SketchUp stretches.

Here's a sort of a manned quadrotor thing that I blocked out in SketchUp.  I wanted to get some color variations before I got too far with it.  I think I'm going to go with top right.

...and here's the model.  I made this one before the gun, so it's not quite as sophisticated but as a base for paint did it's job.

Sketchin' with SketchUp

It's been a while since I've used Google SketchUp.  I learned so much about the program recently from Kemp Remillard and Sam Brown at the Massive Black workshop, and I was super inspired to give it another go, but it would be a few months later after the knowledge sunk in that I'd actually do something with it.  It's so good at helping to block out hard surface stuff, so I figured I'd start off with some guns and vehicles.  

I want to find the right balance of 3d and 2d, so with this one I wanted to see how far I could push the actual model before switching to Photoshop.  

Here's the shot I painted over.

...and some more angles of the model

Next will be a vehicle that spent more time getting painted...

Bachelor pad of tomorrow

Here's a thing I did for some thing.  A run-down studio apartment... of the FUTURE!

Some quick iPad sketches that I started with.

...I'm just saying, it sounds like a medical condition.

Here are some illustrations that I did for the new Eclipse Phase book, Rimward.

Automated asteroid mining operation

A sentient space-crab contemplates the sun from the orbit of Neptune... just take a minute to let that sink in... good.  Now your body is ready.

A ship dock in orbit over Ganymede

I thought I'd show off the thumbnails that I did on the iPad.  Now, I'm not saying I was on the toilet when I made these... but I'm not saying I wasn't..

An alternate take on the asteroid mining where the facility acts almost like a lathe, spinning the rock in it's arms.

MAXiPad

Here are some more iPad sketches using Procreate.  I cheated and ran levels and sharpen on them after.

I did this one during the Massive Black workshop using Nathan Campbell's sweet Jot Touch... unfortunately my first gen iPad couldn't take advantage of the pressure sensitivity.

More from my "Space Guys Holding Big Things" series

The designs on the next two are nothing special, but they were fun either way.

It turns out the reflective screen isn't all that bad outdoors either.

Yeah I paint clouds, don't be jealous.

I wear my sun visor at night

Quick iPad sketch from tonight.  

Bumbernuggle

I started this tonight at Trevor's.  I'll try something more interesting with the lower legs tomorrow, but for now... sleep.

You remember when I said I'd post updates as I progressed on the M.U.L.E.?  I lied.
Here's where I left off on it.  I was spending too much time on it and just lost my focus, so I thought I'd step away from it for a bit.  That was like, a month ago...

I've been really trying to improve how I approach environment pieces, so that's been my focus for the last month.  There's still too much noodling going on, but I do feel more confident with each one, so I guess that's something.

This weekend I spent some time on the iPad using Procreate.  The lack of pressure sensitivity or adjustment layers has really helped me free up and get back to the actual drawing like a real artist... with a small rubber nubbed stylus.
Expect a lot more of these.

M.U.L.E.

Modular Utility Land Explorer
Something I've been playing around with this week.  Still has a long way to go, but I want to get better about showing progress. I've been trying to spend a little more time on the initial sketch so I don't waste as much time trying to design while I paint.  It's been a refreshing change of pace.
The variants are way too fun!  I'll be doing a lot more of those before I'm done with this thing.

S.I.L.F.

Sketches I'd Like to Finish


Just started this one so, there's a lot of issues here that still need to be resolved.   I don't do enough vehicles and this one isn't too terrible so I'll definitely finish it.

An experiment in lighting.  It's a shame I got so far on this with such a boring pose.  Oh well, I could waste time fixing it or I could learn from it and move on...

Some quick composition studies using the lasso and gradient tools.

I might go back to this one and resolve some of those lighting issues... maybe?  I don't know...

I did this one a while back on my phone using Sketchbook pro then took it into Photoshop and threw on some adjustment layers and made a few tweaks for fun.

I don't really do all that much fantasy stuff, but these were really satisfying to work on.  I'll probably go back and finish the giant at some point.

This was for a CHOW on Conceptart.org from a while back.  It was an excuse to try out a different sketching style.