Seattle Sketch Group: Friday, Oct 8, 7 pm Caffe Vita, Capitol Hill

[Desktop Wade]

E-Mail sent.

Really? I think you might have my email wrong then. It's [email protected], i write too sloppy for most people.

woops.

Edit: Also, here's my sci-fi/fantasy pic. Took me a bit to find something because my reference folder is...nonexistent i guess. And I didn't want to just throw in something that we already familiar with such as most of the Final Fantasy girls.

[DaveB]

Hyung-Tae Kim has some neat painting trix. Wouldn't mind seeing a lil of this.

[Undertow]

It seems like we're on the same page, I have all of these pieces already in folders. I have a ton of Hyung Tae Kim stuff (Robin Chyo and I have actually been talking about his stuff with the work we're doing on Eclipse Phase). I'll start my thumbnails tomorrow. Would everyone like me to send out an e-mail to give an example of what I expect for thumbnails?

[Earendil]

I would!

[Desktop Wade]

Would everyone like me to send out an e-mail to give an example

If you'd be willing to do that then I'd certainly benefit from it. Dan already showed me an example or two of what you meant by thumbnails, so I haven't been in the dark for the past 3-4 days by any means. But an example would be cool.

[Undertow]

I'll send that e-mail out immediately. One thing we need to establish is what the female characters purpose is. Is she a sorcerer, fighter, techno mage that uses a magic driven mech, paladin, thief, or barbarian?

Second question: Depending upon how the first lecture series goes I'd like to get some feedback on whether it'd be worth while to charge $5 for future lectures to help cover the costs involved for renting projectors and the time it takes to put the lessons together.

Any cash that comes in over associated costs for lectures could be put towards
- prizes for local thunderdomes
- discounted rates for group trips to the zoo, aquarium, museums, and event based movie get togethers (i.e. Iron Man 2 at the IMAX)
- Add discounts for group members if they attend life drawing sessions at ArtNot Terminal.

I'm also considering contacting local businesses and sites like ca and to see if we could get sponsorship and/or group discounts depending on attendance and level of involvement from the community. This includes setting up our own forum on forumer and establishing the group as something other than just conceptart.org specific.

Cheers,
Mike

[fattkid]

Hey guys,

I'm pretty out of the CA loop, but I'd like to catch the next get together/workshop next month. Sounds like I should bring my portfolio and 3 female sci fi character designs? Maybe a few $$$ to cover expenses?

[Prehistoric]

damn, it's been a long time since i've posted here. it was good meeting everyone at the sketch group last week. looks like we've got a lot of like minded people together. i'm working on my thumbnails, but here's a reference pic that i love.

[Undertow]

I could use some feedback on the questions that I posted, pretty please with cream and sugar on top!

[Prehistoric]

i could go for thief / fighter with maybe a little mech sidekick thingy. but i'm open to anything.

[rebelionature]

Great ideas all around mike. I can only speak for myself but 5$ is more than fair for a network that seems to be growing quickly! Maybe a free wiki would accommodate our needs until something else could be arranged? Ive used them for some group projects and they work well, and 300 mb of free space. as to the theme of the character id suggest either picking a few and having a poll or even just picking it yourself as you have the experience. I personally like most themes.

[Undertow]

Great ideas all around mike. I can only speak for myself but 5$ is more than fair for a network that seems to be growing quickly! Maybe a free wiki would accommodate our needs until something else could be arranged? Ive used them for some group projects and they work well, and 300 mb of free space. as to the theme of the character id suggest either picking a few and having a poll or even just picking it yourself as you have the experience. I personally like most themes.

Unfortunately I couldn't figure out how to add a poll to the thread... some mod I am Having a theme for the character gives me a direction to steer in. Otherwise I may end up wasting hours doing nothing but thumbnails trying to figure out what I want to do.

[S.C. Watson]

Mike - "Thread Tools" fourth option down.

~S

[skrubbles]

Mike - Were you looking for suggestions of a class YOU should concentrate on or are you looking for a class that everyone should do? I have to narrow my choices down too... I'm thinking techno-mage, ranger, or thief.

I unfortunately couldn't get any site work done for you on Sunday due to computer failure. It's working now though, I had to reset my CMOS. Yeah, it took me all day to figure that one out, but it saved me the cost of having to buy a new motherboard and therefore a new processor (because 939 socket MBs aren't cool anymore).

