The Imperial Shipyards

Imperial Creative Engineering => Graphic Artwork => Topic started by: Art deWhill on September 16, 2010, 05:51:11 AM

Title: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on September 16, 2010, 05:51:11 AM
So here it comes, my first post regarding my love for doing digital "painterly" composites as I call them.  I am not a photorealistic guy - I cannot do such things - I am a painter, still in love with tradtitional arts where BTW I use Hasbro figures as models, too, so my composites have to look like a painting more than a photo or screencapture.
"Daddy, the 501st is my favorite legion, you have to do a picture with them..." my son told me. To be honest, he calls almost every legion or siege his favorite, but why not use his trooper to set up this scene. Thanks for looking, C + C always welcome.

(http://fc06.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2010/007/b/e/No_one_is_allowed_entry__by_Art_deWhill.jpg)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Luke Sprywalker on September 16, 2010, 07:16:22 AM
Well I just said I couldn't wait to see your images and you have quickly delivered. Let me say hasbro figures have never looked so good. I see what you mean about them looking like a painting as I can really see that in some areas like the trooper on the left but the trooper in the center looks very realistic to me. Awesome work and please go ahead and hit me with a few more of these. I have a feeling you are holding back on us and building suspence to unveil more awesomeness... ;)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Tamer on September 16, 2010, 07:47:45 AM
Wow, looks great. It does look like a painting.
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on September 16, 2010, 08:52:32 AM
thank you for your thoughtful and kind words  :D
ha, of course I am holding back the best I made so far, who am I - I will never kill all joy  ;D

to explain the "painterly" character maybe a bit more here is another one, Hasbro Ben Kenobi, straight forward and simple but with a heavy paintjob on the face to make the figure look like Sir Alec Guinness. To me the tension lies in the dialogue of areas that look more like a painting than others, which reveal the toy character more or less... ah, forget about this blabla, here goes the image:
(http://fc03.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/207/7/a/Ghost_from_the_past_by_Art_deWhill.png)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on September 17, 2010, 08:56:27 AM
here comes another one, as always C+C welcome
for the background I altered a screenshot from the movie, the figures where shot on a window board with cold light coming from outside the window, the warm light was provided via desktop lamp.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/3994589221_db658ecaed_z.jpg?zz=1)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: wraithnine on September 17, 2010, 09:50:37 AM
they look superb!  you really have captured the "feel" of the scene
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on September 17, 2010, 09:59:16 AM
thank you, sir! very upliftung and much appreciated :)

UPDATE:
just found this on in my folders, the story goes:
"THREEPIO: (to Artoo) "Now, don't you forget this! Why I should stick my neck out for you is quite beyond my capacity!"

Note: if you are wondering why our famous astromech droid looks somewhat primitive, you have to know that its the 1978-era Kenner version I used for this shot.

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3951281512_8f439c6eec_z.jpg?zz=1)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on September 17, 2010, 10:17:37 AM
the last pic for today is dedicated to one of my favorite trooper outfits, SANDTROOPER!
they are so  8)
anyway, I am slowly running out of composites, time to get some new one done, so see ya

(http://fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2010/093/c/a/Sandtrooper_by_Art_deWhill.jpg)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: hangarbay94 on October 05, 2010, 02:17:07 PM
Art, these composites are excellent! you seem to have mastered blending layers making everything look so lifelike. I'd love to see more...

Another idea you might be interested in is taking images of customs from members posts, making a composite and posting it back on their thread, I used to do it a lot, and should again, it's great fun seeing people's reaction!

Anyhow, I love your work...
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on October 05, 2010, 11:04:13 PM
Art, these composites are excellent! you seem to have mastered blending layers making everything look so lifelike. I'd love to see more...

Another idea you might be interested in is taking images of customs from members posts, making a composite and posting it back on their thread, I used to do it a lot, and should again, it's great fun seeing people's reaction!

