New Project. And Links and stuff

So new project Mark has set us- to do with entering a competition.
Now it could be many things but the first one he showed me seems fun, open and also would help me practise with mudbox- which I would like to be better in yes.
Competition page-->
http://challenge.cgsociety.org/mudbox
yep.


http://shoestringstable.wordpress.com/2010/04/08/customizing-helpful-photos/0002x/ I need this because of reasons.
Im going to be trying to skulpt our commissar and his steed(?). I know its A LOT of work, but if I enter into it. Im in to win >:l
I hate competitions, because they take up SO much of my time and effort because I hate losing them. Not that I am a bad loser mind you, but competitions are not for fun, they are for doing the best work you can, that is possible for you.
Skulpting not just a dude but also a STEED would be ultimate badass. Also help me look fancy for warhammer (as its warhammer realted) http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/Warhammer-40000/Imperial_Guard/Death-Korps-of-Krieg?page=1 when I apply for work with them later this year (hopefully).

So this will be fun. I need to ask Mark over some of the formalities and show him what me and Nakoo have been up to (as well as ask Nakoo if I can do this- she will get credit with me and if we win half the prize c: coz were both so poor XD )
But yeah. Sounds fun, do able and enjoyable.

I hope I dont get ill again and the software stops trying to kick my face in. 8O

heres more links that I need to go over later c:
http://inmaterium.mforos.com/46671/9896275-death-korps-of-krieg/
http://dow.wikia.com/wiki/Retribution/Death_Korps_of_Krieg_Pack
http://ferrus-workshops.blogspot.com/2011/08/death-korps-of-krieg-army-winter-scheme.html

Heres a great blog as well yay http://ferrus-workshops.blogspot.com/
yaay

Update on All work

Update on all my current work, recent drawings: 

 Commission sketches for an illustration of a parrot char.

 Some Warhammer Stuff and other doodles from the train.

Work is being submitted this afternoon. I have been unable to redo my Maya work but was pleased to complete anouther skulpt in the time given. My skulpt is not as good- the proportions are really off but the details are pretty nice.
Topology is like hahaha what. I used muscle anatomy on peoples faces to dictate most of it but its still pretty bad. :c

I will be re amking my Maya work in Uni this week (as my mac wont do ANYTHING anymore :c) but I hope everything will be ok.
Heres final contextual studies work as well:

Contextual Studies.

Katie Gilman

My interests and what I feel I am progressing toward currently is a career in Concept Art within Games and possibly TV and more likely Film. I adore creating art work of all kinds; be it fantastic beasts, space ships, medieval armour, robot alien battle suits and the like. I spend a huge amount of time as well working with others on internal stories and projects. These stories are mostly not my own, and I am usually the one given a brief to turn into a fully-fledged illustration rather than making up the story. I like doing the designing best however, so this suits me. This behaviour and mentality would suit a studio, which would want their ideas to be brought to life, not have my own thrown upon them.

I find other people who wish to get into this career seem to think they can draw whatever they want, but I know I need to draw exactly what my customer wants. I have been completing commissions privately for around three years and I am very used to following strict instructions. I have had a recent experience of revising a very simple sketch commission five times over before the final colouring could be applied. This is a tiresome process and sometimes frustrating when my customers ask for extra things, but the final product is well worth it; as well as obviously a happy client who then can go on to recommend me to others. This has already started giving me a good reputation, and as such I am now completing 3-6 commissions a week to help pay for my travel costs. I am so pleased that this part of my work is turning out well and I fell I am learning very fast in terms of drawing skills and not to mention building relationships with clients which are done face to face, emails or sometimes even live over webcam via Skype; letting them dictate as I draw what to do and what to change.

I know what I must do to become a good concept artist. First, that I must clearly be good at drawing and illustration. To do that I must practise and I am already doing that as much as I possibly can. I draw basically on everything I can get my hands on and at all times, as I am sure many have noticed. I must also get myself a reputation and become better known within the industry. To do this is tricky and currently I go to a lot of Conventions and Expos to try gather people to me. I also am trying to get more well-known on the internet and am looking forward to creating a portfolio website of my work at the end of my course to show case my best pieces.

