i draw, i paint, i make games

2011-10-10T08:45:00.000-07:00

It's time to put the pencil where the felt is... Muppett Rawk III.

Come see the art and artists.

Progress

2011-09-22T21:34:00.001-07:00

A little closer to finish on a new piece for Muppet Rawks!!! 3

Chicken Ninja and crew.

2011-09-15T23:16:00.000-07:00

Here's an iPad painting for you.

It seem as if it's been forever since I've posted a painting.

A new toy: my Jot pen for my iPad.

2011-09-12T22:07:00.001-07:00

Here is my new pen for painting on my iPad. It the "Jot" by adonit. I am going to try to give it a work out this week, but I have some physical paintings to do which are more important. If it is as good as it feel just playing with it, I may have a new favorite pen.

Narwhals narwhals!

2011-08-21T07:44:00.000-07:00

It been awhile, so here is something awesome. Narwhal awesome.

narwhals,narwhals
swimming in the ocean causing a commotion
cuz they are so awesome

narwhals,narwhals
swimming in the ocean
pretty big and pretty white
they beat a polar bear in a fight

like an under water unicorn
they've got a kick ass facial horn
they're jedi of the sea
they stop Cthulu eating ye

narwhals they are narwhals
narwhals just don't let them touch your balls

narwhals

they are narwhals
narwhals
inventors of the shish kebab.

Here is a link to the video
Narwhal Song
(song by Weebl and animation by Wonchop)

Ted and the flying bread

2011-07-01T23:45:00.001-07:00

This one painted in Sketchbook for the iPad.

A hint at the third adventure of Ted the Turtle and Kat.

- paul w

Ted and Kats new adventure.

2011-05-04T00:11:00.001-07:00

- metalpig

It's been awhile.

2011-04-25T22:42:00.000-07:00

I've take a long hiatus as I began teaching a class at DigiPen for a semester.

It took up much more time than I thought it would, as I was writing my lecture the week before I presented it. It didn't leave me much time to prepare or practice before I actually gave the lecture, which I really don't like doing.

But now I'm back to working on my stories and pictures. After finishing the last Ted the Turtle story, I am working on the next story in the possible 8-12 part series.

Here are a few paint sketches as I am working out the characters.

Painted in Sketch Club on iPad

Sketch Club was made by one of the programers I work with as a side project.

Painted in ArtRage on iPad.

This one has pincers.

Painted in Sketchbook Pro on iPad.

I'm still painting on my iPad as you can see, but the programs have gotten much better. I also use the Boxwave stylus rather than the Pogo, as it feels better. It's still a little like painting with a crayon, so details are hard to get right, but these are just paint sketches.

Ted the Turtle 5inch version

2010-11-21T00:18:00.000-08:00

Here is a 5in. version, made into a flap book of the book I'm making. I did this because the engineering of the pop-up parts of the book are going to take a bit of time. This way I get to finish some part of it sooner rather than later.

The nice thing about it is it's about the size of a slice of bread.

Here are a few pages.

That's a lot of flaps.

- paul w

Ted Cover draft 1

2010-11-10T23:41:00.000-08:00

Because it's going to take me quite awhile to finish the pop-up version of my Ted book, I decided to make a quick flip book version first. This way I can get it out, then finish the harder parts on my own time. Sometimes finishing is more important that getting it right.

This is the cover as it is right now. The title is somewhat meaning less, but it's fun for me.

I reduced the size from a 8x10 book to a 5x5 book for the flip book better, as it feels better in my hands. As a happy coincidence, the book is about the size of a slice of bread.

I'll post more as soon as I figure out the format I can put it up. The flaps make the variable page lengths somewhat bothersome to figure out.

Fruits of my labor

2010-10-15T23:59:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I've updated because I've been busy working on my book. I'm at the stage where I have to do final engineering which will take some time. Once that is complete, I can put the book together. Fortunately, even if the style changes the mechanics will not at this point.

So here are a few tidbits of what' been keeping me so busy.

Of course I have spent way too much time learning about bread...

birds like bread

2010-09-28T22:48:00.000-07:00

need i say more?

more Ted pages

2010-09-24T22:51:00.000-07:00

flaps closed.

flaps open in big double spread (kind of)

The style here isn't final, but I figure I should at least get a good drawing in and finish off the book so I can do the final engineering for the pop up parts.

