BONUS CONTENT: Art Tweak: Brimia Interior, Pt 2

by on July 15, 2010 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Blog Entries

More examples of the art revisions I made to the Brimia scene from The Big Snow Job #1, Page 10. Like the trim everywhere else, the original skylight (or would that be “starlight?”) trim was way too thin, especially for a part of the ship that transitions from interior to outer space. As it is, it’s still a bit thin and I’ll most likely thicken it when it next shows up, but it’s definitely better. I think the grate ceiling adds a slightly industrial look, which I like infinitely better than the weird drop-ceiling of the old version.

With the lower panel, I didn’t change too much. It’s mostly the railing, which was just a tad boring. I thought the central arch shape and radiating bars would be more interesting since they would break up the background in certain angles more than that single horizontal bar would. Eagle-eyed readers may notice that I also changed the grate pattern on the ramp to have the same arch shape.

I also changed the random wall console into more of the blue storage locker shapes that run all around the room. Easier to draw!

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BONUS CONTENT: Art Tweak: Brimia Interior, Pt 1

by on July 8, 2010 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Blog Entries

The next few Bonus Feature posts will be a little different and focus on some art revisions I made to the Brimia scene that started on The Big Snow Job #1, Page 10. As I mentioned on that page’s commentary, for this story arc, I tweaked the details of the interior a bit to simplify things but then found the new design to be a bit too simple. So I went back and re-designed the interior again to get back to a more interesting sci-fi look.

This page shows two panels from that sequence, comparing the old versions with the revised versions. As you can see, the old ones just felt a bit too stucco-y and plain. There wasn’t a lot of geometry breaking up the large flat surfaces, and the trimwork around the doors and consoles was too thin.

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BONUS CONTENT: Database: Brimia Plans

by on July 1, 2010 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Blog Entries

Ahh, the last remnants of my MIT architectural schooling. Money well spent!

These are the floor plans I drew up many, many years ago, before I started the artwork on the first RUNNERS story arc. I needed to figure out the layout of the ship so that things would make sense once I got to drawing the interiors.

A few things to note: right behind the cockpit, the plans show a small nook with a console station. At the time I thought it would be a nice halfway station between the common area and the cockpit, but in reality, the distance isn’t that great that it would need a halfway point. I’ve since changed it to a small cot, which makes a bit more sense. Anyone on flight duty can take a nap there if necessary, but still be just a few steps away from the cockpit if any emergencies arise.

On the cargo level, I figured the freighter originally had three cargo bays: a big one towards the front, with two smaller ones behind it. Roka at some point converted one of them to a medical bay and additional bedroom. Unlike the bedrooms up top, this larger one is meant to accommodate two people, so that would be Cember and Bennesaud.

All of the Mosquito-related bits are modifications added by Roka, which includes the spacesuit storage, armory, Mosquito link, and the Mosquito itself. The standard version of the Movian freighter obviously doesn’t need the extra shuttle/fighter, so those parts were specifically added to the Brimia due to the hazardous nature of their work.

Bear in mind that this is a pretty old schematic, so I may be changing some things. For one, maybe each bedroom will have its own small bathroom. The single communal bathroom seems a bit odd for a ship housing so many people. But then I guess it could make for some nice scenes of Sky walking back to her room in a towel after a shower. 🙂

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BONUS CONTENT: Sketchbook: Dhama Hes

by on June 24, 2010 at 12:01 am
Posted In: Blog Entries

The design for Dhama Hes (The Big Snow Job #1, Page 18) was a lot of fun as I wanted him to be very alien and creepy. So I played with some odd proportions (like the very high waist such that he practically has no torso) and weird textures (like the knobby hand palms and mass of thin tentacles for the lower body). And there was something about the spinal ridge on his back shell that was kinda unnerving to me, since it had the appearance of exposed vertebrae.

Looking at the sketches again now, I apparently meant to do some sort of spotted pattern on portions of the upper body shell and arms. Whoops. That’s the problem with leaving some things out at the pencil and ink stage. There’s a good chance I might forget to do those details when I actually get to the coloring stage many months later. Oh well.

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