Weekly Challenge!

Come join the fun! Every week at Gamersdigart.com we have members of  the site pick a new topic or theme and we have a week to illustrate it.  The purpose of the challenge is to push each other to create some new art about the games we love.  I personally love it because it keeps me busy with art.  It’s not a competitive thing.  Just an Art Jam Session on a weekly basis.  Here is the link.

And here are some samples of the goodies from the challenges…

Like I stated in the weeks since the Weekly sketches began I felt myself become a better artist.  Come join the fun!

My personal results for each week.

Week 1: Mario

Week 2 : William Wright (Creator of the Sims and Spore)

Week 3:  Team Fortress 2

Week 4: Mega Man (yes, by week 4 we started to add color)

Week 5 : Resident Evil

Week  6: Bioshock

Week 7 Abe’s Odyssey and Dead Space (Two Themes were selected during this week)

Abe from Oddworld

Dead Space

Which leads us to this week’s challenge Half Life.  This won’t be due till Monday (Hence the name Monday Challenge) So join in and Jam with some fellow gamers/ artist.  Check out the forum to see other entries to the challenges.  Artist we need you!

by the way here is how Half-life turned out!

The challenge for this week (Sept. 8) is Batman Arkham Asylum.

Join the fun here!

Meet *kandoken!!!

I am really jealous of the next artist being interviewed! I mean I have been jealous of alot of  the artist interviewed here! But this guy he is just too laid back and cool for words you can’t help but like his style.  Not just his art but just is style of living, writing, the way he “Arts”.

Kandoken doesn’t take himself too seriously which is why he is so cool.

Check out some of his work…

Even though his Phillies smoked my Brewers…he is still alright with me!

Well on with the interview.  Not only can this guy draw, he is a fantastic colorist.  Some of the work displayed later on in the interview are collabs he did and I will list those as well to give the other artist there shout outs! Thanks again Kandoken for agreeing to the interview!

Could you start with a brief intro to yourself? Name, age, where you from, who you are and what you do….anything you want the readers to know about you…

Yo, my name’s Steve Mack. I’m 23 years young from Philadelphia Pennsylvania, and I’m an illustrator. I love skittles Capcom artists smash bros and heavy food. I also like girly music, white tigers, and street signs with graffiti over them.

What is your art background…Schooling, self taught etc. Also how long have you been into art? When did you start taking it seriously?

I started drawing around the age of 11. I remember being heavily into dragon ball z and alpha 2’s artist Bengus.  I took art classes in high school, but never really took it seriously until I was in college. In 2004 and I was on Akiman`s hp, and Akira had a blog on sf comics and I thought omg, Alvin Lee has leveled up immensely! Then looked closer and found it was colored by an artist named Arnold Tsang(cover of Ryu looking at Sagat). and that was when i wanted to throw away my smudge tool and lens flare for the real deal aka take art seriously.

Lines by Joe Ng Colors by Kanoken!

I love your sketches (the ones on your blog esp. )(blog shout click Here) What is your personal preference..pencils or full color illustrations?

I’d like to consider myself an ‘all-around’ artist. I like life drawing in 4B pencils. I use a ticonderoga 420T blue pencil with an F pencil for illustrations, these are the sketches i’d most likely take to photoshop. 

 

 

Do you have time for video games these days? If so what are you playing?

I try to, just to keep my mind off art, but that’s practically impossible. I’m a fan of the Advance Wars series, along with Metal Gear, Brawl, and Ultimate MK 3. I don’t play FFs(Final Fantasies???) anymore. Too many remakes.

  

Who are some artist that you admire? 

Phew… let’s see. For sure I’d like to say Akiman first, but….. it was actually kinu who influenced me first. Growing up, there was a Chinese owned mom & pops around the corner of my house called Hung Fat. It was awesome, they had new arcades like every 2 months. One month (i think this was in ’94) they had Dungeons and Dragons!!! And I thought the art was sooo $#!@kin cool I was like, ‘wow it looks like Ronin warriors but better!’ I’m sure those were my exact words. But yeah Kinu Nishimura first, then akiman. then it’s a mix of olds and news. Arnold Tsang, Norman Rockwell,Peter Nguyen(saigonradio), LeSean Thomas, Kim Seung, Stanley Lau, Frank Frazetta, so many. The list goes on and on.

