EnemyStar Update!

Here is some updates for the EnemyStar project. I have been trying to nail down a final look for my main character. I have been asking around for critiques and advice on what needs to change. So far, I think I am headed in the right direction as far as my character. I think now I will refine the badguys of the story. After all, the antagonists have to be more interesting then the main character.

Let me know what you think about the new details in my main character (#77)!

Enemystar Update

So I had to take some time to do some writing. Both about my characters and about my story. And what I have found is that I am a better artist then I am a writer. So, I am looking for a writer to help collaborate with me on this project. However, I have been able to make some artwork for the project that will contribute to the overall story. Things have changed but not too much. The story will still be a Sci Fi horror/ action/ suspense. There is no other way to do it really. I want the story to be somewhere in between Akira- and- Blade Runner, with some esoteric occult stuff thrown in there.

On the art- the first pic is one of my main character, #77 Ani (Anastasia)
The second pic is one of the main preists I want to have in the story. Its a quick sketch I did in the middle of the night.
The last pic is a more developed sketch of a possible soldier type. I know this would be way to detailed to draw over and over again but I just explored some options and had fun with it. 
The characters are kind of Hellraiser-ish I know, abut I like the complexity and the dark style it offers. Almost like a cyberpunk type of style. But more, "horrorpunk" if you will. I originally was thinking of having two split societies, much like the Bourgeoisie and the Peasants of France. Or the Caste system. One being more of a materialistic-social status craving- money hording type. Much like the Bourgeoisie of the US. The 99% vs. the 1%, if you will. Nevertheless, a revenge story against those who have oppressed us and those who have caused us great wrong.

Update: Enemystar- character pet

Ok, so for the last week or so I have been doing some writing on the story ENEMYSTAR and messing around with some ideas for secondary characters and other supporting roles within the story to help our poor main character 77. She will be alone for a while, trying to discover her purpose and her identity. Along the way she will rescue a furry little alien rodent. Or more like a Cat-Monkey I suppose. Anyway, this will be her little companion that helps her through some tough times. So I have been working on creating such a creature and I began doing some research on some cute animals and such. I remembered seeing some paintings by Chu, and he had just the appeal I was looking for in a cute supporting creature. I also looked at some Stitch references to help with the overall anatomy of the creature. So this is what I came up with. Its not quite a raccoon, or cat, or monkey, or lizard, but maybe a combo of all. Its a Raconkeyzard! Ok, maybe the name needs a little work. But I feel that this little guy has the right fit for our rough and tumble type character. Something to soften the darkness a bit.

 copyright of Ron Root 2011.

Update: Story and character progress

Alright, so I have been hard at work scratching down the ground floor of the graphic novel project. So, first things first; whats the name of your story? I spent a lot of time trying to think of a good name that fits the attitude, story and characters. With my story being about a future under total religious rule and the hypocrisies and corruptions that can occur within such an organization, I wanted to bring to light just how weak man (or woman) can be. I also wanted to explore some emotional content that I feel parallels my own screwed up experiences and some that I feel parallels others. It will most definitely be a journey for our main character.

So, for this post I will include some other pieces of art I was tooling with regarding the Priests. In my next post I will discuss the main character biography and character flaws.

Oh! And one more thing. I have found a title for my project. I had to get permission and it was granted. The title of this woman's journey of vengeance and self discovery will be- "ENEMY STAR".

Enemy Star by Ron Root 2011

Characters. Good, bad, but mostly ugly.

So, I have been working on this comic/ animation project lately and I have some pretty cool ideas on some of the other characters that will be in my story. I have been trying to create some Priests that would fit into my world. These characters are the ushers that set the story in motion. They are members of the Clergy. Also, they serve as a government agency that all smaller governments, ie; townships, municipalities, etc..., bow down to. The Clergy are the lawgivers, judge-jury-executioner, the overseers of civilization and science. They are the chairmen that govern the world.
These "beings" are said to have given technology and agricultural science to the early world in Mesopotamia, and gave knowledge of worship, and created the great temples of the world (the Great Pyramids, the Inca temples, etc...). After the seed of knowledge was planted in early civilization, the Clergy left the world to continue their work abroad. Some stayed in subterranean cities, but most of them went off world.
After the great Apocalypse that cleared the slate of civilization, the Clergy came back to put order back into chaos. For their own means? For their own survival? To what end? And why do they concern themselves with this planet, Earth? These creatures are not entirely human, but something else. Disguised. Modified. Corrupt? Tainted by their own vanity and pride? Perhaps. Their purpose is control. They are the gatekeepers. They have the knowledge and the intergalactic resources of the universe at their disposal. Does that mean they decide all fate? Not all, it seems.
Also, I have been working on some titles for the project. I have a good title, but I have to do some research to see if I can use it. Anyone have any good sci-fi names for the main character (the female badass)?

