Nyx's SB tonight's Skantly Painting Update!

**Sway West** · January 15th, 2007, 03:39 PM

Great new stuff, Nick.

Love the style you did the cowboy in.

**spiffiness** · January 16th, 2007, 12:12 AM

that cowboy is pretty awesome. Looks like you're improving quite a bit! That portrait earlier was pretty good, too. As for the character designs, I'm not sure how efficient that hunter's gonna be, considering that he's rather hefty

Unless he had a gun or something that doesn't use too much effort. It also depends on what setting these characters are for. The hair isn't quite there yet, I think. It looks kinda like curly pigtails... Also, the proportions of the bottom figure are a bit too exaggerated in the chest. And don't forget to add some way for the middle guy to carry the quiver around.

So what's so great about those moleskins? (What exactly are they anyway?)

**Ostrander** · January 18th, 2007, 07:06 PM

Hey Nick,
I like what you have going on here with your new sketches. You might want to have a look at your proprtions on some of these again though. The 3rd one seems a bit long in the torso or short in the legs. It's always a good thing to work out the basic shapes of your figure before getting too caught up in the details. I even have this problem from time to time and have to either remind myself of suffer the realization afterwards, when your so far along you don't want to go back. Keep up the good work man. Keep posting.

**Nyx702** · January 23rd, 2007, 03:21 PM

Ostrander Thanks! I do see what you mean...I was working too close to the paper. I tired to fix it on these ones.

spiffiness Thank you for the comment! I like the cowboy too but I don't think many people did in the CHOW because there were MUCH better ones. I still learned from it. I am glad you see improvement...i lose hope sometimes and positive comments really bring up my spirits. Haha! those do look like pigtails...the drawing is bad, i do agree. i put more effort in these.

Moleskins are a brand of sketchbooks: http://www.moleskine.co.uk/
The are ultra smooth and magical...really...anything looks good on them. they are seriously the best sketchbook i have ever used.

Sway West Thank you! I am glad to see you around here, come back soon! (oc)

mrpank How do you mean focus? Like controling were the viewers eyes look or my foucs?

(c) Thanks! I am glad you see improvement! That keeps me going. I was thinking that...I lowered the opacity and i didn't like it either. I was running out of time so I just smitted that.

Paper Clip Clock Thanks, I will definatly.

These are the variations for the characters. I took most of the advice mentioned. When we did a class critique it kind-of was depressing because the other student only put a 5th of the work in as I did...and it showed. The teacher didn't give me any critiques either. I guess i could have asked but he didn't even mention the obvious porportion flaw.

I chose the fat guy with the munton chops to do for the final inking which i will post soon. My motherboard died and it is being repaired so it may take a week or so. It really sucks not having a computer....

**Nyx702** · February 2nd, 2007, 10:28 AM

For the past couple of Fridays myself and a group of guys have been getting together and drawing. Someone will make up a creative phrase and then every has to make a scene/illustration using the topic. We rotate every week who gets to pick the topic sentence.

The first one was: The weary traveler finally reached his destination and the sun was setting.

The second one was: The forest people played in the dark storm clouds.

**(c)** · February 6th, 2007, 04:41 PM

nice man like them. good composition. maybe more contrast or is it the scan?? would love to see them painted

**Nyx702** · February 7th, 2007, 07:51 PM

Here are some character designs for my illustration class. After I was squared away with the first design (the lady) i was really bored with the other ones. Do any of you every get that. I think it shows in the other ones...

(c) Thanks! I may paint them....but I am not very good at envirnoment painted though...too much to do, too much to do

**(c)** · February 8th, 2007, 02:22 PM

nicenice like their faciel expressions

the first has also nice shadows and proportions which is missing with the second. their the legs look a bit of. the last is cool nice pose

please make better scans. i mean the contrast. its hard to judge how good they really are

keep on going man

and painting is always the same!! it always takes time and i am preaty sure u can make awesome enviroment paintins!!! just do and try

**JoeEffect** · February 8th, 2007, 03:28 PM

heyyyy,thanks4 stopping by my sb,i really like your drawings too,if you have a chance take a look again,i posted some sketches. c.u.around,and keep drawing.

