[Rinaldo]

Ok I said I would post some of the concepts I was working on.
These are all just for me, maybe to make into 3D models to put in my portfolio or to possibly make a short comic out of. Idunno.
Some are pretty bad others I'm very pleased with. I was most interested in the shapes and idea as opposed to line quality. All were done with pen straight to paper pretty quickly so there is a lot of redundant line.

Any comments would be appreciated. I'm especially interested in hearing if and what they remind you all of. I'm having trouble breaking away from the standard stuff. I keep on thinking I've got a nice original idea when I see it somewhere else, most of the time a pic I saw ages ago that must have been embedded deep down in my head. I'm Not that particularly interested or concerned with total originality, but it keeps nagging at me.


With the characters I was going for something a bit 70s Sci-fi. Sort of retro maybe? Idunno jut playing around.
The goblin type guys are just something that I started to draw all of a sudden for no reason at all. I like how they turned out. Definitely plan to explore the idea a bit more.

Nothing in colour yet, I'll wait until they get to a final state and then work on that. I don't use marker for a lot of reasons, I don't know how, Mine have run out, and this is quicker for me. so they don't have that "concept" look.

Anyway I'll stop talking.














[This message has been edited by Rinaldo (edited November 06, 2000).]

[Rinaldo]

this is just a little sketch that has nothing to do with anything


Whoa that's a few jpegs. hope it doesn't choke anyone.


{I initialy stuffed up the post, damn 8 pic limmit.)

[Grendel Khan]

Nice sketches! I like the goblin ones more than the first concepts (that last goblin is great).

They don't remind me of anything in particular, maybe they look a little bit like european sci-fi comics. Of course, is really hard if not impossible to do something really original (everybody's got his/her influenes).

PD: DO a short comic.

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Bleed the Freak

[Rinaldo]

Yeah most of the first ones are pretty sucky. I did the goblins after I started to hit my stride.

There are definitly European influences, I dig a lot of that stuff. it sort of reminds me a bit of the Moebius stuff I've seen (although I haven't seen that much at all).

I think I'm warming to the idea of a short comic. been thinking about it for a while and I think I'm probably around the stage where I could pull something off.

[Francis]

Great stuff Rinaldo. As far as coming up with totally original work that does not reming somebody somewhere of something they've seen before, I think it's pretty much impossible. Rather than attempt that, I think it's more useful to try to either put a new spin on something (familiar) in a way no one has exactly done before, or synthesize elements from different genres/disciplines which are unlikely to be seen together. That sounds a little ambiguous, but for example (may be a lame example) lots of people have done robots based on insects. Not a lot of people have done robots based on vegetables. Probably because that's boring, but the point is to sort of get out of the immediate vicinity of your ideas and try to come back at them from a direction that's different from your normal initial take on something.

With that said, I like the top sketches a lot, and yes they are reminiscent of Moebius and euro-comics in general, which is cool in my book - I love that stuff. I think it has to do with the design of the suits and equipment, together with the way you depict the figures. There's something about the way they stand or are proportioned or something that reminds me of those European comics, even aside from the equipment and stuff.

I don't get that as much from the stuff in your second post. Those seem slightly more Ralph Bakshi or something, but only barely. They look pretty good to me, definitely not a rehash of anything I'm familiar with.

This is cool stuff - you're really good. And yeah, it would be great to see some comic art story stuff from you.

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Francis Tsai
TeamGT Studios

[Joachim]

those sketches look really good Rinaldo !

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Joachim's Place

[micke]

Man, your'e getting better and better for each post. I love these! That guy that sits on a rock reminds me of Moebius's style.
Great stuff with a lot of potential
Rinaldo, where do you work?

-Micke

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-Mikael Noguchi-

http://www.katode.org/noguchi/

[Rinaldo]

Francis-
Yeah I'm not trying to break the mould or anything but every now and then I come up with something that is a total rip off but never spot it until the last minute. I can never sit ther and rip off an idea, but I have the "felling" of it in my head and it just comes out in some way or another. I agee with the idea of taking something and giving it a new angle.
I try to break it down into basic shapes to start with to get the design working, but also to help the originality.
I think my paranoia is a bit misfounded. it's just that when you can see all the influences yourself it looks a bit unoriginal. but I think that most people do a lot of mixing and matching of they favorite artists.


"Robot vegetables" Heh

I like the idea of the top ones but it's not quite working as I planed atm. probaly just need to draw them a bit better. I'll keep working with it. I'm glad you like them.

Who is Ralph Bakshi? doesn't ring any bells. I wasn't refering to the bottom ones as being European. I would probably source them as Brian Froud more than anything

Thanks for your support and comments

Joachim-Thanks

[Rinaldo]

Micke-Thanks.

