Nyx's SB tonight's Skantly Painting Update!

[Nyx702]

I had an account once...but something has happened to it.

Check the latest posts and see how I have advanced...and how far I have to go...:rocker:

[Nyx702]

No posts aye? It's unfortunate that newbs get sucked under the current in the SB forums. Ah well! I must try harder to become a favorite!

Maybe some crappy digital stuff ?
The bust was for the CGTalk exercise of 50 heads in a month thread.

[Nyx702]

Some updates...I sure wish I could get a relpy:[ .

The digital colorings need some work. I was experimenting with the "hard Light" and "soft Light" layer modes. Any crits would be MUCH appreciated! because I have so so so much trouble with colors.

[Nyx702]

I am looking for some people that are interested in some open canvas. IM or PM me if you are interested!:teeth:

Also, I posted this in the SSG section but anyone that needs someone esle or is intereseted in starting a new SSG (isn't it like 31 groups now?) contact me!

Experimented with some design elements. A couple of figures are studies of Frazetta but the rest are out my my head.

[(c)]

nice anatomy :) i really like ya style
when do we see more speed paints??

[spiffiness]

You've got some really nice figure drawings going on, especially the ink ones, they have a fluidity to them. The design stuff, I like the blue one more because it doesn't take away from the drawings themselves. Maybe because they're inkked and in a different shade of blue. It's also simpler. The black one is too distracting because it's too complex and so much darker than the sketches themselves. As for the colour work, it's alright. Maybe add some other tones to the skin? And I think the forehead is a bit big. I hope this helps!

[Crane]

hey, you got some great studies, make sure you keep them up! and do some mentler, hogarth and bridgeman studies too.

I made a sig for the ssg33 with everyone in it, check your PMs

[Ostrander]

I agree with Spiffy, I like the figure drawings done in line art. The color stuff needs some work, but you'll get there. I desperately need to do some real figure drawing, it's sadly been a decade since I last did any.

Let me know when you want to do some OC, I'm game.

[Nyx702]

Small update....ughh finals week for me.:nohope:

Some random warmups and a oc sesson I did with Ostrander.

[Nyx702]

This is a concept study and WIP for the COW for this week (Jason and the Argonauts.) This is Castor and Polydefkis the twin strategical geniuses.

C&C Welcome!

[(c)]

give your paintingxs more contrast! dont be afraid!

[Crane]

Hey, great update, though the guy with jetpacks looks like his holding bananas haha. nice to see more color work round here, i can't really offer any crits on it, as myself is unexperiance in color.

[Nyx702]

(C) Yes, sadly color contrast is indeed dificult for me:nohope:

MadCat And those bullets look like strawberries too! I had painted them yellow and red but I forgot to upload that one unfortunately. If I remember correctly I was eating a bannana at the time of drawing.

[spiffiness]

good on ya for updating! (i'm bad :S) I like the girl you did on the warmup page, as well as the creatures. I agree with (c) that the colour stuff can use more contrast. For the WIP, the shadow on the left guy's left leg needs to have a smoother transition from dark to light. It sort of looks flat. You're still working at it, I know, but add more shadows and make the direction of the light source clear and consistent.

I'd like to oC sometime with you guys, but I haven't been able to connect T__T

[Nyx702]

Ah man...finals...they made me pretty violent (note the violent art). Not much time for drawing but I have some 3d crap to show. I am pretty new at 3d max but I am learning.

[camilografix]

nice start like the colors gotta work on those faces though

[Fishspawn]

I like your variety. I especially like those figures where the line gets lost completely. I agree with the work on faces thing. Keep it up.

[(c)]

nice nice nice!! keep it goig like your drawings but dont hatch the buddy with so many form lines.

[Nyx702]

camilografix and Fishspawn really? thank you! is there anything specific wrong with my faces that you notice (goes for anyone)?

(c) do you hatch the body lines? where specificaly are you taking about? the sraight lines on the chest?

[Ostrander]

Nice update! I really like where your 3d stuff is going. Keep it up.

[(c)]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v625/8c9/help.jpg
i mean those. just dont do them too much otzherwise it looks like fabric

[spiffiness]

Maybe it's the placement of the hatching that's off? And the proportions of the face. But nice studies, and cool 3D stuff! Keep it up!

[surfacemonkey]

really nice figure studies!

My only crit, is that for you colored ones, i wish you still used the same fast line and hatching in them. the colored ones seem flat.

[Nyx702]

(c)- Ahh...i see what you are talking about, good spot

spiffiness - Yhea....icky face proportions. I drew them badly and just told myself that it was because he was falling on his face:bashful:

surfacemonkey - Man...it's because I paint like crap. I try to do it quickly and I like to do it quickly but I have to think really hard about my color choices and that slows me down.

Not much to say, more crap. Worked on painting some...man I have a hard time with colors. I am starting to get a good workflow/process down that I like. I bubbly looking thing was suposed to be the CHOW for this week...but it never saw the light of day.

