FACEPOCALYPSE

A few weeks ago I played Talisman (with the City expansion) for...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:04:13 -0400

A few weeks ago I played Talisman (with the City expansion) for the first time.

The 4 players were randomly dealt characters, each with their own special abilities. I landed the Bounty Hunter, and one of his abilities makes him win any stand-off in battle. No draws, only win, win or lose.

There are also 2 ‘Full Plate’ armour items in the game, which let you roll a dice after any loss to affect the outcome. If you roll a 5 or 6, the loss is considered a stand-off.

Full Plate was the first item I purchased.

Also, when you win against a player you get to take an item from them.

This is a modest portrait of my end-game character.

Shapespam experimentation.Built up techy shapes and airbrushed...

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 23:21:10 -0400

Shapespam experimentation.

Built up techy shapes and airbrushed over the top for visual grouping.

Mech from livestream, coloured and bashed up. The Nomad -...

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:30:04 -0400

Mech from livestream, coloured and bashed up.

The Nomad - modified vanity mech

Original owner: Charisma Summers

Current owner: Scarlet

It was cheaper to build more than renew the old, and...

Sat, 16 Mar 2013 23:28:59 -0400

It was cheaper to build more than renew the old, and that’s what we did. We dug down. Deep.

Billions were forced into the Underlife. Life expectancy was dismal. Only now are there signs of stability.

A new species has evolved, derived from humans… But don’t worry, you’ll never see one. You’re one of us.

Just did my first Livestream, painting this mech!You can watch...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:29:48 -0400

Just did my first Livestream, painting this mech!

You can watch the recording here.

Rough background style test.

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 17:46:40 -0500

Rough background style test.

Bleeding Heart game animations

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:56:51 -0500

Bleeding Heart game animations:

Simple stuff, made for the 48hr Global Gamejam.

Global Gamejam 2013! You can download Bleeding Heart: A Hole...

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 21:29:06 -0500

Global Gamejam 2013!

You can download Bleeding Heart: A Hole Plugging Adventure here.

Jammed in San Francisco this year, teaming up with strangers. We had a playable prototype a day in, which left a lot of time for tweaking and polish. There’s more to do, but for a weekend project it’s pretty good I think!

Check it out!

Sketcho Roboto.

Fri, 14 Dec 2012 22:12:59 -0500

Sketcho Roboto.

“What’s your handicap?”Sketchy painting...

Wed, 05 Dec 2012 22:45:22 -0500

“What’s your handicap?”

Sketchy painting I’ve been nibbling at this week.

Another 3D model for Polyflare Interactive. A missile turret!...

Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:48:00 -0500

Another 3D model for Polyflare Interactive. A missile turret! Made in Blender.

Getting into 3D with Blender. Here’s the first 3D asset...

Mon, 12 Nov 2012 00:57:00 -0500

Getting into 3D with Blender. Here’s the first 3D asset I’ve made for Polyflare Interactive’s debut project, a sci-fi aerial shooter.

I don’t know who this fellow Australian is, but he must...

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 20:39:29 -0400

I don’t know who this fellow Australian is, but he must have silky smooth skin.

Banana man was photographed and passed over to me by Martin, a super savvy VFX artist. Photo reference credit to him.

I was waiting to cross Howard and 1st in San Francisco when I...

Sun, 28 Oct 2012 19:22:03 -0400

I was waiting to cross Howard and 1st in San Francisco when I saw this guy. It was around midday, the lunch crowds were out and he was completely hypnotised by this traffic cone.

He’d stare it down for awhile, then slowly move his hand, finger extended, towards the battered reflective tape. After making contact with the foreign object his hand retreats back to his side. The process repeats.

I don’t know if I’ve mentioned I have a photographic memory, but this is pretty much exactly how he looked.

A trailer for Armello has just been released! This is an indie...

Thu, 20 Sep 2012 03:55:00 -0400

A trailer for Armello has just been released! This is an indie game I’ve been working on with League of Geeks. The debut trailer coincides with the game’s announcement and first public interview.

Mutant chariot concept.

Thu, 06 Sep 2012 02:48:40 -0400

Mutant chariot concept.

Fallout: Lanius fan film funding campaign is now live!

