Into the Future!

Photoshop over pencil sketch, its the future.

So now I live in Pasadena, In a really sweet 112 year old Victorian house. In a few days Ill be going down to Laguna College of art for the 2 Day opening workshops for the Concept Design Academy. In addition to classes there I am taking a class at Gnomon for digital painting. These are all great because they are night and weekend classes, as the instructors actually have working lives. The professor for the Digital painting class is Hugo Martin, interestingly enough we will be classmates in a class taught at the concept design academy by James Paick, who offered to teach another section due to popular demand. The same day as the new section was announced it filled up. So im fortunate to have the opportunity to take his Enviornmental Design Class. Im also taking a class on drawing mechanical things like vehicles and mechs with John Wu, . Finally I will be taking a class called Entertainment Projects. In meetings with Kevin Chen, founder of CDA, he explained it as a class where you go through simulated projects you may encounter in the real world. It will be taught by Carlo Arellano. I'm pretty much going to have an insainly full schedule for the next ten weeks. Of course its going to be very exciting, and I have spent some time scowering craigslist to create a pretty sweet work area. No going back now, haha.


Also this past weekend I visited San Francisco. I saw many friends, some from as far back as highschool, and made some new ones here and there. One of which is a very talented artist, Kinman Chan. His work ethic and thought process where very interesting to experience first hand, as well as just hanging out in general. Hes got pretty much every video game system and movie ever made in his house (thats an exaggeration and I'm pretty sure he only plays rock band) . Really though, as many artists I have encountered in this field, very knowlagable and down to earth.

Since I spent so much time talking about it, heres some of the CDA brochures including the opening weekend workshop (I think most everything is full by now, but you can check the CDA website and blog):

Time for learning!

Experimentation..

So these are utlizing my 'advanced' knowledge of photoshop, to make something that looks less digital and more fun. I do stuff like this on my down time, and it tends to be more appealing to a broader audience then the rest of my work. Also it makes people smile which is always good. These are also tests for a possible children's book in the future.

Interestingly enough I use a lot of the same process for these as I do with the more complicated renders.


In other news pending on anything I hear from contacts made at Siggraph, I'm going to move up to Pasadena and look into some of the schools up there. Except in the reverse order (find school then move).

Until next time, have fun!

Siggraph 2008

Very amazing. Learned many things, met many people, generally had a good time. Though I couldn't get into the legendary Blur party, I had more then enough great experiences to surpass what awesomeness I may have missed. In actuality I think some of the expreiences I had surpassed the Blur party, even if I had had the opportunity to go. Enough about the blur party! Of the many companies I was able to interact with, Lucasfilm, Imagemovers Digital, Rhythm & Hues, and Blizzard where the most positive experiences. Not necessarily because of job opportunities, but general quality of people. I was able to gain great and positive feedback from them as well. I only had one negative experience with talking with a company, but it didn't even come down to criticism of my work or behavior, simply the treatment of a potential hire and customer. I learned from that experience that I wouldn't want to work for, or recommend anyone to a company that treats people in that fashion. Especially when they are definitely on a lower level then the above mentioned companies. I also believe in karma.

I definitely recommend Siggraph to anyone who is seriously considering a job in the industry. Though I missed going to Comicon this year, when asked about it, and the choice i made, it simplay came down to "i wanted a job". I hope to catch both next year if i can afford it, they are both very fun, but Siggraph is something that will further your career lightyears in the right direction. Even just attending you learn more then you will anywhere else.

Monster Sketches and a Building

So these are some quick sketches for developing a monster. Pencil, pen, and copic markers. There was a lot of experimenting , but its pretty clear i like creatures that stand on thin pointly legs. The creature at the top with the human scale is the one i chose in the end. Though i put him in another project, i will do a separate rendering of him soon.



This is an orthographic turn around for a smaller building that one might find in the east village or pretty much anywhere in NYC. I found and modified some images that might best fit the surface textures of the building.

Hopefully ill get some more new stuff up here soon. Until next time, hoohaa!

New York and Beyond!

Good

Great

Ok, so this is a long time over due. I went to NYC a few weeks ago for a week and had a great time touring the city. Though I had lived there last summer, I never really did any 'touristy' type things. During this visit I went to the Frick Gallery, the Met, the Whitney, the Drawing Center in Soho, the PS1 in queens, and a many more. This included a walk through many of the galleries in Chelsea. I also took a river boat tour around the southern part of Manhattan.

There where many other adventures this week, including going to see Kung Fu Panda. I must say this was the best Dreamworks Animation film I've seen so far. Simply put it had a decent story, developed (main) Characters and a solid moral follow through on its concept. Of course then a few weeks later Wall-E came out. That was just amazing all around. A new level in computer animation, not just for the kids anymore. The end.

So now I'm Going to post some things from art tests I've taken Since graduating, as well as the above, a brief add for Wall-E and Kung Fu Panda.

More very soon!

GRADUATED!

sort of, finally. Go to NYC this next week and that will be it. Then im done. Finally, after 5 years and one pre college program. woot. Ive been doing all sorts of moving and art tests (ironically after school there are more tests, always tests!) . Looking to the west for work, interestingly many companies are receptive, you just need to email them. Hopefully there will be more work later, when everything calms down...

good night and good luck!

AD SPACE

The following is the development process for a visual to go with a proposed space advertising project.

Original Nasa Photograph

Sun added, along with pieces from another space shot of the earth.