I work nowhere. I'm trying to get a job at Ratbag Games in Adelaide but they have only recently opened up an action division (they used to do racing games only). Before they wanted a lot more 3D skills that I had. now they would probably need some conceptuial people but I havn't head from them for ages so it doesn't look good for now.
I just study Graphic design about 2 days a week (I am good at rigging my timetable to give me time off) the rest I mostly sit a home and draw (with ocasional social outings ). and of course visit here all the time.

I really want a job but the sort of things that I want to do (basicaly anything where I get to draw or create all day) are hard to come by in Australia, not to mention little old Adlelaide

[tyron]

Hey Rinaldo!
I really like your pictures man, you're good!
I especially like this guy.
I hope you don't mind that i colored one of your pics.. I'll delete it if you want me to...
Anyways here it is...


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-
Truth is in the eye of the beholder.

[This message has been edited by tyron (edited November 06, 2000).]

[Lukias]

Wicked stuff, dig that beast & rider sketch.
The monsta with visor is very cool, finish a sketch of it and post it up.....i'll be waiting.

[Flexible Elf]

heh.. go rent the movies "Wizards" or "Street Fight" and you'll find out just how whacked out Ralph Bakshi is.. hehe.

Those goblins simply rule, Rinaldo.

-Flexible Elf

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http://www.geocities.com/flexible_elf/Main.html

[Farwalker]

Nice work Rinaldo.
Very impressive concept stuff.

Question: Fred, Rinaldo, Flexible anybody...

Like Fred said do you have a minds image of what you want to draw before you start, or are you just drawing and letting the shapes take life and coming up with something?




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Gamingvault.com

[Rinaldo]

Tyron- go for it man, I have no problem at all.

Fred-Thanks

As to wheather I have the whole thing in my head. I have a "feeling" for it. Like when I am thumnailing a page for a comic or something I have exactly what I want in my head. but it's not very detailed. Due to my short-sightedness I have a strange way of looking at things (or maybe everyone is like that) I can't see all the details and how it would work exactly but there is a very strong, if impresionistic, image in my head. It's not something that I have to hold onto. I have it for days. I've heard that people see things differently and some just put pen to paper and see what happens, or others have a brief image which has to be put down on paper quickly. Sometimes I just start playing around with shapes to see what happens and then they suggest something.
But often I have the "feel" of what I want, but I don't know how to make the forms suggest that correctly...hard to explain. I can usuialy tough it out and play around until it just clicks and something happens. But I usuialy know exactly what I want, the look the feel the style. it's sometimes hard to make the actuial drawing represent that. others not.
I'll keep those tips in mind. I usuialy juggle the whole thing in my head for a while with a few notes here and there.

hehe, I plan to do more painting defintly, in the near future too. but I'm really intereted in getting a job so most of my work is aimed at developing skills that I think will be needed (to a degree). I need to get beter with anatomy and a lot of other basic stuff, so I've sort of gone back to basic drawing and a bit of working in B+W. These sort of drawing lets me learn faster. I think you can see that a lot of things like hands are starting to get better. Before I was doing too many paintings, and none of them got very finished. I prefer to leave only the really good images to be painted every now and then. That way I can spend more time on them. So I'm doing concepts and sketches as the main way of learning and getting images out of my head.


Cos- hey thanks, I turned 19 this August. No web page as of yet. I am going to get it happening very soon tho.

Lukias-thanks

Flex-Thanks, I want to do a whole Goblin army shot.

Farwalker-thanks, see what I wrote above, I'm not really sure, it's hard to understand how you yourself see becasue you take so much for granted and it's such a base thing.

[Wrath]

The whole look reminds me of a hybrid between Wizards and Heavy Metal (beat me to it, Flex)...so you definitely achieved the 70s look, but with your own personal twist. You've definitely got my thumbs up on those sketches...i personally like the "ogre" the best...I can't wait to read the backstory you develop (if you choose to).

Keep up the good work and make sure that pencil is sharp

[billyjay]

Dude, this stuff rules.

Are you a Star Wars fan at all? These remind me of the kinda stuff George Lucas' people go thru when creating new deigns and characters for the movies. They are really cool.

The one with the visor and the big hairy jaw simply kicks ass. Cool stuff. Totally awesome.

Do you know Alan Tew?
http://beeba.net

Check his stuff out, your style reminds me a lot of his. Keep posting man, I love this kinda of stuff, gets me motivated to do some sci fi stuff myself!

Later!
BJ

[Fred Flick Stone]

Rinaldo, hello down there. Heh�You got some stuff happening here. I like that you are attacking the images the way you are.

I personally like the first images myself, only because they are familiar to the eyes. The dog face guy has an interesting twist to it that I think you are on to. It reminds me of something out of Baksi�s old Lord of the Rings stories, and /or Dark Crystalish.

