TLOF p.4-5

Finally, the next page of manga:


TLOF Chapter 2.3, p. 4-5 by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART


I couldn't really figure out what was wrong with the next page of manga for over 4 months. I thought that coloring the page would work but it didn't, so I redrew the whole page two days ago.

So now, I end 2008 with a new manga page- and hopefully, I can create something much better next year.

Design practice

The World of bits by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART


Software used:
Photoshop CS2
Comic Studio Ex 4.0
Corel Painter X

Time it took:
4 days+several hours


Now, I'm having a holiday~

Fractal

Escape by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART

Yep... just fiddled around with the fractal I made last night. :p

Today was a holiday so I made an early Christmas cake- from sugar and flours so... my right arm is dead tired from all the stirring and whipping!!

But, it turned out yummy :p

Apophysis 2.06 3D Hack+ script by Shortgreenpigg
Photoshop CS2

With slight focus on design

Well, I only started getting aware of it a couple of days ago, so forgive me if I'm not following rules of design.



Typography practice 1 by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART


Wallpaper: Citylight by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART

1st one: took of couple of days to produce
2nd one: Took 15 min to produce


and guess what-

The one that I created in 15 min is more popular.... X0X


I better focus more on graphic design from now.

There's one illust I'm planning to create- I think I will start working on it tomorrow after baking Christmas cake since tonight's party time~



...

I think I will redraw my next manga page since making it color didn't help the situation. I didn' want to - for a couple of months since I really liked it. But, looking at it now, it didn't seem that good. So,I will try to work on it slightly more from now.

Today's fractals

Softwares and scripts:
Apophysis2.06 3D Hack+julia grand 3d script by shaun-rules-4eva+3D Staircases Script by Shortgreenpigg

3DCG

Simply addicted by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART


done after several weeks of trying to figure out how to do it.


Well, it's not wonderful- but this is the best I could manage for now in Cinema 4D. Since I want to learn computer graphics design, I wanted this to be the graphic to compare before and after studying it.

Anyway, I got this idea off a traffic jam sign up in Japanese highways.

:)


Softwares used:
Cinema 4D R11 studio
Photoshop CS2

3 hours for modeling, rendering and editing

Gaaah!

These are two books I got to study design (book+ computer graphics) last night.

Two years ago, I studied manga from scratch.

Last year, I began studying CG.

and this and next year, studying/will study 3DCG and design.

Since I couldn't study art in univ., I study/practice on my own after work every night since two years ago. Even then, it takes a bit longer than others to find out what really needs improvement and etc about my art skills.

So... now, I finally found what I was really looking for: computer graphics design

Hopefully, at the end of all this, I could create a piece that will be considered art instead of a doodle that I do often.


Placement of words and drawings in a right place makes the whole piece seem a lot more interesting.



Happy from drinking boba.

Doodle

iN yOuR dReAmS by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART

I tried to make it more mature looking than usual. My previous illust was meant to be like this- but somehow- it went in a totally opposite direction.

I used less colors and filled with darker colors to fit the atmosphere and expression of the character. I originally intended this to be more urban looking but since the outfit didn't match- I just added vines and stuff- then, ta-dah! :p

The word in the back is "dream" since I like that word somehow. The title- random as usual.
Softwares used
Comic Studio Ex 4.0
Photoshop CS2

Time it took:
4-5 hrs

Credits go to:
Font
Skjend Hans Gotisk font by enframed

Brushes
splatters and grunge brushes by hawksmont
Suddenly Spring and Vines Brushes Set 2 by gvalkyrie
Swirls II brushes by coby17
blood brush by ? --- I got it several years ago on-line. Sorry- can't identify whose it was...

Wallpaper: Channels

I finished with one of the demo- kinda like commission- for a person in the US. It was a music promotion poster/flyer. Hopefully, he likes it.




Wallpaper: Channels by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART

I just did this for practice. This is not the commission work- which I am waiting the result for. Two versions available with download.


Softwares used:
Comic Studio Ex 4.0
Photoshop CS2

Time it took:
2 hrs.

:D

Too sleepy to paint last night due to yummy shrimp tempura :p

I'll be sure to restart it tonight.

Anyway- two of my past 3DCG:


5th try with 3DCD by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART

3DCG: Wallpaper w.o. frame by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART

got on the candidate list for a possible commercial product(laptop design cover) in the UK last night.

Well, they may or may not be used in the future- but I'm very honored to be included among some artists.


Song I heard in radio today:

Gaaah!

Couldn't paint properly last night. I did two types and erased completely two times since I couldn't find the right color of the image I have in my mind.


I guess my ability to do oil painting (well, CG this time though) has slacked off over the years. Gaaaaah!


Anyway, I finally got it so I will try to restart it again tonight or tomorrow.

