Check out this amazing free App from Autodesk and markeless MOCAP from Faceshift

Autodesk has some amazing Apps that allow you to create 3d images directly through your mobile phone or Ipad. You can also down load these files for 3D printing  . Also check out the markerless facial motion capture ( mocap) from Faceshift. If you are into 3D, these tools could be very essential to your pipeline so visit the website links below, and check them out at the Apps store . The  Apps from Autodesk are free, but the markeless facial motion software could cost you $,1500.00 it is still cheaper than what you would have to pay for a mocap system.


 http://www.faceshift.com/  

http://www.autodesk.com/mobile-apps

Free software you may want in your tool box

There are three major free software packages out there that you may want in your tool box. If you love doing digital painting modeling and animation or now even sculpting you don't have to buy the expensive Software out there especially if you are just beginning and want to learn.  They are open source which means they are free to use for commercial use as well, you may just have to mention the software or developers names in your project.

The first one if you are into 3D animation, or modeling some of you may already know is a program called Blender it is a very well developed open source program that has been used to produce animated shorts that look very professional just like the big boys Maya and 3DSMax. This is always being developed and updated. The user interface may take a little getting use to, but you can take your projects to completion from modeling, UV layout, rigging and animating. For you game developers and video editors that is possible as well.

The animation above was an open source project that was created through the Blender foundation a few years ago, but it was created in Blender.www.blender.org/‎

The next open source software that will be great to use is Gimp.This one also has an interface you may have to get use to. Gimp is a photo editing software similar to Photoshop. If you are into digital painting this is for you. its simple to use and best of all its free! It handles different file formats such as JPEG. PNG, GIFF, AN TIFF, so this is a valuable tool to have as well, if you are a photographer you can edit your photos, you can use it to texture your 3D models and of course as I mention before you can paint digitally.http://getgimp.com/lp/index.php?pk=6542

The last and third free software which is fun to use, is Sculptris its free from Pixologic the creators of Zbrush.

You can digitally sculpt humans, animals, monsters, or what ever you desire to get your ideas out. This is a baby version of Zbrush were you can be an artist and just create freely without the technical side of other modeling packages. Its has a symmetry mode that allows you to work on both sides of your sculpture. There are a hand full of  brushes and painting tools such as alphas, bump painting and other materials you can use  to add detail to your sculptures. The other good feature is that you can integrate it with Zbrush with the GoZ feature, but you have to have both Zbrush and Sculptris installed on your computer. http://pixologic.com/sculptris/features/

Well take a look at these open source software, if you are planning to work on a project , want to learn or even just want have fun creating, I'm sure you will be satisfied with the result, and remeber best of all they are free!

Overview digital painting process

This video shows some of my technique for producing my digital paintings. I sometimes change the process depending upon what needs to be done. Before I start any painting I do little thumbnail drawings which are little 1inch by 2 inch drawings nothing concrete just some drawn quickly to get the idea down with  for a painting. When I figure out which direction to go I choose the best thumbnail drawing. I then search the Internet for reference by doing Google searches. you can find a lot of nice photos on there. When I finally find what I am looking for I begin to flesh out my drawing with detail using the reference. I then move onto coloring by scanning my drawing into the computer usually at 300dpi, because I intend to print my images for sell or just to have. My color pallet depends on the look I am going for. This image had a lot of dark colors and textures that I also found on the net. This video is pretty fast, so I will post a slower one showing more steps in slower motion, so you can see more of the process and tools . .

Tools I use for traditional painting

     I always get asked "what kind of materials do you use to do your paintings?" Well I use different mediums. I started out just doing images in black and white using pencil and charcoal, but over the years, I taught myself how to paint using oils; after that I switched to doing my art digitally ,which I will talk about in another post. Lately I went back to doing paintings with acrylics, which I have never done before, but It seemed to work out fine.

    On to the materials.
 
     The oils I prefer to use are water base oils made by Winsor & Newton and they are called Artisan. I like them , because  not only can they be thinned with water  they are  also practically odorless. You can purchase them at Hobby Lobby or Michael's and more than likely other art stores.
     The brushes ,I don't buy the expensive type, I just buy the ones you can get in a pack. I tend to work with anything that can get the job done.
      The other material I use of course is the canvas I don't have a special kind as long as its not the canvas board for me I try to get the paint blended in to the canvas much as possible, the board doesn't allow me to do that.
        If I do use turpentine, I use a odorless one called Turpenoid, its not the only one out there, but it works for me. Last but not least I use a folding medal easel which can be folded and put away when I'm done. Well other than that,  those are the tools I use to create my paintings nothing really special.
Next time I will talk about my digital painting process, so thanks for taking time to read my post.

Look Out Here Comes The" ARMY BRATS "comic book!

Coming soon from Kev J Art and Design , a story about four young Army Children who become close friends, while stepping out on many unexpected adventures.
https://www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign

New contest!

As promised there is a new contest this month. This month I will be giving away the Mother and Child print to who ever shares this image and gets the most likes. This image is 12.5"x15.5" and is printed on archival water color paper the image will last up to 100 years in doors. The contest starts now and will end on Saturday March the 16th. http://www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign

Joining team at Airship 27 Productions

 Ron Fortier

We're thrilled to announce that artist Kevin A. Johnson of Colorado Springs, CO, has signed on to paint the cover to SINBAD 

 Kevin Johnson

This is an honor to be working with such an outstanding writer Ron Fortier who is very accomplished and has work on many well known books such as the Terminator, Incredible Hulk, and The Green Hornet and many more. 

This is a fun  project to be working on. Sinbad is an exciting character,and I watched those movies over and over again. I can't wait for the book to come out.

 

And The Winner Is

Last weeks contest winner Mrs. Christy Watts holding the "Mother Nature " print. Coming soon early next month a new contest. Look for it on  http://www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign

Contest Winner

Congratulations to Mrs. Christy Watts she is the winner of the "Mother Nature" Print with a total of 19 Likes. There were a total of 57 shares. Thanks to everyone who participated and thanks to everyone who helped me get the word out. Look next month for a new contest.

http://www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign

New Contest

O.k. since this contest was so much fun, I decided to start another Contest. This is another painting that was recently finish titled" Mother Nature" to participate in this one please like my page and once again share this image. Who ever gets the most likes will receive a free "16x20" print of this image the deadline is Feb 2, 2013. Good Luck!www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign

Contest News

Congratulations to Mrs. Purser, she won first place in the Like art contest on http://www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign She will be a receiving  "16x20" print of my new painting " Rhythm". I will be hosting another contest soon so keep checking in.

CONTEST

First Contest on www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign Hello Facebook family and friends I am hosting a Contest check it out on www.facebook.com/KevJArtAndDesign this is how it works. Share my new painting titled "Rhythm", who ever receives the most likes by February 2, 2013 will receive a "16x20" print of my new painting.