Let me ask you something, do you have a total concept in mind before you draw, or are you just drawing in a blank slate, and hoping for results.

A couple of things that I think can be helpful here, if you are at any frustration point, you might not be, but if you are, this might help.

1. Write a quick synopsis of a made up story, not the story itself, but a premise for the story. Then flesh out a little of the history of the story to give you a frame of reference to work with, then launch your designs.
2. Or, go to your book shelf and pull a sci fi novel or fantasy novel out and concept the word images that the book has to offer. This in fact is where many, or most of the sci fi artists I have run into and talked with did to start. It helps develop your imaginative muscle with the writing of a seasoned pro. And if you get a very detailed author, such as David Brin or Orson Scott Card, you have so much food for thought to work with, I wouldn�t doubt it if you filled entire sketch books full of inspiring designs.

Just a couple thoughts to help out, otherwise, I really like the look you are going for, it definitely reads quick sketch stage, but sometimes those can be left at final if they have as much character as these have.

One last question, do you plan on making more final images, or finished drawings, or are you going to stick with concept sketching for a while? Just wondering because I really liked the direction you were heading in with your painting before you stopped it for the most part, or stop posting it that is.

Anyhow, great to hear from you,and keep up the amazing progress, and good luck with the job. Just don�t rush it, continue learning and putting in the mileage and pretty soon they won�t be able to refuse you�

Nice stuff, have a good one,

Ron

[Skeezer]

Damn, this is like the third time I've had to write this thing, first my computer freezes, then just as I finish it the second time I get kicked of the internet.


I really like your characters, very cool, especially the last one, I hope you continue to post your work, you're definitely going to be on my must check list. haha.

Rinaldo, what kind of concept work do you want to do? movies, games? just curious cause I'm going out for the same thing.

I know what you mean about original designs, I've been having similar concerns with my own work. Every time I finish something I like, someone comes up to me and says "Isn't that from RIFTs?" That really sucks, especially when I don't know what he's talking about. I guess its better to hear it from friends though instead of the guy who's thinking about hiring you. haha.

Hey anyway you were talking about markers. I use them regularly and I really like them.

here's some of my stuff if you're interested. If you're not than screw you here they come anyway. haha,

[img]http://www.geocities.com/isaac_hannaford/characters .jpg[/img:4a428fb342]

If you have any questions or just want to say hi to a fellow concept wannabe email me at [email protected]

Great work Rinaldo

-Skeez

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Do you wanna be a starving artist, or are you going to make something of yourself?...
hey, who needs food anyway?

[Skeezer]

AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhh!
What the F*#k is wrong with this thing.

Sorry about the images I'll see if I can fix it.
here's another


for some reason I can access the image from my yahoo account, but everytime I try to paste it, it says the site doesn't exist, does anyone know what's going on?

[This message has been edited by Skeezer (edited November 07, 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Skeezer (edited November 07, 2000).]

[Flexible Elf]

maybe this will work?



-Flexible Elf

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http://www.geocities.com/flexible_elf/Main.html

[CapnPyro]

Here's what Skeezer was posting.







Patience young grass-hoppa

[Cos]

hey Rinaldo these are really cool sketches man, I really like the
ones on the 2nd post.. I was curious, (if you dont mind me asking)
how old are you??

Goodluck with the job and keep up the great work man

oohyeah, I wanted to ask if u have a webpage by the way?? I'd love to see more of your stuff..

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-Cos Koniotis-
http://www.3dpalette.org/~coskoniotis

[This message has been edited by Cos (edited November 06, 2000).]

[ceenda]

Rinaldo: Great stuff! Your sketches have a really dynamic feel to them.

There was a 2000AD artist who's style was quite similar. Dunno why, but you're stuff also has a Warhammer type feel to it (i.e. both fantasy and futuristic).

Nice work, keep 'em coming!

[Jaymo]

Rinaldo: Very nice, like the loose lines in your concepts, very much emotion and character in these. You're 19? Bloody bastard...

Skeezer: Really nice stuff. I'll be tryin some marker-renderings, too. Hmm, maybe I should concentrate on something....

[Rinaldo]

Wrath-Good to hear I'm sort of hitting the mark a bit. the Ogre is a pack animal of sorts. I have some back story to these characters but none of it's really solid atm. Thanks.

billyjay-I'm a big fan of starwars. not a hyper fanatical fan who has to have everyhting with the logo on it, But I dig the movies.

Wooho I got a "your style reminds me of alan tew" comment hehe thanks I love Alan Tew's work.

Skeezer-I would probably be most interested in games at the moment. but anything really. I'm also keen on doing some comic work at some point.
I do use markers a bit but not all the time.
your stuff looks really good. I like the creature design. I drop you an E-mail some time.

ceenda-I think I'm just too lazy to keep fantasy and futuristic on seperate sides of the fence. Thanks.