Contour Continuation

I created some visual development background art for a game that was never released. As you can see, it goes from a paradise like forest on the left going to a more evil place on the right. I thought I was pretty happy with some parts of it, until last week I found an interesting post on contour continuation by Frederick Gardner that I just wanted to share with you. If you look at my background pan after reading his post you can notice some weak spots.

"I started using this "Contour Continuation" technique as a background designer at Warner Bros Classics. Contour Continuation is the lining up of shapes to continue a contour (or directional element) across the composition. Sometimes this technique is extremely successful and beautiful, other times, it is subtle and almost invisible."
"I have used "Contour Continuation" to create a flowing rhythm to the composition. As the camera pans through the scene, the landscape "flows" by the camera like water so lacking in the environment. Pay particular attention to the dead tree branches hugging the contour of the hills behind them."

How to become awesome! part 2 (and in black and white)

One thing I noticed in the last few weeks is the excitement with a lot of people on the internet about working from B/W and adding color later on.

I learned this from Bobby Chiu as well, and I have to say that I immediately started working with this, but I did it the other way around, because I never got the colors right after adding them to a B/W image. Instead, I use(d) it to check the values of the colored image. In my opinion the only reason to start in B/W; Because of the values.

The values of your original B/W image are different from the colored image (I prefer to check values of your colored image by adding a black layer on top and the blend mode on color, instead of turning the saturation down). Just check it yourself.

Experimenting with technical theories is what you should do. Understand them. Don't expect these kind of trics to do the magic for you. Make it work.

Back in milk business

I've been trying to get that feeling that you're really in the scene. I began working on the car and especially how the car feels when you're looking at the house alongside when you're standing in the shadows in front of a big mansion.
If you know what I mean. Again, first draft. Below, previous version, above, new version. Also, somewhere I have to make a decision which part needs the most detail, contrast and/or saturation; What should attract my attention? I think I'm going for the house right now. Or at least the entrance of the house. The front door.

In Between Jobs

I wanted to do something more stylish for a change. Comments are welcome.

MILK!

Next version.

My Animated Life

This morning I got "My Animated Life" by Floyd Norman in by mail. This guy worked at the Disney studio from Sleeping Beauty until ToyStory2. This must be one inspiring story!

MILK!

Even without the logo on the bus, this is more like it. It's still not finished yet and I think it's great fun; Painting without having to worry that it's not done in half an hour. I'll just take my time. Spring will be around for a few months more.

MILK! doodles

Last night I did some doodle work on the logo. And I say doodle, because after doodling for an hour, I came to the conclusion that doodling doesn't get me anywhere.

Apart from coloring and lighting I have a story that envolves a milkman that goes to 'visit' some big mansion (That's why he's parked his car in the shade and not right in front of the mansion). Maybe the milkman goes visiting the lady of the mansion while whistling his favorite tune (without milk bottles-and with his hands in his pockets) or maybe his just leaning against his milk car and smoking his cigarette.

Anyways. If I give the logo such a prominent position I'd better think twice about the name in the logo. So, it's back to the drawing table...

MILK!

I don't know if I'm happy with it -maybe I'll change a couple of things- but here's a first draft.