Nick's Rage Against the Machine Spot

[screenpainter]

wow the Trojan horse is just amazing! awesome new work Nick.

[Mairzie Dotes]

Nickillus,
Your recent offerings are really stunning pieces. The first "gripping"
expression seems as if this imaginary soul might be caught in ... as
they say ... a vicious cycle, constricted against his will by negative
forces. The second, a foreign object has just landed and by the
look of this ominous interloper, I doubt that there will be a welcoming
committee and the third, a true Trojan horse biblical account brought
to life with your impressive artistry. All are excellent works of art ...
what a talent you are!

[Caesar]

It's always a sheer delight to discover Your new creations, dear Nick!
The Trojan horse didn't use a backdoor this time, but the Scaen Gate itself and infected all our computers with an amazingly good illustration!
Thanks for sharing and whenever You're missing for a while we do know it's good news for both You, who are hopefully working and earning, and for us, who are going to enjoy some further marvel sooner or later ...

[Nickillus]

Many thanks chaps. You guys are always so kind.

The horse piece had to be finished and go off, and I can't show it until after it's published, sorry. Not as detailed in the end as I would have liked because time didn't allow, but it's OK I guess. You'll have to decide for yourself when it's fair game again.

Meanwhile the creature one has got to here so far.

[Caesar]

This last WIP is wonderful and it reminded me of something.
I saw on a tutorial of Yours, on ImagineFX I think, that You've got a software also useful for perspectives and also to put in pespective and perhaps distort too (as in this latter illustration) regular textures such as brick walls etc.
Could You please remind it to me and give me an idea of what You use beyond it, AR and Photoshop for specific purposes?
I got also Photoshop PS, I don't use as yet, and Artweaver, but it doesn't seem as immediate as AR to use or that useful as a complement ...
Thank You!

[Nickillus]

Hi Caesar - and thanks again.

You have a good memory. I used a software called DrawPlus (Serif) which is a sort of Adobe Illustrator alternative - much cheaper and I find it easier to use. I did as you suspected and made a grid of rectangles and distorted it using the 'mesh tool' in Drawplus, using a jpeg copy of the picture to place it properly.

Then I exported only the brick drawing object as a jpeg and imported it to a layer in the original image, setting it to multiply so that only the dark lines show. Could have done it as a png file if I wanted too, which includes the transparency of course.

You can see it in the grab taken from DrawPlus (didn't bother with showing the palettes etc). Made the pattern way too big as you can see but it didn't matter meant I could move it a bit to get it how I wanted.

I do use Photoshop occasionally but not that often - except to final process files for maximum compatibility. I'm tending to turn more to the much cheaper Serif equivalent PhotoPlus for that too though.

Only thing - Serif software is pc only as far as I know. Suits me but rules Mac users out.

[Caesar]

Thank You very much once again, dear Nick!
I wish I could do anything to repay You and Your time for such a kindness.
Should You find any texture (I showed some I turned into stickers) or character or any other discovery I post be of any use for You, pls let me know and I would be glad to supply You with.
In the meanwhile .... best wishes and blessings for the forthcoming holidays!

[Mairzie Dotes]

Nickillus,
Oh my! The latest creature revisions are spectacular! I think I can now
understand his fastidious intent of making certain that his metaphorical
underpants are washed with aromatically scented soap because sewer
(or nightmare) meanderings or not, a well fragranced entity is to be
admired for attempting to upgrade his disagreeable circumstances to the
positive. The artistry and imaginative concept is to be admired. A stunning
and most evocative piece!

[Nickillus]

Thanks Caesar - no problem - and thanks for the generous offer. I'll bear it in mind of course and very much appreciate the thought. Good tidings to you and your kin this seasonal time of year too.

Wow Mairzie - What an eloquent and ingeniously thought out word play. You are some kind of writer surely! Thanks for taking the time and effort to put that together. Really makes me appreciate how I ought to take more care picking the words I sling down in almost haphazard fashion. Guess that's why I'm not a writer - yet.

Here's something else speeding through the Wacom-ArtRage work-flow for a little job. Won't be able to show anything after this of it until it becomes formed in paper and ink - by which time it will hopefully have evolved into something more subtlely coloured and better formed. As you can see, I still go mad with the number of layers, although the majority of the dragon painting is restricted to one.

[Mairzie Dotes]

Wow Mairzie - What an eloquent and ingeniously thought out word play.
You are some kind of writer surely! Thanks for taking the time and effort
to put that together. Really makes me appreciate how I ought to take
more care picking the words I sling down in almost haphazard fashion.
Guess that's why I'm not a writer - yet.

Nickillus,
If I were a betting budding wannabe artist I would venture to say that
your writing abilities may well be as notable as your talent as an artist.


Here's something else speeding through the Wacom-ArtRage work-flow for
a little job. Won't be able to show anything after this of it until it becomes
formed in paper and ink - by which time it will hopefully have evolved into
something more subtlely coloured and better formed. As you can see, I
still go mad with the number of layers, although the majority of the
dragon painting is restricted to one.

If only this fire breathing dragon were flying near that cold distressed
moon that I witnessed last night, the heat from his formidable steamy
breath would have provided welcomed warmth for her majesty's lunar
chills. Excellent dragonly beginnings and I will be sure to keep my
distance lest his expressive disposition singe my girlish eyelashes off.