

This is one of the most important foundation videos we will offer. I am glad folks are getting a lot out of it.


Jason
IMBass
June 14th, 2009, 12:33 AM
My eyes lit up when I saw this. I can't wait until I have some extra cash, first, I need a job.
Aphotic Phoenix
June 14th, 2009, 12:35 AM
After watching this video...

Even if you feel you have a good sense of form: This video is both good to watch for inspiration, and because it also shows a method that provides a quick base for doing studies of more than just form.

My only criticism is that the base step was only mentioned briefly with no explanation as to how it works, and what ref images work well for it. I found that some images don't seem to work very well, and I'm thinking it was due to the value of the background in relation to certain areas of the subject.
I got around this by stacking a few Multiply layers with different Threshold intensities, and masking out blown out parts to get a good base. A bit more prep involved, but thought I would share for those who might like to know a workaround.
Arshes Nei
June 14th, 2009, 12:38 AM
Thanks for plugging in Truespace for this vid. A lot of people don't know there are good free alternatives out there. That being said, good video. I think I may be experiencing a technical problem or it was done on purpose....but it seems that the audio wasn't quite in sync with the video.
JohnMalcolm1970
June 14th, 2009, 03:53 AM
Bought this yesterday, but only got around to finish watching it just now. It's very helpful and explains a lot. I always knew I had to work on getting things in my images to read as being less flat... now I'm a bit nearer knowing the why, how and what behind it.
donm
June 15th, 2009, 08:50 AM
going t dee ell tonight
Arshes Nei
June 15th, 2009, 11:44 AM
My only criticism is that the base step was only mentioned briefly with no explanation as to how it works, and what ref images work well for it. I found that some images don't seem to work very well, and I'm thinking it was due to the value of the background in relation to certain areas of the subject.
I got around this by stacking a few Multiply layers with different Threshold intensities, and masking out blown out parts to get a good base. A bit more prep involved, but thought I would share for those who might like to know a workaround.

Are you referring to the use of the Stamp Filter in phtoshop? http://www.mattiassnygg.com/tutorials/corbenandme/corbenandme1.htm (has nudity) but that may explain how to use it a bit more.
FranciscoShreds
June 15th, 2009, 01:22 PM
The audio doesn't seem to be playing for me. Does anyone know what the audio was encoded as?

Edit: Using MPC and k-lite codec pack to watch all vids, all others play audio.
Aphotic Phoenix
June 15th, 2009, 02:10 PM
Are you referring to the use of the Stamp Filter in phtoshop? http://www.mattiassnygg.com/tutorials/corbenandme/corbenandme1.htm (has nudity) but that may explain how to use it a bit more.
Thanks Arshes, that article was hilarious! It's not really an issue for me that the Stamp tool doesn't seem to work on all images equally well, because I instantly knew an alternative, but I thought it might be helpful to others to point out that alternative in case they were looking for a solution.

I feel that if I really spend some time practicing the form of something I get a much better grasp on the contour of an object which trips me up a lot in drawing. It's nice to be able to do surface, double lighting, color studies, etc without really having to stress over the initial drawings perfection.
MassiveDVD
June 15th, 2009, 10:07 PM
The audio doesn't seem to be playing for me. Does anyone know what the audio was encoded as?

Edit: Using MPC and k-lite codec pack to watch all vids, all others play audio.

h.264 / AAC. I aways recommend getting the latest version of Quicktime or VLC if your computer is having an issue playing the file.
Rist
June 16th, 2009, 04:26 AM
It was a good video for those who are still new to lighting and rendering. But I was a little disappointed by how the artist never mentioned the more important steps to his technique. Those who will be looking to use his process for their own studies will have to watch the video very closely (for blend option changes, brush changes, etc).

So for me I would recommend this to anyone who are at the beginning of learning how light works and the different surfaces it interacts with. However to get everything from this video you also need a strong understanding in photoshop's UI.
Sascha Thau
June 16th, 2009, 04:46 AM
I don't want to offend, but why do people always want to know which brushes someone uses? It's the least important aspect imo. Go find what best suits you. You have all the more knowledge about your tools and when to use them if you get to know them by yourself instead of copying the approach from another artist.

Even if I had all the brushes from Picasso - my art would look entirely different. And I have also a different opinion: To get everything from this video, it's only needed to understand what Mike is telling you.
IMBass
June 16th, 2009, 05:35 AM
Just finished watching it and I just want to say thank you.

Thank you so much. Great information, something just clicked in my head hearing Mike explain it.

I also really like having the artists in the video, overlaid, while explaining what they're doing. More of this please.
HunterKiller_
June 16th, 2009, 08:16 PM
Downloading now. Can't wait!
hala
June 16th, 2009, 09:17 PM
I don't want to offend, but why do people always want to know which brushes someone uses? It's the least important aspect imo. Go find what best suits you. You have all the more knowledge about your tools and when to use them if you get to know them by yourself instead of copying the approach from another artist.