I'll post up some shots of the first pass engineering soon.

Hot Rod Ted

2010-09-20T21:26:00.000-07:00

Little by little the Story of Ted will be done.

a little more Ted

2010-09-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I did a little more tonight.

Ted the Turtle update -03

2010-09-15T00:09:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of the pages before I decide how to finish them. I'm just getting in the drawings, because I am still not sure what style I'll finish them in. I figure if it works as drawings, everything else is icing.

page 02 closed

page 02 open

page 03 closed

more will be coming as I work on the page 03 open... a double flap opened

Ted the Turtle update

2010-09-01T23:09:00.000-07:00

I'm working on the style that I want to make the Ted the Turtle book for Jake. I'm currently enjoying the flat more iconic Ted I have drawn here, but I am not sure if I can leave the simplicity of just the drawing and a bit of color.

Here is a test of me adding texture by making the book from found scraps of paper. I think I can make the whole thing a bit journal like (the urgent jottings on what ever can be found). I am not sure if I like this style over all, but I find it intriguing. I can mix painting (the bread will always be painted), with iconic Ted and then maybe mix photography (redo gears with real gears).

I'll paint it up like I normally do, and then do a simple drawing on colored background so I can compare.

Illustration Friday: Immovable

2010-08-31T22:10:00.000-07:00

Another quick Illustration Friday strip.

edit: I forgot the word "force" in the second panel. It's supposed to say
"an outside force must solve the paradox"

...and that is the problem of working in pen all the time.

Illustration Friday: atmosphere

2010-08-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

In these hot days of summer I love technology in more ways than one.

I managed to sketch, copy and post from Starbucks and an iPhone.

- paul w

Tuesday: sketching on the iPad

2010-08-24T22:28:00.000-07:00

cheesy yes....

Illustration Friday: Star Gazing

2010-08-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

Ted the turtle - B&W

2010-08-09T23:32:00.000-07:00

I am thinking of doing my pop-up book in a ink/woodblock style with bold backgrounds rather than my normal painterly style. It just feels right to me. I'll probably do a few pieces in each style just to figure it out.

Anyway, these are the two style I am debating.

- paul w

Painting on the iPad

2010-08-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

Here's another little picture of Ted the Turtle and Kat. I've actually made the first prototype of the pop-up book I am turning this into. I am still deciding on the stylization of the book, but I will continue to paint this way until I figure out the new stylization.

I did this one on the iPad using Sketchbook Pro. It's a pretty nice tool. Painting is a bit odd on the iPad, because I can't rest my hand on the surface. Of course I can't put my hand on the canvas with real paint either, but I'm digital now and have gotten used to always resting my hand on a surface. Using the Pogo Stylus makes me really miss my Wacom tablet, as the conductive foam on the Pogo doesn't glide across the glass surface as smoothly as I like. I am going to try Brushes next and then decide which I like better. I'll do a comparative review after I've done some painting on both.

I've been a bit busy so I haven't been doing much painting or modeling lately. I'll try to update with doodles and sketches when I'm not actually posting modeling updates or paintings, because there is always something.

Need I say more.

2010-07-11T21:21:00.001-07:00

- paul w

Tuesday: getting back to painting again.

2010-06-22T22:27:00.001-07:00

I decided I need to get back into painting and finish up this one. I put another hour into it today, but didn't get very far. So now I am at two and a half hours on this, which is longer than normal. I'll probably have one more go at it before moving on and chalking it up to a learning experience.

Then my next painting will be great again!

Painting on the iPad

2010-06-16T23:47:00.001-07:00

I managed to loose the Pogo stylus I was using, so I had to fingerpaint. I can tell you that my fingers weren't made to paint that small.

I think I'll actually by an iPad version of Brushes or SketchPad, rather than using a 2x scaled iPhone version on the iPad. I firmly believe I will get better results.

- paul w

Playing in the iPad.

2010-06-06T22:09:00.000-07:00

Seeing if I can draw on the iPad. I think I will be able to once I actually buy the program and not just use the iPhone version.

So in short. This one sucks but shows great promise inwhat can be done.
- paul w

Illustration Friday: trail

2010-06-04T23:10:00.000-07:00

I hope I don't regret this.