Wed, 05 Sep 2012 03:59:36 -0400

Fallout: Lanius fan film funding campaign is now live!:

If you remember some Fallout concept art I posted awhile back, it was for this project! Check it out.

Honda "Game On" ad campaign

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 05:33:00 -0400

One of the ad campaigns I’ve worked on at Iloura is now screening in Australia. If you see an ad with the Honda bots pumping iron, I was responsible for concept art (designing the environment, equipment an props) and some storyboarding.

Here are some screengrabs from the ad, which are very true to the concepts.

One of the challenges was simplifying the gym for a quick read, and keeping the room quite neutral. All to avoid competing for attention with the robots in action.

The hazards of freelancing for individuals

Sat, 25 Aug 2012 02:05:00 -0400

Ahhh, freelancing. Although that video may be more appropriately titled “Freelancing for individuals with small budgets” as they are certainly the most picky.

The consolation is that this attitude is mostly due to a lack of understanding. Professional companies that outsource work are much more familiar with the freelancer’s position and will compensate you if being pedantic. Individual clients, on the other hand, are more eager to stretch their money as far as possible.

Surviving as a freelancer (both mentally and financially) can hinge on your ability to weed out troublesome clients upon initial contact.

Every freelancer’s taken on at least 1 horrible client, and will likely have been a horrible freelancer, too. Maybe you were even a horrible freelancer for a horrible client! In any case, the best way to learn is through experience.

Here are some of the warning signs I’ve picked up over the years, along with some deciphering. These are clients I will not take on:

Client promises a great opportunity for exposure yet has no budget for your work. It seems amiss that someone with such great contacts has no money themself. Or they don’t value/respect you enough to part with their money. Possibly both! Jackpot!
Client comes to you with a great idea, and/or already has drawings. This is a tougher one to call. It seems harmless on the surface. If the client has an artistic or creative background I would consider the circumstance. However, if a real estate developer, for example, came to me with a ham-fisted drawing they’d done for a logo I’d safely assume they don’t understand or respect the role of a graphic designer. Working with clients who think what you do is easy is a nightmare. These clients can genuinely intend well though, so there is a chance to work through it. Just proceed with caution. If you’ve budgeted for a lot of communication time you could help explain why they should trust a designer/artist just as they trust their doctor. They have come to a specialist afterall. And if they don’t trust their doctor, well… treat them like the plague. Fire is optional.
Client approaches you about a job then asks to see examples of your work. If a client doesn’t take the time to do basic research (ie. look at your website) on who they’re working with I’d assume they have the same apathy towards their product/services. A great way to secure your future as a freelancer is to do good work for clients that do good work themselves, which can lead to more work on their next project.
Client is incredibly vague. If a client doesn’t initially provide enough information to quote a job I’ll happily outline what I need to know before naming a price. The standard “What (is the job - type of work, quantities and sizes), When (do you need it?), Where (will it be used/shown), and How (much are you budgeting?)” If they still don’t respond in adequate detail to quote I’d have to be pretty keen to work with them to pursue it.
Client wants anything related to a wedding. Just trust me on this.
Client is a friend or relative. Also dangerous territory. Unless this friend or relative is employing me through a company they work for I’d tend to avoid these jobs. I don’t see my friends or relatives in their professional life, and vice versa. Taking someone from one aspect of your life to the other is a risk. People will have preconceptions based on the “you” they know, which can inhibit the task at hand.

Allocating time to tasks is a constant concern as it’s the most valuable resource I have. There’s definitely a threshold where any time spent working on a menial job which pays poorly would actually be better invested in professional development, and I’m still trying to figure out what that balance is. It’s been pretty cyclical for me over the past 5ish years though. I’ll spend a bulk of time working then go through a devoted self-development or personal project phase. I’ll still be doing some work but not actively looking for more. After effectively leveling up I’m ready to enter the next working phase at a slightly higher tier than before. However, as a largely self-taught artist this year is seeing the most intimidating leap; exploring the nuances of 3D for games.

Valve's character art guide for DOTA 2.

Sun, 17 Jun 2012 03:26:46 -0400

Valve's character art guide for DOTA 2.:

An insightful read for concept artists, modelers and texture painters, including some great examples.