Anyhow, I love your work...

wow, thank you so much for this more than uplifiting compliment! coming from a big talent like you it means the world to me, thank you.
Yes, the layers... lots of layers needed to build up my images ;)
for I love the customs here - I am not the guy with the brilliant ideas in inventing new stuff so I am totaly fascinated by all the great works showcased here -  I like your idea of using them in composites. With customs it opens up the dimensions of possible compositions: individual ARCs, Mandos or other characters. Indeed I am looking for a Ysanne for a friend requested a painting... yes, a new idea of mine, for I am focusing on using the Hasbro figures as models, posing for my oil paintings, using a composite only as first step to develop the composition. But thats another story ;)

So thanks again,
CU in the boards
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: CloneSniper78 on October 06, 2010, 01:31:28 AM
That is really cool. I wish I had the time to make pictures like that. Good job!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on October 06, 2010, 01:42:09 AM
That is really cool. I wish I had the time to make pictures like that. Good job!

thank you for your kind words !
yeah, time... enough time... I wish I had enough time to do all my projects... for I am doing not only Hasbro Composites but also commissions for  cosplayer and of course my personal oil paintings...
24 h are not enough, but instead of blaming I should just keep on working ;)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: FlakBait on October 06, 2010, 04:26:31 AM
Very nice man. I hope you do more. Were these photoshoped
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on October 06, 2010, 04:56:35 AM
Very nice man. I hope you do more. Were these photoshoped

thanks a lot!
yes, the basic tool is photoshop using a Wacom tablet, additional work in painter, cause I am not looking for a photorealistic approach but a "paintly" composite, thats what I am: a tradtional painter (http://oswfc.alphakom.de/images/JOTW59.jpg) walking on digital side roads ;)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: hemble on October 07, 2010, 02:17:24 AM
Mate excellent work I have alot of admiration for you guys that can do this sought of work.

Ron
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions
Post by: Art deWhill on October 07, 2010, 02:37:43 AM
Mate excellent work I have alot of admiration for you guys that can do this souht of work.

Ron

thank you, Ron. I am glad you enjoy my work!

And its me who admires all the fantastic custom figures and stuff you guys showcase here. So the circle of inspiring each other goes on ;)

Stefan
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 08, 2010, 05:53:23 AM
one thing I am very proud of is the use of this composite as front cover of the German Star Wars Fan Club magazine earlier this year, Lucasfilm approval by Steve Sansweet.
So one can say playing with toys is serious art  ;D

(http://inlinethumb14.webshots.com/44493/2538014480106173151S425x425Q85.jpg) (http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2538014480106173151hSdAle)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: hangarbay94 on October 08, 2010, 08:30:05 AM
Art, that is very clever indeed. The way you have used artistic filters shows a mastery of your craft. I love the image, the composition is perfect and the use of figures is wonderful.

Do you remember the filters you used?

oh and more please!!!!

Jules
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 08, 2010, 09:01:59 AM
Art, that is very clever indeed. The way you have used artistic filters shows a mastery of your craft. I love the image, the composition is perfect and the use of figures is wonderful.

Do you remember the filters you used?

oh and more please!!!!

Jules

thanks a lot, Jules, coming from such a talent like you its a very encouraging push :)
currently I am working on a pile of commissions coming from cosplayers, but seeing all the customs here (for I searched the posts here as you suggested to do so) is a hell of inspiration, so sure more to come.

To answer your question regarding the filters: well, not much filters used ;) just a lot of layers and various airbrush strokes to paint all over the photographic elements using Photoshop. Then by using Painter I adjust some "intelligent blur" and rework the image with "fast clone" tools, mainly oil brushes, to achive the painterly look. After doing that everything goes back to photoshop, correcting transparency (mostly only on particular areas) to melt the Corel layer and the original Photoshop layers together, also adjusting contrast and things like that.
You can see a WIP here, but its in German language only, the images have to speak for themself ;)
http://www.phoxim.de/stefan_boettcher_derelict/stefan_boettcher_alien_derelict.html (http://www.phoxim.de/stefan_boettcher_derelict/stefan_boettcher_alien_derelict.html)

Stefan
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: FialaFernbrugg on October 08, 2010, 09:14:09 AM
omg, where have I been
sorry for my belated comment Art deWhill
every single image you've made looks absolutely awesome
very professional work my friend and I hope you'll show us a lot more

Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 08, 2010, 09:25:46 AM
omg, where have I been
sorry for my belated comment Art deWhill
every single image you've made looks absolutely awesome
very professional work my friend and I hope you'll show us a lot more



no worries, my friend!
sure more to come, its seems that I am infected and just have to do image after image  ;D
I am very glad you like my work that much, wow, your kind words are much appreciated.
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: hangarbay94 on October 08, 2010, 10:34:27 AM
Stefan, I'm using Google Chrome and it has a translation feature so I got the WIP.