Pencils by Joe Ng Colors by Kandoken! 

What inspires you as an artist? (Films, other art, people’s comments on DA…etc.) 

Umm… I’d say people. Mainly because I like to impress and improve. You can’t get better without the help and eyes of others! One of the key things as an artist you must know. And please.. be humble!

 

 

Lines by Jon Buran colors by Kandoken! 

If you weren’t an artist, do you see yourself doing anything else creative? (Music etc.) 

Definitely music. I looooooove music. It actually plays a huge role in my work. I’d probably make electronic beats. Mainly 8-bit combined with hip hop or something.

Lines by ~nupharius colors by Kandoken!

What are your tools of the trade? (also what programs do you use for colors)

Mainly photoshop 7. cs and up you cant group previous layers i’m like ‘wtf?’

Lines by  ~angel-t inks by jrs2345 and colors by Kandoken! 

What direction do you see your art going in the next few years?

Hopefully in the right direction.

Lines by Jon Buran colors by Kandoken! 

Are there any projects that you see going on that you wish you were apart of? (Film, video games, comics, etc.)

 I know people keep saying that I should try out for UDON. Yeah, maybe that. If they’re hiring I’d probably get a passport and head for canada.

Thanks again Kandoken! Awesome interview! 

Thanks again man! Love your colors and your pencils!!  Good fortunes to you in the future! 

Meet Kalel06!!!

Hello! This is Goldie! I am filling in for the gamer who digs art on this interview! Today I will be interviewing spook who will be speaking for Kalel06.  What’s going on spook! 

umm…how do you eat in that thing…err-I mean not much! Glad to be here! 

Something against fish-controlled cyborgs???  Well what are you by the way…is that a mask…or your face???

hmm this was how I was drawn…I never really asked?  So…how do you eat in that thing? 

That’s it! You VS me in a game of HALO!!!- how do I eat…Hey…wait a minute…How will I eat???

Hey calm down…calm down…by the way who cleans your tank? 

HA! Jokes on you buddy! My suit is self cleansing! As soon as I figure how to get some food…I will be all right! Now on to this battle in Halo! 

That’s enough you two!  I will conduct this interview from here.  Thanks again goldie…don’t worry I will feed you.  Thanks again spook for stopping through! On with the interview!  Thanks again Kalel06 for being a supporter of this blog~

The Real Spook! 

The guy has skills…I met Kalel06 on Halobabies.net.  The funny thing is we joined the same day. I am a big fan of his work, and all the time he takes in perfecting his craft.  He is a talented artist and the most recent winner of the monthly contest which awards a free game to a gamer who digs art! He convinced me to give photoshop a serious attempt! 

On with the show. Goldie by me.  Spook by Kalel06!

Alright Kalel06…let’s get it started.

First of I would like to state that it’s still a bit wierd that I am interviewed. Though I feel I have some strong pieces, I still have so much to learn and I am still learning. Thank you very much though.

No problem!  What is your background in art? Art school? self taught? 

Been drawing since I was about 6yrs old. My family noticed I was doing very well in all my art classes growing up so they enrolled me into a specialized art High School in NYC. Did some design course work in college and worked at a design museum. I guess one could say I’ve always been surrounded by art. 
I did eventually start teaching myself since my professors always tought at a slower pace than I liked. So I bought books and read tutorials online and I am still doing so. Always learning more.

What is your day job? 

I have a boring desk job. I place orders for a well known textile company. Orders come in through the fax, I input them in the system. Rinse and repeat. Fortunately, I have internet access so I get to have some contact with the outside world.

How do you know when a piece is finished? And what roles do you think traditonal media has in today’s field of art?

That’s a tough one. I guess it has to be when I find nothing else to tweak in a piece. I usually take a little more time to look at it as whole after I think it’s finished just to try and polish it as much as possible. I may go back and change the color of a certain light source to see if it looks better, but if I find that it was fine the way I had it, then it is done.

I still think it has a major roll. Sure we have computers to simulate traditional media nowadays but nothing is as jaw dropping and inspirational like a well done oil painting or watercolor piece when you are directly in front of it. Or any other traditional media for that matter. It’s like you can see the effort in every stroke. Also, you have to know the basics before you can master any type of art.

Comics or video games?  which field would you prefer to work in?

