New work from yet another CA nooblet ( UPDATE 6/24/10 website work edits page 5)

[Eric Lofgren]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/sho...d.php?t=162597

I appreciate you man, I hope you enjoy it.

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Saw those already (although I didn't get a chance to comment on them yet). That first one is simply out of this world. The second one is good, but the first is pure perfection. Which only makes me want more

Seriously, man, you are an inspiration.

[jasonmorgan]

are you kidding me?

admit it, you got in your time machine, went to the far future and took a pic and now your trying to pass it off as PS work.

very nice stuff

[Cryptcrawler]

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Saw those already (although I didn't get a chance to comment on them yet). That first one is simply out of this world. The second one is good, but the first is pure perfection. Which only makes me want more

Seriously, man, you are an inspiration.

Eric thank you so much!
Yeah the second work doesnt have the soul I wanted it to - it feels technicaly better but the feeling isnt there. Im always fascinated by what makes some works "have it" and other works feel empty.

The misses are more important than the hits to me - you learn so much more and they always help you tune into your gut more; when I was working on that one I had a feeling I might be talking myself into a feeling that wasnt there, but wasnt 100% sure.
Now that ive gotten to taste that failure again it just brings me closer to identifying it in the future and hopefully avoiding it.

All the best - take care!

are you kidding me?

admit it, you got in your time machine, went to the far future and took a pic and now your trying to pass it off as PS work.

very nice stuff

Alright, you busted me!
Thanks very, very much for that compliment jason!

Very best wishes to you

[Eric Lofgren]

Eric thank you so much!
Yeah the second work doesnt have the soul I wanted it to - it feels technicaly better but the feeling isnt there. Im always fascinated by what makes some works "have it" and other works feel empty.

The misses are more important than the hits to me - you learn so much more and they always help you tune into your gut more; when I was working on that one I had a feeling I might be talking myself into a feeling that wasnt there, but wasnt 100% sure.
Now that ive gotten to taste that failure again it just brings me closer to identifying it in the future and hopefully avoiding it.

All the best - take care!

Just as a couple cents, I might suggest that the composition and setting, not to mention the lighting, really add a much more heightened sense of drama and mystery (and sheer terror) to the first, compared to what the same elements do for the second. The side lighting from the window, with the shadows from the blinds, the cramped composition taking place in a seemingly incongruously normal setting with absolute horror in the midst of it all. All those things have come together perfectly in 'We Are the First...'. As I said previously, the second piece is great in it's own right, but the sheer dramatic impact of the first is much more apparent. So much so that 'We Are the First...' is sublimely unnerving to look at. Which is a good thing in this case.

Just a couple thoughts from a viewer's fevered brain

[HunterKiller_]

Nothing else I can add to the compliments already given about your fantastic work.

I would like to add that your humble words are of equal inspiration and I hope everybody is appreciating the fact that you're replying to every single comment.

Sometimes it bums me out that some guys and gals sell themselves short so quickly. I cant count how many times ive heard "..I cant spend more than 3 hours on a piece" or "...the most ive ever worked on something was a day".

I'm really glad you said this. I say that shit all the time... but you've reminded me the importance of spending time.

[Cryptcrawler]

Just as a couple cents, I might suggest that the composition and setting, not to mention the lighting, really add a much more heightened sense of drama and mystery (and sheer terror) to the first, compared to what the same elements do for the second. The side lighting from the window, with the shadows from the blinds, the cramped composition taking place in a seemingly incongruously normal setting with absolute horror in the midst of it all. All those things have come together perfectly in 'We Are the First...'. As I said previously, the second piece is great in it's own right, but the sheer dramatic impact of the first is much more apparent. So much so that 'We Are the First...' is sublimely unnerving to look at. Which is a good thing in this case.

Just a couple thoughts from a viewer's fevered brain

I like your fevered brain!
Damn man thanks very much for giving me the technical lowdown.
Im self-taught, so I dont really know what all of the catch phrases mean or am familiar with all the rules of art theory, but I pick up more and more as time goes on from guys like you.
Im really glad it had that dramatic eerie impact, thats honestly something that im quite obsessed with capturing.

All the best eric, I appreciate your time and knowledge.

Nothing else I can add to the compliments already given about your fantastic work.

I would like to add that your humble words are of equal inspiration and I hope everybody is appreciating the fact that you're replying to every single comment.



I'm really glad you said this. I say that shit all the time... but you've reminded me the importance of spending time.