Man, you really are good! I am a worm in the soil compared to your mastery of Photoshop and associated programs. I love the techniques you use, they are very effective. I still can't get over what you did on that poster.

Absolutely superb! I hope you make this one of the sites you visit regularly, as I am so looking forward to seeing what you come up with next! I'm sure that the Yarders would love to see you mess with their customs!!!

WOW! I'm really excited!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: Luke Sprywalker on October 08, 2010, 10:48:13 AM
 :o WOW! :o That cover is EPIC! OK everyone go back to the first post, I told you this guy was holding back some breathtaking work! As anyone would do to build a bit. This is a great honor and no wonder they approved your image it is a great one! Well done my friend!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 08, 2010, 11:30:01 AM
hey, guys, what are you talking about... such flattering words  ;D
thanks you so much, I am really overwhelmed by your compliments.
and yes, I think I will stop by more often than on other places ;)

Jules, one important thing, you are definitelly no worm ;) you are doing fantastic works, every piece a sriking one, but whats true is the fact that you simply have a different style compared to mine, thats all. Just a different style, but a true brother in composite arts.

Stefan
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: hangarbay94 on October 08, 2010, 12:28:41 PM
Thanks Stefan! but for now you 'd' man!!!

The guys here definitely love what you are doing!!!

Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 08, 2010, 12:46:36 PM
Thanks Stefan! but for now you 'd' man!!!

The guys here definitely love what you are doing!!!

thanks, bro!

BTW do you have a banner image 468 px or so which I can use to link to your web comic? I have a little blog running in German and would very much put you on my link & partner page if you give me permission.
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: hangarbay94 on October 09, 2010, 10:52:48 AM
That would be awesome... here are a couple of banners.
(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/X-Wing%20Alliance%20-%20The%20Web%20Comic/Banner468x60.jpg)

(http://i683.photobucket.com/albums/vv191/hangarbay94/X-Wing%20Alliance%20-%20The%20Web%20Comic/XWAv.jpg)

It's currently featured on comic fury here:
http://x-wingalliance.thecomicseries.com/ (http://x-wingalliance.thecomicseries.com/)

Or on it's own site here:
http://www.xwa-webcomic.com/ (http://www.xwa-webcomic.com/)

Please link me to the site you are posting this on, I'd love to take a look! I will add the link to your site at xwa-webcomic.com as well if you like!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-08**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 09, 2010, 12:13:54 PM
That would be awesome... here are a couple of banners.

It's currently featured on comic fury here:
http://x-wingalliance.thecomicseries.com/ (http://x-wingalliance.thecomicseries.com/)

Or on it's own site here:
http://www.xwa-webcomic.com/ (http://www.xwa-webcomic.com/)

Please link me to the site you are posting this on, I'd love to take a look! I will add the link to your site at xwa-webcomic.com as well if you like!

Hi Julian,

I decided to put both banners onto my blog  ;)
this is such a cool project!

I posted the small one in the right sidebar as "Featured Partner-Project", shown on every page of the blog, the larger in alphabetical order on my link page.
http://boettcherart.blogspot.com/ (http://boettcherart.blogspot.com/)  |  link page: http://boettcherart.blogspot.com/p/links.html (http://boettcherart.blogspot.com/p/links.html)

At the bottom of this link page you will find my banners. Thanks a lot for offering a link exchange, this would be great, but of course you dont have to. Having you featured on my site is just a friendly turn without conditions.

Stefan

Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-15-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 15, 2010, 05:18:58 AM
thought you might be interested in works and ideas which are in their concept phase... and sometimes will stay there forever  :-[
to much ideas, not enough spare time to create them all as final paintings.
but anyway those quick concept studies are a lot of fun to do and I very much like those loose strokes and lines, they have a fresh and unique look of their own.
And they help me to keep my hand relaxed and get the ideas out of my head  :D

here is a concept for some jungle troopers, enjoy!
(http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss244/brickart/Concept%20Art/Kashyyyktrooper_Concept.jpg)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-15-2010**
Post by: Phatty on October 15, 2010, 06:06:53 AM
That IS slick, Art!  The Biker Scout armor is my all time favorite, and the camo looks awesome.  Another great job!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-15-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 15, 2010, 06:30:53 AM
That IS slick, Art!  The Biker Scout armor is my all time favorite, and the camo looks awesome.  Another great job!

