evolution renovation

Here is the final render of the automobile. Done in Photoshop. It was done back in months ago. I just didn't have time to post it up. And I forgot how long I took to finish the rendering. But it was fun and great learning. At the most part, as you learn to illustrate different genre and type of artworks, you'll begin to see art in new ways and perceive it in an artistic perspective. Your art principles practised and your eyes taste different beauty. I hope I’ll have another time to come back for more cars.

What was happen after that is that I begin another new project - a 3D game character. I haven’t got my hand dirty in low poly game character before. It is funny because I was a Conceptual Lead in The Gamesworks. All my plate was so full with concept design and other paintings, it took my life nearly. But having said so, I come across dozen of great character artists from the ALMIGHTY internet. Particularly, Dominance War. A few well-received CG forums gather their artists to battle against each other over a course of designing game character in a competition. I miss the competition. I feel so behind from the race. I feel so inspired by their works and mastery of their craft. I’ve decided not to miss the next one and am gearing myself up for best work to come. I’ll do the update on next post or so.

Till then this site is having a major renovation. Coz I’M COMING BACK! More works and art to talk about. I will keep this site update with my game character. You’ll gonna expect a lot of technical issue arise for the project, especially from the game art subject matter. You’ll like it.

X-XAN

How's everybody? I'm so sorry for the lack of post. Well, sometimes you just busy on something that you cannot post up publically because of the P&C terms.

Here's my automobile design. I've been in automobile design lately. It feels so great to post an art blog again. Always show people that I'm still in business. (laugh) It took me a few attempts to get all the perspective right. This is my rough version. I think the design pretty much done. Next step is to render it in Photoshop. I wonder how is the car will look like.

This drawing is inspired by Scott Robertson and Harald Belker. These two guys are amazing. Scott Robertson is famous for his Mattel Hot Wheel Toy car and Harald Belker is one who design Batman mobile and work in Minority Report. Their work itself has speak for their professional achievement.

Btw, this is my first automobile design. (laugh). Believe it. I did it. I still think it is too much details. But I have a lot of fun learning. I will do much better next round.

evlyn

When I close my eyes before went into sleep, I often see someone so real. As if they know me or I know them. They can smile at you. And we have some great time there... we do something, we go somewhere… until my alarm rings me up. I’ve meet so many of them now. I can show you one by one soon.

Technically speaking, I did this quite fast. Nowadays, I draw faster than writing.

P/S: Thanks for keep dropping by, guys. I'll have lots of update coming soon. Stay tune.

keep holding on

I don’t have picture for you guys this round. I just went to a soft launch of a new animation studio. Seeing those talented bunches of people from voice actors, sound engineers, producer, and directors, artists and friends’ altogether. I enjoyed their company. But somehow I wish it could have been mine. To see my team is there. All the most wanted people in the industry are working with me to achieve what only our dream could offers.

There are times where I feel it’s so far away. My heart dimly lit like a candle light in the dark. Just carry on, through the darkest nights, strongest wind.

I hardly imagine how I got thus far. And how much more I still need to run… Somehow I wish... Someone was here. At least someone who understands. Yet, it’s still a wish... I almost accept the fact that… It is just me.

It’s too tired I almost close my eyes;
It’s too sorrowful if I close my eyes.

Yes, keep holding on,
My hours are near,
They are waiting for my call,
We’ll do this together.


“You are your own biggest rival.” - Jacob Yuean

30sec

Sorry, guys. I’ve been so busy. I mean I really really busy. I feel like being bugged out of home every morning and trying so hard to “earn” the chance to go home. It just so busy. So much to do. Hope to get a rest after Christmas.

I just got a chance to watch the Speedpainting DVD from Gnomon. It is a great DVD. I used to watch the 30sec preview from their website. With just that 30sec I have speed up my process from one week to 3 hours to complete a painting. It’s powerful. Of coz, I lost count of how many times I’ve re-watch that 30sec. When you seek to improve and the passion drives you, you can complete the impossible. I truly believe that. And now, I have the DVD in hand. I’m more powerful than ever! Hahaha~!!
Here’s an extract of my recent painting that I’m about to finish. I took a complete different approach to start the painting. I used square brush, round brush, and air brush for mostly everything. I also use some brushes I created to add a lot accidental detail. It works out nicely. There are more about this piece just that I can’t post the full version. Someday after the game release, I’ll talk about it in the artistic compilation of the game - Art of Parallax Theory: Rebellion.

make a different

I always disagree with people who will notice what is the trend and follow the main stream without having consciousness of what you are doing is truly yours. I’m not saying all... but most of them. When I read the recent interview of FFXII producer Akitoshi Kawazu, I shout for joy~!!

IGN UK: With the success the DS and Nintendo's focus for the Wii, there's obviously a current trend towards shorter, more accessible games. That contrasts sharply with the ethos of the Final Fantasy titles, which are based around deep, involving and lengthy game play. Do you think there's still a place for such epic games in the industry and can you see that remaining the case for the foreseeable future?

Akitoshi Kawazu: As game creators, we ourselves aren't setting out to make these simple games personally. We go to make the games that we want to see made and present the world that we want to present. Personally, I think it would be very sad if all games turned into these five minute time-killing titles, from both an industry and cultural perspective. Twenty years from now, I myself will probably be retired but even then I still want to play games like Final Fantasy and I hope there were still be people like them - and I think that there will be.

Anyway, here's an extract from a painting that I'm working on. The design is the same with the one I posted on my first post in this blog.

the Legend

My fantasy search begins when I brought over Final Fantasy 7 AC Reunion Files. Every page is telling the story of creation of the life-changing Final Fantasy 7 AC. Yes, Final Fantasy 7 has changed my life. It helps me to comprehend the inborn vision within me.

I went to Wikipedia searching Final Fantasy, reading from one links to another. To my surprise, I found out so many great names that I adore. Spent a few nights reading them. Only now I know, their humble beginning was so encouraging. Their awards achievement is so dull if compare to their work being remembered by many and has impact so many generations to come. As they have leave the legacy behind. We call them the Legend.

My first is Dr. Osamu Tezuka 手塚 治虫 - Astro Boy. He is legend of the legends. We call him the Father of Anime. Shotaro Ishinomori 石ノ森章太郎 - Kamen Rider. Fujiko Fujio 藤子 不二雄 aka Hiroshi Fujimoto 藤本弘 – Doraemon. I basically grow up with Kamen Rider, Doraemon and Astro Boy.

Next is God of the Anime, Hayao Miyazaki 宮崎 駿 - Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away. He is insane. His work is classic. Katsuhiro Otomo 大友克洋 – Akira, and Steamboy! Koji Morimoto 森本晃司 - Animatrix, he is like the third God of anime for me (after Miyazaki and Otomo). I’m waiting for his new movie coming soon Tekkon Kinkreet. His color is fantastic!

Hironobu Sakaguchi 坂口 博信 - Final Fantasy. Creator of Final Fantasy franchise. Takehiko Inoue 井上雄彦 - Slam Dunk, I’m still reading Vagobond from him. Most recent rising star to me is Tetsuya Nomura 野村哲也 - FF7 Advent Children. Only 36. He rose from monster designer to game icon character’s designer and director for AC. Looking forward to his work in FFXIII.

I learn one thing from all these Legends. Resemble by one fact. They are master of their skills and craft. They take no shortcut. They fueled by passion. Enlarge by vision. I adored them so much. All my life is being inspired by their work and now… their life.
This is my random light-travel vehicle design. I have been working on shape and value for quite a while. I don’t think I’ll go back using lines technique to draw design much in the future. Line drawing is a linear approach to find a design. Somehow I find creativity restrained.