schnell!

Bit more speed painting, 25 mins i think, getting into it a bit more but small screens and small tablets arent good, especially when i work on a cintique all day :(

meeeehhhh

hmm thought i'd do a quick 20min paint before i went to bed to get back into it. I need to practice, and my cloud brush...

love me!

Though i'd say what im thinking, hehe :D

Guinea MiG...

Ok so ive roughly blocked out my MiG. Have used 3 shapes, one for the main fuselage, one for the tail and another for the engine (all mirrored at the moment).

Am quite pleased with it, though i need to go into more detail in some areas, such as the canopy, and get the roundness. I'm only 1,300 tris in so I've got plenty to play with.

Untill next time...

MiGing it out...

Quick screenshot of it so far. Keeping it simple and getting the overall shape down first. Trying not to add detail that isnt needed at this point.

Fucking MiGnificant....

Ok so I've settled in fine, and the works going well..... but there has been a lack of activity on this blog recently, so I've decided to get of my arse and do something constructive with my spare time.

I have to say that working on computers all day, coming home and settling into a max project, doesnt sound like a break, which I suppose is natural right?

So I've decided that do motivate myself, I have to work on something fucking cool...

Thats right, just something that will hold my interest and make me want to model. So I've decided to model......wait for it....


a MiG 29......there's not much to say other than it's fucking cool.

The designs of MiGs have always struck me as what a fighter jet looks like. They really are an icon, a real Russian success. So my plan is to model in max, because I've been using maya for the past 2 months, and even though I have slowly been getting used to it, I don't want to loose touch with max. My theory is that if i keep working on both of them at the same time, I won't loose any skill on them, whilst slowly gaining skill!

My plan is to first model the plane and really get the textures down. I want to see an old, rusty, war torn relic thats seen it's fair share of combat, which means plenty of grime, and wear. I think this will mostly be in the textures, making sure i get the panels looking good and working into areas that are likely to recieve wear.


When this is finished, I want a nice environment to put this in, so im thinking a hangar, with lots of equipment about, tools, missles and bombs ready to be loaded on.

This will also be a great oppertunity to set my rendering skills up and really give it some atmosphere. I havent set myself a tri limit as per-say, but I dont really want to exceed 8,000 tris for the MiG, and I think the environment will be quite simple, setting up and putting the most focus on the MiG. As time constraints go, I'm aiming to have it done within an month, but we'll see...

Off I go...

So the time has finally come, after about 6 months or so of waiting, to jet of to Munich, Germany to start my internship at BMW.

This really is an amazing opportunity that I've come across and to think it was a normal day, lunch time, sitting in my friends workshop eating lunch that someone mentioned it to me. It was pretty lucky I guess, right place at the right time and it really is weird to see what a brilliant chance to get ahead it has turned into. It just goes to show that you should go for it, no matter how small the chance, you have nothing to lose.

I think it just goes to show the talent that is on our course and how underestimated game art is. I really regard myself as lucky when I think that anyone, that's right anyone, on our course is good enough be in my shoes. I simply knuckled down on my car modelling skills and managed to impress my prospective employer, just as other people on our course have really worked hard to build their skills, and it shows. I really do believe that the people I've worked with in Game Art Design are some of the most talented and enthusiastic people I've ever been around.

I'll be leaving on Wednesday and I'm really looking forward to it. I guess it's a chance to start something fresh in a new place. I'm going to take in as much as humanly possible whilst I'm there, even if it may not realated game art. Knowledge of how other people doing things is key, and will enable you to explore different methods of getting things done.

I'm also really looking forward to settling in to Munich and learning to speak German well. I have been learning over the past few months and I have enjoyed it, but it will take time, and hopefully being in social situations will make me want to learn even more.

I plan to keep making game related models during my spare time, and hopefully find somewhere I can do life drawing. I will definitely keep posting and using the facebook, which I have found to be a great way of displaying work and critting.

Even though I will be back next year I'm sad to leave everyone in my year. I've had a great time with all of you, and I'm disappointed that I won't get to work with and along side you guys. I wish you the best of luck in your futures, and I know I'm going to be seeing your names roll down the credits screen real soon.