I have such a strong love for narrative. I love comics so much for being able to tell a story and really entertain. Yet at the same time, games are evolving into a very strong story telling medium and has the advantage of interactivity. If I had to choose one, it would be games, mainly because you allow your player more freedom in your universe while still having the ability to control what they see.  With games like MGS4 and GTA leading the way in storytelling, the industry seems to be settling in very well with the rest of the narrative mediums.

Favorite game to play co-op? 

Well, I have been playing a lot of Rock Band lately with my wife and friends and I must say, that is one of the best multi player games I have ever played. I also love Halo 3 co-op with 4 players and I have crafted so many great memories in that game with some buddies but I just can’t seem to get enough of pretending to be playing the guitar or drums. Things are looking great for the future of co-op games since the games industry is all about being social now. It’s a great thing.

There are many gamers over the age of 25 these days.  You and me fall into this category. (80’s bro..what can I say…we rock!) Being married how do you balance spending time with your wife and playing video games and doing art?

Balancing that time can be quite tough. It’s about sacrifices. Sometimes I want to spend my whole day on the computer drawing til my hand hurts, other days I wouldn’t mind playing games til the wee hours of the night. In the end though, I just have to communicate with my wife and let her know what I need and she will communicate what she needs. I love spending time with my wife more than anything and I’ll admit that everything else is second to that. Family first, always. She is very good at understanding that I love to do art and I love to play games so she tries to get involved in that as much as she can. When she can’t I try not to abuse the time so as to try and balance everything out.

Artist you most admire:

There are too many to pick one, but they range from Jim Lee, Massimiliano Frezzato, Will Eisner, Joe Mad,Craig Mullins, James Hawkins, and of course the masters like DaVinci and Dali. I try to gain as much from the art world as possible and the Internet has helped so much in my art since it’s a lot easier to view pieces and get inspired.

 Coolest moment in your life?

I might have to say meeting Jim Lee. I was one of the first in line to meet him at a convention here in NYC. I had been thinking of a million ways of telling him how awesome he is and how he inspired me to really think about getting into art as a career, but at the same time not wanting to sound like the insane fan boy. When I gets to be my turn, I handed him the book, shook his hand and had a brain fart. I just stood there and watched him sign the book. When he hands it back, he looks at me as if waiting for me to squeal like a schoolgirl at a Jonas Brothers concert but I didn’t say a word. Nothing! Completely star stuck. Then the next comic book geek in line pushes me out of the way and bombards him with compliments. Still, the coolest moment ever. He’s a lot shorter than I imagined him to be. How does he fit all that awesome into such a small frame?

 Jim Lee 

What systems do you currently own and play? Favorite game ever? 

All connected to my TV are Xbox 360, PS2, Regular Xbox (for the games that aren’t compatible with the 360), Wii, Gamecube(just for kicks), NES, and the all mighty Dreamcast.

I’d have to say both Half Life and Half Life 2. Both of these games revolutionized the industry for good. After the Half Life released, every game has had scripted sequences. After the release of Half Life 2, physics as gameplay not decoration, became standard (and bad guys that have masks with glowing eyes). And they are fun as hell. Memorable moments gallore.

Thanks Kalel06 for stopping through! Love the art, thanks for participating the in contest, and looking forward to thing from you in the future! 

Well that sums it up. Aside from that I would just like to point out that I love every aspects of games, especially the business end of it. My poor wife has to always put up with me saying “Wow, babe, Nintendo just bounced back from the grave since the previous console wars. They are producing record revenues month after month.That’s marketing and PR at it’s best.” Then I have to wake her up.   

Thanks for the Interview! It was fun.
NP Media Website Coming very soon!

Thank you kind Sir! It was a blast! 

I still want to play  you in Halo! 

One match! I will give you one match! 

 

Up next…break down of how much games have changed in the last 4 years…

Meet AndreeWallin!!!

You want to talk about skills….look no further the master has arrived. AndreeWallin has some amazing talents oozing out of his pores…I really love his style and the time he takes on each piece is what astonishes me…a few hours here and there….amazing! 

Crazy skills yes! Well on with the interview! Questions by me!  Awe-inspiring work by AndreeWallin! 

Thanks again for agreeing to do the interview! I really do appreciate it. Could you start with a brief bio about yourself, who you are what you do…name, age, where you are from, etc. 

