Gettin' ma' Zoo 'Orn

Some of the sketches I did at the Zoo at the weekend.  With and without a colour treatment.

Style Exercise

(CLICKY FOR BIGGER)

Recently I've had the opportunity to undertake an exercise that I've been wanting to do for some time.  That is, to take an archetypal character with a pleasing yet basic design and transpose it across various styles.

As you can see, I decided to do a barbarian/viking style character.  This exercise threw up a few things that I didnt expect.

I started at the Dexter's Lab type one then literally worked up in terms of proportion and detail.  Then I did the Sword & Sorcery style one.  I found myself struggling at the more hyper realistic end of the spectrum, not due to technical ability but more due to the constraints on the pose that I wanted to remain constant throughout.  I've learnt that much of what I deem a successful hyper real character relies (for me at least) on powerful and interesting posing and gestures.  Plus I had to create and embellish more detail than what was created further down stream.

Also worth noting that the pixel one was a hell'a fun to do and those who know me expect pixel style xmas cards this year.  Honestly, its like drawing with lego and takes minutes.

This exercise isnt really about favourites but more a method of breaking down and analysing popular styles and applying that treatment to a design of my own (warts and all)

Taking the Pith

For some reason I had the compulsion to make a character out of an old friend of mine who plays in a band. Here it is...

And here is the bands link:
http://www.boneyardjunction.co.uk/

Macy's First Bike!

I fancied doing a straight paint sketch.. no grey scale, no line work.. just paint.  Head down and dont think about it painting.

Woodland Paint

Here's another stylized paint.

Something a little softer

Not sure what this is, just some lunch time whimsy (thats sounds rude for some reason)

More Character Work

Still trying to work out my process, but I think that'll come by just doing more and more so they look a little less 'try hard'

Character Work

Just a little break from the cuter side of my stuff.  Trying to work out an approach for more hyper real characters

LI'L GODS v Air Jordan Mash up

I had a brainwave the other day to play up Hermes' winged boots a little, after all that's kind of his thing in lieu of a weapon. I had the idea of doing an Air Jordan style mash up and couldn't shake it so here is it.. out of my system.

To Mount Olympus!

EDIT: Pushed the palette and mood

Isometric!

A few months ago I did some preproduction work on a new iOS app (Now called My SeaPark).  My role was to define the style, branding etc...  I was surprised how therapeutic creating isometric buildings actually was!

The game is free to play and should hit iTunes in the next couple of weeks.  The game is from DR Studios

It's - a - Me!

Hey, sooo.. I got some work featured in this months Imagine FX.  Granted it's old work now but still.  It would be easy for me to quantify it and rationalise it down and suck all the fun out of it but it's a tough life as an artist so I think you have to enjoy the wins, not matter how small.

Lil Gods - Griff Redesign

One of may favourite characters that I previously designed for Lil Gods was the Gryphon.  Although he has strong lines and shape it was very limiting when it came to neck articulation.  So I decided to revamp him.  And here he is.

Air Travel + iPad+ Sketchbook Pro =

Nothing too awesome just some iPad life sketches.  It's just too weird using your finger (as it were)

Lil Gods - 'Fuego' The Phoenix

Another fo' y'all, Honestly, I could have kept on and on with one. Lots of fun.

Lil Gods - The 'Rapid' Ship

Now look, don't be mad.. I can explain. I've been busy, its not you. It's been me. Anyway here I am cap in hand with my latest offering. Hopefully you'll find it within yourself to forgive me.

Those of you who have been following the blog for a while may remember My Lil' Gods. For those of you how have no idea of what this is then shame on you!, Nah its cool. I barely know what it is to be honest. Until recently that is. I recently had some very kind comments about it that have reinvigorated my enthusiasm for it so I'll mostly likely be boring you all with more or this stuff in the coming weeks/months. If anyone out there has any comments or suggestion please feel free to let me know.

Quick update

Just a quick note to le you know I've not abandoned the blog or anything. I've simply started a new contract which leaves me little time for personal musings.

I do have some stuff brewing so do keep checking. Thanks I DO appreciate it

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.

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.

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.

The Acending

Colour Thumbs

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.

Sketcheeeess

it was a nice day. I went for a walk. I did some drawing. The end :)

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

A quick sketch interlude

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.

Character work up

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

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 .

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.

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)

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

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

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.

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

Matte Paint (kinda) - Revenge!

Here's another scene. It's loosely based on Photograph but not that much.

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!!