New Facial Hair, New Caricature

The Sea

30 min. lunch-time Vertical Environment by the Sea. Made with Shape tool and Blurs in Photoshop.

Another Alien World Verticle Landscape

Concept/Final Art for Super Happy Topia Land

Layout for Super Happy Topia Land

 Final Design for Super Happy Topia Land

 Final Design for the "Real World" the characters inhabit

Above is a sampling of Concept/Final Art for Backgrounds I did a few months back for a new video project for the Trevor Romain Foundation. The organization develops videos to help children who's family members have been deployed to combat zones for the US military and how to help cope with those same family members suffering from PTSD.

Background Art for Brain Chase

For more information about this exciting project I participated in, check out their wonderful site.

Red, Purple and Blue

My right hand ring finger is doing better, more or less. Only afflicted with mild discomfort. To which I state, "Pain is weakness leaving the body."

Fall is Here

Fall officially started yesterday. Huzzah!

45 min digital painting.

Pila

The pilum (plural pila) was a javelin commonly used by the Roman army in ancient times. It was generally about 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) long overall, consisting of an iron shank about 7 millimetres (0.28 in) in diameter and 60 centimetres (24 in) long with pyramidal head. The shank was joined to the wooded shaft by either a socket or a flat tang.

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20 min. Environment Study

During my lunch break, a 20-25 min. Environment Study with Shape Tool and my 2 favourite filters: Gaussian and Motion Blur.

Blue Planet

Mars II

"Si vis pacem, para bellum" is a Latin adage translated as, "If you want peace, prepare for war" (usually interpreted as meaning peace through strength—a strong society being less likely to be attacked by enemies). The adage was adapted from a statement found in Book 3 of Latin author Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus's tract De Re Militari (4th or 5th century), although the idea it conveys is also present in earlier works, such as Plato's Nomoi (Laws).

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Old Oak, Black and White

An Old Oak I like in a park close to Central Market in Austin, Texas.

Mars

Purple and Yellow

Rome Vs Ariovistus, Leader of the Germanic tribe of the Suebi

Battle of Vosges (58 BC)

     The Battle of Vosges was fought between the Germanic tribe of the Suebi under the leadership of Ariovistus against six Roman legions under the command of Gaius Julius Caesar in 58 BC. This encounter is the third major battle of the Gallic Wars. Germanic tribes crossed the Rhine, seeking a home in Gaul. The main Gallic rebellion had not started yet, as it was in 52 BC.

Prior to the battle, Caesar and Ariovistus held a parley. Ariovistus' cavalry cast stones and weapons at the Roman cavalry. Caesar broke off negotiations and instructed his men not to retaliate to prevent the Suebi from claiming they were induced into a trap by their accepting an opportunity to talk.

Battle

Caesar led his forces forward in the standard three line formation. Observing that the German left was the weaker part of their line he concentrated his forces there. The Germans attacked in several columns, moving so swiftly that there was no time for the Romans to hurl their pila and battle was fought proximally, with swords. A fierce struggle occurred in which the German left was broken after a stiff fight.

On the other flank, the Roman left nearly cracked under severe pressure until reinforced by Publius Licinius Crassus, the son of Marcus Licinius Crassus who later died in action against the Parthians at Carrhae. In command of the reserve cavalry, Crassus had the opportunity to move around the battlefield. Seeing the left wing in peril, Crassus led forward reserves from the third line, which first blunted and then broke the German attack.

Overwhelmed on both flanks, the Germanic tribesmen then fled for the Rhine closely pursued by the Romans. This 15-mile pursuit took a heavy toll on the escaping Suebi. Ariovistus was driven back over the Rhine, which he would never cross again.

Aftermath

Caesar had for the moment secured his German border. Caesar did not stop there. He chased them into Germania, building a bridge across the Rhine in only 10 days.

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Orange

Links to Reference Images Used:

Life in Color: Orange,

 Migratory Birds

Germany’s Wattenmeer National Park

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Official Nationalpark Wattenmeer Website

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Green

Red

Inspired by Eyvind Earle.

Blue in Winter

Practice makes perfect. I could do a thousand of these.

Shape Tool + Color = More Fun

Mesa Concept

Another Shape Tool Painting

Motion Blur, Gaussian Blur and Gradients were also used.

Last Monday Night Sketch

30-min Shape Tool sketch (with motion blur and gaussian blur filters).

Monday Night Learning: Photoshop Shape Tool

15-min. shape tool sketch with intermittent brush action.

Again, Shaun Bryant introduced me to yet another amazing tutorial! This time from Kalen Chock. The proper use of the Shape Tool in Photoshop, but also some other rather interesting techniques using said tool. my mind.

Sunday Roughs

Just some rough concept drawings I made while using some new workflow tips from Anthony Jones.

Also, thanks to Shaun Bryant for "Hip-ing me to the Jive" on his Pro Tips. They are swell.

Addendum to Centurio Design

Redesigned for Better Historical Accuracy

I had to change some things after I did further research to better reflect how the uniform might have looked. Changes made: added the Phalerae (battle decorations) onto his Lorica Hamata, put the Pugio and Gladius in their proper place, and made the Tunica red. Also, I didn't like the previous pose with the Vitis. This gives him the look that befits his nature.

Things still might change, but I feel more confidant with this look.

Vale.

Clothing Study for a New Project

Surprise, surprise! 

I have something else in the works...

...with more to follow in subsequent weeks. 

Until then, here is a sneak peek.

Based on an actual historical figure, Marcus Cassius Scaeva, whom served in the legions with Julius Caesar, and then later with his great-nephew, Augustus. His achievements are beyond anything I could feebly say in this humble blog, but I would advise you, if you're interested, to start with the following links. He shan't disappoint.

Here is a more, ahem, 'colourful' write-up about the man... Source

And, here is a more literary rendition of his achievements... Source

Vale.

So many ideas, so little time...

Now, I don't advocate church burning, but a Víkingur sure did. Unfortunately for his victims, he brought his raiding party alongside him.

Stave Church

A stave church is a medieval wooden Christian church building once common in north-western Europe. The name derives from the buildings' structure of post and lintel construction, a type of timber framing where the load-bearing posts are calledstafr in Old Norse and stav in modern Norwegian. Two related church building types named also for their structural elements, the post church and palisade church, are often also called 'stave churches'.

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Viking Life Coach, Part Duex: Linework Edition

Next up, my favorite part: COLOR!!!

...followed by applicable historical trivia because of reasons.

Return of the Viking Life Coach

58.

"Ár skal rísa,
er annars vill
fé eða fjör hafa.
Sjaldan liggjandi úlfur
lær um getur
né sofandi maður sigur."

58.

"He must rise betimes who fain of another 
or life or wealth would win;
scarce falls the prey to sleeping wolves,
or to slumberers victory in strife."

-Hávamál (Sayings of the High One)

Source

An old character of mine that I have decided to dust off and re-explore. I feel he still has a lot of potential and I let it languish for too long in the darkness (hence this particular quote being used). The idea originally began as a sort of crazed 'life coach" that uses quotes from the Hávamál to motivate, or inspire those around him. Essentially, he is a warrior-bard, who may or may not have suffered too many blows to the head, and thoroughly believes Odin speaks through him from time to time. Fortunately for him, his allies feel the same way. And, like all good vikings, he longs for Valhöll (Valhalla, or Hall of Slain), and searches for that worthy foe that will allow him to go there.

For some reason I really like the idea of a viking berserker that espouses practical wisdom from the Allfather while at the same time looks like a complete maniac.

The Pains of Being Pure of  Heart Music Video "Until the Sun Explodes"

Character Design by Ed Booth.

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