Oh yea! We got a new buddy in the SSG 33 everyone go give a look at this amazing guy Anthriel (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=71174)

[Nyx702]

I posted this in the Critique section a few days ago:http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=77336. Thought I should post this in my sb to see if I could get some crits here also.

[Nyx702]

Been a few days. I just wanted to stock up on stuff to post. I have been trying to work on design more because my ideas suck. I spend WAY too much time doing studies and my creative side has shriveled to a raisin. This is a case where the reference has become a crutch.

Posting just random crap and a OC with Ostrander. The OC is mostly Ostrander’s because he did everything to make it look good…and I just watched.

[Nyx702]

This was a very successful painting to me. For some reason it’s REALLY hard for me to finish something beyond a sketch. I had some help with people from the Crit fourm so thanks to you guys:^^:

[(c)]

nice fashion dude!! your figures becoming more and more alive.. keep on going

[Ostrander]

I like what you have going on in your new batch of drawings. I think you should follow the form of objects a bit more with your hatching, there's a tendancy to become random and chaotic. Look at some of the works Franklin Booth, Charles Dana Gibson, Heinrech Kley and Gustav Dore'. They were masters at their craft and thier work has a wealth of valuable information. Good Luck and keep posting! :)

[spiffiness]

Cool! You're getting way better at drawing faces! I really like the 19th century clothing designs! I love that period... It also looks like you're getting better at painting, looking at that last one. The neck might be a bit long, though, maybe it's cuz the shoulders are so straight. Keep going at it!

[Nyx702]

I have noticed tons of signs that I really need to work on the 'personality' in myself and my work. One in particular was a drawing tut here on CA and the writer said that second rate artist can copy but a great artist can invent...or something like that. Upon noticing this, I realised that I use reference way to much or maybe just in the wrong way; it has become a crutch. I have been drawing with less reference lately, it was odd at first, but it really felt good to free my mind.

[Nyx702]

I haven't done character thumbnails forever. I took one I like and expanded on it. I though it was going along pretty well. I hope I can get back to it and finish it:\ . As stated above, it felt good to free my thoughts.

[Nyx702]

Woooo!! 3D props crap! Any advice, expecially with UV layouts, with this would be awesome!

I modled and textured all of them. Most were hand painted with a few photo cuts in key areas. Yea...the UV's are really messy...

[Ostrander]

Very nice gestures! I love them!
The 3d stuff is quite nice as well.
nice job man, keep posting!

[spiffiness]

Guess that makes me a second rate artist then, huh? >__< Good job for breaking out of the reference mold, tho I think it still has its uses. Awesome 3D work!

[(c)]

nice gestures! like ya style more and more but what about some more paintings???

[Nyx702]

Ostrander: Thanks man, that means alot to me coming from you!:confident

spiffiness: No insult intended:wink: I wasn't the one who originally said it! Do you mean that my 2d work has issues? if you see something please point it out!

(c) I am posting a painting right now. Drawing is my first love so it always comes first. Your comment made me crank this one out today.


I took this from a old sketch and was messing around. I will keep it a WIP for a couple of days but once it sits in my HD for to long I can never go back to it. So if you see anything that could make it really go "blam" then please drop me a line.

Oh...and by the way, what do you guys think of my new Avatar?

[(c)]

how did u start your paintings?? do u do some b/w value studys?? if not then do.
seems still a bit flat to me. and simple keep on detailing

[Nyx702]

(c) So ture...you're so right. Look in the above post for the one I did in grayscale I think it turned out much better!

[Bard]

I like your pastely color choices. That gollum waiter specifically.

Good work!



----------------------------------------------------
My Sketchbook
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=80906

[Nyx702]

Thanks!...but I can only take about 10% of that credit. That was a open canvas session with Ostrander (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=75781).

Greyscale charater because (c) said my values suck and he was true. I think this truned out really well...for me.

[Nyx702]

I have been working on this for a while and I am pleased with it. It was for a school project but I took it alittle farther. I was experimenting with normal mapping on someparts. There are some misplaced elements that don't really mach the design but so to time limits I had to sick to what I had modeled. From concept to finished model.

If anyone wants to see the texture maps just let me know!

[Nyx702]

Pen study.

I have found that I really like working gestures in PS. I took one I liked and tired to expand in it but the color washed on it looks like big poopie.

Then the self portrait I did for the November 1st thing. Figured I would post it here also. It pretty much looks like me...except the pericings...and wild faical hair...and placid skin tone. But other than that right on!

[spiffiness]

Nice stuff! Looks like you're improving! Keep it up!

[Nyx702]

thanks! I definitely will!

[(c)]

hey made the last paintings for the textures are really awesome and also a nice design!!!!!!
mybe try to put also more drama in your choice of perspective

and what about trying texture brushes????

[Nyx702]

Been a little while...I have been working on a HL2 mod so I can't show much of what I have been working on. I have some drawing to upload soon but for now a quick model and texture.