Something else I have recently been engaged with is Games Workshop and their WarHammer Franchise. Their models and conceptual art I very interesting to me and I have been getting involved with the community online (and in store at Norwich) to which I have received extremely positive feedback. I think it would be a good idea to try secure a simple store job within the Norwich branch and see where that could lead me on to. Any possibilities to get a ‘foot in the door’ in a creative studio I am keen to take up. However I am timid of making concrete plans other than furthering education. As commented on by John Howe (Concept Artist for Lord of the Rings) “career plans and agendas are an illusory exercise, given the nature of the illustrator’s profession. It is a full global undertaking, while remaining very personal. I seldom know what I will be working on in three months’ time; to have a year’s work planned in advance is a rarity”. This, although lacking stability, gives artists more freedom to pick and choose what work they take on, as I do now for my commissions.

I have found that within the larger studios, it is people with great work and the ability to step outside of one single style are who art directors single out to work for them. A good education is important as well of course, but does not always mean the person with the most qualifications will be chosen to work for them.

Jonathan Bach is a great example of this, who left high school and went in to work as a car salesman.  But concluded that drawing was what he really wanted, and “decided to get his work into Art Centre” where he learned many skills that have no propelled him to working for Star Wars live-action television series and films like Iron Man 2. This is very motivating and gives me a boast of enthusiasm that I too could make it as long as I have the drive and skills to back it.

I hope that when finishing my course here at University, that I will be able to secure a small job within Games Workshop and start building on that. I do not expect (though would throw myself open armed at) to get a good industry job right of the bat. This will take time, not only for myself to hone my skills but also for me to mature as a person and be able to deal with social situations better.  I feel that not being social enough is one of my faults, that I spend too much time alone or with a very few select people.

However, this is something I am getting better at. I am being more social with friends within University and creating great new bonds with fellow students which also have extended to the internet. As such, I am confident that this won’t be such a huge issue for me.

Overall I am pleased with my progression of work, not overly pleased; but content that I am making some head way into the career I am reaching for.

-Katie

-          John Howe (2007). Fantasy Art Workshop. UK: David & Charles . p117.

-          Youtube (2011) IllustrationChannel. Johathan Bach Interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FKs4ZKpQu4

Okie dookie all done *runs away flailing*

Oh great

Ive lost all my work.
I had them saved on my mac at home and backed up on my external hardrive I take to and from uni. Now the files on my mac started to play up and suddenly wouldn't open any more. I was confused and attached the external hard drive only to suddenly have that stop working as well. Its like the documents on my mac have been corrupted which just spread over to the other ones.

I went into Uni today to try see if I could get them to work but now it says it doesn't have any record of them even being on there.
I asked my brother to try help me figure out what's happened and he doesn't have a clue even.

Looks like all my mudbox and maya work is just dead.
Great.
To boot, i decided well I should just try start again at uni today, but mudbox decided to kill itself REPEATEDLY. I even got Taz and George to have a go and IT STILL KEPT CRASHING. After the 4th time I just decided to go home. I then threw up. Stress related illness's woo.

I still have my contextual studies work saved- because its on my laptop.  So I suppose I should be grateful for that at least.

Urgh like this week could possibly get any worse.

Im gona send an email to my tutor explaining whats happened. I really feel like crap now basically. I keep throwing up as well. I think my IBS is back thanks to all this mess.

This term has been awful and I just want it to end now.

:c

Sick and uurgh

I'm still pretty sick and tired now. Our work is in for next Monday, and I am having some troubles with my animations but I hope it will all turn out ok. I will show my stuff quickly to tutors and hopefully it will all be oki expect some minor thing I have forgotten. Yep.

I have been doing barely any art coz Im all poorly but heres some drawings I spose.

 More Warhammer related things.

 And some more. Also MLP style krieger horse haha BARRELS

 Sick drawings. ALL THE SHADING.

More sick drawings, lots of shading. Need to do more stuff with horse skulls, they are so cool.

