Union_Man

Make it a "Poker Night, Sloppy Drinker" expansion pack and I'll be right there. Weddings I tend to avoid, even when they come with free real life food.

KnowwhutI'msayin'.

Haha- thanks.

Ironik- I've never modeled anything more complex than simple props for placing in a Counterstrike map (just amateur stuff). You know-- super low poly, very simple. So I'm a total n00b with the technology. I sketch alot, but I don't know how much that actually translates over. :/

Anyway, I read an article about a program called Mudbox this weekend, and downloaded the free demo. Built a couple of heads like that one on Sunday, then downloaded the free Zbrush demo on Monday night. So... I started this guy on Monday night (after work), and finished him up the following evening (after work). Total, maybe... five or six hours?

I think I move pretty slow as well, as a n00b. This new modelling software is really intuitive and easy-- especially Mudbox. It's like working with clay.

http://www.mudbox3d.com/

Zbrush is, I think, less intuitive, but alot more flexible. You can pose things after you sculpt them (which you can't do in Mudbox), and you can texture them, painting right on the surface of the mesh.

http://www.pixologic.com/home.php

Thanks. I've done a little 3-D before... but no figure work. Just some type for graphic effects and simple little 2-D props in a 3-D space, like the cardboard cut-out effects you see sometimes. Never any actual organic, 3 dimensional models. It's alot of fun-- like sculpting in clay but without the mess. I can see how people get into this stuff.

I've been playing around with zbrush all week-- it's pretty sweet. I tried to do a bust of one of my CoH characters, the Red Crab (supposed to be a very nerdy inventor). Kind of screwed up on some basic things- but I'm just learning.


Here's the 3-d export...

And this is who it's supposed to be.

Weeeee

They hate you because... you're evil.

Duh.

Wow! Nice work! Love the coloring especially-- looks very much like sunrise.

Thought I'd post this now before I start screwing it up with color.

http://catster.deviantart.com/art/Ch...r-Art-63878155

She's supposed to be a former racer, who's now a superspeedy hero chick.

I don't think the style really has a name, but it's very commercial. Looks like the traditional western approach with a heavy anime influence.

Welcome to Nerd Hobby Club. Rule number 1:

YOU DO NOT TALK ABOUT NERD HOBBY CLUB.

(message boards are exempted)

Sweet. That helmet works great on him.

Thanks!

I started an invention-themed character to play around with the whole inventions thing. He's supposed to be a big nerd and wannabee superhero.

Anyway, I did a quick sketch of him in Painter. It's totally rough right now, but I figured I'd post it anyway and then update it later with the finished one.

He's supposed to be zipping around on a jetpack over the city.

And this is a screenshot of the source guy.

Nice! Is that done in vecotr, or was it on paper?

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This thread also reminds me of my current situation. I have a commission in the works from another artist but it's been awhile. I sent my upfront payment back in Oct 2006, gotten a rough draft in Dec, and an e-mail responding to an inquiry I made. Other than that, there has been little communication. I'm still being patient, just wondering how much longer I need to be patient seeing how I'm now 6 months since I started this request.

I'm not going to flame or anything, but I do go through the angsts and times of worry, but I still try to give the artist space so that they are not under pressure or get upset. Is there a point where I need to start to worry?

Everyone let me know. Thanks.

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I wouldn't do an up-front payment, personally. Some people are flakey and the only way to light a fire under their [censored] is with money. Sometimes I do a one-third up front, one third upon approval of comps, and one third upon delivery, but that's for big stuff.

I can imagine maybe doing one-third up front with a single commission, just to prove honesty and all that, but no more. You don't have any real leverage with the guy now, but you could do this:

Approach him with another commission, and suggest it's more lucrative. Say you'll fill him in on the details when this job is finished. You don't actually have to have another job for him- you just need a way to kick him in the [censored]. I wouldn't re-hire someone who didn't communicate after receiving payment anyway.

