ArtCtrl

Another Blender update. It’s addicting, what can I say. I worked with a model I had previously made - I just reanimated and textured. I added two walking stick objects - they turned into a weapon object.

Heres a shot of the scene. I repeated the throwing and walk cycle three times. With the 2nd model I animated it to blink around the scene.

Another view of the scene. Nothing special with lighting - just a basic sun light to light the overall scene and a spot focusing on the character walking. You can see these two lights and the direction in these two screenshots.

Finally, here’s the video of the animation. One thing I forgot to mention - I’ve been working towards creating a seamless shot that starts in the same place it leaves. Basically creating a walk cycle with the whole scene - Making the background move forward was an attempt of this. I’ll keep working on creating this.

Over the past several days I havn’t drawn or painting. I needed a break from it. Instead I’ve been working with Source FIlmmaker (and a bit of blender) and playing Guild Wars 2.

Source Filmmaker is the most helpful. Guild Wars being so damn fun.

It’s important that I keep exploring new programs. I find learning a new program really helps in learning. I believe people should have the option to learn video/animation/game programs from any age. This is why I like Open Source. Now, Source FIlmmaker isn’t open source but it is free.

When I first used the Source Filmmaker I used these Valve Tutorials - they helped but it was best when I just played with the program myself.  I’ve done this a couple of times - with on Wednesday having the most success. Everything was coming together.

This is where I really started getting into quick camera cuts - using a range of different angles. The jump is repeated 3 times - I’ve just done a different camera cut each time. The camera is certainly fun to play with.

This is split into two parts - rag doll animation/lighting and a Scout battle. I used rag roll characters from Half Life 2 and Left For Dead 2. I really want the models for Counter-Strike: GO. I’ve been watching my brother play it - graphics are looking hot.

With the Rag dolls I animated the scene with some simple movement - head and arm movement. I also added lights in and animated them to move. This gave some interesting lighting effects - especially with added colors.

Scout battle. I recored all these Scouts fighting then worked though the scene placing the camera in areas I thought looked good. It was alot of cutting, but I’m happy with it. All it needs is a story/sound/music.

Here I’ve explored the moving camera. Now I know how to animate using the Motion Editor I can apply this to all - like cameras. Twists and turns. This video started with some very quick camera follow shots - followed by slower aerial movements. I’d like to develop some cool 3rd person views.

Here' an example of some of the camera tests I’m working on.  Up the stairs and looking out. This view changes when the character moves forward on the stairs on the right.

Here’s the other side of the stairs. As you can see I’ve figured out how to remove the line that was going from the top right hand to the bottom left. Nice.

Stairs on the right here. The view here is zoomed further - the character can move without having to switch camera so quick!

I’ve done a little digital painting tonight so will get some uploaded. It’s good to do a range of projects - but still aiming for a larger overall idea.

I decided to get back into some 3d - taking a break from the digital painting for now. It’s been a couple of days since I’ve painted. I’ve wanted for awhile to get back into 3d. Working in Blender and Source Filmmaker.

I’ll start with Blender. I opened some of my .blend files and retextured the works. The textures used are digital paintings - mostly environments. It’s refeshing to see this series of works come alive in a animated world.

All the models had been used before - I simply retextured and rearanged the scene. I used the character as part of the set - creating two large stationly characters. This helps give the scene more depth - often these blending in with the background. 

On the right is a character that moves forward during the sequence. This model has a different texture to everything else - helps with contrast..

And finally the video of the animation. I’ll make another post later highlighting some of my learning in Source Filmmaker.

In the meantime, keep doing what you’re doing.

I spend the majority of my digital painting time in GIMP. I love it, I always will. I’ve tried other Raster programs out there - and will continue to use - DeviantArt Muro, Manga Studio, MyPaint, Alchemy, Photoshop.

There is another set of programs I can paint with.. Vector. During Highschool I spent time learning Freehand. It was a favorite program. I enjoyed this more than Photoshop. Having a tablet back then would of been great - even if it was a tiny 2x2 screen size.

Anyway, I learnt Freehand, then moved onto Illustrater. In 2007 I did the majority of my digital work in Illustrater. Later I moved to Inkscape - cos it’s not Adobe.

Here are two logo/header displays and a paint over of a sketch: This is a paint over as well. I used a figure from GIMP and painted over in Inkscape. I used my mouse for it. I’ve been using the tablet lots - it needs a new nib and I can’t find the packet. I think the mouse does a decent job at painting.  Clearly the model is James. Who else could look like this? One of the advantages of having these files as Vector objects is the freedom. I can scale, and mix without losing any detail.  Paint over of Lynn Mall sketch. Color used is inspired by my other works. I think I’ll keep working in Inkscape. It’s something different that allows me to create works digitally.