Aufedersein...

I like blue...

A bit more photo montaging with a max scene...maybe I should try a different colour :)

Water under the bridge...

So this is another play around with a max scene I made. I find this is a really quick way of starting a paint, ok so it may not be conventional painting, but it it cuts your time down and increases efficiency and precision then I'm all for it.

Right, next...

Layer crazy...

OK so here's another experiment with textures and over lays. I used a scene I whacked together in max using my car that I made a while back, and let loose with the textures and contast.

To get the overlays I would simply make a copy of the whole or part of the picture and distort it by squashing and using the perspective tool. Then mess around with then opacity and layer mode.

I'm quite pleased with the outcome :D

A lengthy pit stop...

This is my summer project, even though I havent worked on it in a few months.

Its my Ferrari 158, model of 1964, which also won the world championship that year.

It's close to 6,000 tris at the moment, and with only a bit of the engine to do and the wheels to dupe, it should easilly make the 9,000 budget...thats if I get round to it :)

My next little project is to make my own car, a VW Polo...lets get cracking!

Paint to the max!

Ok, another quick paint, used a max scene and messed about with textures

high contrast...

It's been a while but I've picked up the wacom pen again.

Have been playing mirrors edge and wow, what a game. Its seems to have gone fairly unoticed but its fresh look and cool game mechanics (along with the awesome tattoo designs they've got) made it a really good game for me, and only £15! pick it up if you get the chance.

So yeah this ones kinda inspired buy that, i've really like messing with the levels lately and getting a vibrant, high contrast image.


This other one is a quick paint of an industrial city


There'll be more to come soon

and into second...

ahh so I'm not about 3-4 hours into project I'd guess. I'm kind of disappointed because I'd thought I'd have more done by now, but it's true whats they say...you cant rush art :p

I've pretty much got the body work sorted. It has been more challenging than I thought, and I'm sure it'll get harder before the end. Anyway here are some view port shots, it's a smudge under 600 Tris at the moment, and I'm working to a budget of 9,000 so I've got a fair amount of lee-way.
More to come soon...

And it's go Go GOOOO!

Ok, so I'm back, after a rather rude interruption by a stomach bug, but the important thing is I'm back to do some work.

I've chosen the F1 car and driver project as I really want to improve on my car models, and it's something I really enjoy.

Ive chosen to model the 1964 Ferrari 158 (oooh yes, vintage). There are several reasons for this. Firstly modern formula one teams are HIGHLY secretive, and therefore, are near impossible to get good quality blueprints or orthographic projections for. This is quite annoying as some of the modern ones have really refined, slimline designs, full of fins and gills.

Secondly I think there's something really cool about the model I've chosen. It has a really smooth body but then at the back it's full of pipes and engine components sticking out everywhere.

I also chose this model because it's got a very unique look to it, and its true that you could model a Peugeot 106 brilliantly... but at the end of the day, it's still a Peugeot 106 ( I'm not say that it's not a good car, just that it won't have the same impact on the viewer)

So I'll be around In the labs from Wednesday since I'm heading back to London for a few days for a certain someones birthday (mine). If anyone wants to practice their car modeling I've got a great video tutorial that helped me get to grips with them. Give me a shout if you want to 'borrow' it ;)

We're getting close...

Well assessment time is closing in, and everything seems a bit weird, why... because I'm not that busy!

Come assessment time though out my life I've always bin tremendously busy in those few final days, but this time I'm quite pleased with my planning. Don't get me wrong I've been working pretty hard, I just don't seem as stressed.

Over the past week I've been working on my land sea air yacht project and the cultural walks project. I've mainly been developing my work and producing a final outcome. I like to show my development and I think it's very important when giving a presentation, but it's always good to have final polished images to show.

As far as my presentation goes, I'm going to keep it simple. I don't want to distract people from the images, In my view, as long as the images are interesting and displayed in a pleasing manner, you should need lots going on in the background with fade effects (I personally can't stand those crappy PowerPoint animations and over the top fades).