- paul w

Wednesday..in progress painting

2010-06-02T23:02:00.000-07:00

Here is an hour painting. I'll try to put another hour into it to get the foreground characters there. Not my normal style, but sometimes it's good to change things up. I'll probably redo it in the future to match the story it goes with.

Wednesday: Painting

2010-05-20T23:41:00.000-07:00

This is why I don't just paint when sometimes. For more complex images, I have to actually draw and think it out first. Which I didn't do this time.

Of course what do I expect in an hour and a half.

Monday: modeling day

2010-05-17T23:53:00.001-07:00

A little of the service are started.

Monday: modeling day (a little more city)

2010-05-10T22:34:00.000-07:00

A little pipe work for the "service area" of the city.

Some more upper buildings are blocked in.

I think the city looks better with a car in it. The blocks that represented cars just weren't cutting it.

It's slowly taking shape. I think I am going to be putting a little time in working out a "service area". I'll get the chance to do a lot of pipes, gages, boxes, transformers, ironwork... cool and time consuming stuff.

star shaped heart - act 3

2010-05-05T21:54:00.001-07:00

Tuesday: i started a car

2010-05-05T00:10:00.000-07:00

I started to model a car for now.

star shaped heart - act 2

2010-05-05T00:09:00.001-07:00

star shaped heart

2010-05-04T00:04:00.001-07:00

I didn't get any modeling done today. So here's the beginning of a story in three acts.

The cat.

2010-04-27T00:25:00.001-07:00

No modeling today. I felt like painting to test some new brushes in photoshop, rather than work in Painter.

I like the new brushes in CS5, but they are really slow. I'll do a speed comparison on my next painting.

This is the cat who later helps Ted get his bread.

The Secret of the Lost Boy

2010-04-22T00:23:00.000-07:00

The beginning scene from a idea I had... The Secret of the Lost Boy.

Doodle

2010-04-21T06:36:00.000-07:00

Here is a doodle, because I didn't do anything last night that I can post.

- paul w

Monday: painting

2010-04-19T23:33:00.000-07:00

I decided to do a painting today because I haven't for a whole week and I've lost what little I gained. I have also bee uninspired to paint right now.

Here is the cat that helps Ted get his beloved bread.

I'm going to start playing around with my color palettes a bit too.

Late update

2010-04-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

Here's the block in of the elevated train. I've been a little lazy as nicer weather approaches and all the shows are coming back on TV.

I haven't cut in the windows or done any detailing on it yet. I'll do that much later. I have a whole city scene to build.

Monday: modeling day

2010-04-13T00:11:00.000-07:00

Started to lay in the elevated hanging train.

Friday night quick painting

2010-04-10T00:10:00.000-07:00

Another Ted the turtle quick painting. Eventually I finish up the Ted ideas as I put the book together, then I'll move on to new types of paintings.

Relaxing

2010-04-09T07:21:00.001-07:00

I haven't actually done anything since Tuesday, so here is a doodle.

- paul w

Monday: modeling day

2010-04-05T23:58:00.000-07:00

I did model today, but nothing that would really show up. I just ground matched, cut in windows and doors, and did various trim things on buildings.

So here is a sketch instead of a model shot.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T23:54:00.001-07:00

Thanks to the modern convince of email, I will have just barely caught the Easter Bunny in time.

To all have a happy Easter.

Wednesday: Painting

2010-04-01T00:04:00.001-07:00

Back to painting Ted the Turtle and another of his flying machines. He will beat that bird to his prized bread!!!

Apparently I can paint turtles and not people. Back to life drawing and painting workshop for me.

Tuesday: sucking at painting day

2010-03-30T23:49:00.000-07:00

painted again for an hour and a half, without inspiration.

I'll chalk this up to a learning experience.

Monday: modeling day

2010-03-29T23:50:00.000-07:00

Got a little bit further on another building, cutting in windows and such. It all moves so slowly it seems. Painting tomorrow.

grounded...

2010-03-28T23:52:00.000-07:00

I am still blocking in everything as I put details in, just to keep me interested. More buildings are grounded with stairs and sidewalk which work with the hills.

Doodles

2010-03-25T22:45:00.001-07:00

No new paintings today, so here are some doodles.

