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.

Just dont make a noise

 Life Drawing. I rly liked the model we had.

More doodles and work.
We are currently learning Mudbox which is fun times. I will upload a screen shot of the jezuz I made on it later. I will be figuring out skulptrix later and will skulpt Daggets face because he is a pretty cool guy.

Here is a wip image of him Im working on

More on that later, I will be doing it all tone wise then adding colour ontop like I did with this image

Other drawings:

and heres a recent sketch commission for a friend on fA. Cropped because of reasons.

The Lord of Change, from WarHammer (Games Workshop) I really should do more of that stuff. Oh yeah.


I TOLD YOU NOT TO MAKE A NOISE

More Artings

I cant draw

Oh god what is this. I am not good with computers.
Leonidas, a pirate, not drawn from refs which is prolly why it looks weird. also. I cant draw hair. god. lol.

Killve the mighty steed. I like the top doodle, the colour idea is kinda nice, red would look good with silvers, brass and gold.
Well I assume.

Oh Dagget lololol

Harris, Virtue of Kindness in a horn/unicorn/god form thing. I duno. Older art but I posting now because I can and because bacon.

Im sitll saving up for an Xbox and a copy of skyrim arrrhh
*wiggles about*

Some photoshooping

Here are some fast Photoshop doodles with a wacom loaned from school.

These are my first ever tablet pictures.
I usually use a cintiq so it was weirddddd for me to draw without looking at the screem. The tablets as well feel clunky and it was very hard for me to get a soft or detailed look with my work. But its oki. Here yah go.

A dragon. Veyr skyrim looking one I think.

 Sad Killve

 A dinodragon made of lava. Because lava.

Elra, Sin of Gluttony as a unicorn thing (there is only one horn). He is running.

I like running. I like cats. I like every kind of cat.

  Dagget running somewhere.

Oki I will use this place

So ok, Live Journal was not the place for school work, this is tho. Go me
All homework and ideas and stuff will be placed here in a big sticky pile because I can and because yes.

I drew this at hospital. Coloured lazily in photoshooup. Im posting to see what blogger does with it.


In other news I have contextual studies home work here -->

Concept Artist.

Personally I would like to study in this field; it entitles the use of my imagination and innovation. A conceptual artists job varies widely across a different set of skills.  They can be asked to design and create a huge verity of things which can range from vehicles, monsters, clothing, environments and so forth. Conceptual Artists works tend to be of a fantasy or sci-fi nature and is kept mostly to Film, Games and Television. However Concept artists can also find work within the music industry for videos and can also be utilised within theatre and costume work.

Drawing and image based skills are a must and need to be finely homed to be able to get what the director, manager or commissioner wants. The drawings must also be fluid enough and easy to understand so that someone else taking on that design in 3d or animation will be able to utilise your work to its best potential.

Creativepool show on their webpage tell about what proposed salaries could be (from around £19,000 to £55,000 a year) but I feel the prospect of making 19k a year to be wishful thinking at best for someone coming fresh into the job.

Unless picked up by a company of studio, a solo Conceptual Artist works mostly by a picture by picture basis, working for smaller companies who pay for designs as they are created, not paying them for hours and certainly not providing them with a workspace or studio. This kind of work is mostly done via the internet through emails.

The conceptual artist title is incredibly competitive, with many people trying to get a name for themselves and hoping to secure a place working with a team of reputable people.

Jonathan Bach is a concept Artist who has worked a lot of jobs and was able to go from a car salesman to working on films like Iron Man 2 and Avatar 2.

Heres a awesome inspiring and motivation vid of an interview with him talking about his experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FKs4ZKpQu4

You can see him featured here http://conceptartworld.com/?p=6777 which also links to his personal blog which is filled with his concept work.

 I would very much like to get into this job and I really want to focus more on my artwork and drawings in the following years.

Games Tester.

Although I would like this sort of job, it is considered one of the most difficult to get into. Games testers do not spend all their time just sitting and playing the games and reviewing them (though of course that is a big part). They spend a lot of time looking for errors and bugs, going over every single action and effect repeatedly to be sure everything works accordingly. When an error is found it will be reported back to the developers who will then see to the problem, once this is done the revision will be brought back to the Games tester for Verification. This part entitles then checking the problem has been completely fixed and the game is then ready for publication and sale.

The requirements for this job are not just an interest in games and being skilled at them, but a high level of computer experience and analysis.

People working in this industry have a very varied salary, most instances it is paid by hour with some companies offering bonus’s for the amount of bugs found and addressed.

I really doubt I would be able to get into this sort of job as I lack the computer skills neccesary.

YAAAYYY
ok thats about it.
Oh wait
heres some more artnings:

Heres some things thinking about running.

Picture of Darkie, I hope to do more of this some time.

Some random doodles, bird thing. I want to skulpt some 3d bird sometime.

Just getting things ready for Darkies reference later. Facial studies, and body and oh so much rubbish i dont even.

Ok more later.