Saturday, December 29, 2012

Santa Speedster


I mentioned this some time ago back when Tim challenged us to do winter-specific vehicles last year.  I drew this for winter 2010 and never colored it until this week.  I was ski-and-tracked out in 2011 since I did the Arctic Breeze and SNOWJET sketches.  This has heavy influence from 30's Auburns / Cords, and a traditional Coca-Cola Santa, now with vintage goggles.  Merry Christmas, see you soon!

Friday, November 9, 2012

Channel Tunnel Airlock Door

Not much of a story here - it's one of the Chunnel's airlock doors for the maintenance tunnel between the rail tubes.  The hydro-mechanical stuff and hinges are obviously awesome looking, but I thought it could serve as inspiration for some of the technical space work Ian's been doing.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Lockheed Martin YX-151


Here we have Lockheed's newest demonstration aircraft, the YX-151.  Inspired by the P-51 and a lot of the Grosvenor House World-Race plane, and using the Raptor/ Lightning II form language, this aircraft would provide excitement for will-be pilots and get recruitment papers signed faster than you can say "You'll never be a fighter pilot because of your vision."

This is the awesome video which kicked off my insatiable desire to photomod this beast.


Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Exceptional Environments


If you aren't all familiar with Ryan Gitter's work, make yourself so.  I'm continually amazed at his environments whenever he posts.  He's got one of the firmest grasps on lighting I've ever seen.  Sometimes he draws sexy ladies too!

Monday, October 8, 2012

Between the White Lines

Pat, in case you haven't seen already or don't follow this ridiculously awesome blog:


...your stuff keeps popping up there too.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Chilly Sunday Proportion Correction

Working so close to GM, I'm frequently surrounded by managers driving their XTSs with manufacturer plates, towering over my car who's roof comes up to the XTS' beltline.  I can't help but to think that although GM has arrived upon a favorable form language, they may have forgotten to take a step back to think why their cars aren't as popular as BMW or Mercedes.  The proportion of the XTS is deplorable.  If one squints their eyes, the XTS can be confused for a plump Jetta.  So I had to shoop it; no change in wheel size or wheelbase, just a sunken DLO and sectioned body, with slight reductions in headlamp and grill height.  I think the results speak for themselves.  Too bad it takes more than 30 minutes to do this to a real car.  

Thoughts regarding attention to proportion in modern vehicles?

Monday, October 1, 2012

I Learned Math the Wrong Way

Not sure if any of you know of ViHart's channel, but watching a few videos will remind you that being smart is Cool! and Math is fun!  There are videos that touch on the Fibonacci Spiral and fractals, but some of these videos make me want to make matching equations for abstract 3D forms and such outside of the established math/design related numbers.  I'm not remotely mathematically inclined but I can greatly appreciate the irrefutable logic behind it.



Le Container

Pat, your photos from Bonneville have popped up on Le Container a couple times.
This one: http://lecontainer.blogspot.com/2012/09/ulf_12.html

And there was one of Shinya on there somewhere too. Neither of which have links to anything of yours and the Shinya post actually had the watermark removed.

yay internet.

This is what I want to build next


Sunday, September 30, 2012

Sunrise Over the Flats

Finally starting to sift through the 1700 photos I took at Bonneville and quickly threw this together:


You'll need to zoom in for the full effect.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Im renovating the apt.




Just kidding, I did this to show a company I could do interiors

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Just When You Think You've Invented Something...

Google shoots you down.  I was going to post this asking Ian or Dave if they've come across an engine layout similar to it in their Moto-info gallivanting.
It's a counter-rotating crank twin, the difference from the others I know of being that the cylinders in this layout would converge at the top to a single head with DOHCs.  the purpose would be to eliminate any gyroscopic effects on a bike with a non-transverse.. or axial (if I may use that word again) crankshaft.  And it'd be super torquey.

This is the closest I could find: Neander's turbo diesel with two cranks and two conn rods going to each piston.  Queer.   Thoughts?


Monday, September 10, 2012

First Blush: Gilded Demon



Here is a side by side for the beginnings of a set of logos for my friend's potential land speed racing operation.  None of this has been discussed with 'er, and I'd like to keep it that way for now.  The name I arrived upon is "Gilded Demon" Land Speed Racing.  I think it nicely blends a traditional speed-demon / hot rod devil reference with a novel pointer that the operation's more about the blonde rider than the 175 twin class (Bonneville attendees will note that there was a very small number of female racers) and of course some suggestive undertones of the she-devil variety.  I know there's still a lot of shifting and ironing out to do with the text.. I suppose this could be considered my first typography experiment.  Once I'm finished with the text it'll be set back behind the drawing, its just on top while I work on it.  The shading on the demon and her bike is very preliminary.  I'll also be simplifying the sketch parts of this and juicing up the linework for high visibility on shirts and stuff.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Jet Moto character studies

Good thinking Joe, I'm going to do something along those lines that you were thinking about for my next design, this is what I have so far.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Dual Visor Body Helmet

This is a lunch sketch of a Dual-Visor Body Helmet that I felt the need to communicate visually for Ian's JetMoto redux.  When I saw his blue rider outfit (which looks like it would be used in a reclined position) I thought if any of the Jetmotos had a more contemporary riding position, the the flight suit would have to have visibility out of the top of the helmet when the rider was standing... I think I get the point across in the sketch. Sweet project Ian, keep it up!

Friday, June 29, 2012

British Musical Rebuild

For you non-Facebookers out there...


Turns out it wasn't all foresight, but what a way to make it look instantly rewarding!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

This video is sooo cool.

