I color more of Shof's stuff.

Shof's pencils can be seen here.

Shof's pencils can be seen here.

Shof's pencils here.

They were each done in about 15 minutes but they were so much fun. I love working on Shof's pencils because the texture and detail just make you want to go nuts. He wants me to work with some more muted colors next time but I kinda just want to go on a vibrant technicolor jamboree that screams at you.

Edward 2.0

After getting a lot of feedback from Shof, he decided to have a go at taking what I was working on and running with it, the result is what you see above (though I colored it). Frankly I loved it, so I've asked Shof to go ahead and design all the human characters in the game, including Edward, Roderick Usher, Madeline Usher, Jeeves the butler, Wilhelm Usher, and The Creepy Old Man.

More Edward

Still working on this, I think I'm getting closer to something I like and Shof's been providing valuable feedback. I still have some fine tuning to do but I like the last image on the right.

Finding Edward

Working on the design of the main character in that game, Edward Usher. He's modeled on Egon Spengler, and his wardrobe is a not so subtle homage to what Vincent Price wore in the 1960 Roger Corman movie adaptation of The Fall of the House of Usher. Still working on getting his hair right though, especially that... floof in the front.

A Christmas Story

I was walking down the street yesterday when I noticed the guard across the way who minds my regularly frequented ATM. I greeted with a curt nod and he responded with a booming "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" To which I replied with an awkward "Er... Merry Christmas to you too!" also shouted across the street. A lady walking by heard us and without missing a beat blurted "And a Happy New Year!"

It was sweet, perhaps you just had to be there.

Merry Christmas everyone :)

Been busy like a bee.

New art style for the game. It's easier for me to get more backgrounds done faster. Also think the color work is much better. The actual characters and interactive objects will be considerably brighter and I think they'll look kinda like cut paper.

New stuff!

Hello!

Posting this:

Because the color version Here:

Wasn't working out. I had experimented with colored lines but couldn't get it to work. In the end I stopped about half way through, I think I'm going to try a different approach to digital coloring and the game art in general. I need to be able to do two backgrounds a week at least in addition to work, and this won't let me move fast enough.

Excuse me, I arted.

Here's something I drew for a project I'm working on at the moment. It's supposed to be a whimsical video game follow up to The Fall of the House of Usher. Hopefully there'll be lots more concept art for this posted in the coming months.

Thumbnail sketch.

Inks.

Flat colors.

Some shadows.

Highlights.

And the finished product. I think it turned out okay, though the colors aren't as punchy or vibrant as I'd have liked. I think it starts to happen in the tree on the left, but never really takes off. I like my clouds and grass though.

At the risk of being overcome with geek cool

How awesome is this guy? So awesome.

I also found out my 50th post came on Barrack Obama Day. I'm special somehow!

Wow

Just, wow.

I had a flying dream!

I'm not sure why I had it, but it's been years since my last one so it was very much welcome. I was coming home from school (!?) back home in Lagos, when a car full of kids pulled up in front of me, instead of going round the car I just sort of pushed off the ground into the air. It didn't last long, and my mum suddenly showed up and asked if I could do it again and I did. I suppose it was more of a floating dream than a flying dream.

That was breakfast yesterday. For the most part it was great except there was definitely something very wrong with the nectarine, which was a lot harder than I think it should have been and tasted like cardboard. I threw it out.

It begins... again.

So the debate was fairly boring. After what seems like an eternity (3 or 4 years I think), some new Trek stuff! Weird cus Shof and I were just talking about this the other day.

Chekov, Kirk, Scotty, Bones, Sulu and Uhura from left to right. *squeals!*

The new bridge of the USS Enterprise.

That is not the Enterprise, it's the USS Kelvin being blasted to bits. No, I've never heard of the Kelvin either.


Nero, the movie's good guy.


Kirk. Again.

Spock, explaining to Kirk that he doesn't like being made fun of.

Yup, this is just what it's like...

Slow going.

Not that exciting to look at yet. Once I get done with the flats I'll add some texture then take it into Painter to add volume.

Breakfarst of Champeens

Actually pre-breakfast, since I had some cereal afterward, yum!

From the desk of Andrew Ryan...

How creepy is that? It's the first part of an extremely cool video game called Bioshock.

Sean, you'd like this game. Don't think it's on the Mac though.

I made this!

Got into a very limited beta this weekend for an upcoming game called LittleBigPlanet, so when I should have been starting version 2.0 of Toba's village, I was busy designing this:

The game is a ridiculous amount of fun, kept me laughing all the time I was making the level, the cool thing is that once you've made the level you can upload it and other people who have the game can try out your level and leave some feedback, folks seem to be enjoying it quite a bit. Work on Toba's Village shall continue this weekend though!

Happy Independence Day!

For those that don't know, and those that likely forgot (like my bro and sis), today, the 1st of October happens to be Nigerian Independence Day.

If I were at home I'd mandate a celebration with lots of suya and a little beer, possibly even illegal and dangerous fireworks. As it is I'll have to make do with some orange juice and a few salted almonds.

Here's to many more, and better times ahead.

How awesome am I? So awesome.