**Sway West** · February 14th, 2007, 07:09 PM

Your last few posts are really impressive, man. ; ) Your character designs/concepts are superb- great variation in body type, body language, clothing, and expression. Still, you manage to maintain a distinct style.

I want to see you use a little color! I'm downtown Tues, Wed, Thurs and Friday... maybe we could get together and do some coloring.

**Nyx702** · February 16th, 2007, 08:48 PM

Sway west What a complement! Thank you! I am sooo up for a coloring season, I will IM you about it.
JoeEffect Sure thing, i will stop by later.
(c) I will try a different scanner at school. Unfortunatly my PC is broke at the momment so I have to deal with what I get.

Here is an update on the Friday night drawing my friends and I do.

The topic for the first is: “Uh oh,” she said as the creature was finally revealed.

The second: As the battle subsides, the warrior peers over the edge of the world

The third: She resigned to his duplicitious nature.

**(c)** · February 17th, 2007, 06:32 AM

nice I like the first one the most. the dynamic composition is stong. the second is cool as well like the little details and stuff.s the third looks a bit off to me but I cant recall what it directly is. I think the perspective of the chair is mainly of or so.

**Ostrander** · February 17th, 2007, 02:05 PM

Wow Nick! THese last few pieces are really cool. I Like the last one the most with the guy kneeling in front of the woman. All those serpent heads. Man you need to paint that up. Seriously. I like these drawings. It looks like you're having a good time with them. Keep up the good work.

**Machineabuse** · March 18th, 2007, 01:00 AM

Loving the crosshatching work

I also enjoyed the small gesture studies on the previous page.

Try to keep your toning global. Your recent sketches have structure but look flat because your shadows don't encompass the whole character.

Update time!

**Nyx702** · March 19th, 2007, 09:42 PM

Machineabuse: Hey, welcome to the group. I agree, some of these were rushed and I didn't have time to render them all. Scanning them also destroies alot of the finer renderings.

Ostrander: I know..I want to paint them too! Whenever I get my PC fixed I will have a trove of things to paint.

(c): yhea...I draw the lady first and built everything around her...bass acwards way of working i Know...

Woo...man, what a busy month! Sorry for the lack of updates.

It's finals again for me...and my PC is STILL busted....Doing any of my 3d work has been a huge hassle and I haven't had much to paint with.

On a lighter note! It was my birthday the 14th! woot...I had class and work from 8am to 10pm....But! I got a 6x11 Intuos 3 which is awesome. I really needed it too. I just had a Graphire and it had deep scratches and the cord was shorting out. I pen would randomly cut out too because I dropped it in the toilet!

Also, I got an internship at a game company here in Pittsburgh! I am just doing some textures for their upcoming game. I will release more info as it get closer to release.

I promise I will post some color soon. The one illustration I have to color so you guy can ripe my color to crap.

**(c)** · March 19th, 2007, 10:21 PM

oh happy b/day man. u will have a lot of fun with the intuos heheh and btw how can u drop the pan in the toilet???????

but nice pencils man. maybe u could give the abit more texture.

good luck for ya intern

**Machineabuse** · March 20th, 2007, 09:10 PM

Watch out for the balance of your creatures. Your first creature's legs don't look like they'd be able to support the weight of it. Particularily as a quadruped you need legs that give you a good span to form a natural look. Think about how your designs move and their gait, then design backwards

Don't draw on the can man, that's bad juju!

**Sway West** · March 20th, 2007, 09:18 PM

Your rendering skills keep getting better and better!

**Nyx702** · March 21st, 2007, 10:49 PM

Sway West: Aw...thank you! How did finals treat you? You need to update your sketchbook little missy! Have we given up on painting with each other? Maybe next quarter?

Machineabuse: Yes, i definitely agree. I need to add an extra joint to it also i think. That would make them longer and more easily maneuverable.

