Inspiration and sketches

Hello everyone,

So now that I have a somewhat online portfolio to use this will now just be a place where I put everything else and maybe discuss the thought process behind my work. what I like and what I think needs improved...

Anyway, gather round and let me tell you a story...

A couple of days ago I got a lovely response from David the lead artist at 4J studios asking to see more of my work, this made me look at everything I have done and realize how much more I could of had to show and how much better some of my stuff could have looked.

However I didnt want to keep him waiting so got together my work that I liked and forwarded them to him, ( now just waiting patiently for a response )

It had me thinking hard about what I want from the response ( besides a possible job opportunity ) but in the end any honest feedback from someone in the industry would be great.

So I thought to myself that despite the other things that are keeping me busy throughout the day I will try to do something artistic be that body structure studies, observational studies, misc sketches, game idea concepts, fan art, pixel art, t-shirt designs for qwertee or animation clips for at the very least 1 hour a day but ideally shooting for 6 hours ( as this is the working hours of my parents in which I relatively speaking the house to myself, then after this time I would need to spend looking for jobs to keep the jobcentre happy.

So that is the plan.

and heres some motivational tools im trying to help keep me on track,

First off time, going to use the timer on my phone for traditional sketches, to keep track on my time. every hour of work gets me 10-15min break.

on computer i have installed this handy device... http://neilblr.com/post/58757345346 this is even better as time i spend on the internet/games etc will not be logged.

also found this rather motivational,

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=507706109322758&set=a.233908436702528.52840.233887176704654&type=1&theater

 So now for some sketches that I have done over the week or so...

First up - archer

I originally drew this spontaneously onto my whiteboard whilst watching an episode of archer, the whiteboard version unfortunately wiped off so i decided to sketch it aswell. I dont think the sketch is as good, his eyes look a bit odd too big and squint i would say.. but heres an image of archer for you to compare...

http://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/vulture/2013/02/05/05-archer-inspiration.o.jpg/a_610x408.jpg

from left: FM, M, BM

http://www.posemaniacs.com sketch #1 - Decided to do some body sketches

FM: I think the female sketch is relatively close to the source image, however something quite ismt right, the pose is sound but i think the problem is I have made the shoulders to far apart which makes her boobs appear out of proportion.

M: the male sketch was the first one I did and it shows the legs arms and head are way out of proportion, in my defence it was a difficult pose to do.

BM: the body builder sketch was probably the most fun to draw the exaggerated muscles meant it was easier for me to break down the body into smaller sections, I think it went relatively well apart from his left leg looks a bit twisted. Also without any shadows it looks like hes jumping down from the sky a-la spiderman, instead of standing bent forward in the source.

from left - MF, FF

MF: the male face sketch i feel looks pretty good the eyes and nose the places I found the most difficulty, looking at it now I would also add the forehead looks too shallow which probably where the troubles of the nose placement came from.

FF: the female face main problem probably is because I was silly and tried to cram it into the corner rather than give it its own page this gave her a squashed head making her look somewhat alien, I like the lower half though the nose mouth and jawline seem to flow pretty well, the bridge between the nose and forehead is way too deep as well.

Anyways nice couple of sketches for my first hour (most of that time was trying to get me into the correct mindset), going to do some more and upload them later as this post is getting way to big for them to be put on here...

Anyways, until then I shall see you lot later...

David M

Online portfolio up and running

Hello,

I have got round to creating a website to display my portfolio, you can check it out here:

http://dammcgill.wix.com/damportfolio

(there is still a lot I need to do to personalise it now but it gives you an idea of how its going to look)

feedback please I want it top notch before I invest in a proper domain and starting linking to it in applications.

but yeah thats all from me just now,

David

Terraria: NPC Competition

Hello,

So, was just looking through my facebook and noticed that re-digit posted a competition to design an NPC for the new update that they are doing.