No probs man!

Andrée Wallin, 25 years old, I come from Sweden, lived in Stockholm for the past year and currently living in the UK.

(25!!!  MAN!!!  I got to step my game up!!!!)

What is your background in art, education, and what do you do for a living? 

I have no education within the artistic field, just been drawing on my spare time on and off. I actually worked at a warehouse until a year ago when I started studying 3D in Stockholm. This summer I got a job offer from a production company in UK as a concept artist, where I’m currently working.

There are many digital artist on the web these days…yet your work really stands out as original, professional, etc. What steps do you take to as an artist to keep pushing yourself to keep getting better?

Two things: look at the best artists out there and try and figure out what the hell makes their art so amazing. The other one is movies; nothing gets me as inspired as a really good movie.

Your speed paintings are amazing! What programs, and brushes do you use? 

Thank you, it’s all Photoshop and my friend Leventes brushes.

How often do you work on your art? Your level of talents are mind blowing…Any advice to someone just learning digital painting? 

Everyday. It’s as simple as that. Anyone can do what I do as long as you WANT to learn more and are willing to spend a lot of time painting.

 

Dreams…goals…- What direction do you wish to take your art in the next 3-5 years?

I just want to work on some big and fun projects, maybe work in the US for a while.

Are there any films where you wished you were a part of (on the visual aspect) that you would have changed some of the art direction of the film? 

Hm.. can’t think of anything, I just look and nitpick at the finer details rather than the overall production 

Who are some artist that inspire you?

 dhabih eng, Craig Mullins, Levente Peterffy,  John Wallin… and many of the awesome artists over at the Sijun Forums.

(All awesome artist to check out!  Cool Forum as well!) 

 

(Do you even have any free time in your life?) If so, do you play any video games? If answered yes, what is your favorite game ever? 

I have some free time yes, I do enjoy Team Fortress 2 (I’m an old TFC geek). But other than that, none.

What do you do when you are having an artistic block…(if you ever go through that!) 

If it’s a mild one I just try until I start producing anyway, but if it’s a big one I leave the computer and try and socialize and be human for a while.

 

What makes a good illustration to you? 

A good illustration.. kinda hard to describe. Something that’s in your face, you know. Doesn’t matter if it’s a perfect technique or perfect colors, as long as it’s cool!

 

Thanks again for agreeing to the interview!

Thanks,
Andree

I will say it time and time again…interviewing these different artist really open my mind up to how they see the world.  I am learning a lot myself about different techniques and styles, about how new approaches are needed when tackling a new solutions…man what a blast! 

 

Thanks for checking out his stuff here!  Click here for a full gallery of his beautiful work! 

And I will just end it with a cool walk off shot…stay tuned  for more! 

Meet Cuson!!!

One good thing about the internet is the beauty is has to connect people from all over the world.  It brings like minded people together in a place to communicate, share ideas, and share common joys!  The next gamer/artist being interviewed is like the other people I would have never met without the internet. Yet he is very different as well.  He didn’t feel comfortable with a normal interview which is by all means ok.  English is his second language so keep that in mind when reading his portion of the post.  (English may be his second language, but man his interview portion that he wrote is a lot better than a lot of people born here!)  

  

I completely became a fan of his stuff the minute I saw it, and you can’t blame me…this guy has some skills! Plenty and plenty of skills…

And you know to have talent is one thing..but I love when an artist isn’t changed by their success in art.  Thousands of miles away, yet very humble…well on with show! 

  

I am a huge resident evil fan by the way!!! 

 

  

All artwork in this post is by cuson.

Instead of an interview maybe you could write a little about yourself and tell what you do for a living.  The pictures will speak for themselves. 

Hi,

I will try to decribe about myself….

I am a chinese and from hong kong. I’ve worked in advertising agent as a visualizer since i gained a diploma from a design institute.  The main duty of my job is drawing TV storyboards, but most of my satisfaction is not related to my full-time job but working with the computer in leisure time.  I like to create original characters and scenes more than copy from a existing reference media.

  

It makes me feel leisurely and carefree during the drawing process.  and I enjoy it very much.  If my works can entertain or impress people, I am grateful with it.