Yeah- there are alot of talented people out there who just don't know how to conduct themselves professionally, for whatever reason. Maybe they just don't deal with it often or whatever.

Someone who's accustomed to commissioning or farming out work is often going to be more familiar with the process than many of the artists/designers/etc. they approach with work. Sounds like you mentioned the necessity of approving a bid and getting some creative back and forth, but the artist just didn't understand.

You might have to educate the artist on the business end of their craft in order to do business with them. This is a good thing for people to know about.

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Not sure about this Union, but on your character info page, it says Union man is a scrapper? The pics of him look like Super stregth Tanker to me...

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Haha- yeah, I made that page when I was playing on Justice, and Union Man was a Dark Scrapper (makes no sense, I know). I rerolled him on Virtue as a Super Strength/Invulnerability Tank, which seems to make a little more sense. I need to update that field.

Oh btw- I made some revisions to this fight scene to try to fix the flow problems. I think this one works a little better.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53892306/

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Other than cocking one arm and punching with the other, really good stuff!

TW

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Thanks! I think I figured out a fix for it, too. I'm going to stick a couple of extra panels in there and rework the one where he's not doing anything to be more of an elbowing of the guy with the bat... that might do it.

Thanks again, guys- and Mr. Awesome's always been one of my favorite characters around here so I'm honored.

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Hey Union Man,

Your drawing and inking skills kick [censored]. In terms of a visual narrative I have some comments/suggestions.

In the second panel, it shows the hellion swinging from right to left. In the first panel, he's shown with it cocked on the left hand side already, so the flow would make more sense visually if he was shown swinging the other way.

Third panel you got the hellion to the left doing a big reaction, although all that's happened in panel 2 is Rumblebee moving away. Something I'd like to see happening in that panel is Rumblebee shattering the bat with a knife hand or rising block as it's being swung down on him. Then the "oh crap" reaction would be more dynamic.

The hellions are pretty realistic to me in terms of physique...lean and sinewy rather than real body builder buff. Thus in superhero terms they don't look all that threatening. More like he's beating up juvenile delinquents rather than mystical gangbangers. Maybe have thug #2 jumping on his back in the last panel as he's KOing the bat wielder?

Anyway your stuff is great, looking forward to seeing more!

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All good points- thanks for the suggestions! I didn't even notice the bat thing, but the same thing happens between panel 3 and 4 and four, with Rumble Bee pulling his right arm back, but then letting go with his left. This stuff's confusing. lol- I can see how you get all those little inconsistencies in movies.

Thanks, peoples. I'd like to do it all with heavy shadows and overblown narration, like an old noir movie... but with a big clod in a bee suit instead of Humphrey Bogart.

Heh. I tried doing a fight scene with my Rumble Bee character. It should go for a couple more pages, but I figured I'd post what I have now before the week gets started and I get all busy and crap. :P

He's supposed to be fighting Hellions, btw.

It's meant to be the second character in this list here. I think he's going to stumble accross one of my villains at the end. Har har.

*edit* updated the link to the revision instead of the first version.

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Yeah that's great! I didn't know (or maybe I just forgot) that you were so talented.

Is Rumble Bee on Virtue? I think my Bubble Bee teamed with him at some point.

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Thanks! My Rumble-Bee is actually on Freedom. But I think someone else has a different Rumble-Bee on Virtue. Union Man is on Virtue, though.

Thanks peeps!

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Ohh that is fantastic!!!! Where'd you come from?

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Oh, I've been around... just lurking in here though. Heh.

I'm usually in the Comic Culture Forum thing.

I did this one with my super massive wacom tablet.

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/53520499/

It's supposed to be this character:

http://www.prime8interactive.net/dev...umblebee_B.jpg

Autobots! ROLL OUT the stolen televisions!!!

There's a mission in CoH where you rescue a Professor Heim, who's working on some sort of interstellar travel technology. I assume it's a reference to Burkhard Heim. I thought that was cool.