[mondegreen]

I really like your 3d stuff, I'd like to see more anatomy sketches though I think. I think they might help you. Especially planar studies of the body and head.

~Ben

[Nyx702]

Ok, i recently found out that my scanner is dying...so bear with the crappy scans for now.

I got a stack of amazing moleskins for x-mas. I will never, ever go back to regular old skecthbooks again...ever.

[Ostrander]

I really like the steampunk flyer thingy. And your sketches are coming along. I think the comment about planar studies is pretty solid advice. The pen and ink work is nice but suffer from an underdeveloped drawing underneath. Here is a pic from one of my favorite artists, Bernie Wrightson that show what I'm talking about. You can see how he maps out every stroke. It's almost a bit extreme in the sense there's no room to play with the medium. Abd I'm not saying it needs to be all " mapped" out this way. But I think if you have a solid drawing underneath your ink work will benefit.
http://www.rhinohidestudios.com/Frankenstein%20unfinished.jpg
Keep up the good work and keep posting. :)

[Nyx702]

Good advice on the plane studies. I spent my free time the other day doing some and I plan on doing more...just haven't scanned then yet.


Few sketches.

[geldslaw]

I love the delicacy in your work it's like going to a french bakery and being spoilt. So much to choose from to appreciate and such sensitivity in your style that you can see its a part of who you are embossed in your work. I like it and can't wait to see more

[Ostrander]

How do you like those moleskins? You should post the ref with the head study.
I'd like to come back and make some comments about it.

[Nyx702]

Thank you geldslaw for you kind words!

I really, really, really, like the moleskins. It is by far the best sketch book I have every had. Well worth the money (although I got mine for X-mas). I will never go back to a regular sketch book again!

Not very accurate but here is the reference for the head study:

[Nyx702]

I posted these in the crit section but thought I should posted them here too.
I have to do some character designs for class and then make three varients of each one.

Any help with the design would be great. Here are the themes for each one if I did a poor job of drawing it.

The top guy: an arabic/tribal theme. His tatoos are arabic and I wanted him to be more of a hunter. He will eventually carry a khukri and a bow.

The middle guy: I was going for a monk/tibetian theme. He has a very large quiver because he will have a very large bow.

The bottom guy: I wanted a more futureistic regal charcter that is repected because he is strong. I know there is a porportion issue of the bottom guy but it was suposed to be exaggerated, maybe not to that extent?

With the top guy I was ify about the hair but i didn't want him to be bald. I was thinking the hair would be styled to look "fearsome."

[Bartovan]

Nice sketchbook; you are making great progress. Your linework is evolving and you have a good sence of form. You need to work more on the faces - but just keep on going!

[Nyx702]

The weeks CHOW. My first offical finished CHOW also. Had alot of fun doing this. I wanted a ninja like shadow blur behind him because he was a quick-draw-mcgraw-mcdraw-drawer.

[Divorce]

Hay Nyx, pretty nice sketchbook you got here. I really like your hatching, and expecially this one: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=70241&stc=1&d=1167534662
Good start on this week's CHOW, and keep up the good work!

[(c)]

thats a really nice one man like the style, u are def getting somewhere.

the only thing which is strange in that one is the motion blur. isnt it a bit too dark????

[mrpank]

thank's for coment
interesting sketches try to work on focus
chears

__________________
Bring me everyone. -What do you mean everyone?? -EVERYONE!!!!
my sketchbook (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=86554)

[Sway West]

Great new stuff, Nick. :D Love the style you did the cowboy in.

[spiffiness]

that cowboy is pretty awesome. Looks like you're improving quite a bit! That portrait earlier was pretty good, too. As for the character designs, I'm not sure how efficient that hunter's gonna be, considering that he's rather hefty :wink: Unless he had a gun or something that doesn't use too much effort. It also depends on what setting these characters are for. The hair isn't quite there yet, I think. It looks kinda like curly pigtails... Also, the proportions of the bottom figure are a bit too exaggerated in the chest. And don't forget to add some way for the middle guy to carry the quiver around.

So what's so great about those moleskins? (What exactly are they anyway?)

[Ostrander]

Hey Nick,
I like what you have going on here with your new sketches. You might want to have a look at your proprtions on some of these again though. The 3rd one seems a bit long in the torso or short in the legs. It's always a good thing to work out the basic shapes of your figure before getting too caught up in the details. I even have this problem from time to time and have to either remind myself of suffer the realization afterwards, when your so far along you don't want to go back. Keep up the good work man. Keep posting.

[Nyx702]

Ostrander Thanks! I do see what you mean...I was working too close to the paper. I tired to fix it on these ones.

spiffiness Thank you for the comment! I like the cowboy too but I don't think many people did in the CHOW because there were MUCH better ones. I still learned from it. I am glad you see improvement...i lose hope sometimes and positive comments really bring up my spirits. Haha! those do look like pigtails...the drawing is bad, i do agree. i put more effort in these.