New Art Update: Comic Project?

OK. First things first. Wow. What a time so far after graduating College. I got a job, which is good. Then with some of the other spare time I had time to sit and think about what it was that I wanted to do. Something different, something my way. So I dug around for some old artwork that I held on to and some old stories that I had wrote (I have tons of old crap that I have toted around with me, some from when I was in high school, weird stuff). It was nice to have some time to reflect on an up coming personal project. Something that I always wanted to do.

Anyway, I found a decent story that I wanted to work on and build up. I decided on a main character that I wanted for my story. A heroin. I was watching the animated series Claymore, and I found it to be right up my alley. I'm not much for Manga but the story was incredible. The build up was brilliant. I enjoyed the characters so much I began rooting for them out loud! The dialogue was a bit overdone but I felt that it was necessary to further understand everything and the attachments made. Very inspirational. I am thinking it will be a revenge story, one of self discovery and limitations. And to reflect on the grim realities of a government system gone wrong. However, in my case I am going to give the government thing a little twist.
The story will be set in the (not too distant?) future. I am feeling a post Apocalyptic re-inventing of society. Set in the middle of a mega Neo-Metroplolis. Think Blade Runner meets Akira. Dark and dingy. Slightly sad. With flying cars! (because I was promised flying cars in the future dammit!)  Plagued with mutations, and other abominations from beyond the stars. Where there has been some small significant jumps made in technology that is nearly possible now. With fiber optics and light weight metal alloys. Cybernetics. Body modification and/or enhancement. In my story its not for everyone. Those who have had their body changed in any way, or wasn't "pure" were outcast. And therefore, considered dangerous and a high risk. My main character is definitely that. High risk.
I want to give this story sort of a cowboy feel to it. Rough and alone. Getting into trouble in pursuing the truth, and to punish the ones responsible. That Josey Whales mentality. A character that is mysterious, tough, capable, wanted, flawed, and scarred. Left for dead and unknown. An enigma. But even with all these things still have a heart, and presumably a soul. With the capabilities to grow, and a willingness to die. An endgame.
I do have some other characters that I have made for other stories I was going to do that fit into this mix rather nicely. So, there will be quite a few characters to identify with and ultimately help our main character find the answers she needs. I was thinking of using to other male characters to help guild our heroin. Both sorta silly but honest and loyal. Thieves of course. They just make for better friends I guess. A mixed up group of  misguided  misfits.
I have always like that cyberpunk type of work. Blade Runner is still one of my most favorite and most watched movies. Sid Meade is the man. That and old late 80's early 90's games pertaining to a sci fi future always caught my eye. The dream of an advanced civilization with technology and knowledge from beyond. Anyway, enough elaborating on the subject. I will discuss the story more in my next update coming soon. Also, I will discuss the option of animating this story as a type of stylized web comic! Here is some art I am working on just exploring the ideas, the character, and thinking overall the feel that I want to portray in the story. Tell me what you think. Do you think we could us a good sci fi, possibly animated, series? With a badass hottie as the main character taking down lots of crazy bad guys in violent revenge? I hope so.

All artwork copyright Ron Root 2011.

A conceptual illustration I did to explore different looks and feels for the main character seen here. Copyright Ron Root 2011.

All artwork copyright Ron Root 2011.

Great things to come...

So, I felt compelled to let you know that I will be rather busy in the weeks ahead. I am graduating. Finally. At least, that's the rumor. So during this whole process of signing forms, organizing work, actual work, gathering contacts, etc... there is little time for personal work. Or so they assume.

I am almost constantly working. On top of all my responciblities to graduate, I have been working part-time for a local gaming company in the Denver area. There are some really cool pieces of art being produced at this studio and with rare enthusiasm. I am grateful. But it does eliminate the time to work on personal pieces.

Even so, I still managed to find the time amongst all this, well work, to do some, more...work. Its a good thing I love what I do. So I give you a taste of the project I am working on. Its a period piece based off of Roman history and its war machine- the Roman Army. However, I am taking a very dark and almost demonic twist. I have been inspired by the band Sanguis Imperem (a war-like band working around Roman history). I have always loved Roman history anyways so this felt right to do and guilt free. But if my future employers are reading this, I assure you, I am working. Enjoy and feel free to comment on what it could turn out to be.