Here is the post:

Hey guys! With the update nearing release I thought it would be cool to do another community based contest. This time, we are offering you the rare opportunity to have an NPC designed by you brought to life in the game!

Not good with art? No problem there! Simply give a thorough description of your NPC, and we will have one of our Re-Logic team members bring your vision to life!

Ready to get started? Great…here’s how it will work:
Required for each entry – please use this format to make the review of what we hope will be tons of creative ideas easier for us.

This contest will run until Sunday the 25th.


Here are the guidelines:

1. APPEARANCE: What does he/she look like? Again, if you are not artistically gifted you may describe the design. If you are able to provide an example of your NPC in sprite form feel free but for legal purposes the final design will be done by a member of Re-Logic with communication from you on the design.
2. PURPOSE: What is the purpose of your NPC? What does he/she sell or do?
3. ACQUISITION: How do you get him/her?
4. DIALOGUE: What is his/her personality and signature phrases? Be clever!
5. NAMES: What are some names you would like him/her to have?
6. COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT: Be original! Let's not get me sued over this. 

P.S
Before anyone says it, this will not delay the release of the update in anyway as NPCs are not difficult to add in game. 

Want to design your own, then here is the link.

NPC COMPETITION

The organ donor

Appearance: Old and malnourished and covered in blood.

Purpose: This dodgey dealer likes giving you cash for donated organs.

(everything you donate takes X amount of health from your health bar)

*HEART: donate a heart from your health bar = X amount of coin
*STAR: donate a star form your mana bar = X amount of coin
*EYES: donate your eyes = X amount of coin + impaired vision everything is blurred and or completely black sight is restored after time or if you have lenses in your inventory
*LEG MUSCLE: donate your leg muscles = X amount of coin + movement speed reduced
*ARM MUSCLE: donate your arm muscles = X amount of coin + melee speed reduced

All i can think of in terms of donations just a bit of fun character prob more end game and makes players have to go out in search for heart and mana crystals to replenish their health bar again. The organ dealer does not sell if you donate more than X amount of your health/mana bar this is to stop players from just constantly selling organs to make loads of money.



OR the player can spend money and get Health, mana top-ups, and some temporary buffs. Whatever would be easier to implement

Acquisition: When you have "X" number of health, and have died "X" number of times.

Dialogue:

"Psssssssst, mate."

"I like your eyes, can i have them?"

" 89% mortality, better than that nurse though"

ok, dialogue is pretty naff may need to think more on that

Name: Jeff, Lector, Heiter, Szell, Zoid-Berg, (any other names of questionable doctors)

Please, if you are reading this let me know what you think by leaving me a comment.

David

Graduation, job hunting and other stuff

Hello,

I havn't posted in a while so though it was time to put up a wee update so whats happened since my last post...

Well I graduated and got a third class honors degree ( which I have had mixed feelings about since I got it) but im still happy with my final project.

So heres some pics of me graduating...

and here's my family and Angie celebrating after.. :P 

So it was all good fun, my 6 years overall of being a student were possibly the best 6 years of my life. Met a lot of really cool people that I hope that I remain in contact with.

However...

I am now back home in Ayr, Job hunting and trying to keep myself busy. So, what are my plans...

• Right now I have to make sure i am looking for jobs so that i can get money from the job centre

• these jobs are mostly retail jobs as for career jobs, I would much rather have a portfolio for it (a better one that is)

• doing anything to try inspire me to do some creative things that can hopefully be added to my portfolio/keep me sane.

So, this blog will prob change to pixel art stuff and I shall create a new blog just with videos/Art for my portfolio.

Lastly I have had an idea for a game in my head since 2nd year and i want it made and out there for people to play, so currently getting a team together in the hopes to begin work on it within the next 2 weeks or so, so will prob have another blog for that.

As alot of website out there tend to have limits to the amount of pictures you can have and stuff and i thought I might just aswell put it all in the blog, so shall keep you posted.

over and out

David