Lurec- Design gets an update.

After some considerations and a flash of an idea while sitting waiting for a movie to start I have updated the cab to more futuristic curved design. I think this will gel well with the wheels I have already begun on.
This is just a rough thought 3d model nothing final. Just playing.
Thoughts?

Book Review: Star Wars - Hand on Thrawn Duology

I have been wanting to review some books I have read and pass on some recommendations. 

For me I mainly choose my books on recommendations from other people, especially if we have similar tastes. So maybe I can become a trusted internet recommender!

Recently I finished the Hand of Thrawn duology from Timothy Zahn. Its a fantastic duo and well worth read. 

For those not familiar with Zahn's Star Wars books this is a sequel to the Thrawn Trilogy. And I will say this now, you must read that trilogy first to even begin to understand these.

Firstly a note on why I like Zahn's take on Star Wars. He is a true fan and his stories are much extensions on the original movie trilogy. We are joined by Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie. To be honest it just so much an extension of the movies. His writing puts you right back into the Star Wars universe. The characters are exactly the same, with Han's witty cracks and Luke's bold heroic quests. Zahn's books offer a haven from the new star wars and returns you to that magical universe where the force is strong and the adventure continues.

So that being said how is the sequel to a trilogy. The first trilogy is much more action based. This new adventure is much more based around political issues and the fight with the remaining struggling empire.

These books hinge on Zahn's great character creation of Thrawn, using that as a base. It feels very much an extension on that story. Scraping by on the depth of character in the previous series.

However that being said it was nice to be back in the universe of star wars. You get all your favorite characters even a brief appearance from Admiral Ackbar (It's a TRAP!!!!)

We also see a major return of Mara Jade. She is an important character in the previous trilogy but this story is very dependent on her. If you are not a fan of her this may not be for you. I personally find her story line great and a good development point for the star wars series.

So final assessment. If you love the star wars universe and feel like living there for a while this is a great story.

A few notes though. 1: Read the Thrawn Trilogy first, 2: Read these back to back, super important. There is no break or hardly any recap. 3: They can be quite political and but will be worth the effort. 

RATING: 6/10 - It's a bit of a long journey but worth it for those fans out there.

Star Wars: The Hand of Thrawn Duology:

  Book 1: Specter of the Past

  Book 2: Visions of the Future

Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy (The must read prequel)

  Book 1: Heir to the Empire

  Book 2: Dark Force Rising

  Book 3: Last Command

Meet Buck on Vimeo

Meet Buck from TeamCerf on Vimeo.

True Grit - Trailer 2 (HD)

Looks like the Coen Brothers have done it again.

Andrew Bush Photography

Image by Andrew Bush

Amazing photography by artist Andrew Bush. This particular project entitled 66 Drives. Seems to capture people in cars where we think we are alone. Fascinating and worth a look.

LINK!

Hat tip to The Awesomer

Who totally forgot about this movie?

I along with just about everyone was super excited when this trailer came out.

However since then all promotion seems to have died. Well it looks like that little snippet came out in May 2010 and we can finally expect to see it in mid June 2011 according to IMDB.

In my opinion its a bad idea to release a trailer like this way to early. You loose all your momentum.

Unless of course the project is delayed.

Oh well have another well deserved look.

Enjoy!

Volpin strikes again

Image from Volpin Props Website. 

Volpin Props a blog by Harrison Krix does it again with a new portal gun prop.


I watch this blog constantly for new updates, his detail work and skill just simply amaze me.


Check it out.

http://volpinprops.blogspot.com/2010/11/portal-gun-for-childs-play_22.html

Lurec - Learning to Design

Here is a little concept I am starting on.

It's called Lurec.

Rough Sketch for shape

Interior of the cab and the arm extensions for the front wheels

I am only in the first stages of the design. I am having great fun with it and am doing my best not to get caught up in the details of the design. The point is to have a concept at the end that would be able to move onto modeller for production level detail.

More to come.

Starting Something

As I progress through my career I feel a change is needed. For a long time I have looked at concept art and noticed its the place to be to be really creative. I would love to have the skills to be a concept artist. I feel I have many ideas yet my skills need developing.

The skills required are far from where I stand. I spent my time concentrating always in 3d and I feel a lot of options and creativity have been lost because of this. Ideas die in my head because 3d doesn't allow me to release them fast enough.
However even that  statement doesn't turn out to be true. I think that 3d is a great concept tool for blocking forms and developing rough lighting. So maybe my 3d background will give me a hand. I fully intend to progress my concepts in a 3d reality but I want to start at the beginning.

So here I am starting something.

Golem Teaser

GOLEM Teaser from GOLEM on Vimeo.


Being a huge fan of science fiction the themes of this clip resonate highly with me. From the short story from author Stanislaw Lem who also wrote Solaris.
I love the quiet foreboding feel. The isolation.

Net Passwords

Increasingly our lives on the internet require more and more passwords, logins and usernames. Like most people I really struggle to remember them all. So the question is why can't I have a universal login.
Our digital lives seem fractured but the seemingly thousands of identities we hold.

There are obvious security issues. However I propose that you can dock your login information with one service. For example I created this fictional company "ID Pass". So they hold your login user names and passwords for the website you designate. This means that when you go to login on a random forum you rarely go to, you instead use your ID-Pass login. The site then securely communicates with the ID-Pass server recovers you login information and allows you access in.

This is not to say you have to list all your logins with one service. Keep your PayPal and Gmail separate if need be.
As far as I am concerned I have hundreds of logins to places where I don't have secure information but rather just have a username so I can post and view content.

How about creating a digital identity. It can be your universal self in the growing network of individual logins.

These are just my thoughts. What do you think?
Have I overlooked a huge logic flaw?

*Note: I have just invented id-pass company, I'm not sure whether a company exists under that name, I just am merely making a fictional company to demonstrate a point.

Hey everyone from Tumblr.

What do you think? Is it a positive choice to move here?

Brink

Over at CG Society they have a production focus for a new game out of Splash Damage Studio. All I can say is what amazing concept art. Such a nice blend between futuristic sci-fi and natural lighting.

via CG Society

Adventures in Geometry

You know being a modeller you often have to fight geo to work for you. Lately I have been trying to concept design. I feel tired of replicating as I gain no pleasure from it any more.
That isn't to say that replication is not important, I just need to be more creative in the creation stage.

So here comes my problem. I am blocking the model out which is forcing me into confronting new skills.
Its become critical where things are placed in the scheme, creating a stance of sorts even in vehicular modelling seem vital.

It all ties into forms creating a sense of action, evoking a meaning just in interpreting their connections, size and shapes.

Here's to adventure. Maybe I need to go to Art School....

For fans on New York this is for you

New York City - Timelapse from stimul on Vimeo.

Hilarious Skyline Review

Skyline is the most pointless movie of the year

The best bit: "after being held prisoner in the Pointless Dimension for an hour and a half, anything remotely resembling an original plot development was like snorting heroin off the wet, split carapace of an alien."
via io9.com

First Green Lantern Clip

Attack of the 70's

Seems I am getting super carried away but today I feel like some classic clips from the foundations of rock.

Neil Young Old Man live in '71

Neil Young - Heart Of Gold

Focus - Hocus Pocus

BUDGIE - BREADFAN

whats with this blog thing.

So I'm trying to figure it out but somehow I can't even find my blog on Google. Am i doing something wrong here?