Moleskins are a brand of sketchbooks: http://www.moleskine.co.uk/
The are ultra smooth and magical...really...anything looks good on them. they are seriously the best sketchbook i have ever used.

Sway West Thank you! I am glad to see you around here, come back soon! (oc)

mrpank How do you mean focus? Like controling were the viewers eyes look or my foucs?


(c) Thanks! I am glad you see improvement! That keeps me going. I was thinking that...I lowered the opacity and i didn't like it either. I was running out of time so I just smitted that.

Paper Clip Clock Thanks, I will definatly.

These are the variations for the characters. I took most of the advice mentioned. When we did a class critique it kind-of was depressing because the other student only put a 5th of the work in as I did...and it showed. The teacher didn't give me any critiques either. I guess i could have asked but he didn't even mention the obvious porportion flaw.

I chose the fat guy with the munton chops to do for the final inking which i will post soon. My motherboard died and it is being repaired so it may take a week or so. It really sucks not having a computer....

[Nyx702]

For the past couple of Fridays myself and a group of guys have been getting together and drawing. Someone will make up a creative phrase and then every has to make a scene/illustration using the topic. We rotate every week who gets to pick the topic sentence.

The first one was: The weary traveler finally reached his destination and the sun was setting.

The second one was: The forest people played in the dark storm clouds.

[(c)]

nice man like them. good composition. maybe more contrast or is it the scan?? would love to see them painted :)

[Nyx702]

Here are some character designs for my illustration class. After I was squared away with the first design (the lady) i was really bored with the other ones. Do any of you every get that. I think it shows in the other ones...:\

(c) Thanks! I may paint them....but I am not very good at envirnoment painted though...too much to do, too much to do

[(c)]

nicenice like their faciel expressions:) the first has also nice shadows and proportions which is missing with the second. their the legs look a bit of. the last is cool nice pose

please make better scans. i mean the contrast. its hard to judge how good they really are :)

keep on going man :)

and painting is always the same!! it always takes time and i am preaty sure u can make awesome enviroment paintins!!! just do and try

[JoeEffect]

heyyyy,thanks4 stopping by my sb,i really like your drawings too,if you have a chance take a look again,i posted some sketches. c.u.around,and keep drawing.

[Sway West]

Your last few posts are really impressive, man. ; ) Your character designs/concepts are superb- great variation in body type, body language, clothing, and expression. Still, you manage to maintain a distinct style.

I want to see you use a little color! I'm downtown Tues, Wed, Thurs and Friday... maybe we could get together and do some coloring. :D

[Nyx702]

Sway west What a complement! Thank you! I am sooo up for a coloring season, I will IM you about it.
JoeEffect Sure thing, i will stop by later.
(c) I will try a different scanner at school. Unfortunatly my PC is broke at the momment so I have to deal with what I get. :(

Here is an update on the Friday night drawing my friends and I do.

The topic for the first is: “Uh oh,” she said as the creature was finally revealed.


The second: As the battle subsides, the warrior peers over the edge of the world

The third: She resigned to his duplicitious nature.

[(c)]

nice I like the first one the most. the dynamic composition is stong. the second is cool as well like the little details and stuff.s the third looks a bit off to me but I cant recall what it directly is. I think the perspective of the chair is mainly of or so.

[Ostrander]

Wow Nick! THese last few pieces are really cool. I Like the last one the most with the guy kneeling in front of the woman. All those serpent heads. Man you need to paint that up. Seriously. I like these drawings. It looks like you're having a good time with them. Keep up the good work. :)

[Machineabuse]

Loving the crosshatching work :D I also enjoyed the small gesture studies on the previous page.

Try to keep your toning global. Your recent sketches have structure but look flat because your shadows don't encompass the whole character.

Update time! :)

[Nyx702]

Machineabuse: Hey, welcome to the group. I agree, some of these were rushed and I didn't have time to render them all. Scanning them also destroies alot of the finer renderings.

Ostrander: I know..I want to paint them too! Whenever I get my PC fixed I will have a trove of things to paint.

(c): yhea...I draw the lady first and built everything around her...bass acwards way of working i Know...


Woo...man, what a busy month! Sorry for the lack of updates.

It's finals again for me...and my PC is STILL busted....Doing any of my 3d work has been a huge hassle and I haven't had much to paint with.

On a lighter note! It was my birthday the 14th! woot...I had class and work from 8am to 10pm....But! I got a 6x11 Intuos 3 which is awesome. I really needed it too. I just had a Graphire and it had deep scratches and the cord was shorting out. I pen would randomly cut out too because I dropped it in the toilet!

Also, I got an internship at a game company here in Pittsburgh! I am just doing some textures for their upcoming game. I will release more info as it get closer to release.

I promise I will post some color soon. The one illustration I have to color so you guy can ripe my color to crap.

