Unit 42's fan art thread...

[Reply #520 on:]

Wired Magazine, January 2118:



A little, futuristic series idea I had about a woman, Carli Anders, who had was in horrible high-speed train accident that left her right side nearly crushed, but was managed to be saved by massive, cybernetic surgery.  Unfortunately, being only in one of the lower two classes (the poor and middle classes) she was denied stem cell rejuvenation (new body parts being grown) and is now left dealing with her new appearance.  While people with cybernetic limb replacement is commonplace, this amount of surgery was never attempted before, leaving Carli only 40% organic.

Can she cope with her life being transformed and still be an effective, single parent?

[Reply #521 on:]

An updated Carli pic...

[Reply #522 on:]

These are really great, nice concept, design and shading.

[Reply #523 on:]

Well, my Simpsons drawing days are pretty much over but I did one more set 24 years later...



EDIT;  after a year of mulling over how this "Carli" storyline will play out, it has changed from the above pic.


 I'm working on an original sci-fi idea set 100 years in the future.  It's called "Carli" and it's about a single mother w/2 kids who is on a train home from work when there's a terrorist explosion.  Everyone on board dies, but Carli is missing.  Two weeks later, Carli is found in a drainage ditch 20 miles from the train attack, except over 60% of her body has been turned cybernetic and she has no memories of the two weeks she vanished or how she got this way.

If there was a live-action version of this, the actress who I'd want to play her would be Laurie Holden (Andrea from "The Walking Dead).

So, I tried drawing my first ever 'portrait" (taken with a crappy cellphone camera) of Ms. Holden:



And this is of "Carli"...



I actually have a script in the works and I'm starting to put this together with more comic drawing style later this year.

[Reply #524 on:]

That's very cool, Unit.  Also, long time no see.

[Reply #525 on:]

I hope they make a simpsons spinoff based on your characters.  Will you be the showrunner?

[Reply #526 on:]

I hope they make a simpsons spinoff based on your characters.  Will you be the showrunner?

Never gonna happen, unfortunately. 

[Reply #527 on:]

That is very unfortunate for me to read.  I was hoping to look forward to that. 

You human drawing is getting pretty good, nice depth, and also getting pretty close to human facial anatomy, really good work there!

Out of curiosity, what was going on with Laurie Holden's right eye (right side from our view)?  It appears that your eyework has gotten quite good, capturing the shapes and detail of eyelids and socket well, and how the eye has a glossy reflection of light reflecting from it from the fluids that encompass the eyes.  However, and I don't want to be overly critical here, the right eye appears to be pointing a little bit off center.  Given that most of the image demonstrates an excellent skill to recreate life like images, and a high attention concerning detail, it seems odd that the right appears, to me, like it may be incorrect due to the appearance of where it is projecting its sight at.  Was it a deliberate detail?  Perhaps a recreation from a photo in which Ms. Holden just happens to have that eye either appearing to go off course or actually going off course; I suggest that possibility because I am certain I've seen actual human eyes do this before, but I was not aware Ms. Holden's eye had done that before.  Or perhaps it was a mistake of some kind as you were creating the piece, but that is an odd possibility, since, as I said, just about everything else in the work (and even that detail) show that you have a strong grasp on how things actually appear and the ability to produce similar images on paper.  Perhaps it was something you did purposefully, but then I'm curious as to why you would have chosen that distinction.

It's not a bad thing, rather I'm just curious as to the reason that detail was made (accidentally or purposefully), and what your thought processes were on that detail, both as you were producing the image and after you finished it and had a chance to look over its completion.  Perhaps you actually find eyes difficult to draw, or maybe you had a really creative reason to add that detail to the piece.  Thanks in advance for looking at my question!  Good stuff, hope it makes you happy to work on it!

The phone took good pictures of your work btw!

And lastly, your story sounds neat!  I think picking a single mother as the protagonist of your science fiction thriller is a really interesting choice, especially in contrast with the events that set the premise of your story.  I think, dependent upon the way you handle that, it could be a really suspenseful and introspective speaking piece.  Personally, the tight rope in that equation is the balance between reality and excitement--making the character into a single mother demands at least some attention to the real responsibilities she would have to handle, and then further demonstratively portray how she handles the dramatic situation which alters how she interacts with the world.  Contrasted even further as how she copes with warranted, perhaps even expected PTSD relating to the accident, as a real world event, and then facing the mysterious, other worldly, conditions she been placed in by chance.  Even the ending of such a story could go off in any number of believable set endings, however your mood, muse, and cunning may take you in developing thematic elements, an over all self-contained satisfying story, and any creative voice you choose to speak most focused upon.