I'm actually bogged down this week with two projects, so I'll probably squeeze in some time Saturday morning to do some sketches and thumbnails

Here's my reference contribution. It's a piece of art from RF Online... never played the game but the art is pretty.

[Undertow]

Mike - "Thread Tools" fourth option down.

~S

Um, there is no fourth option down. I have a bunch of options like unsticky, edit thread, but no add poll option.

Lou, I'm looking for a topic that I'll be working on. You guys can do whatever although it'd be cool to have everyone on the same page.

[Soul Karl]

skrubbles who's piece is that? its a fuckin beaut.

anyways my vote goes to cybernetic barbarian - yay for contrast

[skrubbles]

Soul - I unfortunately don't know who the artist is. All I know is that it's a piece of art from RF Online. There appears to be a sig at the bottom of the piece. But it just looks like "done" to me. If anyone knows who the artist is, please speak up.

[Earendil]

I'm for anything that suggests that scifi/fantasy fusion of elements. Techno-mage sounds good, cybernetic barbarian sounds good, soul archer with magic assisted sniping and a 2300X-Omni powered longbow...yeahhhh

I'm ok with the 5$ requirements. I would like at least some of the money to go towards getting our own projector, then once we had it, the money could be put more fully towards events, prizes, beer discounts, trips etc.

[S.C. Watson]

Um, there is no fourth option down. I have a bunch of options like unsticky, edit thread, but no add poll option.

Which browser are you using? I've found the thread options show up differently based on which one I'm using. Firefox and Safari show the thread options as I described them. Google's Chrome puts them down below on the left hand side, below the active users. It may show up differently again in Internet Explorer or Opera.

[silvestri99]

Mike,
I'd go for a Techno-theify type chick and as far as the 5 bucks goes, not a problem. I'd be willing to throw a little more in if need be, it's still a hell of a deal with what we will be doing!
Also about that update to the first post. It doesn't mention any start date sooooo being attached to a post from 2002 makes it seem like it is no longer valid. Maybe a "2008" or some placeholder dates to show that it is recent?

[Desktop Wade]

I cast my vote in the newly created poll (who doesn't like a theif?).

As far as donating money is concerned I'm game. I figure as a noob I'm sort of leeching off the group anyhow. That is, I'm not really in a position to really teach anyone anything. So I'm WAY cool for paying for projector rentals etc. that help people teach me things. it's a pretty sweet deal when you think about it.

[S!R]

I voted in the poll, but I'm most with the techno-thief sub category.

Are these thumbs presumably the same piece we will eventually do in the thunderdome Mike?? The part you mentioned with no previous sketches but all the printed ref we like??

Just trying to clarify. Otherwise I'll wait for the new and improved T-dome rules you had mentioned preparing.

[Soul Karl]

summoner is too risky a choice imo - cuz i feel as though i'd want the piece to have a summon in it - and then were just adding creature design to the mix and things will get messy haha. we should prolly keep it simple for the time being, and if people want a caster class change it to mage or some such

anyways boo theifs gonna win - what about the barb?! btw mike do you think that maybe we should push off the thumbs to next saturday? we still have 2 weeks then do get a finished piece, and honestly most of the work lies with figuring out a good concept in a thumb, not in cleaning it to a presentable level. Though I'm assuming you just want to give feedback? just saying we only have 3 days from now, and we still don't know WHAT we're designing lol. just a thought

[Undertow]

No deadline extension. I originally posted for it but I had a minute to think about it and one of the things I want to stress is that everyone has to make their deadlines in spite of whatever they have going on. I will not be flexible on this as it's this will be no different than working full time and doing freelance work as a pro.

On the voting: Damn you thief voters, damn you! I voted for paladin as I was thinking about doing something like the Judges from FFXII.

[Soul Karl]

ya - only difference is this isn't work lol - its just a learning experience - and throwing people who've never done character design, or design at ALL, into 3 fully realized silhouttes (and i mean that in the sense that they'll be moving foward from these 3), especially when theres still no actual prompt yet (3 days from the deadline) looks to raise some flags to me. I'm just saying you'll get more participation not rushing this

[skrubbles]

Soul Karl - Consider this as your education then. This is a homework assignment. You'll always have other things that get in the way. Personally, I'm currently freelancing on 2 projects while trying to squeeze in some time for few other projects... plus I'm trying to find time to draw in my sketchbook.

