[arttorney]

NEW WORLDS #3


Welcome to the third activity here in New Worlds.

Overall in this activity we will be focused on places rather than people or creatures. These will be the sets, or matte paintings if you like, upon which characters, creatures, or vehicles might play out their respective roles within the broader story line of a game, movie, or art for a print work. My co-moderator and I will present you with a batch of information concerning the setting of a game or story and your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to knock my socks off with your best attempt at drawing that set. I know you can do it!

Until we have a 3D version of this activity, I am willing to accept works that were prepared with 3D programs as long as you pick a single view and export that view to a 2D file format for upload.

(This paragraph basically copied wholesale from Mike Corriero for the plain reason that it makes so much sense): Please don't keep everything a secret, working on your image in private only to post it at the very last hour as a surprise. The point of sharing sketches and work in progress material is so everyone can learn from each other, receive crits, compliments and improve their skills in a classroom/workshop like environment. There are no teachers and no students per se, but try to offer help to others when possible. Please be open to receiving crits, and paint-overs or mock ups of your work, as we are all here to participate, have fun, learn, grow and enjoy what each week has to offer.

AND NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF!

Let's pretend that you are working for the Fairly Ass-Kicking Environments Corporation (FAKE-CO) a small company that has been limping along concepting for indy films here and there. Today, quite unexpectedly, your bumbling but semi-competent CEO (arttorney) calls a staff meeting in the conference room (and there are no donuts, grumble grumble).
Here is what he said:

We have just gotten a commission from a studio (that you might have actually heard of this time) to do a concept for a high tech exterior shot and the “grand hall” interior shot in the early part of a movie. The sequence is going to be sort of like in Blade Runner when Deckard and Gaff land on top of the police station and then next scene are inside in that hallway establishing shot that was filmed in Union Station, Los Angeles. The producers were not too sure about us because they said, and I quote, “We don't want a fairly ass-kicking environment. We want a stupendous environment.” Luckily they threw us a bone here because the guy who pitched them the story treatment (secret_science) knows me from CGHub and put in a good word for us. We got two weeks to do this and I'd really like you all to level up your games because, frankly, my fake daughter needs braces and I am not sure I can afford braces and still give you all fake 6% raises in December. This is our first fake job for a sizable fake studio and I got the impression that we might be able to get a few matte paintings for an action sequence two thirds of the way through the fake movie if this first concept works out. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO DO BOTH the interior and the exterior, but I am hoping to see at least one good example of each viewpoint out of my overall fake design team (this means you guys).

Sheridan is an innovator from the Planet Yir whose technology is about a generation advanced beyond our own. Our story begins with Sheridan going to the Central Patent Office of Yir to research overall feasibility of his idea to store energy indefinitely in either the seventh, eighth, or ninth dimension. Sheridan finds out stuff in the Yir Patent Office that is beyond the scope of our assigned drawings but what he finds starts off the roller coaster ride that is the main storyline of this movie. We need to come up with a really cool high tech patent office. Someone has trusted us to make a good first impression. Um, Benny, could you show the first slide please.

and the next slide

This is the U.S. Patent Office from a couple of angles. As you can see they have gone in for the metal and glass look while retaining some governmental feel. Next slide please.

This is the current Japanese Patent Office. I am hoping you folks can really show me something new and awesome for the Patent Office of Yir. Their culture is completely different than ours. What does their Patent Office look like? Is it snowing? Is the office open nights? Is it always night time on Yir? Are there no streets and everybody flies George Jetson scooters? You have until 7 AM PST on August 18, 2010 to submit your concepts. Meanwhile I will be busy trying to think up a new name for our company, since FAKE-CO seems to be holding us back for some reason. Are there any questions?

That's your brief! Have fun!

[BigBad_Wolfman]

Sounds cool

[arttorney]

I'm glad you like it. I figured it was high time for high tech. See also this for more back story on Sheridan and this for a glimpse into his future.

[naetronic]

... I hate staff meetings, especially when there's no donuts. lol
Sounds like fun, Probably go for an exterior shot...