I'm hoping for a Justin Bieber style discovery after doing a youtube video

Hey dudes, I just saw that the interview I did with a concept artist named Sinix is on youtube.  It's a  video I shot of my process for a Jet Moto painting.  Check it out when you get a sec.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Retirement Plan

Although I've never swam or flown (details...), I want one of these. 
If it looks old, you're seeing properly- the rights (including the all-important FAA certification) for the plane's airframe were kicked back into production by Antilles Seaplanes with updates to the design and those sweet Turboprop engines instead of the old Radials.  According to my calculations, every weekend would look like this:
A cabin in Colorado with a little airstrip, and an aluminum portal to anywhere on the globe.

Monday, May 28, 2012

WIP GT 900 KR

Memorial Day Rendering: Ford Mustang GT900KR

An evolution of the Mach x1 from earlier, with a "Global Ford" EVOS concept inspired front fascia, retaining the Leno-esque profile.  I also made a GIF of the steps at which I stopped heretofore.  There are still some details I have to add, and I'm not sold on the rear but I want to do a rear view to show how much wrap is going on back there- why it looks so short in this view.  Whatchu think?


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Keep it moving!

Here is a photo I shot last night for those of you who haven't given up all rights to their privacy by signing up for Facetube. (Yeah, you, Cali boy)

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

CHRIS PISCITELLI, you know him?

I just came across this guy after seeing some of his sketches on SIMKOM and his style is bananas!  He apparently went to CCS and I remember his car; it was that crazy "samurai" stlye coupe.  He's one of those rare designers that can get away with just a line drawing and have people still go crazy because it's so well done.  Lately I've wanted to loosen up my style and while I think this guy does do some looser things, he does a great job of doing tight-ish renderings with a good amount of playful looseness thrown in for good measure. Something to appreciate.

I spent a really long time combing through his blog these images are all my favorites






















cafe table

Above is a coffee table I just finished up this past weekend.  Its made from 2 layers of MDF board, a few PVC pipes, some large diameter dowels and a lot of Plaster.  The surface finish is normal white spray paint with a water based polycrylic top coat.  I am getting some bubbling in the top coat but I think its due to the rough paint brush I was using.  Its not a motorcycle but it does hold a few beers.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

CCS Freshman Class 2012


I believe everyone on this blog witnessed first hand the firing line called CCS Freshman Reviews.  Today, I had first hand experience of what it was like to be on the other side.  Yes, that's right, dishing out the hard, cold truth to 12 impressionable students.  Most of whom did an awesome job over the past 4 months, a few not so much.  CCS policy prevents me from commenting on any particular students so I will refrain.  As for this post, I wanted to first thank Luis and Ian for their impromptu contributions to the class.  Your suggestions and comments were extremely thoughtful and all the students mentioned how helpful you both were.  Thanks.

Above, is an image of our final presentation day (not the Freshman Review).  What a wild ride.  If I haven't said it to you in a conversation already - I highly recommend teaching a class if you are ever given the opportunity.  It took me a full month to decide if I wanted to actually take on a class at CCS.  In the end I couldn't pass up the opportunity. My experience has only been with Freshman but I can tell you it is one of the most rewarding things I've done.  (Ready for a run-on sentence?) To have 12 individuals jotting down the words that are coming out of your mouth in their sketchbooks, next to that silly doodle of a Nike shoe, and then throwing challenging questions at you like rotten tomatoes only for you to suddenly realize you actually have an appropriate answer and can explain it in ever more detail if requested - it then hits you.  We have learn a lot since graduation.  Every week I felt more and more comfortable with the students.  The advice I received from CCS teachers was pretty much the same across the board, "Just get through the first day."  Turned out to be accurate.

After agreeing to teach, it took roughly 3 weeks to put together a syllabus I was happy with.  I broke the semester into two half's.  The first was a series of 2-3 week exercises which built on specific methods or processes.  This system allowed for greater resolution in tasks such as branding and persona creation.  The last half of the semester was a single project based off a character persona.  The persona was developed in one of the earlier short exercises. Most student complained after the project brief was given arguing that the task of creating a lifestyle documentation device already existed in the form of an ipad.  I said anyone who continued to believe that should quit school and go work at the apple store.  The next week they had an abundance of ideas.  Most of which were pretty impressive. In reality the decision to run with that brief was because it would be challenging in the world of tablets and smart phones.  This was a great lesson for me in learning to hold strong to my initial ideas, the students would eventually come around.  One student had a concept brief which stated she would be creating a sketchbook for drummers.  Pretty neat.   All in all there are things I would do differently but I guess that's the case with everything.

 If you guys ever do decide to teach, please give me a shout because there are a few things that are easy fixes which I had to learn the hard way.  For example, get to class before any student on the first day.  This allows time for small talk with students as they trickle in.  I was right on time for my first class and walked into a silent room full of students staring at me.  Definitely a jolt of reality.  If you guys are curious to learn more let me know.  I just wanted to give you an update on this recent experience.

xoxo.  

Sunday, April 22, 2012

WIP

I'll get to the cyborg drawing in a bit, right now I'm trying to get back on the sketching horse after being home.  I spent more time than I would have liked on this but I think it's close to what I was going for.  You guys have any critiques?  I'd really appreciate it, I feel like its close but its missing something.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Narcisscyborg

Although the previous sketch challenge is not technically over since the Challenger (Ahem, Tim!) has yet to present his sketch for a winter specific vehicle, I'd like to see some Self Portrayals as cybernetic organisms.  Basically, if you were to recreate yourself using any technology you can imagine, how would you look?  

Requirement: 
If cloak technology is used, you must represent yourself with it deactivated.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Mural Porn | I want to be a bear

http://chadhasegawa.com/
When I get wealthy or win MegaMillions, I want Chad Hasegawa to paint the outside of my photo studio. I love his work!