Stormrise concepts - UPDATE 12th August

**Ray Styles** · May 14th, 2009, 06:54 AM

Hi all

My name is Nick Smith and here is my concept art for Stormrise. This project provided me with a lot of time and experience to develop my style and technique. I worked along side Openanewworld who's talent and prolific output really pushed me to better myself. I went from drawing everything on paper and scanning and colouring in PS to sketching and rendering images straight into PS. This resulted in increasing my output greatly, while also allowing me to work on my skills.

So onto the artwork. I'll update this thread in the first post with more work as i get time. Here's the first batch. I hope you like what you see. Comments and crits welcome.

Nick

**jackpot_anjr90** · May 14th, 2009, 09:28 AM

These concepts are great! I especially like the weapons and the different character variations you made. Can't wait to see the next update

**KingAcer** · May 14th, 2009, 09:49 AM

Wow, this is awesome!

**Duman** · May 15th, 2009, 08:34 AM

You have some pretty cool stuff here. The weapons really pop out for me, nice designs. The soldier concepts are also top notch designs. Really nice stuff.

**smokenmirrors** · May 15th, 2009, 09:38 AM

those soldiers definately have a some serious pockets!

badd ass work brotha!

**TheDirtSyndicate** · May 16th, 2009, 07:48 PM

ok dude, i LOVE your work.

your website SUCKS!
sorry to be so blunt, but you're work is AWESOME and i cant find it on your site! there's only like 5 images on your website! oh wait, i saw a "cycle images" button, but again, it left me with 5 new images! thats no way to see someones work man. i'd much rather look at this thread here on CA.org and scroll down! the way your site is right now i cant tell what it is that you do! there's no hints, no previews, no sections like "concept art" for example.
ya gotta sell yourself better man, you're a badass and nobody will ever know if you keep your site like this.
killer work though man, i love it. cant wait to see more.

**Ray Styles** · May 18th, 2009, 06:08 AM

Thanks Jackpot. Yeah, the weapons were great fun to do. There's another couple on the way.

KingAcer, cheers for your compliments.

Duman, thank you. As i said, the weapons were fun. Just a bit of cut and paste.

SmokenMirrors, glad you like them. Yeah, it's a bit of a Pouch & Pocket party with the soldiers. "Which pouch did i put the can opener in? God, I'm starving...."

DirtSyndicate, thanks for taking the time to give me some feedback on the website. Who knows how many visitors i've had who thought the same. I'm already in the process of remedying the situation.

As you might have noticed, there is more work in the first post. Hope you like it!

Thanks again.

Nick

**SEVANS** · May 18th, 2009, 10:19 PM

Some very cool work. Love seeing all the progression in the suits etc.
Alot of solid work, nicely done.

**Pixie Bergman** · May 18th, 2009, 10:42 PM

Thanks for sharing Nick! These are awesome

**Tersus** · May 18th, 2009, 11:43 PM

totally bad ass

**midknight523** · May 19th, 2009, 12:25 AM

awesome work

**El Jeremie** · May 19th, 2009, 06:26 AM

A bucket load of respect for the amount of work, and another one for the quality.
the red guy is my fav.
thanks

**VogelA** · May 21st, 2009, 11:42 AM

Awesome, simply awesome!! Tons of great content

, and your style is clean, clear and bad ass...keep it up!

**Smyk Vitaliy** · May 21st, 2009, 12:33 PM

Respect!!! Great bunch of your works here man... I like your style and design.
You doing very well dude! Just one advice : don`t make your soldiers looks too bulky. Weapons design is simply but realistic. Great! Because i think that "Gears Of War" and "Unreal Tournament" design is annoying.
Anyway you have a nice stuff here. I`m waiting for new works from you.

**Smyk Vitaliy** · May 21st, 2009, 12:35 PM

And one thing - FIVE stars from me!

**RocketMonkey** · May 21st, 2009, 05:24 PM

Absolutely sick!!

**Ray Styles** · May 29th, 2009, 08:09 PM

SEVENS - Thanks, mate. I'm glad you appreciate the progression of the suits. I always seeing that in peoples work.

Pixie Bergman, Tersus, midknight523, El Jeremie, Vogel A - Cheers!

Vitaliy - Thanks, mate! On the subject of Unreal Tournament and Gears of War bulkiness, I thing it's a matter of personal taste. I've always liked Hawkprey's stuff for UT, but always thought the gameplay didn't compliment the characters bulk. They're really solid, heavily armoured warriors, yet they hop around like ADD bunnies on Red Bull the night before Christmas. I've experienced this before where the design I have been directed to create doesn't seem to have been reflected in other aspects of the character's in game make up, be it animation, or sound or whatever.

When Gears of War came round, I was really pleased because finally the animation complimented the characters size and bulk. The absense of any jumping really grounded the characters and made them feel like the walking tanks they are.

RocketMonkey - Cheers mate!

I've updated the work in the first post, btw. I hope you enjoy looking at them.

Nick

**Duman** · May 29th, 2009, 09:13 PM

Yeah, some really really nice character concepts. You have a really good eye at what works with that armor. High class stuff. Pinkies out!

**FatherWinter** · June 1st, 2009, 02:08 AM

yes!! this work is pure kickass!!
love the designs, the helmets, robots...top notch!

**Thujon** · June 1st, 2009, 03:10 AM

Holy moly... this is crazy... wonderful works!!!

**humboldt squid** · June 1st, 2009, 04:50 AM

I'm getting a distinct Shirow Masamune\Metal gear solid flavor from a lot of these, especially the mech and robo back tenticles.

**Ray Styles** · July 13th, 2009, 09:31 PM

Duman, thanks for that. Those soldiers were really fun to work on.

FatherWinter & Thujon, cheers for the compliments.

humbolt squid, i can't deny that some of the metal gear look filtered through. The MGS art of books are a constant source of inspiration. I hope you like them.

I'll be updating with some more work soon.

**OmenSpirits** · July 13th, 2009, 10:54 PM

These are really well done, but that first guy made me think, "How the hell would he move with all those cases on his person? You'd be able to hear him coming from a mile away". Lol.

Nice work.

**Darkside** · July 14th, 2009, 04:57 AM

incredible skill

**RSiitonen** · July 14th, 2009, 05:11 AM

Awesome work there, this is what I want to do when I manage to improve myself.

Just a sidenote, in the vertical list of weapons, two last weapons look like they have FN P90 with modified barrel. But don't get me wrong, all the artwork looks very amazing. Good job!

**Ray Styles** · August 12th, 2009, 05:06 AM

OmenSpirits - Cheers! Yeah, there would be a certain amount of jingle jangle.

Darkside - Thanks a lot, mate.

RSiitonen - Cheers, pal! Yeah, cut and paste some weapons up, great fun!

I've updated the first post with some more images. Hope you like them.

Cheers all

Nick