Done and submitted

I sent off three designs for mobile phone design contest over the weekend. However, since I'm a few weeks ahead of deadline- I might change the content before that. The result will be in at the end of next month.


It's been a year and three months since I started CG- and this was my fifth and last art contest I've tried within this year. And oi... I didn't start trying out until this year.

1 for site (mascot, US, Feb 2008)
1 for a nintendo DS game (fan art, US, April 2008)
2 pro-manga magazines (Japan, USA, Sept. & Nov 2008)
1 for a major mobile phone company(Japan, Dec 2008)


Hopefully, the result is good. If not, I will try harder next year!!!

Well, it seems as though I am not so lucky with contests this year- there were some good stuff:

1. Met with a pro-manga magazine editor for advice (April 2008)
2. My illustrations/manga got on recommended reading list in one site (July-Sept 2008 for a few days)
3. Got invited among 500 artists to display my manga at a mobile phone site (beta version)
4. Did commissions (small movie poster, commercial T-shirt designs, and individual work)
5. Got a mascot I drew (character design/coloring were done by two other people)up on one major site (up since Oct- though I wish I did better)
6. Got to know wonderful people and did collabs for two illustrations
7. Started 3DCG (my dream since high school)
8. Set up international groups and club.
9. TLOF Chapter 2 released in Feb + random pages of manga (I should have done more perhaps)
10. My personal life (job, relationship, language, academics) improved dramatically.

And hell- I did none/little of this a year or two years ago when I didn't do CG/manga. Just shows how much I didn't try.

but most of all, I think I got more confidence about myself and not as nervous as before in front of others.

However, I'm not satisfied with my art skills since it's still at amateur level and needs improvement.


Well, now, my goal is to get better in my art skills, techniques, designs, and story telling skills in manga/illustrations/3DCG. I think trying for something high constantly and working towards it will eventually pay off in the end.

One of the CG artist I really admire, told me other day, that trying in variety of fields will improve things in general. It's true.

Anyway, I was working on painting my next manga page from last night for real. I think I should start working on it before I get distracted with something else-lol

Oh, it's TLOF- manga I just do for fun.

3DCG practice

These days, I'm following on-line tutorials about Photoshop skills and techniques such as Web Design Library (日本語版）and PSDTUTS

I usd two tutorials (half tone and virtual orange) from such sites for this:

Wallpaper: Ame by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART


I think they have great techniques there and I used orange tutorial and half tone tutorial (but in my case, I did in alpha channel).


Anyway, practicing w/ Cinema 4D using two tutorials:

Beginning:



End:


By using two hypernurbs, I was able to smoothen out the tentacles. I used 3 lights (yellow, light cyan, and white for this)

So, I learned three stuff:

- how to smoothen out models
- how to create models with glossy appearance
- changing camera angles

Software used:
Cinema 4D R11 studio


Songs I listened today:

Promise by MiChi




Viva La Vida by Coldplay

gaaaah!

I think my next page for TLOF Ch. 2.3 I was working on the side for the past few months- procrastinating mostly- won't be in B&W.


It's cause I think I reached a limit for what I can express in B&W for that particular scene. In addition, I don't think I drew TLOF page in color- so it shall be that.


Anyway, a clip of a botched B&W version:

:D

I finally got the time to participate in usual monthly/bimonthly art contest in Japan!!

Before, I had several manga submission deadlines coming up - so I couldn't participate in any illustration contest for several months- but now since I don't have any deadline coming up soon- I will try out an art contest~


I don't think I will win this one though since I'm going to compete against pro arists.


Anyway- if I win (which WON'T happen- probably)- my submitted work will be displayed in one big mobile phone company's stores across Japan. If I win- I will post a link to that art work once the result comes out in Feb. If not, I will just post it in DA.


I think they will be in vector art format- no anime/manga drawing for my case- and have already two designs I want to try out within a few minutes of learning about the contest~


p.s.


Gaaaaah! My illust totally lacks proper design!!!


So- for the next few weeks or from now on, I will try to incorporate more- techniques to my drawing like yesterday's wall paper.

Anyway, what I practiced today with one book:



"Can you hear it?" in Japanese. Just random phrase.

Wallpaper: Ame

Wallpaper: Ame by =Waterdroplet-s on deviantART


This was what I wanted to do since the middle of last month.


...

Oranges



lol



Other than 3 image stocks I used for the texture of mushroom and boy, they are all CG- including oranges.


I originally intended this to combine it with dark 3DCG- but it didn't work out so I just changed it to oranges so it ended up being very bright illust.

You can download it in my DA.


Oranges rule.

Softwares used:
Adobe Photoshop CS2+3
Comic Studio Ex 4.0
Sozai Jiten

Time it took:
2 days


and


3DCG I was working till middle:



I will post a final version later.