Hi Phatty, thanks a lot, sir!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-15-2010**
Post by: Luke Sprywalker on October 15, 2010, 07:03:01 AM
That is sweey man! I would love to see 3-4 in progress shots before you finish one of these. I love seeing the creative process a piece of art goes through.
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-15-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 15, 2010, 07:18:19 AM
That is sweey man! I would love to see 3-4 in progress shots before you finish one of these. I love seeing the creative process a piece of art goes through.

thanks, Luke!
its nice to see you are interested in some WIPs, and I will be happy to share my creative steps with you.
There are already some WIPs online. I am member of a German scifi modeller board and the guys there allowed me to use some of their stunning models... just click through the pages, the images speak for themself ;)
and if you like I will do some new WIPs to share in this board.

http://www.phoxim.de/stefan_boettcher_derelict/stefan_boettcher_alien_derelict.html (http://www.phoxim.de/stefan_boettcher_derelict/stefan_boettcher_alien_derelict.html)

http://www.phoxim.de/forum/index.php?topic=574.20 (http://www.phoxim.de/forum/index.php?topic=574.20)

http://www.phoxim.de/forum/index.php?topic=729.0 (http://www.phoxim.de/forum/index.php?topic=729.0)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-15-2010**
Post by: hemble on October 19, 2010, 02:50:27 AM
Stefan love the Scout picture mate it reminds me of the pre production pictures they do for movies 10/10 again mate.

Ron
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-15-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 19, 2010, 03:05:06 AM
Stefan love the Scout picture mate it reminds me of the pre production pictures they do for movies 10/10 again mate.

Ron

thanks!
indeed its some kind of pre production pic for me, too. I am doing this quick studies to see if a idea works or not or in case of a commission to show the customer my basic idea.
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 23, 2010, 02:20:30 AM
a little weekend update and the last of my own setups I can show in public for all others are still in the archives of the Official Star Wars Fanclub Germany, including a Luke on Tauntaun and Graslandpatrol Troopers. But this is all no problem for I can create similar compositions if I need to and regarding the troopers, well, they belong to a mini-series I called "Clones at War"... and looking at your stuff there are a lot of your customs are predestinated to be thrown into such surroundings (which BTW I very much love to create...).

This picture too is part of my series and my biggest success to date regarding publishing  ;)
It was the centerfold poster not only in the internal club magazine but the newsstand issue #57 of the Official German Star Wars Magazine, again Lucasfilm Approval by Steve Sansweet.

As said before I am looking forward to setup more "war"-scenes similar to this one, including troopers in full combat gear, ARCs, Republic Commandos and other WW2 type customed clones... but thats the future.
For now I hope you enjoy this one.

BTW the fgures were all posed by my son, he also invented this special Hasbro-Lego rifle ;)

(http://fc09.deviantart.net/fs71/i/2010/188/8/7/Securing_the_Battlefield_by_Art_deWhill.jpg)
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: Phatty on October 23, 2010, 07:37:05 AM
Brilliantly done, Art!  Your son's modified rifle is pretty sweet looking, it blends so well!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: Luke Sprywalker on October 23, 2010, 09:26:57 AM
Oh my! Another great one! That is a great scene and I really like the riffle mod. So it is a lego base with added bit at the end right?
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: CaptainLux on October 23, 2010, 12:26:07 PM
wooow amazing pic man, i´m a big fan of the 327th star corps, amazing work!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 24, 2010, 03:44:28 AM
thank you, guys, glad you like it :)

@Luke: yes, its a standard Hasbro rifle with two added Lego bits - so it seems that my son is somekind of customizer, too  ;D
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: hangarbay94 on October 25, 2010, 07:11:19 PM
Once again you are showing us your awesome skills! Love the poses and the way the troops look so cool under fire.
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 25, 2010, 10:10:38 PM
Hi Jules, thanks a lot, my friend!!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: wraithnine on October 26, 2010, 02:03:07 AM
looks awesome!
Title: Re: Hasbro Modelling Sessions **UPDATE 10-23-2010**
Post by: Art deWhill on October 26, 2010, 02:06:54 AM
Thank you, wraithnine!! glad you enjoyed it :)