alexries

Upcoming Content

I will be uploading the first intro chapter storyboard of the birrin book for my Patreons tomorrow... for now accept this tiny baby having a bath!

Storyboard Samples

A couple of Two Sky River storyboard chunks: I will release a few storyboard chapters in full to my faithful Patreons soon!

The text is called Lorem Ipsum, essentially a random word generator for layout planning.

Serrum

From the archives: the process I went through in depicting the Serrum; a race of sapient starships, in this case heading out of a planetary atmosphere. 

This was in the old forum days: I got a lot of help from other Conceptart.org members in getting the composition working. 

Quadrilaterian Flyer

Now well out of date design wise (and the feet are far too birdy); an older concept for a four winged pterosaur-like being from the birrin 'verse.

Dawn of Birrin

Believe it or not... this might be the first ever illustration of the species that would, once I become an adult, evolve into the birrin you know.

The 'wings'; were for heat regulation, while the large colorful crest behind the head was actually a lung allowing direct gas transfer. The brain was ring shaped forming a collar around the 'neck'.

In these early days, the story was more ...

Birrin Origins

Here are some of the first times in my art that the birrin mouth appeared. Initially it was for very different species.

Most were done as I was getting the hang of photoshop, as I got my first little wacom.

Creature Design Course - Unit 6 of 8

"Design Review – “Killing your Babies”

With your design established and much of the rendering complete you will now cast a critical eye on any aspects of your design you feel can be enhanced, altered or even completely overhauled. You will learn to let go of elements of the creature’s design that no longer work, even if large amounts of time and effort have so far been expended on...

Birrin Egg Ideas

Working out how birrin embryos develop. The top 'lid' is a protein packet attendant females add to the egg to feed it, and it has to be replaced from time to time.

In one idea the embryo's mouth simply directly attaches to the packet, in another the 'wings' have extented fungus like membranes that digest the protein packs.

Chapter 1 - Storyboard WIP

I am now beginning to lay out the book in storyboard form for the pitch. For chapters with no finished art, I expect it to look something like this.

In the prologue here, Mother finds the two sisters Nil and Siljarri (Nil not even hatched) among a sacked mining village.

Creature Design Course - Unit 5 of 8

"Feathers, Fur and Skin – Rendering Integument and Creating Custom Brushes

Using your references, and gathering even more if necessary, you will be shown how to render in detail the often complex outer coverings of various life-forms: Bare skin, fur, fluff, feathers and jelly will all be demonstrated, as  will the creation and use of custom brushes to achieve these results."

Book Update

I have completed first draft of the synopsis for the entire story of book one. It came in at over 7000 words, and is now going to be torn apart by my editor and a few select readers.

Things are in motion, friends.

Patreon AMA

Welcome to lots of new patrons: you jumping on board helps a LOT and I value you joining up!

As currently most work is in progress, I thought I would do a general AMA. Ask what you like and I shall answer below (unless its a spoiler for the book!).

Book Jack Commission - Exofighter

A job I took a few years back to design a fighter capable of low orbit and atmospheric operations. I applied a dual propulsion system of liquid fueled rockets and conventional turbines, with RCS pods on the wingtips to allow extreme maneuverability in vacuum.

The Incredible World of the Birrin | Part II

Curious Archive has added the second part of his video series on my critters. Still remarkable to see ones art through another lens. The video seems to have triggered a feedback loop in my social media popularity as well. I want to welcome new Patrons!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfZ6RvgmS6s

Incredible World of the Birrin Part 1

It seems Curious Archive has put together the first of a video series on my critters! I have yet to watch it and am interested to see what they say. Though I appreciate the buzz :P

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRgw1fY7s5U

Creature Design Course - Unit 4 of 8

Masking and Applying Shadows

With the clean line art complete, this week will see the first stages of true digital painting. You will learn how to use the line art as a guide to first mask in, and then add form to, the essential elements of the creature. A variety of tools will be demonstrated including effective use of default brushes and the ever valuable Lasso tool.

2021-08-10 14:51:25 +0000 UTC View Post

From the Archives - Imaginary Ornithology

An interesting commission I took in the past, while recovering from some rather persistent mental health issues.  Audio artist Peter Mcilwain produced a series of invented birdcalls and invited the public to describe the birds that might have made them.

While I don't have access to the sound files, here are a few of the birds that resulted!

Creature Design Course - Unit 3 of 8

Welcome to Unit 3! The zip containing the lessons for this section are attached to this post. As usual any questions drop them below.

Wavecutter

Commission Complete!

"A trimaran flies along the drowned coast of Tuktalli, kicking up spray with its four foils. Its biplane rig, with its close-set masts, is a fancy of a particular  Matriarch and give the sails the appearance of two triumphantly raised  wings. It works excellently… when running downwind.

However,  all-conditions efficiency is not its purpose: to ...

Trifoil - Final Candidate

Here is the image I have presented to the client of the birrin biplane- rigged racing foil following the flooded coast. Here is hoping they like it!

Trifoil - Home Stretch

Got the major elements in place now. Next is to add a birrin crew, some flying Skydancers and perhaps some dolphin like beings leaping nearby. Then complete and unify the lighting and details.

Trifoil - The Madness Continues

Starting to play around with rigging and possible colors: I can see several errors in the perspective of the boat and sails that need to be address. I will add a small birrin crew, details etc to the boat.

In the background you can see the giant Vertical Axis Wind Turbine going together.

Trifoil WIP - Composition Tests

Which grabs ya'll, in principle?

Trifoil WIP - Update

So I decided I would make life more interesting and start adding an entire birrin fortress-harbor... I want to show it with flags flying and populated.

Trifoil Commission - WIP

Another job: this one of a birrin yacht sailing by a coastal mill. 

The sky and 'mill' are still simple photo-montages to get the environmental lighting set up, and are to be replaced. Lots of detailing and color to be done on the ship as well!

Day Jobbin'

Commissions in progress for y'all to get your eyeballs on. Catmonsters.

Creature Design Course - Unit 2 of 8

Welcome to Unit 2!

This marks the first session in which I will be using references directly to inform the design.

Any questions you have drop them below!

Backupdrop Dropbox Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qboj6agyx7kf63n/AlexRiesCreatureDesignWeek%2002.zip?dl...

Children of Time - Complete HQ

Its done! Spoilers for the book Children of Time (which I highly recommend)

This image is set after the two species integrate: the human is wearing a translator device in her ear which converts Portiid vibrations and gestures into human speech. Likely the spider is wearing something similar, perhaps implanted, as human speech is mostly beyond their hearing range. This human and...

Sketchpile of Giants

That pencil image was the first time I ever depicted what would become the Giants, who inhabitat Chriirah alongside the Birrin. The half finished paintings were the first ultimately aborted attempts to put them in a composition. 

Children of Time - Near Done

Not far now. Still fighting the human eyes a little, and the hair needs a lighting pass.