Let me share the way that I like to make my work usually.  when I have an idea, I draft it out on paper with pencil. Sometimes I use the pencil sketching directly by scanning it into the computer. Otherwise I redraw it using Painter or Photoshop and my Wacom. Normally, I quite like to do my work in the office, as that computer is faster and I will pay more attention to the drawing process.

  

It’s the same connection to the world through the Internet that has inspired much of my work. After the diffusion of the Internet, it became easier to view masterworks from all over the world. It really opened my eyes! I met so many new friends (local and overseas) who have the same ideals and hobbies. Sharing inspiration is very helpful.

  

I’m still working on my style and has a lot to learn, but i think the basics are always a good place to start for beginners. The fundamentals of pencil drawing and observation are very important to me.

thanks.

cuson.

You are quit welcome sir!  Great stuff and great post  Cuson!  Hey Everyone!!! Do yourself a favor and check his Gallery out! Click cuson.  He is amazing!  Great use of colors Cuson!  Thanks again! 

Meet liquidology!!! aka Christian Lichtner!!!

Yes, the guy coloring Ulitmates with pencils by Joe Madureira.

Well let me start this post by saying a HUGE thanks goes out to Christian Lichtner for taking time out of his busy day to be interviewed…this interview was Very cool to say the least.  If you were a fan of comics in the past 10-12 years you could not know who this guy is.  Back in 1996 he partnered with Aron LUSEN.

Together they formed the dynamic duo of Liquid! and changed the way comics were created.  It is one thing to be pretty good at what you do…but to change the way things happened in any industry is pretty jaw dropping!

Well that was the past, the present is here, and the future is Now.  Christian works mainly in the Gaming industry still busting smooth and breathtaking images alongside with Joe Madureira.  He and Joe are now crushing all that come in their path (my words not his!) with their work in comics and video games. What game you ask? Darksiders: Wrath of War.

 

Ok, now on to the interview!  I tried my best not to show any fanboyism in this thing, but you know things happen…

Questions by me Answers and Great artwork by Joe Mad and Christian Lichtner

“First could you do a brief introduction about yourself…I know people know who liquid! is and what they did…but what about who you are and how you plan to take over the world!”

For the record, liquid was started by Aron, and myself a few years back, but after doing it for a while I was starting to look for something new I wanted to do. So for the last few years, I’ve been working in games, and I can’t think of another business I’d rather be in. So at some point, hopefully I’ll be able to work on my own games!!

How did you break into the world of comics?

I got some really positive feedback on some random colored pieces I did, and as soon as I submitted them to publishers, I got some offers. Keep in mind, that I tried getting work as a penciler for some time before that with limited success… (ie. no success) 

Do you and Joe (Joe Mad) communicate with each other regarding final illustrations or are you guys just in sync by now of what to do. I know you and Joe have been working together for a while now. How does this relationship differ from working with other artist? 

Joe is really easy going, so when we tend to talk we seem to talk more about catching up then what colors things should be. Then again, we’ve worked together for some time now, so I generally have a fairly good idea what he likes and what he doesn’t. That said, I do love talking to the artists I work with, because I feel the more I know about your thinking process the closer I think I can come to doing a decent job. In the end, all I care about is making sure the artist I work with is happy.

Many artist don’t realize the difficulties (and pressure) of being a top quality artist in professional comics. (Pressure from getting paid to do art!! What pressure right!?!) What are some of the things that could “attack” an artist and hurt their career? (art fatigue, boredom, laziness, etc…) 

All of the above! I think first off, you should really only do work that you’re excited about and that you’re happy doing. If it feels like ‘work’, then you probably should be doing something else. That’s not to say that you won’t have days where it’s ‘work’, but overall you should be excited about some aspect of the work. Most importantly understand your clients needs, and try to make sure they are met to the best of your abilities. 

Any tips for an aspiring colorist/artist?

The more you do it, the better you get. I think Adam Hughes just mentioned that there’s no way you won’t be better after doing your 10,000th drawing versus your 100th. But my best advice would be to make sure you draw inspiration from all over… don’t just look at comics… it’s a small field. 

What systems do you own and what games are you currently playing? And what is your Favorite Game Ever. 

PS2 and XBX360. Because I work in games I get to play almost every system there is at the studio. I am a huge Wii fan, but I have more fun playing it with people than just at home, so there’s no need to own it.  PS3 is still too expensive, and not worth getting just for MGS4… so it’s gonna have to wait.