Even if I had all the brushes from Picasso - my art would look entirely different. And I have also a different opinion: To get everything from this video, it's only needed to understand what Mike is telling you.

We can all learn something from each other. Most people don't ask about brushes so they can directly copy another artist--they just see the potential of the brush to create what that individual wants, and just simply doesn't know how to get there. Experimenting to find your own way is good too, but some guidance doesn't hurt either. :)
Sascha Thau
June 17th, 2009, 07:28 AM
We can all learn something from each other. Most people don't ask about brushes so they can directly copy another artist--they just see the potential of the brush to create what that individual wants, and just simply doesn't know how to get there. Experimenting to find your own way is good too, but some guidance doesn't hurt either. :)

areed :)

this video is more about theory than brushes - was all I intended to say.
AvisNocturna
June 17th, 2009, 10:38 AM
I really enjoyed watching this! Lots of useful information, not just about form. I think even if you already know some of the stuff explained you will still get something useful out of this. And I didn't get bored while watching wich unfortunately happens to me sometimes when I watch videos of other people painting. Very cool :)
Lotet
June 17th, 2009, 01:17 PM
watching this right now, awezome so far.
Azalin
June 17th, 2009, 02:36 PM
downloading... can bearly wait for it to finish
Cthogua
June 18th, 2009, 11:48 AM
We can all learn something from each other. Most people don't ask about brushes so they can directly copy another artist--they just see the potential of the brush to create what that individual wants, and just simply doesn't know how to get there. Experimenting to find your own way is good too, but some guidance doesn't hurt either. :)

You can't deny though there is a tendency, especially among newer artists to focus on tools rather than theory/technique. You see someone do something in a program you've never used and think...Oooh I wanna do that, and think that the tool is at least part of the key to unlocking that technique...and sometimes it is, but that's very rare IMO. I think the same think happens with musicians as well. Gear lust/envy. A friend of mine is a drummer and when he first got started totally drowned himself in every cymbal, weird tom, 60's snare, and block thinggy he could find because his idols, guys like Carter Beauford, and Neal Pert have these gigantic kits with tons upon tons of drums. At the same time some of the most amazing jazz drummers have like 5 pieces in their kit TOTAL, kick, snare, tom, hihat, and a ride or crash. The point is I think it's better to learn the basics without the clutter of a million and one options and I think fancy PS brushes kinda are similar. Like Vyle and Sparth's techniques using brush shapes to create structures and forms and whatnot only really works, and he mentions this in his Speedpaint to Concept Art DVD, because he has all this knowledge of form and perspective down so he can see that stuff in the random shapes his brushes lay down and articulate it.
George Abraham
June 27th, 2009, 02:00 PM
Cool subtle accurate info.

Do you need a licence to own a real skull? Mwhahahaha!!
Zaknafain
July 1st, 2009, 10:14 PM
very informative download! I'd recommend it to anyone!

I have a question though:
When rendering the shiny Ball, Mike flattened the gradient in the light. I'm wondering why. I don't think I can observe this when I compare a shiny white object to a matte object, so my theory right now is this:
In order to make room for the Highlight in your values you have to compress the valuerange for the gradiation.
Is this about right? I would really appretiate help on this.
Soja
July 2nd, 2009, 05:05 PM
I JUST BOUGHT THIS!!! damn so looking forward to watch this!!
thanks CA And MB!! I LOVE U!!
alesoun
July 2nd, 2009, 07:13 PM
Mike gives a lot of information on how light affects things and on the reasoning behind why he makes the choices he makes in the process of rendering that skull.

Brushes, filters, tools? I work traditionally. That part went over my head, but I understood what he was saying (in the main) and can see ways of applying that to trad work. Now all I need is skill and practice.......
Liffey
July 3rd, 2009, 08:29 AM
Just watched it, excellent vid. One thing I didn't get though is the first few minutes where he shows the plains on the sphere and how each stays the same value. That part for me was kinda like... well, duh. What was he getting at with that?
petitemistress
July 8th, 2009, 03:31 AM
I loved it, super useful and really cute instructor!
now to find time to do the exercises and actually apply wt I've learned...
thanks again guys! :heart:
hankventure
July 12th, 2009, 08:27 PM
great video! You guys do such an amazing job at explaining the concepts and showing them in practice. Here is a cool site to help study form. http://www.korthalsaltes.com/ You can print out various polyhedron shapes and see how values change. They are in .pdf format and can be colored in photoshop. At the very bottom of the site there is a template for a globe like the one in this video. Hope it helps.
alesoun
July 12th, 2009, 08:50 PM
Just watched it, excellent vid. One thing I didn't get though is the first few minutes where he shows the plains on the sphere and how each stays the same value. That part for me was kinda like... well, duh. What was he getting at with that?

I think he was trying to say that you can turn the sphere but the values don't turn with it; they stay in direct relation to how light bounces off the sphere and into the eye (or something).