Ha! I try not to draw on the pot but it's such a waste of time! I have to do something!

(c): Those scans are killing me you say? There is a good bit of texture on them but the scan make it almost transparent.

It's funny, I would always put my pen in my ear when ever i got up to go do anything. Well I went to the bathroom and went i reached to flush the toliet the pen slipped out of my ear and right into the basin. I thought it was broken but i let it dry and it worked after a day, only with slight malfunction and odor....

This is the colored version as promised. I did it in one sitting which was bad but it was all that time aloted. I still want to go back and fix some things so critique away!

**Nyx702** · March 29th, 2007, 01:59 PM

A few drawings...with a middle eastern feel.

**(c)** · March 30th, 2007, 07:01 AM

nice I like the last ones/ really good design and well believable!!!

**Machineabuse** · March 31st, 2007, 10:04 AM

Nice designs

Once again your hatchwork provides a really nice descriptor for the materials your working with, but a touch more value couldn't hurt!

A recurring problem area for you seems to be inside of the elbow, which you consistently draw a little too narrow. The expressions on your second and last characters in particular seem a little undeveloped. The second character seems to be moments away from pitching backwards tits under tushie ;D

**Sway West** · April 4th, 2007, 08:55 PM

She who nags will be rewarded!

Lovely concepts, kiddo. Some great costumes, and beautiful diversity amongst them. That's what I love about your work- there's such a wide variety of body types between men and women. Keep it up, darlin'! WE SHALL PAINT THIS QUAAARTER!

**Nyx702** · April 13th, 2007, 10:03 AM

More of pretty much the same thing...

I got a new computer finally...I never did find out what was wrong with the old one. I consider myself pretty computer savy but it was beyond me so I took it to a tech and they couldn't figure it out either! I am kind-of glad though...it would have hurt my pride to find out it was something simple...

Machineabuse: Good catch, thank you for pointing that out! I defiantly watched it in these ones.

Sway West: Hello my friend! I will not believe it until we do it!

**Sway West** · April 13th, 2007, 01:44 PM

Yes! YES!!! These are wonderful, Nick! The variety in build, costume-- the works! I see a progression in your anatomy, but I want to see you start to loosen up those lines a bit. Do some exercises where you just draw fluid circles until you can't stand it anymore. This will help your anatomy look less rigid.

PS., BIG HATS ABSOLUTELY.

**Nyx702** · April 18th, 2007, 11:21 AM

Sway West: Thanks! I always enjoy your comments. I will definitely do some circles at the SB.

I painted some of those males...
I am toying around with some new techniques which really work for me but I don't know how good they look

**Nyx702** · April 30th, 2007, 01:21 PM

Been slow lately....

Started painting some stuff that I had backed up while my computer was broke.

A few things from school and a few things for myself/

Oh! and I finally made a decent looking website for myself! Check it out! www.artofnickmiller.com

**(c)** · May 1st, 2007, 05:43 PM

hey man nice stuff going man

like the faces of your figures well believable!!!!
and jipp the coloring style is not really my tast but I think thats my prob.. or maybe try more contrast. the colors are good. for example the arm of the animel needs a bit more work. it still looks a bit flat becouse the transitions are too rapid. would like to see more gradient flow from light to dark

lovely work man

**Nyx702** · May 3rd, 2007, 04:21 PM

Not really concept work but this is what I have been working on lately. The Character is for my internship and the prop is just for my personal work!

I DID NOT MODEL the woman...there are so many problems with it...please don't blame me!!! I just textured it!

(c) Yea...all my stuff is so flat...i think it's because I am usually texturing flat UV's. I am still working on it!

**Machineabuse** · May 4th, 2007, 11:29 PM

Nice stuff coming along!

On painting up UV maps; UVW seams are your friends. Every time you have a UV seam positioned at a transition between one material to the next you want to take the opportunity to bump up the difference in that area. Drop a shadow and highlight the edge and really pop that detail.

She could do with some cloth folds on the arms and in the small of the back. She's skinny so maybe pop up her clavicles and her sternomastoids.