Hey thanks HK!
Im sympathetic to the fact that folks get frustrated and want the work done overnight, we all do. I dunno, personally I just love to draw.
If I dont get to draw over 6 hours a day, everyday - at the least - I get incredibly unhappy, incredibly fast; its just the way im built.
Thankfully ive got a very loving, supportive wife who understands that ill simply go off the deep end if I dont get to draw that much.

As for answering every comment: shit, thats the least I can do.
To make a long, stupid story short: Ive seen a lot in life; im lucky to be alive and I feel blessed to have others interested in my art enough to take the time to say so.
That is something that will always be a privilege and an honor for me, not a given.
Especially in a place like this.


Thanks again!
Very best to you.

[Beelow]

This piece is really strong. Sometimes you hit and miss, but you nailed this piece. Textures everything. Keep posting and thanks for sharing.

[keith eager]

This is just scary... Rock solid structures, I really thought you were painting over a mesh there. So much to learn here...

[KennethHunter]

ooooh so good

[Dizon]

Your work just astounds me! LOL

Do you use 3d for these? Or are these actually painted from scratch?

[PxelSlayer]

Drooled looking at this piece of art - check
Banged my head against the table - check
Made a *sigh, I`ll NEVER be this good* - check
Saved to My Documents for further analysis and dissection -check

Congratulated....

CONGRATULATIONS!


...check!

[Ian Barker]

Cryptcrawler... you rule. Seriously man, way to go.

[Cryptcrawler]

This piece is really strong. Sometimes you hit and miss, but you nailed this piece. Textures everything. Keep posting and thanks for sharing.

Thanks very much Beelow!
Its far from perfect but I feel like I was able to capture something on this one. That feeling is much more elusive than id like it to be so im going to run with it, hee hee!
Thanks!

This is just scary... Rock solid structures, I really thought you were painting over a mesh there. So much to learn here...

Theres so much to learn in art, period!
I feel like I have such a long way to go and I get my ass kicked when I come to CA.Org everyday by the incredible talent around here, its a great time to be an artist.
Im glad you dig it, I hope my future work continues to please!

ooooh so good

Thanks so much!

Your work just astounds me! LOL

Do you use 3d for these? Or are these actually painted from scratch?

Painted from scratch.
I dont have the slightest idea how to even use 3d programs. In fact my entire style and approach was born from just that; wanting to create 3d but basically being too stupid to pick it up and get a feel for it. I even tried going to school for it once and found myself getting outclassed by 17 year olds while I was still struggling to make a fuckin cube.

So I decided to try and create 3d with 2d, and im still trying, but its changed into wanting to capture life and mood instead of just raw realism.

I owe a lot to my failures in pursuing 3d because without them I wouldnt have this unquenchable passion for 2d art.

Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Drooled looking at this piece of art - check
Banged my head against the table - check
Made a *sigh, I`ll NEVER be this good* - check
Saved to My Documents for further analysis and dissection -check

Congratulated....

CONGRATULATIONS!


...check!

Haha!

Thanks so much man I appreciate the praise, it really means a lot to me.

But you cant cut yourself short like that. You CAN realize your ambitions in art if you have just a sliver of talent.

Dont decide youll never get there without trying.

Dont ask yourself what are you willing to do to get better, ask yourself what you are willin to give up to get better.

This is all about time, all about practice and to create time you have to sacrifice things. Do it, do it with abandon and dont look back and walk into that world of imagination and light - you wont be sorry.

Cryptcrawler... you rule. Seriously man, way to go.

I appreciate that, Liffey, thanks!

Ill tell you what really does rule though -its folks taking the time to give me encouragement for what I do, it means so very much to me and will always mean more than the money ever will.


Deep thanks to all for the comments, your time really means a lot to me.
God bless,
Brad

[Suikostar]

u're just amazing with how u play w/ lightings in all ur paintings.. ok, the correct art theory may probably not be anything to do w/ lighting (because i really don't know since i'm not an art scholar).. but, the lightings in your works is so wonderful.

[Velocity Kendall]

Mate, love the work, love reading about it in your feedback-feedback, my face got melted by the awesome. Please, please do more machines and architecture images this is so sweet

[Cryptcrawler]

So I finally nabbed a little time to work on some banner art for my blogspot mainpage and this is what I came up with for the top banner.
I have another version with bloody lettering all over that left window there, which ill release when the blog goes live... which will be sometime within the next 99 years if I can come up for air at some point from the contract work ive got going on in addition to working out a class framework for my instructing gig for TAD.

I tried some new things on this; some softer lines, some more mystery in the background and intentionally left some other things undescribed, in addition to using a sort of chunky, noisey texture in some areas.
Im trying to find a balance I like between rendering the living crap out of everything and keeping a strong atmosphere; my tendency is to get in there at like 600% and make it all super-tight, and while ill always do that for the majority of my work im also finding that im really digging strategically leaving some stuff softer and dirtier.

