still not sure about colour scheme...

a far better day at the beach

Im starting to really like drawing full scenes and backgrounds, which is a relief, because 80% of my portfolio lacks a background, that needed to be fixed.

still a bunch to add, a rusty bot half buried on the beach, some kids playing, plants, etc.

In progress poster,

Cloak and Dagger

ug its late, but I was on a roll with this piece, and if your work flow is flowing DO NOT STOP.

In-Progress commish

got commissioned to do a "Cloak and Dagger" poster, not overly familiar with the characters, but Im a fan of their designs :)

this piece is fairly overdue... hope the client enjoys the final product

Toronto results!

great wknd. like frosted flakes Greeeaaaat.

on friday, Aaron Douglas (the Chief from Battlestar Gallactica) did a double-take while walking by my booth, was very impressed by my work (I was overly ecstatic about this) so he ended up signing my halo print : "Fraken Badass", he Tweeted about my work, then grabbed a copy of the print for himself to have at his table the entire weekend, his mate:Toby Proctor (sailor moon's Tux Mask also picked up some pieces to show off while signing autographs. Fantastic guys to chat with, wish I hadn't had to fly back home so soon or I would have went out for some drinks with em. next time i'll miss the flippin flight.

My booth neighbors this weekend were the very talented "Red Letter Media" crew (the very same cats responsible for those hilariously scathing 70min Star Wars reviews) They were great guys to be sitting beside, although due to the nature of their fame, they did attract some very... "unique" individuals.

We were also right across from the "SuckerPunch" promotional booth, which had some nice eyecandy, however they also had the one minute trailer blaring and on loop allllll weekend. we almost went insane listening to it over and over again. (the booth girls were equally annoyed with the trailer, but did a great job hiding their frustration)

Got the chance to catch up with Lamin Martin again,

a phenomenal artist I had met last Oct. Huge fan of his work, this cat draws dragons and girls like they should be drawn. I hope/plan to get a colab piece rolling with him sometime in the near future.

Vids:
check out this guys video, I'm the first artist he shows :)

things for next con: (this list is here, just so I have it written in a place I'll be able to find a couple weeks from now)
- New Muse print
- no more stickers (too much effort, and my work does not make for good stickers)
- something similar to the venom print (spawn?)
- a DC piece (superman/batman Esq)
- redo Kerrigan/stracraft
- Star wars piece/prints
- better paper/stock for comissions
- New portfolio case
- re-tweak remnant 2.0

The Soul was Prologue

Heading to the Toronto Wizard con this wknd (couple hours from now, woot!) so getting this ready for print was my last hurdle :)

I also recieved an email a day two ago from the toronto con, saying that for an extra bit-o-cash, i can be upgraded to a small press booth rather than an artists alley table. I jumped on it- i suspect it will get me more attention... hopefully i'm right... i am a tad afraid I'm getting a deal on the booth because its stuck in a corner somewhere...

but location doesn't count for tooooo too much at a con right?
sure I'll do fine, non-the-less :)

cheers mates

Welcome to EMUD

This is a screenshot (WIP, so things look a bit choppy) of an environment design for a video game Im currently working on for Complex Games, called EMUD. (pronounced E Mood). This game will be played primarily by kids with cancer, with the purpose of collecting important research data (the game has a Mood system, which tracks the mood of the player over time...? im not exactly sure how the programmers and researcher have it all set up, I just make it pretty)

Absolutely loving this project, and its even better to know that its for a great cause.

cheers mates.

My motto of late has been- "Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it"

First little sneak peak at what I've been loosing all my sleep over lately- an upcoming issue of "Sinbad Rogue of Mars"

Im helping organize a local gallery show for the young upcoming artists of Winnipeg, really looking forward to the show!

for the current issue of KAYAK

This Pirate Spread was completed some time ago, but I had to hold off sharing until the book was published (i have another piece to show that will also have to wait)

It may take me a day or two more to collect my thoughts and write a proper entry regarding my activities of late... lots of artwork... stuff on its way out, and projects starting up. And an epic 10 day San Francisco trip for the Game Developers Conference. phew.

Musical Inspiration

the only video I'll ever need to watch again

Chasing Artwork

for those of you whom do not know- this is tribute to one of the most famous and heartbreaking scenes in video game history- as a character you’ve been building up and developing for dozens of hours gets actually killed off for the remainder of the story.

as i've said before: I credit the FF7 game for really getting me into artwork back in the day, owe the game a lot.

also- on my Deviant art Account, I kept getting questions about my training/background so I wrote a uber long journal detailing my artsy journey: thought I would post here as well :)

I have been asked about aspects of my training/art background on a number of occasions- so I figured I would just tell the whole story here and be done with it.

