Hello and Welcome to the month of green, March!
As usual, the cookie crew is keeping busy as we end off another month and are moving into March! These monthly updates are a way to fill you in on what’s going on here at the studio as well as hear feedback and see what YOU want to see on the site. This site is dedicated to helping teach and understand the process of creating digital art. So if you want to learn a specific topic, let us know and don’t be surprised if you see a tutorial on it not long after.
What’s going on with the studio?
The cookie crew had a lot on their plates this month and February went by quickly. March is looking to be a productive month with the batch of new tutorials scheduled out, the Concept Training DVD, and the freelance concept work that has come in. For the DVD, I am going through the full first draft of the Training Series and I am excited to announce it and show you guys what it is looking out to be. If you would like to be notified of future updates concerning the series, click here to be added to the list.
←←←Part of my job was to help decorate the interior of the office because of my profound skill and use with game, The Sims. So for my first order of business, I suggested a poster of something that CGCookie has done, and I was surprised when they both thought the creature would work perfect. So last week we went and picked it up and I couldn’t have been any happier with the result. Thanks again guys for your support 
I am also working on a really fun freelance gig right now, so it looks like a lot of drawing will be done this month! Eat Sheep is a constant back burner project for us here and the art side has been coming to a close, which means it is now up to the programming side of things to finish up the game.
←←←I have recently been given an understudy to help with the concept side of things here, she has a bit of training left but I’m sure she’ll be caught up to speed in no time. Here is a snapshot of when we were practicing abstract Jackson Pollock art using dry erase markers instead of paint as an added challenge. Nailed it.
←←← Lastly, Wes has recently informed me on his interest in learning the language of Japanese, so I am teaching him the Hiragana during our lunch outings. We are very organized and use only the best learning materials and supplies of course
What’s going on with the site?
- I will continue to create a monthly update, just like this one, the feedback has encouraged me to push out certain tutorials over others as well as add new ones to the list.
- Our contest ended this week and it was another awesome showcase of the community’s skills and creativity.
- There have been some new authors showing their tutorial skills and it’s looking like you’ll see some new faces helping with the concept tutorials.
- Also, The banners are looking a bit more green than usual
What’s going on with the tutorials?
I hear a lot of people ask what are the next tutorials that are going up, and while nothing is set in stone I would like to give you guys an idea of what I’m going to for sure push out this month along with other authors tutorials.
- Continuing the Getting Started in Gimp series
- Drawing a Wrangler for Eat Sheep
- Drawing Exercise/Review
- Continuing the Drawing a Creature in Photoshop Series
- Start up the Drawing a Character in Gimp Series
- Some sort of weapon series getting started
***As for the Friday Citizen Exclusive tutorials, there are a few that have been requested lately and I am excited to get started on those***
- *Creating a Head Turnaround Sheet for Modeling*
- *Drawing a Combat Vehicle Series*
Lastly, Just like last month, I want to know what you would like to see on the site!
What tips, tutorials, drawing exercises, etc would you want to see on the site?
Put your suggestions in the comment section below ↓
Also check out our Facebook page and click like for notifications on when a new tutorial is up or something fun happened at the office!
Thanks for making the site such a blast and I am looking forward to what’s in store next!
cool! (first)
I would like a in-depth tutorial on perspective
tutorial series
Good one, dude.
Agree.
The in and outs for tablet. What to look for, what to stay away from.
Special needs for Gimp or PS.
Are you thinking the ins and outs of buying a tablet, and choosing which one to get, or going through setting up a tablet and how to change the settings/buttons/sensitivity etc?
Yes and yes. Never used one I’m interested in geting one, and I just don’t have a clue on any of it.
I agree, it would be great to see a video showing some information about different tablets, and which tablets you use. Definitely some information on how they work with Gimp and Photoshop; i still dont understand why my bamboo connect wont work with gimp unless i have my (semi-broken) bamboo pen and touch tablet plugged in and open it with that.
I’ve only worked with bamboo and intuos tablets but I could work out a tutorial on using one for the first time, how to change the settings etc.
I would be very interested in this as well. I have a really old tablet which is worse than using a mouse so I get discouraged. I am looking into buying a new tablet and would really appreciate any pointers before I spend money on something that is not right.
For me learning what the basics to look for would be very helpful, rather than knowing which pens have the most tips of which most I probably won’t ever use.
