Wednesday, November 16, 2011

More Portrait Studies



As before these are about the hour mark.The woman was done is two sittings and it kinda shows. The asian guy displays some of my confidence coming through. I may do another female (as it were) and either start some studies from assorted angles and maybe even try and do an actual picture of a family member.

Wednesday, November 09, 2011

A Traditional Approach


As I mentioned, I wanted to start working on some realistic faces. Here is the pick from the first batch. Both about an hour or less. Easily the hardest part of these is starting and just allowing them to develop. I find as soon as I start trying too hard or force them I get too frustrated and then it starts to unravel.

Monday, October 31, 2011

Speed Portrait Study


Just a 20 min painting. It occurred to me I haven't done alot of realistic faces so thought I'd try start to rectify it. I haven't included the source image as the point for me was to study faces rather than meticulously copy a photo, especially in 20 - 30 mins or so.

EDIT - Ive removed the image due to the fact Im doing some more so I thought it would be nice to have a page of numerous faces so watch this space.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Quick WIP

I've pinched a pose from posemaniacs and thought I'd use it in a 'piece' here are the quick brainstorms. Let me know your thoughts.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Thursday, September 08, 2011

It's not supposed to be Iron Man..honest

Another inspired by that character brainstorm sheet, which, ironically has probably dropped off this page by this very image.

On a side note you can find me on twitter @jpickthall ....be warned I spout all sorts

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Clever Girl!

I started this with a mind to house the gazelle type character I did in the previous post but I just couldn't get it to sit. Rather than let it go to waste I, for some reason, decided to do a Lost World style pic.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Character work up

No point creating some swish silhouette designs only not to taken 'em further right? so here is one.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Trying to get my swagger on...

I'm trying to work on a more cinematic feel to my work. I'm not really satisfied yet but its a step in the right direction. This took about 2 hours .

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Lunchtime Speedpaint

I liked quite a few of the characters from the previous blog post, they all had potential. So, I decided (with a little input from Dan McDaid) to work a few of 'em up. Quick look! here is one now!. Also, it saves me reinventing the wheel every single time I want to do artwork. Just so as you know this is all personal development stuff, I'm doing VERY little art during work time these days.

Monday, August 01, 2011

Learning Mudbox




Those of you who follow my blog know Im no stranger to 3D. I moved away from 3D as the technical V creative balanced shifted dramatically. Dont get me wrong I can 'do' technical but it doesnt float my boat and you dont get the instant gratification you get from 2D art. I use a bit of 3D to block out scenes and what-not.


Mudbox was one of those packages I opened every now and again and though "yeah I could use that" but never actually did. I have a bit of license at the minute to learn it so I thought why not? Here is the result of an afternoons work. Hey, Im not saying its great or original but felt duty bound to show, afterall a blog is for showing ideas and experimenting (those who want to cast a more critcal eye head over to my portfolio site www.jasonpickthall.com for what I consider is my strongest work)

Friday, July 22, 2011

Mind Dump



Its been a little while, not sure why.. I've had things perculating here and there. In the mean time here is a page of character thumbnails

Monday, June 27, 2011

Sci Fi Racer

Here is the final design and finished treatment. I feel I've pushed it as far as I can. I like it, feels like the late nineties were never gone I will certainly look into doing another one or two of the other designs. I'll add that to the backlog of projects I 'mean' to do

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

5 years

Okay, I know this isn’t a visual update but it’s the 5th anniversary of when I started this blog! Probably doesn’t sound like a huge deal. For me though this was when I decided to set aside my 3D skills, which were pretty good. I was Senior and Lead and even got employed overseas. It would have been easy to live off this but the roles but with next gen technology they were becoming less and less creative and after working with some great concept artists at Krome in Australia I was so envious I had to make the first step in a long journey.

In one respect 5 years sounds like a long time but I think with the progression Ive made its no time at all. I’m now getting senior concept roles, being sounded out about lead roles and even getting a few interesting nibbles, none of which I can divulge at the minute but will once anything becomes concrete.

