The Slenderman / Slenderman - 2014

I have always had a fondness towards the internet boogieman, The Slenderman AKA Slenderman. So it was only a matter of time before I did some fan-art and my version of the iconic image. Slenderman lives.

Mr Leon Taylor

THE MUNSTER MASH - 8 steps to making my idea feel more real.

8 steps to making my idea feel more real.

THE MUNSTER MASH - M2 Extreme sports of the not so distant future.

Tank + Bulldozer + racing = HIGH SPEED EXTREME JUMPING TANKS M2

 I know I am showing my age. I loved this car growing up, wanting to catch a glimpse in the intro or anytime used in the car. The early show was black and white and colour wasn't revealed until later series / when colour TV was invented. So, like most things I do, they have my influence in my concepts.. Now I don't totally feel like that now, but thought it was a cool idea to give them an identity.

Below are the colouring steps:

These were painted over 4 hours after a 45 min pencil rule out of the main design, bolts and details.

1)Scan the linework in and resize (crop) to suit what you imagined. I see no problem in resizing things to get your image working for you to get your concept 100%.

2) Get the basic colour for the associated areas on The Munster Mash (TMM). One of my favourite parts. This is when it becomes more real. Then motivates me to make it look badass.

I have only been using Photoshop for 2 years. It is an achievement for me to be using it. I read ImagineFX and have for a few years before I even picked up a pen and used a tablet. But it has motivated me to begin with. Top magazine. Always hours of tutorials, I still go back and use. Even from when I started reading in 2011.

3) Colour all the areas of the (TMM) add hazards and munster badges.

4) Add roughed brushes to (TMM) and give a variation.

5) Then I play with the hue, add a basic oily diesel look to (TMM) .

6) I like to add basic shadow to (TMM) .

 7) Then add some small shadows to give (TMM) more depth

8) Resize to fit the page final touch ups on shadow, and brush the background to give it more depth .

The final result (TMM) THE MUNSTER MASH.

Frederick Leverets - Time travelling cyber bunny. 2 hour practice.

Making Frederick Leverets was a quick exercise to make a time travelling cyber bunny.

This bunny has seen some stuff man. He has saved some lives , seen some lost and even some come back to life. He has many stories of travelling the galaxy and timelines of many. He is Frederick Leverets.


Rough out bunny using reference.

Add cool bits to make in cyber.

Add detail

Clean it up

Finished result.

Brain Nubs.

I had a fellow artist find it funny that I did not enjoy the sight of brains.
I found it strange he felt that way.
So I only thought it would be fair to illustrate why brains are gross. The more you stare , the more you look, the more you think about a brain. But more importantly YOUR brain.

Obviously they rule, because we can not operate without them. That is not what I am saying. The general look of the brains with all their squishy nubbiness. Is a disgusting thought. Here is two illustrations to show how it looks to me.

ACNZ group project "STARFISH" - Term 4 week six part 1 of 1

                                                            ANIMATION TIME!

This is the rough layout a scene Sc02- Shot02.

In this screen shot on the right is the camera shot that has been locked in place to it does not change. In the layout process the timing has been decided and locked as well to prevent people from adjusting it. But ultimately save time.

Below are screen shots of a few of the key frames of Tierone approaching his sister who is building a sand castle.

 

Now that the main keys of my first scene are complete. I have started applying and furthering traditional techniques in CGI animation.

Here we have some screen shots with render view to have a rough idea what the scenes will look like previous to post production. Lighting and after effects. I am super proud of what we have managed to achieve in such a small time. Even with all our varied skill levels.

We have a great deal of commitment in our group and focusing what we are best at. Just like a real production, which makes it even more exciting. I found learning in a group situation ideal for how I learn and I have learned.

The CGI process is very clear to me now and I can understand what is involved. Which was important for me to understand this year. What a year.

Mr Leon Taylor Facebook "LIKE" competition - WINNER.

Mr Leon Taylor Facebook "LIKE" competition - WINNER.

Amanda was the actual winner of my first ever Facebook comp. I wanted to reach 250 likes! I got there in record time. I am very humbled by this experience so far and only received very positive feedback. I am now over 300!

About the creation process.

Where I started? finding out what Shaneel likes. He likes metal, loves his family and is an all around hard working dude. So I wanted the perfect pose. Yes it is a neutral pose but it is still important. This is the process side by side my rough line work / construction then a cleaned up with version to be scanned in to Photoshop.

The happiness from people seeing themselves as a cartoon character is exciting and fun. I wish I had more time to do this for all my friends. But am super tied down to some commitments (all drawing based). CAN NOT WAIT TO SHARE all of the current work I am doing.

With the final version I put one of Slayers most popular albums as the background. Just because I can.

Me and Maya, my new best friend. A visual diary.

I have started the year learning MAYA autodesk. Its been a steep learning curve to get used to navigating around the programme and apply those 2D skills. I always knew it would take me a few months to get my head around it. Extremely glad I am learning it in an institute,  I learn well in a team environment and speaking things out loud.

