In other news the latest games project i’ve been involved with has gone to master so hopefully I’ll be able to show you the concept in a couple of months. All I’ll say for now is that these little avatars were part of that process. Cya later!

Just a quick update for now, it’s been a busy couple of weeks and there’s a few things in the works but none of them are ready quite yet. I’ve been making a push on the second stage of planning for Exula so I’ve taken a step away from painting and spent more of my time writing. In the meantime here’s a photo of my prototype Exula Dunny based on the character Rellin.

The base vinyl is one of my spare dunnys from KidRobot which I painted over and augmented using sculpey. I used a mixture of paint types which on reflection wasn’t such a hot idea, but boiling the sculpey was successful enough, though perhaps I boiled the poor old dunny the sculpey was attached to for just a little too long. Like I said though this was a prototype just to see how it went. I’m sure I’ll have plenty of spare dunnys to try this to when series 5 comes out in a few days!

I’ve completed the Mantis Queen tutorial for 2D Artist mag and that in actual fact will be coming out in October’s issue, so be sure to check it out. Aside from that I’ve taken a step back from the ‘big’ paintings to focus more on studies and the likes, but I’m sure a few new fantasy pieces will be creeping through in the coming weeks.

It’s Comic Con season again and once more I find myself drawling over all the incredible sketchbooks on offer. One site I visit frequently simply for the sheer diversity they offer is Stuart NG Books. They’ve also started a Blog here. You should definitely check them out, just make sure your wallet can take the beating

Hmmm, what else, what else… oh, I’ve got the ‘About’ section up and running and I’ve tweaked some of the Insect Dynasty Illustrations. Check back soon for more!

Take it easy!

I’m a 26 year old Concept Artist, based in England, who has been involved in the games industry for three years. Drawing has always been a passion of mine, from childhood drawings of starships all the way to the artwork on this website.

I studied Graphic Design at University. After graduating I decided to pursue my interest in illustration and concept art, leading to my first job in the games industry as a concept artist.

I have taught myself a great deal about art, through regular practise and by following the work of other talented individuals. I work primarily in Photoshop with an A4 Intuos 3 and 20wsx Cintiq. I love what I do but am always endeavouring to diversify. I don’t wish to draw from the same well of inspiration too frequently and I don’t want to spread myself too thin. I spend much of my time painting, sculpting or writing. I’m dabbling with Zbrush but for now that’s filtering through more into my 2D illustrations, as opposed to Zbrush sculpts.

My current personal project is “Exula”, a fantasy world around which I base pieces of art and am currently in the process of planning a novel for. Illustrating children’s books also interests me and there are a couple of things I’m working on there as well.

I’m inspired by a wide range of artists including Frank Frazetta, John Berkey, Sparth, Claire Wendling and Chris Sanders, to name but a few. While painting I often listen to soundtracks, as it helps to evoke certain mindsets. I enjoy progressive rock which might explain why I am keen on fantasty art!

My work has been featured in Expose 4 and Expose 6, the latter for which I achieved a Master’s Award. I have written a tutorial for 2DArtist Magazine that will be in October 2008’s issue. In Imagine FX I have discussed the pros and cons of being a largely self taught artist. I have also been involved in advertising campaigns for the company I work for, which have appeared in gaming magazines such as Edge.

Games I have worked on include “Spongebob: Creature from the Krusty Krab”, “Spongebob: Atlantis Squarepantis”, a fresh Nickelodeon game due out in fall 2008 and some new Xbox Arcade Games.

]]> http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/08/17/29/feed/ http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/07/13/more-from-the-insect-dynasty/ http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/07/13/more-from-the-insect-dynasty/#comments Sun, 13 Jul 2008 14:23:45 +0000 nick http://www.exula.co.uk/?p=28 It’s been another busy week but I managed to find time to watch Kung Fu Panda… twice. I can’t praise enough the art style of this film. Living in a town with a number of games companies around and about, it was funny to be sitting in the cinema admiring the end credits and then realising that everyone else who had stayed behind to watch the credits were all industry artists, doing exactly the same thing.

I recommend that if you’re interested in the art behind feature films that you go out and pick up the Art of Kung Fu Panda; with the best part of 100 pages devoted purely to character design you’re in for a treat!

I’ve added the fourth in the series to the Insect Dynasty. It can be found in the illustration section, but as usual I’ve also added the quick link at the end of this post. More to follow in the coming weeks!

So where’s all the art? Well I’m working on it! Among other things there’s a new piece for the Insect Dynasty on the way. I’m also writing a tutorial for 2D Artist Magazine which will be out later this year. More news on that closer to the time. There’s also an Exula collaboration in the works, where some of the characters may well be stepping into 3D very soon.

Lots to come, but in the meantime here’s a piece I designed for Left Below whilst they were touring last year. I’ll be uploading more Left Below stuff in the coming weeks.

Take it easy!

]]> http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/07/07/left-below-launches/feed/ http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/06/15/updateroo/ http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/06/15/updateroo/#comments Sun, 15 Jun 2008 18:14:29 +0000 nick http://www.exula.co.uk/?p=26 Since the last update I’ve recovered from my ailments (huzzah!) This has meant I’ve spent a lot of time away from a wacom stylus, leading to extensive withdrawal symptoms. I didn’t waste this time though; where possible I developed the plans for the Exula novel. A while back I did an 80 page treatment and a basic plan of the plot etc. This was well received and I got a lot of valuable feedback. So I’ve been building on the story arcs, fleshing out the minutia of this world and making sure the pacing is well balanced. Basically I hope to start writing in full sometime in August. I’ll update more as things shape up.

Expose 6 is out now! Buy it and buy a little bit of me… or at least my artwork. The Mantis Queen also made it as one of the limited edition prints!

Because things have been a little sporadic, the website won’t see full completion for another week. However, I have resized all Exula images as well as the ‘Otherworldly Portraits’ so they’re bigger and more glorious than before.

Work on producing prints proceeds well. If there’s anything in particular you’d like to see as a print, do send me an email!

I’ve been helping out the Left Below lot as well, so expect to see more artwork from that in the coming weeks.

Needless to say I wouldn’t post an update without something to show! I’ve added one more portrait to the Otherworldly gallery in Illustration as well as a quick two hour landscape study entitled “Goat and Robot”. I imagine goat and robot would get up to all kinds of crazy hijinks together, just like those old films about cats and dogs floating down stream in a cardboard box - you know the ones.

]]> http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/06/15/updateroo/feed/ http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/05/31/back-online/ http://www.exula.co.uk/2008/05/31/back-online/#comments Sat, 31 May 2008 16:57:21 +0000 nick http://www.exula.co.uk/wordpress/?p=23

Welcome to Exula! As promised the website’s back online with lots of new artwork to show as well as a few old favourites. Here you’ll find artwork from my personal projects as well as commissions and work I’ve carried out in my daily job as a concept artist. A few of the sections will be coming online in the next few weeks, but the artwork’s up and that’s what you’re really here for!

Thanks for visiting and check back soon for regular updates!