I must say that I took a peek at the summer project, and am very enticed. The main ones that have caught my eye are...

The formula 1 car and driver - since I really enjoyed doing my BMW, and an f1 car seems like a real challenge!


Rain forest crash site and survivor - I want to try and compete with the uncharted environments because they are quite simply stunning!


Harley and Hells Angels - Because Harley's are awesome and Full Throttle was a work of genius!


So we'll see, maybe I can get 3 done over the summer, I don't think that's unrealistic....

Over the finish line...

Well it's finally done, I bumped it up with turbosmooth to get some super looking renders, but don't worry I've still got the lower poly one, clocks in at about 15,000 polys think, overall I'm happy, I was going to try and get some sexy looking vray renders of it, but max being max doesn't want to.

I don't think I'm going to have time to texture it this side of easter, with assessments next week, but it's on my to-do list, along with a whoooole bunch of other stuff...

Are we there yet?

phew, this thing's taking its toll on me...

Zoom zoom zoom

Quick update, a few more pics of my bmw m5. I'm pleased with how its coming along, slowly but surely...

Zoom zoom

So the other day I thought to myself... I want to model a car... so I did.

I'm not that far into it and I've probably got quite a way to go on it, but at the moment I'm pleased with it and I havn't gone into rediculus detail...yet.

My aim in this project is to get some really nice final renders, hopefully using vray, and making a car body surface that is convincing. Part of me wants to do this as a saftey net incase I don't get a job after uni, and 3d car modeling is a big thing within the car industry. Who's knows maybe I'll be lucky enough to get an placement with one.

This blog's looking a bit dusty...

Ok I'm back, yeah I know it's been a while but I though I'd return to tell you what Ive been up with lately.

So we've finished our group projects and I can say I'm really happy with our final level. It feels great to finally see something finished after working on it for such a long time, 8 weeks I think. We set out to make a realistic and current version of the lecture theatre only with a an un-detonated rocket crash landed in it. For me it was hard to create clean textures that look good. With my environment project everything was grimy and messed up a bit so it was possible to use loads of photo overlays and custom brushes to create textures that look good, but when I have to make clean, untouched textures they just don't seem to look as good. I guess it's something I have to work on.


On the drawing side of things I've nearly finished my layout pad in which I was doing the Land Air Sea yacht project. I started with the Inuit culture an moved ton from there to dog sleds and eventually ice speeder things. I really love using markers and keeping things sketchy.

Black Hawk Down

This weeks film was a real treat since it's one of my favourite films. Black Hawk Down is about a mission that took place in Somalia, when the U.S. Rangers and Delta Force attempted to capture people associated with a renegade warlord. The mission goes horribly wrong when a U.S. Black Hawk helicopter is shot down and what was planned as capture mission turned into a rescue mission.The Film is beautifully directed by Ridley Scott. The way it is shot makes you think that every single shot was carefully planned out and shot, and this is evident in the special features disc. I'd really recommend everyone to watch the extras disc if you can get a hold of it. It shows the storyboarding phase well and all the preparation and thoughts that go into the film.

Black Hawk Down also features and A list cast, with the likes of Eric Bana, Tom Sizemore, Ewan McGregor, Josh Hartnett and William Fichtner, all of which attended a boot camp to ensure the all acted and moved like real soldiers.

The sound in this film is also exceptional, every shot, explosion and ricochet makes you feel a part of the whole experience, and at the end of the day, that's what it's all about.

I'm not going to go on and on about how great this film is, so I'll say one more thing...watch it and be blown away.

Michael is the Mann

This weeks film was Collateral. I've been looking forward to watching this ever since Mike mentioned it, and I have to say its one of my favourite films, OK so I've got a fair few favourites but it's still up there.

First of all I have to say that I love the looks of every Michael Mann film I've seen, there's something about them which gives them style whilst looking different from each other. Miami Vice was another good one which I think used the whole digital camera technique, not to mention Crockett and Tubbs are as cool as a cucumber with shades.


I think that Jamie Foxx played the part of the unlucky and stressed out cab driver well having his freak out moments and doing all he can to escape the situation without success. Tom Cruise also fitted right into the role, showing a cool, calm and collected hit man, who possibly couldn't be any cooler with a gun.