Favorite game ever… hmmmm… there’s a few, but I think Jak1, MGS1/MGS2, Team Fortress, Shadow of the Colossus, Counter-Strike, Final Fantasy XII, more recently Gears of War, and COD4… figures… not really ‘one’… thing is, each one of those was epic for me when it first came out… and even as I am typing this, I’m thinking of a bunch of other ones that I should put down… 

So for the record…you are mostly in the gaming industry at this point? with Joe Mad right? And you still have time to do comics?

I took a break for personal reasons — so as of this moment I am doing contract work, but there’s a really good chance that will change shortly.

Well you have the dream job of every man growing up in the 80’s….working with video games and comics…Talking to someone in the field is really getting my creative juices going…I will have to put together some serious work and persue the dream…we’ll meet one day…I promise you that! 

Thanks for everything! 

There’s no reason you can’t do the same – trust me. You just have to decide how badly you want to work in either comics or games… that’s really the only difference.    

The guys I know that are most successful, draw every minute of their waking lives… I have friends that concept at work for 8 hours, get home, eat dinner, and draw for another 4-5 until they fall asleep… on weekend, they draw… so keep in mind, if you’re not that committed, then you’re up against guys that are… 

There we go.  It was a complete blast interviewing this guy!  One thing that stands out apart from the talent is how humble he is.  This guy always responds to comments on his stuff and he always gives good advice.  So even if he wasn’t all famous to uber talented…he would be a cool person to be around which is cool! 

Well that is it.  Hope you guys liked it, I know I did.  Here is his official site! Liquidology²   Check it out if you haven’t already, and BUY his stuff, because it is that good! He is also on Deviant art as liquidology.

Thanks again Christian it was a blast! 

Meet lukedenby!!!

Another installment of meeting another artist on the internet who dig games! 

This artist has some amazing stuff in his gallery! lukedenby click the name and check it out! 

Like I have stated in previous post…these artist being interviewed have some serious talent and a love of video games past and present! I have either met them through deviant art, xbox live, or some other weird connection!  Well let’s get it crackin’. 

Questions by me.  *All fantastic artwork by the talented and patient Lukedenby! 

Lukedenby, please give us a brief introduction about yourself.

My name is Luke Denby. I am 26 years old and currently living in Portland Oregon with my wife Corianne. I went to school for Graphic Design and Painting at Indiana University. I once almost choked on a lifesaver candy.

 

Whoa…gotta watch those candies…

 

You are a fantastic traditional artist as well as digital one. Do you see traditional art (acrylic, watercolor, oils, pencils) dying out in the wave of these amazing new programs like photoshop/painter or can they be fused together to create a better understanding of each other? (long winded I know but man you have a sweet traditional gallery!) 

I don’t think traditional mediums will ever die. The prevalence of digital art no doubt will only grow as this and future generations age but the tangible aspect of traditional mediums will always trump them. But as technology continues to grow eventually you could make an amazing digital piece and have it print out with actual paint just as easy as we use an ink jet today. Even though these days my work is leaning much more toward the digital side of the spectrum I would like to think my heart is in the traditional world but the ease and speed of the digital world is amazingly tempting. Ideally I would do digital works as a springboard for finished traditional pieces.

 

Fan of the 80’s are we? Name something (tv shows, cartoons, movies) that 2008 can’t touch that was common place during the 80’s.

Everything I say is through nostalgia tinted glasses on this topic. Although many shows were just big commercials like a great deal of this generation of television there seemed to be a lot less pandering to the kids back then. To answer this honestly I would have to be a kid today. I think part of it is also those 80’s pop icons are so iconic now but that can be true of anything that stands the test of time. Maybe in some dystopian future Bratz dolls will be given the same regard as Jem.

  

I still say Voltron Whomps!  Original Transformers Whomps! GI Joe Whomps! And they all beat down the stuff that airs today! …sorry about that…feeling that old school feeling again! 

What video game systems do you currently own? Game you are playing now.