[(c)]

oh happy b/day man. u will have a lot of fun with the intuos heheh and btw how can u drop the pan in the toilet???????


but nice pencils man. maybe u could give the abit more texture.

good luck for ya intern :)

[Machineabuse]

Watch out for the balance of your creatures. Your first creature's legs don't look like they'd be able to support the weight of it. Particularily as a quadruped you need legs that give you a good span to form a natural look. Think about how your designs move and their gait, then design backwards :)

Don't draw on the can man, that's bad juju!

[Sway West]

Your rendering skills keep getting better and better! :D

[Nyx702]

Sway West: Aw...thank you! How did finals treat you? You need to update your sketchbook little missy! Have we given up on painting with each other? Maybe next quarter?


Machineabuse: Yes, i definitely agree. I need to add an extra joint to it also i think. That would make them longer and more easily maneuverable.

Ha! I try not to draw on the pot but it's such a waste of time! I have to do something!

(c): Those scans are killing me you say? There is a good bit of texture on them but the scan make it almost transparent.

It's funny, I would always put my pen in my ear when ever i got up to go do anything. Well I went to the bathroom and went i reached to flush the toliet the pen slipped out of my ear and right into the basin. I thought it was broken but i let it dry and it worked after a day, only with slight malfunction and odor....







This is the colored version as promised. I did it in one sitting which was bad but it was all that time aloted. I still want to go back and fix some things so critique away!

[Nyx702]

A few drawings...with a middle eastern feel.

[(c)]

nice I like the last ones/ really good design and well believable!!!

[Machineabuse]

Nice designs :) Once again your hatchwork provides a really nice descriptor for the materials your working with, but a touch more value couldn't hurt! ;)

A recurring problem area for you seems to be inside of the elbow, which you consistently draw a little too narrow. The expressions on your second and last characters in particular seem a little undeveloped. The second character seems to be moments away from pitching backwards tits under tushie ;D

[Sway West]

She who nags will be rewarded! :tihi: Lovely concepts, kiddo. Some great costumes, and beautiful diversity amongst them. That's what I love about your work- there's such a wide variety of body types between men and women. Keep it up, darlin'! WE SHALL PAINT THIS QUAAARTER! :muscle:

[Nyx702]

More of pretty much the same thing...

I got a new computer finally...I never did find out what was wrong with the old one. I consider myself pretty computer savy but it was beyond me so I took it to a tech and they couldn't figure it out either! I am kind-of glad though...it would have hurt my pride to find out it was something simple...

Machineabuse: Good catch, thank you for pointing that out! I defiantly watched it in these ones.

Sway West: Hello my friend! I will not believe it until we do it!

[Sway West]

Yes! YES!!! These are wonderful, Nick! The variety in build, costume-- the works! I see a progression in your anatomy, but I want to see you start to loosen up those lines a bit. Do some exercises where you just draw fluid circles until you can't stand it anymore. This will help your anatomy look less rigid.

PS., BIG HATS ABSOLUTELY.

[Nyx702]

Sway West: Thanks! I always enjoy your comments. I will definitely do some circles at the SB.

I painted some of those males...
I am toying around with some new techniques which really work for me but I don't know how good they look :\

[Nyx702]

Been slow lately....

Started painting some stuff that I had backed up while my computer was broke.

A few things from school and a few things for myself/


Oh! and I finally made a decent looking website for myself! Check it out! www.artofnickmiller.com

[(c)]

hey man nice stuff going man:)

like the faces of your figures well believable!!!!
and jipp the coloring style is not really my tast but I think thats my prob.. or maybe try more contrast. the colors are good. for example the arm of the animel needs a bit more work. it still looks a bit flat becouse the transitions are too rapid. would like to see more gradient flow from light to dark

lovely work man :D

[Nyx702]

Not really concept work but this is what I have been working on lately. The Character is for my internship and the prop is just for my personal work!

I DID NOT MODEL the woman...there are so many problems with it...please don't blame me!!! I just textured it!

(c) Yea...all my stuff is so flat...i think it's because I am usually texturing flat UV's. I am still working on it!

[Machineabuse]

Nice stuff coming along!

On painting up UV maps; UVW seams are your friends. Every time you have a UV seam positioned at a transition between one material to the next you want to take the opportunity to bump up the difference in that area. Drop a shadow and highlight the edge and really pop that detail.

She could do with some cloth folds on the arms and in the small of the back. She's skinny so maybe pop up her clavicles and her sternomastoids.

[Nyx702]

Machineabuse: I didn't unwrap it either...like I said...there are a ton of problems with the model that I can't really fix...at least if the company still wants to use it in game. I understand what you are talking about with the seams but where exactly are you talking about? I can't obviously make the details pop on the seam that runs down her face? Maybe I should get a render of the wireframe?

I tried some folds where you mentioned and it looked like total terd without some geometery...





I forgot to post this last time!

[Machineabuse]

To clarify on UV seams; I refer to spots like between where her dress meets her flesh around the chest. You should drop a little bit of shadow there to increase the depth.