I think the site needs a paint. Heres some icons to get started.

RSS Gif image. I had planned to use these for for the sidebar, but thinking about it - flashy annoying GIFs like this are annoying. I’ll keep with a static image for side bar. 

Rss Feed. subscribe with Google Reader, or your own choice. You can also subscribe to a daily email digest of blog posts .I aim to post 3 times a Week.

Stumbleupon GIF image.

S stumbupon. Andrew was using this lots. I should get back into it. I like to save my links on delicious and videos to you tube likes

I have always had an enjoyable experience on Reddit.  Reddit. I visit Reddit daily. With mostly browsing I post sometimes. Mostly in sketch daily

It is Sunday morning. I havn’t done anything today. But here’s a blog post to get started. The place is tidy. It needs to be tidier though.

Yesterday I tidied. Though I went though some older posts and turned the drawings into digital works.   It’s been a long time since I’ve done life drawing. I use to do it often. There are several life drawing classes I’m interested in doing next term - including Rogers week one block class. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday are all 6 hours of life drawing. Dan and Catherine also have a life drawing class during the term - as a weekend class.

The JPG file. Quality is better than GIF but GIF has the advantage of creating animation. It would be nice to create GIF with JPG quality stills.

These drawings were all quick gestural works - breaking the figure down to cubes and basic shapes. I’ve explored these shapes and developed them further over several months. 

Gary Johnson. This was a warmup work - just wanted to get looser with the tablet. It’s been a long time since I’ve drawn/painted political figures. I would take my sketchbook into BackBenches and Sketch people.

Several digital paintings. Pencil sketch to GIMP paintings.  Airport sketch thanks to Netscrolling. Exploring areas of color further - what shapes can I make?  Do the buildings and people need color. Maybe I could try a silver or grey on it. I’ve used grey somewhat in my other works - especially at the beginning stages of building a painting up.

Westfield. I want to take the majority of my pencil sketches into GIMP and develop these paintings. This can only help my knowledge of compossion and environments…. The final painting. I guess I shouldn’t really call it a final though. Because anyone is free to take my work and develop it on a new path. Just let me know :)  A digital painting from several months ago. Decided to take it into GIMP and work over top using the same colors.  I’ve been having a look over my older blog posts and noticed lots of life drawings that I could take though the digital stage. There is likely lots of life drawing work not uploaded - I should work on getting these uploaded as I can then turn them into digital paintings and such.

Some more drawings of Auckland during my visit. Most of these are around Westfield New Lynn Mall.

Top half. HB Pencil on white paper. This is mostly the ceiling.  Working vertical, gives an interesting perspective. Much more detail in this area then the roof. People were blocking areas so I had to work around that somewhat. Attempted to capture the wood bark texture on the containers - spreading it to other container structures. I’ll do a paint over of these works tonight or in the morning. 

Left side of mall outside sketch. Sadly the other half isn’t scanning. stupid scanner.

Digital works that I worked on last night. I have the flu so havn’t been drawing (or even leaving the house). I’ll keep warm and recovery should be fine.

Here are some JPGs and GIFs….

This was originally created in Printmaking in 2010. Several lithograph prints were created from it. I decided to open it in GIMP and produce a paint over. Though it’s the same process as the sketchbook to digital works I’ve decided to use a different yellow - to explore greens.

The GIF. The first frame is the original print, followed by white, blue, yellow, and line.

Sketchbook development here. Interesting mix of trees and buildings. No blue. Maybe it should be added.

GIF of the work. Sketchbook, white, yellow, green/light gray/mix gray, line.

Cuba Street. What interesting shapes can be created?

GIF of the work. Sketchbook, white, blue, blue (I did the background twice), gray, green/yellow, line.

Taken several of my sketches from Auckland and produced a paint over. There was only one new idea here - using the eraser in areas to help tonal value

New Lynn mall. I need a new nip for my pen. It’s grinded down and is scrapping on the tablet. It may be part of the problem of unable to get straight lines - my hand has been very jerky. Frustrating. 

Working on this I wished I had taken a photo of the scene - the line was fine - but I had no information for the tone - so just made it up. I guess it works, but it doesn’t feel right.

I  used the eraser tool for the blue - capturing a more transparent background. It’s been awhile since I’ve explored these ideas.