Monday 16 November 2009

How it's made - 2000AD prog 1659

So, just a quick post today, 'cos I often get emails about how I set about creating cover art. I'll concentrate on my recent Dredd cover for 2000AD, from a few weeks ago:

(Above)
Prog 1659 in all its Technicolour glory!

It always starts with a sketch, in this case I did 3 quick B&W thumbnails for Tharg, of which he preferred thumbnail #1:

(Above)
Thumbnail_001 - the chosen one!

(Above)
Thumbnail_002 - classic Bolland angle

(Above)
Thumbnail_003 - off roading it!

From here, I quickly mock up and render a version of the cover using various items of stock imagery and models from my now extensive library of 'bits'. It's amazing how quickly you can build up a good resource for use in any illustration.

(Above)
Initial render and Photoshop composite

Then on to the fun part - the final paintover, painting in detail and effects, adding in elements that would probably take days to set up and render (yes, particle effects, I'm talking to you!).

This is where I tie all the pieces together, getting character into the expression, adding in film grain and some EFX to give the image some 'pop'!

(Above)
Final image with all the bells and whistles.
I received a lot of great feedback at BICS for this one.

In a nutshell, that's how it's made. I use the computer merely as a tool, the same way other artists use watercolour, airbrush or oils.

As usual - if anyone wants to drop me a mail about this or any other piece, commissions or any potential work- feel free to contact me at the email up there on the right. Alternatively, if you'd like leave a comment don't be afraid to do so.

Next up - Battletech.

3 comments:

Tony Jackson said...

Do it on the computer eh ... Not like in my day when all we had was the charred finger of a burnt corpse to scratch out an image onto the flayed skin of some endangered animal.
It brings a watery tear of nostlgia to my worn and whithered eye.

Ben Newman said...

you were lucky to have a burnt corpse, in my day we had to .... ehh..you know..etc.

Nice to see the process neil. So do you not actually spend long modelling?

Neil Roberts said...

Nah - modelling is the most laborious part of the process. I'd sooner get to the painting stage - which is far more fun, charred fingers or not...