I have to put myself in positions where ill try new things or ill just rigidly stick to whats comfy and you never learn that way.

I hope you guys dig

Image title: Thralls to the 7th Throne

[Hive_minD]

Awesome mate! As usual! I am really looking forward to your class on the online program! Just hope I don't drown myself even more in work. But I am going to make the best of it even though two jobs + school could take over here and there. But good thing is I am not always a big sleeper

Chris

[Ivan Turcin]

Respect, this is awesome piece of yours. My only suggestion would be regarding the honda machine - what could be interesting is to have a smoke, or a flying paper under it, or anything that would make it "alive". As its levitating at the moment. Just so we can feel this slightly movement... one inch up and down I know, it sounds too much but... hm, maybe it is
Anyway, you are my greatest inspiration. Keep up the hard work!

[Maximilian S]

Hi, really nice new piece. I think that this new one is a progression in the way that you've balanced the rendering and the atmosphere, keeping key areas, like the face of the main figure, tight and bringing your signature rendering style to them, while really emphasising the otherworldly nature of the scene and the essential horror of it, by hinting at the background and the decay on the figures robes. For me, the reality and the fantasy of this image are perfectly meshed, making it much more real than if it were all very definitely described, or given over entirely to a more impressionistic take. I hope that makes sense. If I had to crit this piece, I would say that the lines directly to the left of the main figures head seem arbitrary. It's a small thing though, and I only mention it because I feel like I have to crit something because I don't want to come across like an ass kisser, although the truth is that everything I see by you just makes me smile and want/need to get better. Thanks. Anyway, enough from me, I'm eating into your drawing time.

[Metal Fingers]

Awesome man, really great. I was torn between your sketchbook class and fundamentals of light and form but unfortunately I went with the latter. If I can get into some part time classes again I'd love to pick up the class at some point. Is it all going to be ideation and thumbnail type stuff? Keep up all the hard work dude man, cheers!

[DeKal]

of course youd have a bloody mouth for your banner image. to remind weak artists that they can get eatin alive. haha. cant wait for the blog dude. i hope the graphic novel is comin along well. havnt checked that thread in a little while.

[Novbert]

Some thoughts about that last piece:
Generally the composition is a bit boring. I see you tried to shift the focal point to the right a bit but as you sticked to those figures and blue lights on both sides of the central figure at almost equally the same distance and arrangement it could have been a better idea to make it a totally symmetrical, kinda 'iconic' composition (better described here) - maybe it's just me but this shifted symmetry line thing really hurts my eyes.
I like the color scheme and the way you create focus by playing with cool and warm, but I simply can't figure out why the teeth of that guy are glowing red. Is there an upper light source somwhere in the front of that figure, that for some reason only shines on his teeth? Maybe that was your intention (and those highlights on the upper parts of the teeth also suggest it) but even in this case the upper lip shoud cast shadow on those upper teeth so we shouldnt see too much lights (not to mention highlights) on them. And I guess that a lightsource of this kind would somehow affect the surroundings too - the sides of the mouth and maybe even the hood.
About the rendering: I love the fact that you stopped "rendering the living crap out of everything". Saving the top notch rendering to the focal areas can really pop out a pic. The texturework is also cool. Finally things don't look like they were all made of plastik
One more crit: that thing on the left is broken glass, right? In this case you should put a bit more fractures there. Fracture lines of broken out windows virtually never end at the edge of the hole. (some refs to show what I'm talking about. )
That's all man.
Keep up the good work.

[Wgrace]

absolutely fantastic. 80ish hours?

[Cryptcrawler]

Awesome mate! As usual! I am really looking forward to your class on the online program! Just hope I don't drown myself even more in work. But I am going to make the best of it even though two jobs + school could take over here and there. But good thing is I am not always a big sleeper

Chris

Im likewise really looking forward to connecting with other artists looking to get better at thier craft; just like me!
Best wishes!

Respect, this is awesome piece of yours. My only suggestion would be regarding the honda machine - what could be interesting is to have a smoke, or a flying paper under it, or anything that would make it "alive". As its levitating at the moment. Just so we can feel this slightly movement... one inch up and down I know, it sounds too much but... hm, maybe it is
Anyway, you are my greatest inspiration. Keep up the hard work!

No no that actually sounds like an awesome embellishment and in retrospect really would have heightened the scene, good call!
Its tough to look at the older stuff like this because you see so many "coulda, shoulda woulda" moments like the exact one your talking about.
Thanks for the great feedback and contructive input - hearing stuff like this is very useful.