'Kay, so I'm stopping work on this first painting of Toba's village, it's taking far too long, and frankly I've learned a couple of things working on this in the early stages that I want to implement on something else. There were going to be at least two more layers of work on it to finish it up, but... eh.


I'm moving on to this drawing, which I much prefer, once again the pencils were done by Shof and the inks by yours truly (another Collaborative Coker Creation!):

Maybe this time I'll actually have a color palette decided upon before I decide to go whole hog on it! As usual I'll be documenting my progress step by step.

Oh yeah, and why am I so awesome? Simple, because I'm now an uncle, that's right, after nine months of hard work, and six (?) years of prep work gettin' those two together, I finally did it, ME!

Can't believe there's three of you. Little Lucy, I like that.

Painted into a corner.. whut now?

Okay, so I didn't exactly have a game plan when I started painting this, I've reached a point where I dunno where to go next. Obviously lots more woik to be done, guess I'll just keep paintin'!

I just want to get this one done so I can move onto painting something else, doesn't help that I don't think I like this drawing that much, the composition is a little boring and the inking ain't too hot either. I'll finish it this weekend.

Oh yeah, I was in a cab the other day when an all white kitty decided to try and cut us off, luckily the driver stopped in time and honked, the cat shot up about six feet in the air, stared at the cars "head" and hissed. I just thought it was funny that the cat looked where the cars head would be.

Here I am again!

By the way, if you happen to be a best friend of mine who happens to be pregnant at the moment and happened to miss the date I set down, it's okay, I'll let you off the hook this one time.

Virtual Wanderlust

Ever sit in front of your PC and just think.. "Okay, what now?" I mean you've got this miracle of modern technology just staring you in the face, and you really ought to do something with it.

Well, every weekend for a couple of hours Scroggins and I meet up online to play some World of Warcraft, this weekend there was a "Brewfest" going on, Scroggins insisted we attend, so we did. It was pretty fun actually, which is weird because it's hard to imagine how a bunch of gamers getting together as elves and dwarves to down some digital beer could be entertaining in any way, shape or form. Unfortunately I was having such a good time I forgot to take any pictures, however I do have some images of Scroggins and I on the way over there.

Scroggins is the stout little dwarf leading the way. Incidentally his comic strip is picking up some steam, so check it out at Grumpy Grumpy).

I've also been exploring in Age of Conan, here's my avatar, Mostaffa:


He's a real hit with the ladies. Those who know me well know of my love for Conan, so it's great to be able to explore a digital interpretation of his world and see first hand all the places Howard described in the books. Here's Mostaffa fresh off the boat in Khemi:

Well, it's getting late here, I need to be at work in... four hours, and I still have to get a little sleep. First some dinner though. I caved and after being good for a little over a month, I'm having Mickey D deliver some fries, a burger and some ice cream. Don't judge me!

Update on Toba's village.

Here's an update, since Shof wouldn't leave me alone about it. I actually sort of want to move on to another painting, there's a second piece of concept art we did of the same village that I think is a more interesting drawing. But I think I'll exercise some restraint.

And my current desktop:


And for breakfast I had two yucky oatmeal raisin cookies and some chocolate milk.

Can't think of a title.

Shof sent me this the other day. It's a little piece of concept art we worked together about 3 or 4 years ago. Shof did the pencils and I inked it, was quite proud of it at the time, just the fact that we'd worked on something together was a good feeling. Anyway, Shof seems determined to get me to start drawing again, so I figgered I'd start painting this. It's slow going, but I'll be posting updates as I go.


Here's the black and white.


I'll admit I'm not entirely sure what I'm doing here, but I hope it turns out okay.

The handsome mug, cus it's been a while since I've posted it. Shobo gives you one thumb up!

FInally, what I had for dinner:

Thai chicken curry over rice and lettuce with carrots, and a few spring rolls. (a few meaning twelve)

Japanapples!

Went shopping yesturday, got a decent assortment of stuff, though what I was most excited about were a pair of sealed (overpriced) apples labeled "Japanese Apples". Curious, I bought them, having had one for breakfast I feel I've been ripped off, for Japanapples taste no different than Americapples, or for that matter Nigeriapples.


Played an hour or two of Warcraft with Scroggins yesterday as well, all the while munching on those rather yucky Mrs. Fields oatmeal raisin cookies.


My current desktop, featuring Sackboy! Bless 'im. And of course a video of Arsenal crushing Blackburn last weekend.

Not Dead...

Big colorful seashells, and the picture wall goes up.

I got some shells this weekend, and no, I didn't go to the beach, that's still a ways off. They're beautiful though so I took some pictures to share.






I also went down to the book store and got some cork board and pushpins so I could start putting up my wall of pictures.

Aww, would you look at all those faces!



This is what the wall looks like from afar, there'll be loads more pictures up when I'm done though. Also notice my newly installed wind chimes on the door frame.

My next post will have some drawings, I promise.

Today, I went shopping...

... again. I got some hand made mats and bowls and stuff for the apartment, and a pair of nice warm lamps that offset the sterile white of the fluorescent bulbs. I felt so good about the way things looked I took some piccies... and of course a video.









Happy Birthday daddy, Happy Birthday Shof! Miss you guys so much, can't wait till we're all together again on the beach, eating suya!

Love,

Shobo.