Fantasy art

I have always been a fan of fantasy artwork. I think it comes from my love for horror/ Sci Fi movies. As a kid I usually lived my life in my head. Growing up as a kid in a small town in Alaska provided that opportunity to really explore the realm of Dream. The Alaskan landscape was surreal to me as a kid, with it breath-taking landscapes, crystal blue mountains ominously looming over the ocean peninsulas, and its dank and feral forests. I remember being afraid as a kid at the giant boulders that would be strangely placed around the Kenai Peninsula. They were at least 8 ft tall boulders. I was nearly certain there were secret tunnels or civilizations lurking under the boulders, hording the secrets of the world, or harboring some horrid monster from ancient times.

As I got older I started drawing more and more to expand the world in my head. The characters, the environments, the situations. As my talent grew I began to dive deeper into the strange and fantastic, I began reading fantasy books like H.P. Lovecraft's "Dreams of Terror and Death". That book opened a whole new world of esoteric adventures for me to explore. Thus, feeding my ever-growing imagination and pushing me to dive ever deeper into the abyss of artistic inspiration.

I recently got the chance to start working on a trading card game art. The topic of which they gave me was a fantasy character within a specific environment that they wanted. I created a practice piece that I instantly fell in love with. I loved the idea that they gave me a fantasy piece. I usually do more horror orientated work, so this was a good change for me to broaden my horizons in the genre. I have done a few fantasy illustrations in the past, but none that I can truly say that I really enjoyed. Or enjoyed enough to complete. However, I have found that certain tranquility in working on this fantasy piece that I have recently made ready to start coloring. Which will be another blog for a later date. Some artists that inspired me on doing this are Keith Thompson, Wayne Barlowe, Boris Vallejo, Frank Frazetta, et al. But, I got the most inspiration, believe it or not, from the early Nintendo game Rygar. Remember the floating castle at the end? That, and my experiences with Alaskan scenery made for an interesting environmental layout for my fantasy character.

I am really enjoying breaking out of my comfortable art style to create better and more interesting work. Not only does it improve my technical skill as a digital illustrator but improves my overall skills as an emerging professional artist. I hope you enjoy this blog and the artwork that follows it. Thanks for reading.

Dwarf Warrior progression

Here is a digital painting that I am working on in my free time. Its a work in progress. I am getting the work flow down going from basic silhouettes, to blocked gray scale, to finer gray scale. I am not sure about he compostition, comp gives me a lot of trouble it seems, and the overall mood of the piece.
I usually start with a bit of research, looking at a ton of artists and what they contribute to the industry. Artists like Kevin Yanner, Daarken, Francis Tsai, Fang Zhu, Boris Vallejo, and others. I will also study different types of action poses or in this case, Dwarf poses. Then I would move on to different armor types, and there is a large amount of references online that I have found on different armor. I tend to drift more toward the medieval side of armor, or I will tend to go more ancient in some cases, like Hallstatt Celts type armor. But with this piece I chose medieval. At first I wanted to use a large stone hammer for the dwarf, but it seemed to lack pizazz. So I ended up replacing it with a large cross bow.  I plan on using some Germanic style or Gothic style of artwork to ordain the weaponry and the armor. The ornamentation will reflect the time frame of the armor. The dwarf looks like a hunter type with the cross bow, so I decided to have an ogre or something large peppered with cross bow arrows to show the savageness of the dwarf. A mighty hunter of ogres. It seems to work. With the background I chose a single perspective in the forest. A hunter usually hunts in the forest, and a good place to find ogres I am told. So, I put them in a small clearing of sorts in front of forest trees. I put a fin on top of the dwarfs head like a roman soldier or something, it kind of looks interesting, but I think its conflicting with the rest of the armor. Anyway, here it is. Painted in Photoshop, and took about 9 hours so far.

Welcome!

Welcome to the first blog by yours truly, Ron Root. I am an artist exploring the digital medium of 2D and 3D design for games, film, or comics.

I began with character design early in my career. I was drawing comics in the 6th grade with a friend from down the street. Typical, eh? Just a couple of bros making up characters for the comics we were about to create. I really enjoyed characters that had some sort of edgy mask at the time. When I was in the 6th grade it was the hockey mask of Jason from Friday the 13th. Or, from Eastman's Ninja Turtles story KC Jones. The rugged brawny badass that has been hell and is looking to get back in by means of armored assault with heavy weaponry. There needs to be more characters like this in stories and art today. I will start by bringing characters that I have found in history that could use some light, to some biographic character of some seriously sadistic SOB's that I have known and written about, to story-worthy art. I am new to this blogging thing but I want to explore some processes or creativity as we transverse the realm of Digital Painting for Character Design.

Thanks for reading, and stay creative!