Hi, really nice new piece. I think that this new one is a progression in the way that you've balanced the rendering and the atmosphere, keeping key areas, like the face of the main figure, tight and bringing your signature rendering style to them, while really emphasising the otherworldly nature of the scene and the essential horror of it, by hinting at the background and the decay on the figures robes. For me, the reality and the fantasy of this image are perfectly meshed, making it much more real than if it were all very definitely described, or given over entirely to a more impressionistic take. I hope that makes sense. If I had to crit this piece, I would say that the lines directly to the left of the main figures head seem arbitrary. It's a small thing though, and I only mention it because I feel like I have to crit something because I don't want to come across like an ass kisser, although the truth is that everything I see by you just makes me smile and want/need to get better. Thanks. Anyway, enough from me, I'm eating into your drawing time.

Thanks for this great feedback man, the encouragement means a lot when your trying new things with your signature style. It doesnt feel half as bad as I thought it would to leave some things dirty and ghostly. What I need to do now is understand this new language and then try and perfect it.

Best wishes!

Awesome man, really great. I was torn between your sketchbook class and fundamentals of light and form but unfortunately I went with the latter. If I can get into some part time classes again I'd love to pick up the class at some point. Is it all going to be ideation and thumbnail type stuff? Keep up all the hard work dude man, cheers!

You gotta do whats right for your goals in art man!
You cant go wrong with fundamentalas of light and form because the learning never really ends in that department while ideation and picture making is muchn more subjective and esoteric.
Im excited for you man, best of luck and post your stuff!

of course youd have a bloody mouth for your banner image. to remind weak artists that they can get eatin alive. haha. cant wait for the blog dude. i hope the graphic novel is comin along well. havnt checked that thread in a little while.

Dude thanks!
I havent checked that thread in a while either, hoss - hehe!
The grpahic novel is on the back-back burner for now unfortunately, ive simply got too much commercial stuff and toss in the TAD deal and its almost unmanageable.
Glad you like the banner, im about to post the one with lettering below since its a much more balanced composition. I was saving it for when the blog gets launched but the more I compared the two works the more balanced the lettered one felt.

Hope all is well for you mang - be good!

Some thoughts about that last piece:
Generally the composition is a bit boring. I see you tried to shift the focal point to the right a bit but as you sticked to those figures and blue lights on both sides of the central figure at almost equally the same distance and arrangement it could have been a better idea to make it a totally symmetrical, kinda 'iconic' composition (better described here) - maybe it's just me but this shifted symmetry line thing really hurts my eyes.
I like the color scheme and the way you create focus by playing with cool and warm, but I simply can't figure out why the teeth of that guy are glowing red. Is there an upper light source somwhere in the front of that figure, that for some reason only shines on his teeth? Maybe that was your intention (and those highlights on the upper parts of the teeth also suggest it) but even in this case the upper lip shoud cast shadow on those upper teeth so we shouldnt see too much lights (not to mention highlights) on them. And I guess that a lightsource of this kind would somehow affect the surroundings too - the sides of the mouth and maybe even the hood.
About the rendering: I love the fact that you stopped "rendering the living crap out of everything". Saving the top notch rendering to the focal areas can really pop out a pic. The texturework is also cool. Finally things don't look like they were all made of plastik
One more crit: that thing on the left is broken glass, right? In this case you should put a bit more fractures there. Fracture lines of broken out windows virtually never end at the edge of the hole. (some refs to show what I'm talking about. )
That's all man.
Keep up the good work.

Thanks man!
Glad you liked the work!

absolutely fantastic. 80ish hours?

Oh no thank god!
Nope thankfully ive gotten much faster these days. This one took about 10 or so hours, possibly a little more.
Still a long time for many other folks, but im not many other folks, im me =) and I take a while.

Thanks for the compliment!





Below is the image with the lettering for you guys and gals to check out, which looks more balanced I think.
For a blogspot site Im still building called The Art of Doom.

Thanks all for the feedback!

[Syrs]

Very surreal and great and real and nice. I'm a fan. Thank you for showing my eyes something they aren't familiar with.

[Metal Fingers]

SEASON OF THA SICKNESS! Dude, this last one looks effing great, as you said, its a much stronger composition. Yea, looking forward to TAD a lot, like a huge amount, I'll be posting all my stuff in my sketchbook! Would be awesome if you have any crits for me, cheers!

[conte]

really nice volume in your works, Sir, i love how you sculpt those shapes.
definitely refreshing, thanks!