This is a visual diary to record my own progress, that's what I love about blogging the most. Looking back through the pages of work you have created. This is not a show reel of my best work. This is my learning process.

Neon gross-ness I can not stop looking at.

I grew up in the 1980s. Every year of it. One thing I remember the most is collecting cards. I collected TMNT live action and animated, Dick Tracey, Goonies, WWF and my favourite Garbage pail kids.

There was always something so appealing about these cards. They were also the only ones that came is a smaller pack.

This drawing I like to think has those "cool!" Closely followed by a " gross!" Feelings

I have made them with different palates to go for a feel. When I did a vote on instagram and facebook this is the order of which people voted as their favourite.

Twelve horns - Four seasons - One Moon

This started as a vision of explaining seasons through out the year and years lived. I was originally going to make it one character holding a large falcon.But once I had started to research my animal anatomy, then attempted to draw what I had planned. But, it didn't work out. I was clouded, with a stronger vision of what I wanted from the drawing. The current drawing, It didn't explain how I feel towards these seasons. Nor did it explain the organic feel I was going for.

I'm gonna need a bigger bit of paper.

Four Seasons : This is to illustrate the times of year. Living on this amazing earth we all experience winter at other times of year. So I did not want to bunch them in to months that not everyone can relate too.


12 horns : The 12 horns you might think stand for the number of months. In a way it does. But It stems back to the quality of life I feel we get from these times of year. In summer times, we have more daylight to achieve our goals and with the sun can have extra energy.


One moon: We live with one moon. This fascinates me. It is all apart of this world we live in. The planet still spins regardless of how we react to it.


Explanations of the piece of art.


FARM GOAT / SUMMER: Farm goats are sturdy animals and relentless with the job. The goat has four horns to illustrate quality of life and amount of life enjoyed.



WOLF / AUTUMN: The wolf is a ravenous animal. I used it to illustrate how we gather supplies for the winter looking for what's best in the coming months.



BEAR / WINTER: The bear in a caring yet protective animal. We sometimes lock down over winter, we don't spend as much time with people as we would like. But spending time with those closest to you can really make you feel great as you look forward to spring



MOUNTAIN GOAT / SPRING: The mountain goat has a balance we can all admire. No fear of the steepness and I feel the illustrate how hard work over the colder months pays off. The goat also has four horns to illustrate quality of life and amount of life enjoyed. But is in a different shape to show how life can be a little tough too.



I was very pleased with the end result.

I hope you enjoy.

mrleontaylor

Chalk drawing Eden Park centenary 1913-2013

Eden Park had contacted my school ACNZ (animation college NZ) to do a chalk drawing celebrating 100 years of sport family and fun. I was asked if I wanted to take responsibility for the day to design, direct a mural. I was happy to take on the challenge. Even if I was new to the medium I knew I could apply my skills I have learnt and applied over the last 3 years learning traditional animation. Only on a large scale.

Enjoy.

mrleontaylor

H(oney) - Division

Like many people. They know Winnie the Pooh he is an iconic character. When I was growing up. He wasn't everywhere you looked in the 0-3 year old market. He was someone you could relate to, just a hardworking bear trying to make his little community all get along. Even if the neighbourhood was angry, Pooh's positive vibes would make people think twice about how they are looking at things. It was a musty book, well worn and enjoyed long before I was even born. That makes it pretty awesome to me.

Here is my take on Winnie the Pooh.

H(oney) - Division . 100 acre wood.

This is just a quick photo and a WIP. I will scan and update in the coming weeks.

mrleontaylor

Toada Lee Baus - Mr Excitement.

Introducing Toada Lee Baus.

His entire life he has always wanted to be an Internet meme. He was even named by his father Whoda Baus to be so. He got a lot of hassles growing up because kids are mean. He doubted his father. He was embarrassed by it but loved his Dad. His girlfriend Itoada Lee Can has always supported him and believes he can still achieve his life long goal. Can you help him?

 

Character concept - Dr Varulv Hund

I love animals a lot.
I am also enjoy thrillers and horror films.
I do find it really hard to watch animals been mistreated. I had always want to see these owners that mistreat there pets to suffer and tortured the same. Its only horrible if its human. When in reality I think a lot of  its all the same pain. Do you think a young elephant feels no pain watching there mother be murdered? That's watching your mum die. Many humans believe they have no "feelings"  like this or sad, fearful, happy, joyful, scared or even a thought process outside there natural instinct. I know these seem like hard truths. But its only a small snip of reality that write and much of it is at our door steps. Even across the world. Bears are chained and made to dance, Dogs are bred to fight each other, cockfights happen with razor blades. This actually happens, is happening.

 I came up with this concept loosely based on a werewolf like dog that avengers the deaths of murdered and tortured pets. He skins and wears the flesh of the tortures. Some will be caged faceless and naked with many more and tortured forever. Others will have a chance. But scarred forever they will be. This is all work in progress (WIP) but the idea is very straight forward.

Its the time period I am thinking of most at the moment and where and when most interests me.

Logline : "They think I am dangerous.. I know I am." - Dr Varulv Hund