[Nyx702]

Haven't been up to very much...



This is for a contest. I am going to eventually paint the line work after some compositional revisions.
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_hugeseacreatureGS.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_seacreat_illo.jpg


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_sci-fi_barracksT.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_sci-fi_barracksF2.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_sci-fi_barracksF.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_sci-fi_barracksD.jpg

[mrpank]

mrpank ...Like controling were the viewers eyes look ...



Something like that, but forget about this :)
I see you are doing great
This monster looks cool
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=110375&stc=1&d=1174354692
and nice website you have.

[Machineabuse]

Cool model :3

Bung in some details into the texture like lights, ladders and small pipework and you can really sell the scale of it. I think having it gradiate to darkness at the bottom needs to be watched out for. Unless the ground it sits on absorbs light, a lot of ambient light would be reflected back up the building.

On this (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_hugeseacreatureGS.jpg) one the pattern on the creature is drowning out your details. If you chose a slightly off-black hue like blue-black instead of black-black it would keep the markings competing with your shadows.

[Nyx702]

Not much been happening...I have been hitting the 3d and Zbrush pretty hard lately.

Machineabuse:Yea...I was ify about the gradient. I will be sitting on a very dark terrain so I think it will work out in the end. There are doors, railings and ladders...just it's hard to see them in the renders...i should have put some brighter lights in though! Good sudgestion!

Some moleskine:

[Nyx702]

Quarters ending soon! From doing a bunch of 3d stuff I am really feeling an itch to do some painting. I think I will do some master copies...?


A enviroment painting for school and a illo for a challnege at gameartisans.org:

[stylus]

Sweet. That's a great illustrative feel to your stuff. Very atmospheric, very ambient. I can picture these in books.

[(c)]

wow wow nice updates man!!! like the tentacle concept. good colours.
the last painting I dont like that much. there the colours seem dull and not resally vivid. try to work more with textured brushes and layers.

keep it up man!!

[Nyx702]

stylus: :) Thanks! That makes me feel better about myself today.

(c): yea, the colors are dull because i painted over a grayscale. I still haven't got the hang of painting over grays yet. I see some people so some awesome stuff with that technique and I really want to be better at it....just not happing yet.

A few sketches from work. i want to paint the girl eventually. I am not sure weather I will go back and finish the three guys yet...maybe just grayscale?

[(c)]

jipp jipp I know skill needs time but till then take a look at him:
http://blog.naver.com/alien1452.do
and aspecially at the process.
starts with really light strokes and adds colour on a colour layer and so keeps the shininess. maybe it gives you the idea
http://imgjungle.jungle.co.kr/Magazine/up_img/category/060710_p03(0).jpg

[stylus]

The hip on that cyborg grandmother you have there looks like it's edging towards another direction than the rest of her body. It doesn't seem to line up with the rest of it. But the drawing has personality.

I REALLY like those small character studies, though. Simple, effective. Brevity is the soul of wit, after all. :)

[Sway West]

Looks like you added more detail to those mountains we talked about! Also, I'm totally digging the gal in your latest post. Work that one s'more!

[Nyx702]

(c): Yea, I like his stuff. I haven't seen his website before though! Thank you!~

stylus: good catch, I should be able to fix that oddness in PS.

Sway West: I did, I did. I should have some time to work on that old gal. Here is some stuff from my new scanner as promised!


I got a new Scanner! It's so flippin sweet. It's a Epson Perfection 4900. $100 refurbished. I have used these photo scanners before at work and they are really sensitive. I highly recommended them for art scans!

I didn't get a chance to enter but the ice druid was for this week CHOW.

I been playing around they my process. I am trying really hard to mix traditional and digital art. I did the value in water color and painted more color layers in PS and Painter.

[Noë]

Oh great stuff man :)
I like your characters a lot, sometimes I feel the space between nipples and crotch is a bit too short, but i'm not sure about that.
On the last image of your last update I think the fingers of the hands are too small, and that it's a pity that you outlined the character, because it makes her look like she's standing apart from the background a little. Also the snow looks a little rushed, try to paint in some different snow flakes, and add some of them on her hair and fingers maybe? I think that could really improve it. Nice work on the background by the way, I like how the trees fade.
Stuff that I'm really liking is this one (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/nmiller_hugeseacreatureGS.jpg), the wooden 'bird' flying device, and many of the pencil characters on this page. Maybe try to colour a character a bit more painterly, and add some shadows on the ground. Could make a nice add to your portfolio?

Ah well I'm going to go now :P
will have to visit here more often, nice stuffs!
Oh and congrats on the Epson Perfection scanner! My parents have an Epson Perfection 3200, with which I'm doing all my scanning (ofcourse :P) and I think it's really good.

Love
Marleen

[stylus]

Hey, those ARE great scans! Your scanner's definitely better than mine by far (then again, mine's really old...).