Good luck with the project, and as I suggested, I hope your projects are creatively fulfilling to you as an individual; that's an important subject to myself, as I am wont to be creative, but rarely find the resources and circumstances in which I can satisfy my urge.  As always, thanks for sharing!

[Reply #528 on:]

Thanks, as for the right eye, I kept screwing up the drawing as this was my first attempt at drawing a real set of eyes and I erased  the paper so much that I couldn't fix it anymore without it ripping.  (BTW, the second pic was scanned at an office supply store since it was 18" x 24")  One thing I'm most looking forward to is I have a certain style of drawing i'm working with.  I want a more 'serious' look and nothing too cartoony.

Without giving away too much of the plot, not only does Carli have to deal with the burdens of being a single mother, like you mentioned, she's living in a very different world compared to the world today.  Fifty years in her past (or, 50 years in our future), an event occurred that changed the world and made society extremely fearful of the advancement technology, especially A.I. and it has nothing to do with a Nuclear War. 

[Reply #529 on:]

Thanks for the follow up!

If that was your first attempt at accurately and realistically portraying eyes, I'd say you did a rather fine job, even with the erroneous measure!

I've attempted eyes a few times in the past, and I enjoy perusing artistic skill on occasion.  The eyes seem like a daunting task to recreate accurately and well.  Proportions are difficult to get close, let alone correct; representing shadow and texture is tedious and hard to comprehensively capture and represent.  The face and hands both feel odd when first attempting to hold and express.  There are just so many nuanced details and comparisons to consider!

As another response, what is your take now on drawing hands, if that's an area you dabble in?

Your story sounds like it could become compelling, powerful, motivating, and of special interest.  Good luck on tying all of the details together to shape your story!

[Reply #530 on:]

More "Carli" stuff...

[Reply #531 on:]

Carli seems a bit more menacing looking than the early drawings of her that I recall.  And the other character looks great.

[Reply #532 on:]

Carli seems a bit more menacing looking than the early drawings of her that I recall.  And the other character looks great.

Thanks, Carli isn't a very jovial character and once I get my stuff together, you'll see what kind of person she is.   Once my vacation's over, I'm going to get some proper anatomy on the bodies and then I'll be starting the graphic novel (I hope).

[Reply #533 on:]

Minor update:  Still finalizing her body design and I made a T Shirt out of the pic from last month:

[Reply #534 on:]

That looks amazing! great work dude

[Reply #535 on:]

Carli has a very da Vinci-esque half-smile, but it doesn't look like a particularly happy one.

 

[Reply #536 on:]

I'm back...

First attempt at Carli's body:

[Reply #537 on:]

Love the trachea analogue, and the texture and shading and design around the neck in general.

That's a disturbing pic.  It makes me try to imagine how I'd feel as a half-human cyborg.

[Reply #538 on:]

Love the trachea analogue, and the texture and shading and design around the neck in general.

That's a disturbing pic.  It makes me try to imagine how I'd feel as a half-human cyborg.

I'm trying for a bit of a sci-fi horror angle, too.

[Reply #539 on:]

That makes sense, especially with your pick for live action actress.

Those are some pretty heavy emotions you're representing, and as I think I said after your decision to switch up the background a bit, some fairly serious subject matter.

Your drawings are getting hyper detailed too, huge leaps from your simpsons stuff.  You're getting into some interesting stuff on that end; I had a friend in college that liked spriting and robots, and I watched him make a few pieces in ms paint, way past my skill, and I haven't practiced on deciding on details like that.  His robot stuff was good, but your details are at least 50 fold what he was hitting; different styles too.  I like watching animation stuff and video game animation stuff... when you can pull off intense detail you're doing something.

I really enjoyed your background to the right on the first picture.  It appears to me you were balancing the background with Carli herself, and if that's what you were shooting for, it communicates that well.  I like the right side a lot, it's reminiscent of 1980s tech sci-fi (like say Bladerunner, which I really enjoy), but it also twists a bit toward horror in a neat way.  Again, if you were shooting for that, it speaks it well.

I think you're branching out a little, hitting new
 artistic territory and it seems like you're doing a lot of unique things.

I may have skimmed your original post with Carli on the cover or missed it, and I rechecked it out.  I do like that Carli, and your magazine cover was spot on.  I also liked the original premise story maybe like Soylent Green, and she seems a little edgier in that frame.  Perhaps both stories happen, just hundreds of years apart. 

I'm sure changing it has opened some avenues for you artistically, and that's really cool.  I don't have those skills, just haven't put in the time for personal projects.  Anyways, keep doing your stuff, it's pretty cool! 

[Reply #540 on:]

That makes sense, especially with your pick for live action actress.