Xbox 360, Wii, Dreamcast, PS2, and Nintendo DS. Although I mainly play my 360 and Wii currently I can’t get rid of the Dreamcast because it still has some amazing games. I’m currently enjoying GTA IV, been a fan of the series since the first one on the PS1 Plus I’m messing around with Wii Fit. That seems to be how I mainly use my systems. 360 for more serious fun and the Wii for some silliness. I’m also looking forward to the new Animal Crossing, Resident Evil 5, and Gears of War 2.

You need to click me because I am full of detail! 

Yeah…still got my dreamcast too…and my wife really wants a DS…

How long have you been a gamer? How long have you been an artist? 

I have been a gamer ever since I got my Super Nintendo for Christmas in I think 1994, so 14 years. Before that I was incredibly envious of all the kids who had a NES and I was limited to my Amiga computer (which was part of the reason I enjoy digital art) One time I even told my mom I felt I was depraved because I didn’t have a Nintendo. She looked at me shocked, that’s when I learned the difference between the word depraved and deprived. I have been into art as long as I can remember though, so 26 years on that front.

Sorry had to throws these guys in!! We love halo around here! 

Has there been a game where it’s art direction made you want it?

I think a greater influence has been the art direction making me not want a game. I’m a big fan of Gears of War but it’s art style is just too heavy for me, it took some time playing the game before I could enjoy the great gameplay. 

  

Where do you think the future of gaming is headed? (Multiplayer/ online/ sequels/etc.) Are you happy with the games of today compared to a decade ago.

Community in games seems to be getting pushed more and more. While online seems to be the main area I hope the time of sitting on a couch with your buddies isn’t forgotten. One thing I hope is a future trend in more user created content. Like the forge in Halo 3 and what looks to be awesome in Little Big Planet. I hope consoles start playing with this more. I love games were you can make the game your own (was a huge fan of the RPG Makers on PS and Magic Pengel along with the level editor in the Timesplitter games).

Best game ever??? 

An impossible question but I may have to go with Guardian Heroes by Treasure on the Sega Saturn. Not a game I would really call high Art (a good example of me almost not getting a game because of the art is the American version of the cover) but it was amazingly fun. It was a mix of a Fatal Fury’s multiple fighting planes, a cool side scrolling beat ’em up, and RPG progression and leveling. Also it had an amazing 6 player fighting mode where you could use any character you had killed in the main game. So you could play as one of the different last bosses (it had multiple paths and endings) vs. a team of scrawny villagers and rabbits. I would love if this came out on the Wii Virtual Console.

Thanks Luke for the great interview and sharing your rockin’ awesome work with us! 

Don’t forget to see check out his gallery lukedenby!

Break down of my 1st photoshop painting…

Hello everyone…

I thought I would show a little of my art today.  This is a current series I am working on right now.  The series is called The Hunt and it stars three Jackals from the Halo Universe. 

Ok I am not a pro or anything at photoshop…but I can get by for a rookie in the medium.  I do have a background in painting some what so I used those skills in this digital painting.  I will go step by step on the first piece I did.  

The concept of the piece started with this sketch of a Jackal.  I liked the body structure from this sketch and decided to do an illustration on these characters.  Many people do halo fan art.  Many people do Elites and Grunts and Master Chiefs…but few jackals have had their own star to shine on them so I took it to task.  

So here we go three jackals all with weapons ready for action.  Simple pencil drawing…

After the pencils I decided to ink it….

I started laying in flat colors to all objects in the drawing then I started in with details using different size brushes, and different opacities…

Continued to add details…

 

Coloring all three jackals…and attempting to create some texture on their clothing…

moving on to the weapons and the foreground that they are all standing on…this may sound backwards but i do my middle colors first then go in with darks, then finish with lights again. Also starting the background rock.

More polishing and detailing the jackals and the environment…

Now here I thought I was done…but I felt something was missing so I had some people on HBN | LTM  take a look at it. (they follow the game and franchise pretty closely so if anyone could give me a tip or two it would be them!) 

So now my task was to add some ships in the background…

  

So I did two quick sketches on some Banshees…

 

Colored them in photoshop…

 

And here is the final…

 

Like I stated before I have a long ways to go in photoshop, but I do like it and hope to continue to get better.  All coloring was done with a mouse. (No tablet just yet)

I wouldn’t consider this a tutorial as I have so much to learn myself…this was just a peek inside of my way of creating art! 

Now I will finish with a “little” Master Chief! 

 

See ya soon!