I quite like these results in blending traditional w/ digital techniques. Would say I'd disagree with Noe about the outline. I think it's soft enough to be still present a unity between the subject and background. It's like some of the Disney films (I'm thinking Little Mermaid right now). But I do agree with her on the fingers. Some anatomical stuff too, I think. Like, the first girl... her left hand looks too large to me, and there's something up w/ her hips. It kind of looks like her right hip is larger than her left hip.

You know, I actually like the ice druid in its uncoloured form a lot more than in the coloured version. When you identified her as an ice druid and I looked at the pencil sketch, all I saw was this girl coming out of the snow. And everything around her is snow and ice, that's why it's all white. I actually think that sketch looks more "complete".

Lovin' it!

[Nyx702]

Noë: Thanks, thanks alot! I took your advice on the fingers and reduced the outline a bit. I have been slowly switching to painter to give them a more painterly look. The snow was hyper rushed...just a custom brush :zzz: I am jelious of your fortunate parents...to rich for my blood!
I hope you stop back!

stylus:Yea...a good scanner is total worth the money...I am try to find anything to scan! Always working on that anatomy...I was trying to make that hip really "pop" out of the page! hehe

I like the scan better too....it's a shame that most empolyeers wouldn't really think that...

This is an update on that ice-druid

[Nyx702]

Blah...painted a sketch from a while ago...I haven't painted for a while I it shows. Not to happy with this.

[Juhani Jokinen]

Nice work mate! Your drawing skills are definitely improving

Keep up the nice work and post more!

-Juhani

[Nyx702]

Few things i have been working on after the school work is done...

A buddy and I are kind-of working on a story arc together. We will see where it goes but the jest it this:

As humanity prepared itself for the inevitability of a full on nuclear war something happened to reset the priorities. The ecosystem of the entire planet collapsed into a severe sub-arctic state and became mostly uninhabitable. Storm systems were transformed into icy disasters, hurricanes, tornadoes, and even simple rainstorms became life threatening catastrophes. Many governments crumbled as the toll of casualties continued to rise and scientist rushed to discover the cause of the world’s sudden decline.
As the storms worsened and destruction escalated to irreparable levels, the cause was finally discovered. Several years of testing on top of decades of older detonations led to a strong build up of radioactive particles in the atmosphere. The particles finally became thick enough to form an invisible shield around the planet. This shield became a filter for ultra violet light, thus preventing the sun’s heat from reaching the surface. Humans were pushed into underground shelters for the next twenty years.
As the harshest part of the new ice age subsided and the planet regained some infinitesimal ability to support life humans reemerged. Rations and foodstuffs were scarce and to ensure equality and fairness a committee was formed to look over the survivors.
Years passed and the committee gained power and became the Delegations for Human Existence. As the DHE grew in power it took greater control of lives of its citizens, it began to lessen the amount of rations available per individual.
This sparked the beginning of a civil war between the DHE and a large number of resistance movements across the land.

[Juhani Jokinen]

Nice work here mate, I like your latest character sketches although I think they could use some more details and highlights in the focal points What disturbs me also is the fact that they don't have any shadows under them- which makes them seem like they were floating.

Nice work overall though :)

JJ

[stylus]

Agree w/ Anthriel about the shadows. I don't think I'm as disturbed, but it certainly would ground them better. I'm guessing those are the resistance fighters? They look a bit grungier than what I'd expect a military soldier to look like. I think, design-wise, it would be nice if they were thinner to show the extreme rationing conditions they're living around.

Great work, man! Keep 'em coming!

[Nyx702]

Wooo...yea...need an update.

Unfortunately..this wont be a big one until finals are over...

HOPEFULLY this will one of those quality over quantity? This is still in that same vein as the above post.

My workflow has been hampered...right in time for finals because I lost 2 gigs of RAM. It just went ka-put. It's still under warranty which is awesome...so all I have lost is valuable time.

[Ostrander]

I really like this Nick. Your rendering has come a long way.
My only crit would be his pose/stance. It feels very stiff. Maybe for next time you could do more gestures before settling on the pose and choose one that has more life to it. Even if it's not 100% accurate with anatomy it can still make or break a good image. Still though, you did good work here. :)

Here's a quick gesture over your original to give you an idea of what I mean.
Hope you don't mind.
204449

[Nyx702]

Pencil Update

A few random things. Playing Company of Heroes all the freakin' time makes me want to draw Nazis all the time but I try to limit myself to two a week :^^;:

I have a couple of "Final Finished" things...that are close to being done...just don't wanna show them right now in their current state.

Ostrander Thanks man! I always appreciate the paintovers. Someday it will stick...I understand what you mean...just just different in application as you know.

[VanDog]

nice!keep it up!and skills will grow faster!96 and 115 is really co0l!

[destinyapocalypse]

nıce job you are very nıce :)
ı lıke your light &shadow work take care

me work http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=87447

[(c)]

hay man sorry didnt drop by for long but school is busting my ass.... nice character... maybe increase the contast so they get more volume.... and listen to ostrander ;)

keep on going

[Nyx702]

Hey (c)! Thanks for reminding me to post something!