That was the fun part. The rest was merely bending something to make it look like a giant screen in space. Although the actual design is not solid, it is made up of a massive grid of pipes and other materials, which hold and suspend arrays of RGB lights in place. This way it isn't a solid piece floating up in space. This means that when turned off its visual stamp is pretty small. That is important because of legislation passed in the 90s in regards to a "space billboard" project that called for massive ads printed on massive sheets of mylar to be suspended in space. In addition to legislation that made it illegal (over the United States) all the investors backed out because of maintenance concerns.

Heres the final version, minus various space ships and other little objects. Credit goes to Mark Montgomery for a last minute logo design.

And now on to graduating! less then a week!

-peace

Go Speedracer Go!

So last summer I interned at Animation Collective up on NYC. While i was there i was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to be able to do some work on the show as more then an intern. I designed the main villian's SUV type car thing. I will post it on here later when the thing actually airs ont he show, for now though its living on my website:

www.colingeller.com

For now i should focus on homework for once... and graduate in a week.

Hope to make it down to Savannah to see the friends one more time,

peace.

Final Muno Designs

[Used w/ Helmet]

[New]

[Clothes]

[Muno]

So heres what i did this weekend. The final/ more high end renderings of the Muno Character. Each of them are my usual layering process in photoshop. The space suit PSD file is set up so you can turn the helmet on and off as it is in its own group. Going to go get portfolio materials printed now, peace.

Near the End...

Of two things. One being this current project. This is a slight re-design of the character Muno. I combined the older version of his character, and the recent design, into one, older looking design. This is pencil with some quick photoshop over it.

The other thing that is ending soon is school. Im all over the place with producing work, applying places, and classes. The job search is a harsh one, but must go on!

Muno Costumes

[Used]

[New]

[Work]

[Un-used]

So this is where i am right now. Ive gone ahead and started working out some costume concepts. I figure hes sort of a gear head, good at figuring things out. Of course hes probably going to wind up in space at some point, so why not a space suit? The bottem image is a suit that i drew up, and although i plan on using the helmet design later, it was pointed out that visually it doesnt look as manuverable as a space suit could be. So i did another one.

As these are concepts, they will be changed and corrected by the final version. In Fact Muno is going to be redesigned again to push him back to the sloping neck and arched back of the older version i drew previously. This will help push his silhouette back to something more interesting, hopefully. Either way the finals of these are going to look pretty sweet.

Re-designs coming soon...

Muno's Species

So i drew another version, this one a bit younger then the actual direction im looking at. Mostly playing with his species' anatomy. Humanoid with lots of reptilian influence. Although he has gills under his armpits. I realize that i like the head of the elder type version better. I guess i will go back with another re-design with that head. Although i did this without getting any designs approved first, either way all the designs will go in the portfolio as process.

Finding Muno (2)

And here are some test renders over a few pencil sketches from the previous post, once again, all are for the creature/character Muno.

So its pretty clear from what ive done so far ive narrowed the Species and look of Muno down to 2 species. One is more mammalian and the other more lizardish. Ill keep working until i come up with a good compromise. Or not, haah. Beyond the assignment my goal is to create a fully realised design that i can render different ways, including one in a space suit (thus the first image). I do like the idea of taking a main character down the "old and wise" path. That way he can have more history on him. Not to mention the "hobbit" type legacy he could have. Old , grumpy, and going on adventures.

This one was a test render over one of the simpler sketches, that probably wont make it past this stage. I may do more, as its just so silly its awesome...

I call it "FOOP"

Goodnight'

Finding Muno (1)

The following are thumbnails and sketches for the creature/character Muno. Explanation below.





These are some of the sketches for a class project i am working on. The next assignment is for a creature, Muno, who is an amphibious organism. He lives on a rain forest planet and is in the middle of the food chain. Above are the majority of the thumbnails and sketches i have been working on thus far. There will be more sketches, as i am still searching...

Having said that i did choose a few sketches to render out, to help me visualize the possibilities of the character a bit better.

*recently added another page of more refined thumbnails*

It's H.E.L.P.eR. to the rescue!

For a school weekly sketch thing, also mostly for fun. Its a robot, how could i not do it.

In other news the job search is up and running... all over the place. Soon the mailers and portfolios go out. We'll see how those go, hopefully well. If not, still planning on going west, one way or another. Schools almost done, 3 weeks and counting. No pressure.

(Go Team Venture!)

Demon WIP

So I've been working on and off on this thing for about a week now. I had originally done it quite hastily for a demo, and then after some peer review, some issues where brought up. I am currently changing those issues, mainly in his right wing and overall composition, but here it is as a work in progress. As part of the re-working of it i have extended the frame, which is why there is an unrendered portion of the tree. Had some fun with the lighting and texturing. Should be done soon....

The head is basically one of the Chimera creatures from the game, Resistance Fall of Man. I think its a really sweet design, but i would have liked to see more non-humanoid designs. So here you go, but now its a demon. Whos having a conversation with a fairy (light source).

The Fowl Larva

So this is what the bigger creature grew from, a larva of sorts. Continuing my new process of no pen work, and just focusing on form value and texture. Think it turned out pretty ok. More soon...

Final Fowl Creature

Ok, here he is. Its clear that ive used some photo collaging for background texture. Pretty much my most detailed thing ever, not just because of the photo textures, i definitely put in extra time to make form without actual line work inside his shape, and NO pen.

more soon hopefully!

A Fowl Creature...

Final-ish version of previous "Bird-Man" looking creature. Definitely went in a different direction.

Pencil/Photoshop . No pen this time.

The Guppy

Heres a little ship i prepared for a demo yesterday, finished it today.

Going to see Iron Man!

later.