Hitting the wall

[LT2D3D]

Hi all. I am new to this forum and am in need of advice.
I am 27, I have a BFA in Illustration, and have been working on 3D for the past year and a half(self taught).My problem is my concept art is severly impaired. You would think that with a college education and years of practicing would make me better over time, but this is not so. I can draw what I see just fine, (life drawing) but coming up with a character design, ect, seem impossible to me.The details of the character,clothing, acessories, and overall style are very important, but I cannot seem to get it. I would like to know how people in this forum come up with character designs. How do you chose style, acessories, when drawing machinery, how do you take into consideration funtionality with parts/gears ect? Thank you for your time.

[LEN]

I have the same problem as yourself.

Something that helps me get through is doing a few things:


consider the characters enviroment and situation, then try to resolve or exagerate there situation through their clothing , gear body shape ect.... I like to make a list outlining my characters problem, skills , situations , possible solutions, potentials, or what ever. This works for me probably because I spend my days desinging medical equipment, other people probably go about it differently.


I like to look through magazines, books internet whatever and take note of every thing. Right now I'm working on some designs for "snow Crash" -it's a personal project to push my skills, I don't want to give the impresion that I am a working profesional. I've been reading every thing I can get on cars, racing gear ect. I gennerally buy into the philosophy that the truth is better than fiction.


And the last thing that I do is just dedicate my self to the probem at hand and push through the frustration till I am able to solve it.



I don't know If this helps, you'll probably take a look at the work that I've been doing ( I'm puttin some of it up soon) and say who the hell does this guy think he is, but these thing help me.


gl

[LT2D3D]

Hey LEN,
Thanks for replying. I value your opinion and all the opinions of fellow artists. That is why I am posting here. I will try those steps you mention. I have tried something similar, but maybe I am not asking myself the right questions. Since going to 3D, I have not been drawing that much, and it shows and in turn, it hurts my 3D work. I get frustrated because at 27 yrs old, with a college education in tradional art, drawing from my imagination should be second nature.I know I can draw, I just need some direction I think. Your post may help, thank you.

[LEN]

I'm in the same boat, since I do alot of product design I focosed on 3-d for awile to increase my marketability. I ended up sacraficing my drawing skills as well. I'm so frustrated as well, mainly since I'm nearly 30 (I'm 27 as well) an I feel like if I havn't made it yet I never will. I'm sorry to say but age is not virtuous in out cultur, so the fear of becoming disposable always seems on the horizon, even though I've had alot of professional and life experience.

What the hell though, push till you die and screw the rest.

ps. post some of your work, I will too.

[dudeman]

just look at others.. ALOT..

basically almost every piece you see is a compostition of stuff stolen from others..
i always think like, i like that kinda feet, i reshape em a bit and give em another color, that kinda pants, lets add some extra pockets and a belt, the shoulder pad thingys seem cool, lets put some spikes on em and put em in, etc. etc.

stealing is allowed, as long as you do it the good way :p