I grew up on a farm 10miles away from the closest town with a school, my family consisted of Mom, Dad, and 5 siblings (4sisters, 1 bro), a dog named Winston (after the ghost buster) and a cat named Garfield whom refused to die until he saw his 19th birthday.

When I was about 7yrs old a particularly nasty storm blew down our TV antenna, my dad, being my dad, announced that he liked how we could no longer vegetate in front of the tv, and thus never bothered to re-attach the thing, leaving us kids to grow up without actual tv. (scary I know)

this however resulted in an increase of drawing, reading and other such activities (lego especially, god yes the Lego. I built with lego 24/7). While we did not have any tv channels, we still had a physical TV to watch rented VHS movies on (lots of copied movies as well, shhh don't tell), and eventually a Sega Genisis, then a playstaion (Final Fantasy 7 had a lot to do with me practicing illustration in a serious way)

throughout school, one of my best friends also was a stellar illustrator- and it was a constant back and forth battle/competition about who could draw the best stuff- this epic war carried over from grade 2 all the way to 12, and without it, I doubt I would have gotten into a art school afterwards. (I credit a good chunk of my skill to the competition factor. Nothing gets me more productive and rearing to create than a friends artwork upping the ante over mine.)

During high school I took any and all art courses I could get my hands on, intro to drafting, a wednesday night portrait workshop, half credit intro to drawing course... and so on (my lil school boasted about 500+ students K-12, so we didn't have a ton of course variety)

upon graduation, I immediately applied for Red River Colleges Graphic Design Program (17yrs old at this point). A cousin of mine had took it, and upon seeing my work one day she convinced me that this was where i needed to go, rather than a fine arts, to carry out my work and advance my skills in the best way possible.

Graphic design kinda rubbed me the wrong way at first (was not a fan of all the design and lack of illustration they had me doing) but eventually I started to see how all they design theory was influencing and very much complementing my illustration work- i even started to really enjoy the typography, logo design, etc, after a time. it's fantastic stuff once you dive into it. Design also got me mastering the essential programs- like flash, photoshop, indesign and the almighty illustrator In the end, Graphic Design helped my improve my work quality 10X, I think every illustrator should take design training. I have been able to tackle so many more projects due to my design/illustration training mix

Red rivers program is a CONDENSED 2yr course load with an optional advanced 3rd year (this same course can be taken elsewhere over 4-5 years) I took the 3rd year- which got us improving upon our strengths, and more into the heavy programs like aftereffects, sound mixing etc.

Upon graduation from college, I worked in a Design firm from 2007-2009- it was a smaller place, I worked with great guys, and learned a god-awfully large amount about how to properly set up print files, pre-press procedure, good layout etc, etc. but this was by no means a "creative solution" kinda job, they wanted it done and out the door, then onto the next brochure (creativity took a back seat, and that slowly drove me into more and more freelance creative work/personal projects)
sadly enough, I feel that only a small precent of my skillset was being used at the firm, and so leaving that position was a bit of a relief.

Although- I will have to give that firm credit for my Shattered Vector Painting style. lol, the only way i could work on my own stuff during company time was to have my screen looking like I was just working on some illustrator file, so I would just have my painting stuck in the corner of a logo file and slowly chip away at it while working on the logo.

2008 I attended my first comic convention. I printed out about 10 things at Staples, had my sketchbook, and got my artists alley table (no idea what to expect) I HAD SUCH A GOOD TIME. I only sold a couple things, but got just hooked on the con scene. I also made contact with a ton of local talent, and a group of us started getting together once a week just to sketch jam (practice, that is, in my mind, the only flipping trick worth remembering: just keep drawing, painting, writing, learning,) and again, the competition factor between fellow artists also keeps me from slacking

Next year I rolled back to the con with a huge print selection and my A game- sold a ton of work, had even more fun. shortly after I started signing up for every convention within driving distance. Comic conventions got me inspired enough to keep improving my stuff, constantly getting new and better work ready for the next show

THUS the name and my philosophy: • Chasing Artwork •
its like a carrot on a stick, your next best piece is just out of reach, and the one after that is going to be even better. start chasing.