I drew my own face in my own way, a 'style' of sorts thats developing. With what is disney traits as well as some sort of manga influence that I cant shake off- Oh well. Anything with line art and is not perfect realism is considered ANIMU now a days so eh. I like it. Was thinking of my Mudbox skulpt and Im having fun sculpting Taz's face ahaha That should be done by wednesday/thursday morning then I can focus all on the maya animation.

 Facial doodles of creatures. Done on a train (like most of these drawings)

 Some weird monster.

More monsters. You can really see how my drawings show how I am feeling (unwell haha)

I hope I can get all this work finished and stop stressing about things. I am not getting on that well with people at Uni, theres a lot of stipulation and pointing fingers when it comes to thinking up original ideas. Their work sometimes is close to the work of my own, which they assure me is that they are not copying me or anything. I keep telling them I Dont Care yet they continue to try and prove that they are not influenced or emulating me in anyway. I dont really understand what the fuss is about and wish people would stop being so over protective of their ideas, characters, concepts and what not. I dont mind if people like my ideas and want to work with something on the same lines.
Its a shame that we cant work together to do something, but I am quite happy working with people like Nakoo via the internet anyway.

buhhh

More news. And being sick.

Ive been extremely ill the last few days (since last Tuesday really). I have been told that its caused by a mixture of things, most to do with my very unhappy ovaries. I have a recurrence of IBS and a internal infection. Not to mention the pains in my left shoulder. These all make doing work very laboreous. But I am feeling better now after going to the surgery and having some time off.

I am currently skulpting Taz, a friend from school on Mudbox. Yay. Here are the full size photos of her:
http://pics.livejournal.com/killveous/pic/0008065h
http://pics.livejournal.com/killveous/pic/000811f3
http://pics.livejournal.com/killveous/pic/000824pk
http://pics.livejournal.com/killveous/pic/0008779g
http://pics.livejournal.com/killveous/pic/0008828d

In other things, work is slow. I have been bogged down by commissions as well, all of which take a long time to do.
Heres a recent commission featuring the Tyranids.

And more Warhammer realted work between me and Nakoo

Finilising our Commissars face, now I can move on to drawing him on the computer.

The side of his face has had some sort of chemical burns. I orginally was a bit worried of 'damaging' him too much. My need to keep people 'pretty' was confused, but I think he looks great now.
Also the fact he has a lot of facial hair which I hadnt encountered before. All new learning processes. I did a sample on what the skin texture could roughly be like

Nice and fleshy indeed.
We were also thinking about his steed. Heres some quick links.
http://www.warseer.com/forums/attachment.php?s=0e7552d255b8673350aaab1ea4893377&attachmentid=94437&d=1281877689
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?270822-Gunter-s-Death-Korps-of-Krieg-Project-Log
http://i.pbase.com/o4/77/256377/1/62807544.W4XQgeog.DeathRiderofKriegWIPHorse.JPG
http://www.dakkadakka.com/core/gallery-viewimage.jsp?i=23655&m=2&w=800
http://www.dakkadakka.com/gallery/95639-DKOK%20Horse%20WIP.html
http://www.chaos-dwarfs.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=1519&page=5 usefull on how to make them.
http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?270822-Gunter-s-Death-Korps-of-Krieg-Project-Log more useful ness
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/150/314300.page#2463452 more awesome useful things
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/314300.page#1883420 delishous postings
here are our latest ideas on them

Gona have fun I am sure.

I am still very ill, and am worried i will fall behind with work, but I am sure with hard work I can catch up c: yes
Still no new work on Lefeesh, Enduria or Evanfarr story. I am saddened these are not getting developed more at the mo. Must use my time better to work.

Contextual studies update

Should rly of posted this before but oh well, might as well now in the mornings.

Contextual Studies. First draft.

Katie Gilman

My interests and what I feel I am progressing toward currently is a career in Concept Art within Games and possibly TV and more likely Film. I adore creating art work of all kinds; be it fantastic beasts, space ships, medieval armour, robot alien battle suits and the like. I spend a huge amount of time as well working with others on internal stories and projects. These stories are mostly not my own, and I am usually the one given a brief to turn into a fully fledged illustration rather then making up the story. I like doing the designing best however, so this suits me. This behaviour and mentality as well would suit a studio, who want their ideas to be brought to life, not have mine thrown upon them.