- paul w

Tuesday: Turtle day

2010-03-23T23:41:00.001-07:00

Ted put on his suit, but the bird was faster still.

Another 2 hour painting (roughly.. a little less, because I was watching Chuck).

As you can see, my style varies greatly when doing these quick paintings. I hope to eventually nail a quick painting style.

Monday: modeling day

2010-03-22T23:37:00.001-07:00

Here are a couple of shots of the city I will be working on as the year progresses. Working only a couple of hours a week will make very slow, but steady progress.

Of course I immediately broke the cardinal rule of composition, by not having one. I'm just getting a "feel" for now. As I build more I will decide on final shots and build to those shots. I like being able to go anywhere right now, because I will probably put it all in the Unreal Engine so I can run around.

Note the floating buildings on the left in the first image. Bad Paul!

I'll post up some general concepts I have done for this layered city I am building soon.

Thief

2010-03-21T00:01:00.001-07:00

Another painting.. This one took 2 hours, but I was distracted for the first 40 minutes. Lame excuse I know.

Monday I'll go back and do a little modeling again.

I like the quality of the last painting better. There is actually less information, but the control over the light is better. This one burns out to past on the highlights and to fast in the darks. The attention to bounce light needs to be addressed.

These mistakes is why I am doing this. Each painting will get better and worse on some axis, but over all 20 paintings from now it will all be better.

happy

2010-03-18T23:43:00.001-07:00

The continuing saga of the turtle who liked bread.

Tuesday: Turtle painting day?

2010-03-16T23:52:00.000-07:00

Another hour and a half painting... I need to do this better still, but hey... in a few months it's gonna be great!

I should really figure out what this turtle looks like.

edit: updated with a slightly tweaked (levels in photoshop) adding another 5 minutes to the total time.

Monday: Modeling ... er...quick painting

2010-03-16T00:11:00.001-07:00

Mondays are supposed to be for modeling, but I decided I wanted to paint.

Trying to warm up my painting hand still.

Here is Ted the Turtle. He likes bread.

stupid zombie walking

2010-03-14T00:31:00.000-08:00

here's a little gif of my Elvis Impersonator Zombie. It's really bad, I know, but it's just test to understand some of the tools I'll be using when I animate it for real.

gif is broken for some reason...

Wednesday: Painting

2010-03-10T23:29:00.001-08:00

Little one hour paintings to practice my hand for when I do some real concept art.

I really need to practice painting clouds.

Tomorrow I goof off, so probably nothing will show up here.

Tuesday: a little more modeling

2010-03-09T23:47:00.000-08:00

I am supposed to texture on Tuesdays, but I decided to model a little more. This is a very slow process right now. Tomorrow I will paint and draw.

Lunch Sketch

2010-03-09T13:06:00.001-08:00

Started drawing during lunch, but it got very windy and cold. So it
stays like this...

- paul w

Monday: modeling day

2010-03-08T23:10:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've modeled with any detail which makes me SLOWWWWWWW. It's really basic and ugly right now, but all the cool stuff happens once I put it in engine and see it lit, which is a bit off still.

Any way here is the start of the first building. I've laid in textures, but they are not final. In fact all I am concentrating on right now is the model. Next Monday I am going to model out the top of the building to get it ready for future z-brush work (once I learn it).

This is step A (with a little head start, because I've worked on this model for a bit before while learning the unreal engine). There is only so much one can do in two hours, once a week.

The missing link

2010-03-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

Even after working as a professional artist for over 10 years, I am still amazed that the left sketch turns into the right drawing in one step. It's like magic, but I'm casting the spell.

Wonderment aside, this is a sketch for an idea a friend and I are working on.

Zombie Elvis Impersonator!

I made it live.

2010-03-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

I went ahead and made the new website live. It works well enough for now and I will continue to tweak it.

enjoy

- paulw

At the airport waiting.

2010-03-01T17:48:00.001-08:00

A quick sketch while I wait for the plane to land.

This is the beginning

2010-03-01T12:10:00.000-08:00

I'm actually going to be starting this blog for my art work. As I work on my new portfolio over the next year, I will be posting updates and art here.

Thus will show the progress I've made as time goes on (frustration too).

Stay tuned and see what happens when a 10 year game veteran has to reinvent himself.

- paulw