To be honest, I’ve used four different tablets in my life and owned two different ones, I believe all tablets are no better than the next it just depends on your personal preference and how the tablet’s pen and sensitivity feel for you. Even though the intuos tablet is a “better” brand I loved my old bamboo tablet and they both got the job done. I will still push out a tutorial about tablets and go into their settings and all that but for buying one, if you can’t afford a more expensive one, don’t worry, your not missing much
It would be great if you did a 2 or 3 part series on clothes/outfits in general. Maybe part 1 would be normal every day clothes and part 2 would be like more diverse stuff like futuristic armor etc.
Agree; that would be good.
That is a great idea, I’ve already started the process of doing a cloth tip but maybe I should do a more in-depth one for cloth and then for armor. I will add these to the list
Environment speed painting techniques and speed painting using 3D renders would be great!
This I could do with the help of Mr. Jonathan Williamson, Would you like to see an interior or exterior environment setting?
Exterior, I’m a big fan of the work of John Harris amongst others, in particular his inspirational ‘huge’ science fiction landscapes. I think his work has influenced many and might be worth a remix. Many thanks.
I will look into this, seeing as environments aren’t my speciality I think i know someone who would do a great job creating a science fiction environment tutorial.
Thanks for sharing about John Harris. I had to look him up – Great work! Ctrl Paint had a great video recently about using 3D as a form of reference.
http://www.ctrlpaint.com/home/2012/2/21/finding-the-right-reference.html
However I think you meant more in the sense of building meshes and lighting them for paint overs. I don’t know if you’ve heard of it or not but David Revoy did a DVD on that topic for the Blender Foundation. I have a copy and it is pretty good.
http://www.blender3d.org/e-shop/product_info_n.php?products_id=134
I totally agree with Jabessette25 on the David Revoy DVD. It is high on my list of things I want to get. Mr. Revoy did the modeling sheets for the CG Cookie Vehicle modeling series (which I loved), too.
-OldMan44
maybe we could see an intorduction to concept painting
Yes, this has been on the list for a few months now, I’m trying to plan a big introduction to concept painting from using and changing the tablet settings, to the actual process of getting started in digital art.
Sounds good to me! Thats one of the ups Blender Cookie has; a Getting Started page.
Perspective principles, more anatomy and action shapes, volume, color theory.
More intensive Gimp tutorials.
ummmm, is there a tut on here for drawing chibi? im really wanting to learn how to draw those guys…
nvm found some
a tut on putting things drawn say your poster what settings where used on output to the printer.explain adobe illustrator vector settings and P.S. ppi of say 300 (the size you use but why) = a printers dpi of 1200 .Image size verses canvas.ex.when i bring in a 2048×2048 from blender into photoshop its huge. was hoping for a #4 tut on ps on this or a quick tip.also some storyboard dos and dont or comic strip small areas to work with but alot being said drawing wise. White is the brightest shade of gray
Hey Tim,
From what you posted in the update, the comments above(some great suggestions there) & your replies it looks like we are in for a very busy, productive and FUN year. Can’t wait!!!
Loved the picture of you & your poster. Please Tell Jonathan & Wes that I said they made a wise choice.
-OldMan44
Hey thanks! There is always something to do at work with all the projects going on right now, along with running the sites but I’d rather be busy than bored any day. Thanks again and I will pass the memo along to them
Environment speed painting
Vehicle design
done and in process
Something I’s like to see is a Tutorial on shoes (coloring), Particularly boots. I’m drawing am image of many of my characters, it is a fantasy piece, the problem is they all wear pretty much brown leather boots. Some of them have shiner boots, other have duller boots. I just can’t get the darned lighting right on them. Any highlights I make, they end up making the boots look like a blob. Its infuriating.
So, a tutorial on something like that would be amazing.
Thats a great idea, and boots, especially leather ones, are some of my favorite subjects to draw, so I will definitely add this one to the list.
As antiquated as it sounds- some .pdf’s instead or supplied with the videos would be fantastic. My system is old enough to be used as a boat anchor, though I still work on it with digital painting/modeling. I can’t, however, run a video tut and the application at the same time without massive freezes and/or total lock ups-shut downs.
It’s my issue, though it’d be nice to see some out there that I could save on the external and use while I work.