[Trashy]

Very cool. love Blade Runner like everyone else also. I might tackle the interior actually...don't push those shots often. This is gonna be fun

[arttorney]

I know you are all rabidly drawing away at your patent offices, but if you get a chance to vote for the Boneyard Poll that will be great too. Thanks to all who are supporting this activity. I am proud of the work I am seeing.

[BigBad_Wolfman]

okay, lets see about getting the ball rolling on this one shall we. I havent started to design the actual building yet, though I imagine it'll be as ugly as the patent offices here on earth. These thumbs are more about composition and setting the tone I'm currently thinking of. Blade Runner inspired, though feeling too much Star Wars so may look into other alternatives time depending.

Hopefully the folks over at FAKE-CO will like my initial thumbs

[natzuurjk]

Diggin those thumbs bigbad, number 2 is my fav of the 2. I havent participated in a cghub activity yet but this seems like a great topic to start with.

Well here are some thumbs, can't let there be only one post! #3 obviously bladerunner inspired, I think I might go with #1 nice mix of tech and organic. Best viewed full size obviously.

[BigBad_Wolfman]

Hi Natzuurjk, good to see some more posts on this topic I'd say your first two are defo your strongest thumbs. Superb composition on all of them though. I like the idea of the tech and organic mix. Inspiring.

[Trashy]

Hey guys,

okay I'm just starting to kick some idea around. I'll likely have more but I like the idea of this big government hallway sort of setting. May try out a more narrow version later.

BigBad_Wolfman, and natzuurjk good starting concepts I'm looking forward to more posts. I'll try to get more comments in laters

[Trashy]

Okay I expanded on that hall and getting some textures. Think it looks better now.



*edit*

Just expanding on the piece some more...colors soon I think. I got some perspective stuff gotta fix up first though and some wonky areas.



comments yar

@natzuurjk- You know I like this angle your going at of it kind of being in a almost jungle like/slash sci-fi setting. It's a cool combination. Thumb wise I'm liking the structure of the first building the most. I like the other ones and #2 but it doesn't strike me as being sci-fi or in the future...maybe more windows or some structures to indicate it's in the future more or somehow advanced in technology.

BigBad_Wolfman- Nice two thumbs I'm interested in seeing some more but those angles are cool. I'm curious to see more in the design of the actual building and what makes it stand out from the others. Cool start though. Haha loveeee Blade-Runner but yeah if your drawing inspiration from that and the big metro cities take a look at how crazy that building was in the movie...it was like a jutting round structure almost like a pillar.

[arttorney]

I'll be getting another interior into the mix pretty soon. I like the thumbs people are making. I know the challenge for people doing the outside is all about how to make it interesting instead of dull. I guess the challenge with the interior is how to make it grand while still clearly being an interior.

Edit: Here's a WIP

[arttorney]

Here's more about the later career of Sheridan. http://cghub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3556

We need to create a stark contrast with our high tech opening compared to the later grim brutality of his story.

BigBad_Wolfman I like the second one. It has that edge to it with the unusual architecture.

natzuurjk- number 1 is pretty good, but I also like number 5. That is a creative take on the architecture of another culture. and has some good early values and textures to work with.

Trashy- Lookin' good as usual.

[BigBad_Wolfman]

Trashy: Looking good mate. I like the floor texture you're using. Looking forward to seeing how you handle the rest of your concept. Have you thought about a colour palette yet??

Arttorney: Cheers man, yeah i think the 2nd composition is what I'll be working with. You're concept is looking interesting so far. I like the shapes you're working with. Are you using google sketchup?

I'm looking at designing the building right now. I have several more that I'm working on. I thought I'd post this one just now as I'm not sure when I'll get around to posting again because of work.

Keep the ball rolling peeps!! Feed back/comments welcome ;D

[arttorney]

Yeah, it's Google SketchUp. The first round I was showing people I meant business when I said "traditional media OK" and now this time around I am showing people I meant business when I said that until we have a 3D New Worlds activity on CGHub, the 3D environment people can find a home here by just exporting a view.

I have a Windows OS computer I keep around just for SketchUp because it's so fun to mess around with, and yet they apparently will make a linux version about the same time that Hell freezes over.