Those are some pretty heavy emotions you're representing, and as I think I said after your decision to switch up the background a bit, some fairly serious subject matter....I really enjoyed your background to the right on the first picture.  It appears to me you were balancing the background with Carli herself, and if that's what you were shooting for, it communicates that well.  I like the right side a lot, it's reminiscent of 1980s tech sci-fi (like say Bladerunner, which I really enjoy), but it also twists a bit toward horror in a neat way.  Again, if you were shooting for that, it speaks it well.

Without getting to 'spoilery', the city in the background is an early draft of something bigger...

I may have skimmed your original post with Carli on the cover or missed it, and I rechecked it out.  I do like that Carli, and your magazine cover was spot on.  I also liked the original premise story maybe like Soylent Green, and she seems a little edgier in that frame.  Perhaps both stories happen, just hundreds of years apart.

When I looked back at the first draft of my idea, the storyline was too 'happy' and I decided to make it darker (but not apocalyptic) to where a.i. and other forms of advanced technology became detriments to society between now and 2120 when "Carli" takes place.
 Like how 9/11 changed a lot of perceptions race relations in America, stuff happens in the next century that changes how people view advanced technology in 2120. Again, not getting too spoilery, 2120 isn't as 'futurey' as a lot of sci-fi has shown from that time period.  (The drawing itself on the 'wired' cover was me going crazy with details )

I think you're branching out a little, hitting new
 artistic territory and it seems like you're doing a lot of unique things.

Thanks for the kind words.  Drawing this stuff is both fun and freaking scary.  This is going to be the first colored version later this week:
 

[Reply #541 on:]

Neat.

What other kinds of stuff do you do Unit42?  Are you working and stuff, or schooling and stuff?  You've probably answered those questions, and I could search really hard, and probably find the answer, but asking is simpler, and I'll probably learn more.

That probably seems unrelated to your work, but I have this idea in my head where I like to try and understand how and why people come to certain thoughts.  And for artists and authors and musicians, understanding a little bit about their life creates greater understanding in the works they produce, I think.  So I figured I'd ask, both because you're around, and because I think you're doing some interesting stuff.  Like I think I remember you doing a lot of generational simpsons fanfiction, especially the drawings and background stories, and now you've headed strongly in a new direction with your Carli stuff.  If I were to guess, I'd think that you're a young adult coming to terms with society, but I don't know. Your work is fairly fascinating though.  I hope none of this is offensive to you; I'm just curious.  Glad that you're keeping at your work.

I also have a project on the back burner that is a fighting peelers game, kind of like super smash bros.  with peel avatars, if that sounds neat to you.

Also, most of us hang out in off topic, if you want to visit, and if you're ever bored, and you know about irc, I can always use people to talk to on #futuramachat.

[Reply #542 on:]

Neat.

What other kinds of stuff do you do Unit42?  Are you working and stuff, or schooling and stuff?  You've probably answered those questions, and I could search really hard, and probably find the answer, but asking is simpler, and I'll probably learn more.

Nah, my life's pretty much stuck at work 50-60 hours a week and when I have free time I keep trying to improve my art ability.  Lately, the only 'schooling' I've had was watching a few dozen YouTube videos on how to color digitally and/or draw more realism.

That probably seems unrelated to your work, but I have this idea in my head where I like to try and understand how and why people come to certain thoughts.  And for artists and authors and musicians, understanding a little bit about their life creates greater understanding in the works they produce, I think.  So I figured I'd ask, both because you're around, and because I think you're doing some interesting stuff.  Like I think I remember you doing a lot of generational simpsons fanfiction, especially the drawings and background stories, and now you've headed strongly in a new direction with your Carli stuff.

IMO, the core reason that musicians, painters or writers do what they do is out of the human need to create and share.  However, on the individual level, everyone has a different levels of commitment that drives them to do what they do. Personally, when it came to the Simpsons things I did, I did it because I missed the pre-Homer Show days when the show was about the family unit as a whole instead of it being about Homer (at the time of the tenth season).  I'd come up with ideas that were trying to be more character-driven and harkend back to the old days when it was about interesting characters.  With the Carli stuff, that was inspired by the movie "Logan", which was the last Wolverine movie.  I don't know if it's because I'm getting older, but I'm finding stories about characters driven to the edge much more interesting than most genres.
 

If I were to guess, I'd think that you're a young adult coming to terms with society, but I don't know. Your work is fairly fascinating though.  I hope none of this is offensive to you; I'm just curious.  Glad that you're keeping at your work.

NO!    I just turned 42 today. (yuck)  I wish I was a 17yr old living today because if I had the same tools kids today had back then....

I also have a project on the back burner that is a fighting peelers game, kind of like super smash bros.  with peel avatars, if that sounds neat to you.

Cool, is it Flash based? 

Also, most of us hang out in off topic, if you want to visit, and if you're ever bored, and you know about irc, I can always use people to talk to on #futuramachat.