We're just handing in 3 thumbnails... these are just basic ideas that you're thinking of going with. They aren't fully finished, fleshed out masterpieces. This is just something that's needed to go forth with the workshop and continue to the next step.

Like your education, you can piss it away and not commit yourself. What happens then? You don't learn anything and you've wasted time. Take this opportunity. Push yourself and do the thumbnails. If you can't be bothered with it then don't do it... we're not forcing you. If you're serious about learning and bettering yourself you'll do what you need to do. I don't have time for this but I'm going to make time and get this handed in when Mike needs it.

He's not allowing extensions to be a jerk. He's doing it to give you some discipline. He doesn't want excuses. He's giving his personal time to help us out. If he allows extensions, then that pushes back the learning experience until everyone is caught up and ready.. School doesn't wait for you, you need to follow along at the same pace or you'll be left behind.

Oh, and you're wrong when you said "only difference is this isn't work lol - its just a learning experience..." It's both actually. If you don't work to learn and put in the time then you'll never get anywhere. Trust me, I've wasted my fair share of time and my progress has suffered because of this. If you don't want to do the work or if you can't sit down and draw three thumbnails by Saturday then don't. You actually have options... do the work and put your all into it, do the work but just shit it out so you meet deadlines (your finished piece will suffer but at least you'll follow along and maybe learn not to do the same thing next time), you can miss the deadline but still follow behind everyone else at your own pace (you'll miss out on some good critiques and your finished piece won't be eligible to win), or you can give up right now because you feel things should be easier.

Sorry if this sounds harsh, but if you want to grow as an artist and make it in the industry you need to push yourself. People who want to do this will find a way to keep up. They'll push themselves. And in the end they'll be better for it. Plus they'll have a good work ethic for when they finally land the art job that they want. Not keeping a deadline loses you repect, your job, future work, or all of the above... especially if it becomes part of your reputation.

[Undertow]

I'm not saying this because I think I'm better than anyone however, I'm art directing 3 games simultaneously (on average about a 13 hrs of work a day) and scheduling time in to put together my demo, and art direct this assignment. When I asked everyone on Saturday, "Is everyone all in on this? No questions asked, do what I say?" everyone responded, "yes." So the question everyone will have to ask themselves is if they are men of their word. I committed myself to doing this in my free time (that I have to schedule for myself otherwise I wouldn't have any) for the benefit of the group. I committed myself to the group, and I intend to follow through on that commitment.

/R
Mike

[S!R]

AS far as I understand this, the voting and all that was for a direction for Mikes demo...not our own thumbs/pieces.

I personally detest FF style stuff but that's not going to keep me from putting my own spin on the assignment.
I have been sketching and working on the following criteria only: female (check), sci-fi (check).

These are only three basic thumbs, one of which will go forward in the process.

Mike directed them to be approx 10 min each, we're only talking a total of 30 min.

Of course I spent a couple hours on this last night, but that's just because I havent drawn ANYTHING in a month or so and needed to work out kinks and blow the dust off..

I will have my 3 in on time.

[rebelionature]

I agree 100% on the dead lines. Left to my own nature id probably never finish something! Its probably the most motivating factor for me havening expectations
from a team. Although its going to pretty intimidating working with people so much better then I. But thats the whole point of the group to improve and to get a head start into the field. Ill have my 3 for what its worth done today.



_tyler

[Soul Karl]

kinda missread my intentions there skrubbles - but i guess i came off as abrasive so my apologies ;[ - I was trying to look out for the little guy, I could really care less how much time I myself have. It was just that originally we were given a week - now its 2-3days.

anyways heres 2 pieces to add to the referance - since most of the stuff i'd put was gone I dug through some terada - not the best pieces I had to chose from but the most SFW to be certain



also a quick note to anyone who hasn't already figured it out - getting reference form other concept artists to work off is great and all - but grab some real life stuff as well (if not MOSTLY) you're gonna get a LOT more out of it and a lot more fresh designs than if you just stagnate between what's already been done.