My last Gormenghast image...

After discovering somewhat of a mind opener in my own Artwork recently, I started dreaming up images that I couldn't see before. I have somehow gained back the power to see beyond my own envisionments and understand them more from their "world". I havent thought along these lines for years, so its a good sign as I know it means my confidence and creativity is coming back full swing.

I took the image of Gormenghast that I digitally painted for my finals in our last project and imagined myself climbing up the cliff, and peering over the top. What would I see? Before me was the image of the City blossoming infront of me in all its dark eerie glory.

I have noticed my work has a very Tim Burton feel to it, theres something never quite right about it but it works... it has some kind of elegance in its scratchy, trippy existance.

Enjoy folks

Kwiss

Space studies! - and no I dont mean it in an astronomical sense!

Lets talk about space... enviroments... what makes an area fill with atmosphere?

I beleive the space in which assets are to be depicted within is just as essential to describe an image as the assets themselfs. Overall, lighting, colours, textures and volume of space merge together to create an aura of presence; without these elements mixed correctly an image becomes surreal or without purpose.


There are some Artists who focus on space itself specifically, we was informed on some stand out examples this morning in our lecture.


Here are a few of them:

• Edward Hopper

In these images you can see different uses to describe space.

In the first image you can see how elements within the space are spread out to aim the viewers focus, whether purposefully or not is not known. The image appears to show a man, working at his desk trying to stay focused, I get the feel that is has been a long day at the office and he's tired. I get the feeling that the woman in the image has been trying to seduce him for a long period of time, using different techniques to try and lure her way in. This picture captures her in the moment of addressing her body language towards him, curving herself, making herself a focal point for the overal image. There is a small peice of paper layed out on the floor, which in the lecture Phil so elegantly put across that it appears purposefully placed for her to bend down and pick up infront of the man at the desk.

In the second image you can clearly see a blank room, a space which isnt being used, which may have been used or is waiting to be used. It is its own neutral presence, emmiting stillness and silence and in turn, quite calming to view. The colour schemes reflect the lighting, the yellows merge together to apply different shading efficiently yet somewhat blandly. This blandness also contrasts how the space is untouched and in a state of wildness. There is no obvious signs of human presence, the only visual living thing in the image is the plant life outside, further adding to its own solitude.

Take care folks!

Kwiss

Invasion of the body snatchers

Wey hey! Well here we are once again, new project, new films, new everything! Apart from me, im getin old... 21 in a weeks time exactly! Good lord... Anyhoo!

The film "Invasion of the body snatchers" is a great example of the classic movie which spawns roots for many other aspiring film makers to come.

The plot of the film is basicaly about the invasion of plant like Aliens taking over a small town, where "seeds" grow into the form of the townsfolk. When the townsfolk fall to sleep their minds are drained and transfered over to their Alien clones, who feel nothing and have no concept for individualism.

This film, as corny as it is due to its age, really works well and only lacks a feel of originality because of the amount of films I have seen in recent years which are based on its concept. All the invasion style films play on the concept of this movie - including zombie movies and bears even resemblance to films such as The Matrix.

I bid ye farewell
Kwiss

Inspiration for Gormenghast Castle

When we were studying concept art I had to find physical visuals which helped give me a basis for creating a fictional enviroment. I didn't have to look far for inspiration whch helped me to visualise the image of Gormenghast Castle.

Near the University of the Creative Arts there is a Castle in the City of Rochester, ironically named "Rochester Castle". It is here the crumbling soul of a former elegant glory towers above the landscape of the City, it is here where I managed to capture a feel for such power. The structure of the Caslte is beautiful, rolling down into the depths of the Earth, set in a calm, still, peacefull enviroment unsettled by time.

I didn't copy the image of the Castle at all, yet I took these characteristics and poured them into my own imager, the Castle gave me a good idea for physical structure as well as allowing me to imagine it within a different enviroment more suited to the project I was immersed in.

This project also helped to open my minds eye a bit more too, to build my confidence in my own artwork. I can close my eyes and see colours merging together again, metamorphisising into shapes and becoming a guide to my paintbrush. As a result I have one more peice of concept art based on Gormenghast to create, I envisioned climbing up the cliffs in my image and peering over the top to reveal a vast landscape of buildings underneath the groaning breadth of the Castle. So keep an eye out for a new picture!

Kwiss

Concept art finals

Here we have my room of roots image. As this room was in my imagination was set within a tower, that had been crumbling away due to damage from the ingrowing tree roots, I set it without a roof.

This is my image of the Castle in the story of Titus Groan. This is my favourite final image, as it has my overal artistic style and feel, with improved skills using a graphics tablet.

This image is of the burning of carvings, in which I have tried to use a different drawing style all together. It appears more childish, however I feel it gives the audience more to play with.

Concept Art using photoshop

This is a simple idea for the loft, with the character menacingly sitting there awaiting his visitor.

This image shows an onlooker looking up at the mighty Castle towering above.

This image is a rough image of the loft, with the character becoming less important than the space, which was the intention.

Here we have the image of the Castle City in Titus Groan, an early developmental image into my style and idea of the structure.

This image is where I was practising the image of fire, for use in other aspects of the Titus Groan extracts.

This image started off well, however when given advice to make the closer objects sharper, I feel the risk of ruining the image came to life.

This image strongly relates to the film Metropolis that we watched earlier in the project.

Concept Art - Titus Groan

Heres some of the random sketches I produced when first coming up with ideas to take to photoshop.