I’ve taken a little time to look at the start of the blog to see where I was 5 years ago. Of course I wasn’t a complete n00b but there is definite development. I may pick a couple of old pics and revist them.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Total Wipeout



I recently downloaded Wipeout Fury HD for the PS3 and I always loved te wipeout style and general design republic vibe. I've always meant to do something similar, as much as an exercise in graphic design and layout as concept art. Here are the initial sketches and ideas. Expect a finished design soon so watch this space

Thursday, June 02, 2011

Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Shamelesss Plug - BUG WINGS for iPhone & iPad









Yeah I know a blog of any kind is self promotion (read also self indulgent) but Im just posting up a game (or 'app' to use apple parlance) myself and my colleagues worked on and the fact its now live and actually available to buy.




We are kinda chuffed with this seeing as we did it in around 4 weeks plus I did all the art. By 'all' I do mean all, from the launch icon, models,textures, art direction, UI, cough-animation-cough through to the promotional trailers.


Its official website is - http://www.bugwings.net/


The game itself is a gliding target game. You launch yourself from a leaf, tap to open your wings and use the tilt and tap controls to glide your bug to land on a high scoring flower trying and to hit as much bonuses on the way. Be warned, its pretty tough but it'll keep you coming back for more.


It's available now, quick go buy!!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Matte Paint - New York Jungle



A bit of a shift of gear here. I'd noticed that alot of concept art seem to make heavy use of photographic material so I thought I'd give it a whirl. Im a bit of a purist usually and like to paint everything but Im beginning to learn that its a results business and it's a legitimate way to create concepts without reinventing the wheel everytime.

Friday, May 13, 2011

Arcade Classic Reboot - Rolling Thunder

The other day a friend of mine and I were going on a little nostalgia trip thinking about old school arcade games. One game we both agreed on was Rolling Thunder. The problem was that when I googled it the character was nowhere near as badass as I remember or indeed as he deserved to be. So I thought it high time he has a make over. Also one of the key things I remembered was the pink and green palette, turns out this iconic colour scheme was reserved for the henchmen, so I thought I'd try and bring that to his sartorial redesign.

I really enjoyed this one, not only the character but the whole treatment. Got me thinking of other characters that were over due a reboot. Watch this space.

Thursday, May 05, 2011

Zoo Sketches (Part 2)







Here is the last of the zoo sketches. I tried to 'get' the lemurs but a) they dont stand still and b) well there isnt really a 'b'. Doing these reminded me of the meercats I did September time, difference being I didnt manage to destill my sketches into simple elegant lines. My daughter, who was getting over chicken pox was tired and wanted to go home, next time lemurs....next time!!

Wednesday, May 04, 2011

Zoo sketches (Part 1)











On Easter Sunday I visited another zoo which is pretty close to me, Whipsenade. So obviously I got my sketch on. the Hippo is my fave

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Happy (belated) Easter

Just some fun. I enjoyed this one, been a while since I could say that

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Sharpie





Here is my latest sketchbook offering. Still trying to get in shape again. I went for the sharpie (brave I hear you cry) I quite liked it but didnt factor in that it would bleed through to subsequent pages (Doh!)

Ive got to try and find a new angle on these as even though these are only from the second sketchbook session I feel like Im treading old ground. Any thoughts or suggestions please feel free to share.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Spring Sketches





It's that time of the year again. Yup, get the old sketchbook and out and start using physical media. Man, it was tough again. Not so much the quality but having the guts to just jump straight in, and the speed! oh, I need to get quicker. Anyways. Hopefully more coming soon. I may even indulge and do some on my iPad but I really want to finish this sketchbook.


As before these were literally seconds worth of work in order to capture a gesture or pose.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Testing Photoshop


I've been having hassle with Photoshop (doesnt everyone amirite!? high five anyone?) I tried a few things then tested out for painting and this kind of happened. Dont none of you greys anantomy pedants tell me its all out, I know it is but hey 20 mins what do you expect :)


EDIT: added a colour treatment

Saturday, February 19, 2011

iPad + Artrage + 2 minutes

My first 'passable' sketch on the iPad. Sketching on the iPad has potential though if I brought it for that purpose I'd be a little disappointed, obviously its not pressure sensitive but also a little 'laggy' Still I'll work a method out that works, it's just a different digital medium. So excuse the lo-fi nature of these sketches and dont judge them against my more complete pieces.