I have tons to show...just can't really post it yet....

Just a couple small painting. Nothing too long. I don't really have time to sit down and do a epic illustration (who does right?)

[(c)]

hey man nice skulls;;; but the light source is a bit confusing.. i mean the direction.. try to make the light stronger

[Nyx702]

(c) It is. The lighting is totally BS. I got bored with this real fast...I may or may not come back to it.

Another update! A quick painting from a couple nights ago.

[Nyx702]

This weeks CHOW:: The Plague Doctor

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/Chow102_Nyx702.jpg

[Juhani Jokinen]

Some nice progress here mate! Love the pencil sketches you've made recently. The characters are also cool. In post 121 the guy's balance seems to be tipping to the right, that's something to look into :)

Keep it up!

-Juhani

[Nyx702]

Anthriel Hey buddy! I haven't heard from you in forever, I need to head over to your SB soon...

Here is my warm up from today:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/puruvianboy.jpg

[Juhani Jokinen]

That last one is nice! Pretty crazy ear-rings though :D The face seems a bit flat at the moment. I think you need to try and bring out the volumes more. Try adding some much lighter skin tones in there- like on the cheeks and forehead above the eyebrows. I think the chin needs a patch of lighter colour too.

Yeah it's been awhile- I've been pretty occupied with my work and all the other stuff. Good times though- I've got insane amounts of art that I'll probably get to post sometime around 2009. Theres however some minor updates in my sketchbook if you wanna take a peek.

Catch you later!

-Juhani

[perilous]

i really liked the armor studies and your figure drawings are quite nice. i have a really hard time finishing too. i really have to push myself to focus on a drawing. keep going though! its something you learn over time. nice work. -dyl

[TOOLED!]

nice characters man, i really like your plague doctor. your backgrounds are becoming distracting though. keep it up man.

[Nyx702]

TOOLED! Thanks for stopping by my SB. Thanks for the comments too! Is there anything specific that makes them distracting? I have gotten that comment a lot recently...but can't quite pin-point it.

perilous Hey thanks for stopping by. I most defiantly will!

Anthriel I agree about it being flat, i think it looks better grayscale though. The color is a total hack...

Todays ship practice...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/destoryer_B.jpg

[Nyx702]

Another ship for today...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/destroyer_A.jpg

[Nyx702]

Ugh...I got sick. I never get sick...My voodoo has failed me.

Todays ship:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/flagship_B.jpg

[Nyx702]

Ship from today:

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/fighter_B.jpg

[Juhani Jokinen]

Nice ship designs mate! I like the shapes and they seem functional. I however think that the value range is too much in the middle area, they need some bright highlights to pop from the page. Now they seem a little flat. Nice work nonetheless :)

-Juhani

[Complexx]

Love the ships Nyx. Great job on your Chow too!

[Nyx702]

Anthriel Thanks! I totally agree. I just blocked in a middle gray and used an airbrush for the highlights and shadows purely for speed. I will work on this in the next couple of ones!

Complexx Thanks man! You'll get there too!

Ship from a couple days ago that I forgot to post...

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y232/Kane702/Art/harvester_B.jpg

[Nyx702]

I became really inspired yesterday because my best friend gave me Stuntkids (http://www.stuntkid.com/index.html) art book so I cranked this out till 3am...

Did you guys ever tape cardboard boxes to your arms and think you can fly?

[`rawr]

hey, thanks for stopping by!
really digging the ships and that latest drawing, cool idea and great execution

[Nyx702]

I did this in like 5 hours tonight. thought I might post it to get some fresh eyes on it. I plan to work the color more tomorrow!

thanks!

[stylus]

Hey Nyx! Sorry it's been a while since I've critted your stuff. School's just been crazy now that I'm about to graduate.

Liking those ships. I agree with Anthriel about the value range, particularly on the 2nd and 4th ones. I think the others look fine. Something that kills the drawings a bit for me is the harsh white backgrounds. Even if you had a wash as a background, it would look more exciting. Your fourth and fifth ships look somewhat like products to me instead of ships. I had/have the same problem with my ships. I'd like to see more structure in them. Hope that makes sense.

Great pose on the cardboard Icarus :P! The head and neck are kind of fudged, but it's hard to do. It is for me, at least.

And for this last one. It's a lot better than I can do in 5 hours, but I think you kind of gave up on some parts (that, or it's a WIP, and if it is, apologies in advance). Like those thorns going around her body. They don't have any form. They look way too 2D-ish compared to everything else. Also, I think the girl's missing a hip :P. But loving that expression. Looks very evil.

One thing is, you still have that awesome storybook-style rendering that I still love. Very atmospheric. Do you still colourize over a grayscale layer or have you moved to applying colours right off?

More!

[destinyapocalypse]

yours characters are cool u have creative designs

take care

[destinyapocalypse]

desings cool