The Show Sketchbook

[The_Show]

Started getting into environment concept work quite a bit lately, and haven't found a great community for this type of work at CGtalk, so I thought I would start sharing here!

Hope you enjoy!

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[The_Show]

This is a location for a short story that I'm writing. The main characters have to travel through this rocky wasteland to visit a village on the other side.

90% of the work was done with traditional prismacolors and microns with a little sharpening in PS after.

Total time on this was about 4 hours.

-=EDIT=-

Added a colored version. I've always been attracted to the super soft styling of the illustrations in Elebits [by Konami] and thought that would be a good style to explore here...

[phizpietl]

This is starting out interesting. Nice drawing. Don't forget to utilize cast shadows! Looking forward to the color.

Phil Lietz
www.phillietz.blogspot.com

[The_Show]

Another location for the short story. This is one of the village locations that the characters will visit. Inspired by a Greek monastery. Total time with this one was about 3 hours.

[The_Show]

The swamp location from the short story - inspired by some of Scottie Young's work on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Total work on this was about 8 hours with prismacolors, microns and some considerable touch-ups in photoshop afterward to adjust values.

Color in progress... though it may wait till I have more locations established.


Thanks for the post Phil!

I really get impatient when casting shadows and a lot of time it does hider the work a bit. Know of any tips/tricks pages that focus on exterior lighting/shading techniques for those of us who like to rush ?

[phizpietl]

Well, first thing would be to gather reference. Take a look at the real stuff and see how the form is casting shadow. Using that tool will improve the realism of what your doing. These are nice drawings with good ideas, but the cast shadows will make the form really pop, and on top of that it can help establish a mood in the drawing stage. It will really make that second drawing kill to add some good dark shapes in photoshop or prismas. You can lay them in a multiply or overlay layer in just a few minutes.

Give it a try with some good reference!
Phil Lietz
www.phillietz.blogspot.com

[The_Show]

For sure. The 1st image and the second were painted off reference, but I'll admit, I just need to take more time to detail the proper lighting.

Thanks again for the comments!

[and a thumbs up to you for your personal work - saw your site - good stuff especially the winter scenes]

[The_Show]

Toying around with some of the character concepts while waiting for my computer to unfreeze.

Dunno why swords have to be so over-sized all the time... but eh, it happens to be how this one turned out. Going to play with the organic armor and weapons idea a bit more in the next one.

Time spent on this one was maybe 45 minutes

[The_Show]

Taking the Swamp a bit further, these Dryads will manipulate the nearby trees to trap travelers.

[The_Show]

Posted some progress on the Dryad piece. Laying in some values with PS before getting to some finer detail...

[ColorExcursion]

I like the first enviros Keep workin on this dryad, excited to see how it comes out!

[The_Show]

Thanks ColorExcursion!

Posted some progress on the Dryad piece. Additional form definition, more shading, more detail in the trees..

Probably gonna drop some color in soon.

[The_Show]

I was gonna drop some color on the 1st environment I posted, but got distracted while waiting for photoshop to wake up. This was the result

[The_Show]

Working on another environment - still studying lighting through marker work. I've got a work in progress shown here, more to come shortly.

- UPDATE -

I completed the line work. Will take another pass to adjust lighting very soon.

[jellyswirl]

Wow I love the small details with all the lovely pen work and great shading with the markers. I really love the swamp since I gives a real eerie effect and others images are really soft but the details stand out.

[The_Show]

Wow I love the small details with all the lovely pen work and great shading with the markers. I really love the swamp since I gives a real eerie effect and others images are really soft but the details stand out.

Why thank ya! There's more where that came from... stay tuned

[The_Show]

River pic updated with completed line work and a bit of shading touch-ups.

[The_Show]

Updated the swamp pic with some quick colors.

[The_Show]

Updated the Bridge Pic with some colors.

[The_Show]

I usually don't do a whole lot of fan art, but my basement is bare and needs some retro art on the wall.. so i'm starting a SMB throwback composition. Inspired by some of the graphic fountain images that have been showing up.. and cheeks shading style...

Heres the first hour...

-=EDIT=-
Revised line work, started confirming some of the lines... added some more framing elements in the sky via the clouds and vine/flag. Started to refine bowser's shape too.

-=EDIT=-
Finished the pencils, started the inking.


-=EDIT=-
Continued Inking

-= EDIT=-

The continued work on the SMB piece. I'm getting into the coloring phase now and have some progress to share.

[LAL]

so nice work! man, How do you do that, you seem to have strong skills!

[The_Show]

so nice work! man, How do you do that, you seem to have strong skills!

Thanks LAL! Your work is pretty awesome!

[The_Show]

Added a round of refinement to the SMB piece.

[The_Show]

Finished the pencils, started the inking on the SMB piece

[The_Show]

Continued inking on the SMB piece.

[The_Show]

Taking a break from the SMB piece, I've gotten totally into Chris Sanders' work recently and had to post this homage to one of his girls.

[The_Show]

Another spread with some homage to Sanders... and also some homage to the Zhu.

Sorry for the nudity.. it couldn't be helped.

[The_Show]

Continuing study of Sanders... I've never drawn a mermaid before. I recommend it.

[The_Show]

Another work inspired by Chris Sanders. These are greater departures into a slightly different style than the past studies, and the next one I've got ready to color is the first attempt without any real reference.

Stay tuned.

[The_Show]

Added continued work on the SMB piece. I'm getting into the coloring phase now and have some progress to share.