Thank you.  I might do that one of these days when I have  free hour or, two.

And finally, I had to prove to myself I could paint digitally at this level:

[Reply #543 on:]

Looking good

[Reply #544 on:]

That's a lot of cool information.

You wanted something, so you made it!  That really is superb!  I liked your Simpsons stuff, but I don't always follow the art threads here.  Depends on my mood.

If you're only self-teaching, you are doing awesome.  Self teaching is very very powerful... I learned how to do a few things, and work with several programs to do all sorts of neat stuff from internet tutorials.

In work, I have more of mentor, but it is anything but formal teaching.  I learn by doing, and making mistakes and getting called an idiot.  It has given me a lot though.  I just found some random stranger and asked if we could go to work.  He said yes.

Logan was pretty awesome.  I hear you on gritty realism.

Your digital painting is good (what program?).  I haven't done much realistic drawing/painting/etc.  I know it's difficult to master... I have occasionally done realistic of rooms for work, often 3/4ths perspective, but I'm not sure what that means.  I have not done many people drawings, and when I have, they were quite atrocious.


Sorry for guessing your age wrong.  I'm not good at that.  Perhaps it is nice that I guessed you for much younger--I believe in being young for a long while, as a child.

Yes, my project was/is in Flash.  It is very much in alpha format, but I liked the intro movies I made.  Perhaps I'll slice them out and share on youtubs.. When I have more done, I wanted to add lots of Peelers, and ask them what their special move and backstory would be.  It's a lot like Super Smash Bros, but primarily with projectiles (posts).  I still have to write good path finding and ai for it, and haven't messed with it much for many months.  

I work a lot too, but it is very cool that you have enough drive to continue practicing your skill (lawyers practice law).  I understand a little about the reward for creators, and I agree with you.  When I do it, I very much want to share--I was ecstatic when somebody stole a flash game I made without asking... the fact that somebody considered it valuable enough to steal really brightened my day.

Your digital painting is very excellent.  I used to talk to Paul from FSAC (Futurama Scan Art Central) about his shading techniques... it seemed much like magic to me at the time.  Your shading is very good.

I'm a bit younger than you, so I am sorry for guessing your age wrong.  Since you shared, I'm going to be 31.  I feel more like 22, 23, or 25 most of the time though... sometimes I remember being exactly 14.  I've had a lot of blessings.  I hope you don't work yourself to death, and I hope your work satisfies you.  Great jobs with the arts, I hope you get to continue doing it and master everything you set out to achieve.  Thanks a lot for me responding to me!

[Reply #545 on:]

Oh, happy birthday btw!

[Reply #546 on:]

Some excellent new art in this thread since I last looked, and your ability seems to have gotten even better!

[Reply #547 on:]

Hey, sorry about the lateness in this reply, but it's been a rough October/November...work, work,  more work...

In work, I have more of mentor, but it is anything but formal teaching.  I learn by doing, and making mistakes and getting called an idiot.  It has given me a lot though.  I just found some random stranger and asked if we could go to work.  He said yes.

That's pretty much how most things work out w/o spending money on college or private tutoring. I'm sticking to the University of YouTube now to learn anything new and an artist named Fernada Suarez.  She has some of the best digital artwork I've ever seen and when I'm drawing in public at the library or in a restaurant, people who compliment me and think I'm good (or something) but then I show them some of her art on my phone and I tell them this is who I want to be as good as:

https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&hl=en&tbm=isch&q=fernanda+suarez&chips=q:fernanda+suarez,online_chips:art&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiYzODexsnXAhVBwmMKHXdMCG0Q4lYILCgF&biw=1366&bih=637&dpr=1

IMO, I'd have to be as good as her to do art for a decent paying career.



Keep at it.  You almost have to develop OCD to get good at art or music.  My first portrait I did of Laurie Holden was restarted about 20 times before it sort-of looked like an actual face.

I'm a bit younger than you, so I am sorry for guessing your age wrong.  Since you shared, I'm going to be 31.  I feel more like 22, 23, or 25 most of the time though... sometimes I remember being exactly 14.  I've had a lot of blessings.  I hope you don't work yourself to death, and I hope your work satisfies you.  Great jobs with the arts, I hope you get to continue doing it and master everything you set out to achieve.  Thanks a lot for me responding to me!

No problem, sorry about the shortened reply.   I just finished a 4 hour shading marathon getting this dang pic finished.  I took about 3 weeks to get the time to finish it.



I started this last month, but I had little time to work on it.

[Reply #548 on:]

It looks really good.  Cheers!

Edit:  I can see why you like that artist.

[Reply #549 on:]

I cannot believe it's been almost 8 months since I've drawn anything, so I did this in one 8 hour sitting.



I don't know why that line in the middle is there....