I find other people who wish to get into this career seem to think they can draw whatever they want, but I know I need to draw exactly what my customer wants. I have been completing commissions privately for around three years and I am very used to having followed a strict instructions. On my blog I have a recent example of revising a very simple sketch commission five times over before the final colouring could be applied. This was a tiresome process and sometimes frustrating when my customers ask for extra things, but the final product is well worth it; as well as obviously a happy client who then can go on to recommend me to others. This has already started giving me a good reputation, and as such I am now completing 3-6 commissions a week to help pay for food, and travel costs. I am so pleased that this part of my work is turning out well and I am learning very fast in terms of drawing skills and one to one working with clients which I sometimes do over Skype, letting them dictate as I draw what to do and what to change.

I know what I must do to become a good concept artist. Firstly, that I must clearly be good at drawing and illustration. To do that I must practise and I am already doing that as much as I possibly can. I draw basically on everything I can get my hands on and at all times, as I am sure many have noticed. I must also get myself a reputation and become better known within the industry. To do this is tricky and currently I go to a lot of Conventions and Expos to try gather people to me. I also am trying to get more well known on the Internet and am looking forward to creating a portfolio website of my work at the end of my course to show case my best pieces.

Something else I have recently been engaged with is Games Workshop and their WarHammer Franchise. Their models and conceptual art I very interesting to me and I have been getting involved with the community online (and in store at Norwich) to which I have received extremely positive feedback. I think it would be a good idea to try secure a simple store job within the Norwich branch and see where that could lead me on to. Any possibilities to get a ‘foot in the door’ in a creative studio I am keen to take up.

I understand fully how intensely difficult it is to get into this career. That there is merciless competition and a lot of hard laborious and often degrading work to do before securing a high end job that includes what I wish to do. But as someone who has already been up against negative feedback and many people trying to force me into other options, I am very clear on what I want. I have gotten this far, and I really do not want to give up now.

I have found that within the larger studios, it is people with great work and the ability to step outside of one single style are who art directors single out to work for them. A good education is important as well of course, but does not always mean the person with the most qualifications will be chosen to work for them.

Jonathan Bach is a great example of this, who left high school and went in to work as a car salesman.  But decided that drawing was what he really wanted, and went on to go to Art Center College of Design where he learnt many skills that have no propelled him to working for Star Wars live-action television series and films like Iron Man 2. This is very motivating and gives me a boast of enthusiasm that I too could make it as long as I have the drive and skills to back it.

However, this is something I am getting better at. I am being more social with friends within Uni and creating great new bonds with fellow students which also have extended to the Internet. As such, I am confident that this won’t be such a huge issue for me.

Overall I am pleased with my progression of work, not overly pleased; but content that I am making some head way into the career I am reaching for.

-Katie

Its 1039 words.I get the 10% margin so it should be fine. I did waffle a bit.

Here's the recent commission I had to do the five revisions for. I am not bothered really, but in future I will be sure to charge extra, and especially charge more for one to one conversation via Skype.

 First Draft, drawn using the commissioner's rough references done by other artists.

 He quickly picked up on not liking how I had done the snake body, that he wanted it to be 'fatter' looking rather then the more natural look I have done with my previous work here:

 He then asked for a hand reference as well, just like the one within this reference I had done earlier:

 Still I had to change little details, the head shape and so forth, making the muscles slightly larger and such. I also was told to do more extras once again. I abided but now regret doing so much work for one person. He has offered to 'tip' me slightly extra but I do not wish to send out another invoice and as such have declined, with the promise of more work for him later.

Please note these images have been cropped for customer privacy.

IN OTHER NEWS

I have been working with a friend. 'Nakoo', on designing a Commissar character for a certain story within the 40K universe, with other full illustrations of him to follow.
I was extremely excited by this, having a love of militarised uniforms but not many stories in which to divulge them fully. Dark Auto (Darkie) was my only other means of drawing uniforms, but as an android from space, in an already established universe- I couldn't go too far into war fare and practicable application. Sacrificing functionality for looks and a 'style' with his clothing.