NOW
Currently I am working as a concept artists/designer at game company called "Complex Games" and it's becoming blatantly obvious how much quality of work improves when your truly passionate about your job. I am also working on a childrens book about electricity basics with a freelance client, as well as some comic pages for Bluwater's "Sinbad, Rouge of Mars" I also still attend a weekly sketchjam with friends, and get involved with every workshop and art show that comes my way.

wow. thats about me... let me know if you have any questions
cheers mates.

The almighty thumbnail sheet

a how-i-work kinda post.

the very last thing that goes to the printer before a convention is my thumbnail sheet. (one thats not all marked up for my printing references)

the x'd out thumbnails are for prints that I currently have sufficient stock for a con- the red numbers are how many new ones I need to print.

These are SUPER helpful, since I attend a lot of conventions, this sheet really helps me keep track of what is really selling, what is sold out, etc.

Its also interesting how much of an attention grab this thing is, people almost seem to love looking at this more than flipping through my portfolio to find their favorite pieces.

Black Rock Shooter

Heading to a small Anime Con this weekend, so I felt the need to build a new flashy fanart print :)

this may not be the final-final, as I am finishing this piece on a computer with horrendous colour calibration- I need to get back to my mac to double check everything before she goes to print :)

for those of you unfamiliar with this girlie: BRS

in progress work...

I will do a full update soon...

going to a toronto con soonish,

I now own a cintiq

Have a new job at a gaming company

etc

cheers mates

Kella

always liked the quote "I have Become Death, The destroyer of worlds"
took screenshots throughout the making of this :) will be building a how-to tutorial soonish

3rd Ward Open Call - Send Me to New York!

Every couple of months I try to enter a contest/gallery with an entry fee (i enter every free contese/gallery I possibly can) This month, I signed up for a possible New York residency and gallery show. All im asking from you guys is 2 seconds of your time for a vote :) tell your friends as well! voting does not last too much longer.

VOTE FOR ME!
contest site: http://www.3rdwardopencall.com/

Donating the Moons

1st Piece: "Can I have the Moon?"

2nd Piece: "Lost Strings"

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I present to you, after quite a long wait, The 3d and final piece the Moon series.

"The Last Eclipse "

The complete series will be donated to make it's public debut at the The Laurel Centre Art Auction
This January!

Iron Man joins the Game Grid

Iron man / tron crossover artwork. Built this one for a contest

Artemis

The Greek Goddess "Artemis" of the wildland, Mistress of Animals.

Commission: Ice Creature

Apparently i like orange/red schemes this week

Commission I got throught DeviantArt of Isis (Egyption Goddess) and an Xmas present for my lil sis, the piece is of her two horses

Zbrush fish (i guess?)

third session in zbrush, finally getting a handle on basic controls- this time I actually managed to make something that looked like thing. progress!!

speedpaint

painting for the Vibe fest this weekend... which is some kind of art show at the academy bar- I have no idea what to expect, but i do like the idea of an art show at the bar :)

Walk Cycle

preview of a flash animation I'm tackling over the next couple of months

better lich king

when in doubt- texturize and play with your colours

Lich King and some 3d experimentation

Warcraft Fanart: The ol lich king ;)

Also- I'm starting to dive into zbrush and maya. lookout gaming industry. below is a screenshot or two of my first abominations/creations made while following the basics tutorial. hope to have a portfolio piece out of the program in a couple weeks :)

Winter roundhouse kicked winnipeg in the teeth last night

earlyish morning sketch of frostbourne ona frosty day... full lich king to follow shortly. maybe his crazy blue dragon thrown into the background (depending on how long my coffee lasts)

A quick Preview of Misdirection, and a whale

Above is the first leaked artwork for an upcoming comic strip of mine called "Misdirection". A personal project I have had on the back burner for over a year, finally got some strips built!
Telling a story with a comic strip is something I've always wanted to do:) the plan is: stockpile about 30 strips, set up a word press website, and release one a week. See what happens.

and for no apparent reason: a vector speed painting of a sky whale. just because.

Updated Remanants

Original.

2.0

Remnant 2

"for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so"

Inspired by: "Between Two Points" by the Glitch mob

Comic Con 2010, and some tron

Winnipeg's Comic Con 2010 was last weekend, went very very well for myself and my work. Think my next con will be Toronto's Wizard con in march, then hopefully I can attend something big in the states, perhaps new york :)

The new tron movie has me captivated. the visual style is just top notch. hope the actual film will be nearly as good as the art direction :)

Im calling this character "Aster"