The clash of the very different characters is interesting, Vincent (Tom Cruise) living in the moment and improvising, which is what most of his hits come down to, whilst Max (Jamie Foxx) being a planner, having a schedule, just like with his limo company he is setting up.

The colours used in the film are also worth talking about, with it's acidic colours making L.A. a bleak and seedy looking place.

If you enjoyed this film you really must check out some of Michael Mann's others...

The Kingdom, Miami Vice and Heat

A different kind of horror

So after much wait our next film for Wednesday afternoons was United 93...and it left me pretty much speechless.

When I first heard they were making a film on the events of 9/11 I was disappointed. The thought of Hollywood cashing in on 9/11 is quite frankly disgusting, but after seeing it, I can say it was one of the most shocking, moving and nerve-racking pieces of film making I have ever seen.

I think that the fact that you already knew what was going to happen and you couldn't stop it, was what really made it effective. There are no A-list actors in the film, which I think is a good thing, since it makes it feel more real and that this was something that happened to ordinary people.

Knowing that this film was as accurate to real life as possible, even using the exact radio transcripts and people, made it hit home just that little bit harder.

This really is a film you have to see, I didn't believe it before I saw it, and it's true that you remember where you were when you first heard the news. I had just finished school, Geography sixth period, and was getting a lift home from my mum. I got in the car and she said "Have you heard....

Chasing my goals...literally

I can have the tendency to become quite lazy with my exercise. I know it's something very important in life, and since in mine I could spend five to six hours a day sitting in front of a screen (and that's just working) it seems like I should put more effort into it.

I usually go running for about 45 minutes at a time, down by the river and along to Abbey park and back, but I haven't gone at all this side of Christmas. I guess I'm quite lucky in the fact that I don't put on weight easily, but to me exercise is something that will make me feel good about myself.

Taking this into account it should be something I do more often, because I'm sure that it will show in my work. Well, enough talking, I'm off for a run!

BANG and the lecture's gone!

I have to say I thouroughly enjoyed working this week, it's been such a good change of working style. We have started our group projects to make Queens building into something special. We have started out well and have got the key component, communication.

Communication is key to the result of this project, with so many people working on it (ok, six) a breakdown in communication can prove disasterous. We've all been in the labs working together everday and are constantly discussing things, showing work, and building what I think is going to be a great end product.

One of my main tasks for this project is to research, design and model the missile that will have crash landed into one of the lectures theatres. I started well by doing a ton of research and have decided on the beastly, yet sleek Taurus KEPD 350 missile. It's a really nice looking piece of kit with amazing capabilities, which is great because it will be the the focal point of the room.

I have started by sketching the missile and testing out colour schemes for it using magic markers (which, by the way, are my new found love) and research all sorts of facts and statistics for it so that I can fully understand the object that i'm going to be creating, and to make sure it is believable that it is in this scene.

Today I also emailed the makers of the missile, Taurus Systems, to ask if it is possible to get some autographic pictures of the missile to model it from. This will make it a lot eaiser to model, and will improve the accuracy of it.

They managed to email me back within two hours, which I think is really decent of them, saying they would like to help us but will need to know the synopsis of the level. I will be emailing them back either tonight or tomorrow, but I am not sure whether they will like our scenario since the missile will be crashing into a civilian building after taking evasive action, but you never know.

My Environment

Heres a few more renders of my environment. I think some of the textures could use dirtying up, like the bricks for example, but it didn't come out very well when I tried, because of the tiling, Baaah Humbug.

To Start a fresh...

I have to say that I'm REALLY looking forward to starting work again. No, it's not that I've missed it or anything but the fact that I get to work on something new.

I always find that If I work on something for too long I will get bored, I suppose its inevitable and probably natural, jus like I prefere doing speed paintings that last about an hour rather than painting longer ones.

So I'm looking forward to a new challenge, notably the group project, because it'll give us the chance to combine our talents and create something really special.

I handed in my powerpoint presentation today, so i'll give ya all a sneak preview.