I was provided with a nice selection of images to look at here, here and here with some great looks into the style uniform used in real life by different factions but most notably the Nazi's here. Despite their bad morality, their sense of style was defined- as it was designed by Calvin Klien supposedly.

We decided to first work with the facial features as a start. Getting those locked on then move on to hair arrangements and the uniform.
I did some quick facial studies which she then added notes to

She also suggested how the facial hair should be arranged. I was pleased things wee moving forward steadily and with a positive and light mood.
I will continue working on this as much as possible as it is great fun and a good learning experience.
Also I hope to be able to show case some of this work to Games Workshop- and maybe even get a small book arranged for them to see which may help stir interest in me as a good illustrator.
I have made books before which have sold well to those around me;

And I would love to do anouther more up to date one with these ideas.
Of course this isnt the first time I've done work with Warhammer stuff.
Heres some other things I have done, from both Warhammer and 40k

I need to do more however and look forward to completing more on this project in future.

Thats all for now. I shall update sometime again with an update on the pirate story me and Nami are doing.

SNOWWWWWW. SNOW IN THE DUNGEON

ARGHHH SNOW.

ARGHHH HOW DARE THE WEATHER BE COLD.

 Our steps in the garden have been eaten by snow.

Bird foot prints are cool mind you. I beleive these were made by a long crested tittyfowl.

While at home I have been doing commissions, but other then that- not much. I dont want to try driving in this weather. Not even to the trainstation (which is a 30 min drive in itself). So I cant go into Uni till it clears up a bit.
It snowed last night again. But seems to be melting now HAHA TAKE THAT SNOW.

In other news, heres some artings.

Finished commission, now in full colour YAY

Vent art. Red is a cool colour.

Blue is also a cool colour.

Darkasus deigning more.
I HATE the wings on it, but to be stylistically appealing they have to be that ugly NEVER GOING TO FLY shape. But I will see if I can change it enough to b pretty.

Thanks!
And Taz, please be sure to keep notes for me in the lessons I have missed!

Right Infront of You

Jackdaw, now using it for my background because Jackdaws are awesome. Jackdaws are my fursona animal. C:

Pigeon.

I did a lot more work but its not done yet :C

Here is an interesting article Click Me

I should post more things LATER~~~

More Lefeesh and other things

Green Pea Hen, from my Evanfar story (the Taur one)

New colours for Leonfeesh. Darker, but im still not happy with them. Me and Nami have to go over it more rly. Hmm

Life Drawings

On a personal note.
I prefer drawing either larger people or muscled people. Skinny people like the model today was not so much fun for me. They lack dynamic lines or difference of tone because they have not as many angles. I also wish we had more female models to draw. Being the only girl in life drawing is a little uncomfortable. And as I am the only girl in the whole of our group, the lack of females is a little sad.
But its fine, I dont mind. Personal feelings only.

And some more things, life drawings

Always with the things

A snurk speed, 15 mins.

New concepts on a project im doing with a friend. Leon as a water spirit thing, hes a fish. A Lion fish, thing. Here I do thumbnail doodles of what his arrangment of spines and fins should be.

 

We both felt that the ears on 2 were nice, and the frill arangment on 7. The tail we are still not overly sure on but proberbly 1 with sone spines like on 5.

His spines can flex out when he wants to intimidate others.

When it came to colours, Lionfish do vary a lot. My first idea was very light and we feel too prissy now as you can see below.

We will be making him more red, brown and black with smaller white qualities in the next pic.

Pegasus from Fantasia 1940. I loved the black pegasus as a kid and have always adored him. Me and Nami gona do a project on that too some time, make a big black pegasus but also have him with ananthro form which will wear armour, Nami will be working on that.
Butt shot because of reasons. ahahhahaa

Random pic of harris, All digital started with a pencil sketch. Trying out new lineart and stuff.

And then one of Friedrich

Not finishing this because I dont like no more, proportions are all too off and I dont like his faceeeee D: Ill do somehting better with him some time.

Some doodley

And Life drawing photos. C:
heres them all, coz im not copy pasting the posts over from LJ because no.