Wednesday, July 18, 2018

Tools for the Job - Star Wars - Process

Today on the blog I have for you the process and steps that went into a not so recent Star Wars character illustration produced for the Imperial Assault expansion, Jabba's Realm. The assignment called for an Aqualish to be selecting the right weapons for a pending mission. This was my first chance to illustrate an Aqualish and I had a blast doing it. Before we have a look at the process, here is how the final illustration turned out...

Tools for the Job
Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm
14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board
Art Director - Deb Freytag
Original - SOLD
© 2016 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

As always I started with reference photos and thumbnails. I wanted to do the bird's eye view composition from the beginning, but decided to do some more straight forward compositions too. It does not hurt to cover your bases. The size and limitations of the final card did have an effect on what I was going to do. The Imperial Assault cards tend to be VERY tiny. Here is how the thumbnails turned out...

Tools for the Job - Thumbnails
© 2016 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Speaking of photo reference, here for your enjoyment are some of the images I was working with to create this illustration...

Tools for the Job - Reference photos
Photos by Achsa Nute

Thankfully thumbnail "C" was the winner since, as I said before, it was the one I wanted to do from the beginning. It was now time to get started on the final drawing. Not much to share about the drawing, I drew it, scanned it, and turned it in. If I remember correctly, there were no notes or changes needed. Here is how the final approved drawing turned out...

Tools for the Job - Drawing
Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm
17 x 14 - Pencil on paper
Art Director - Deb Freytag
Original - Available soon
© 2016 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Time for painting! This one came together fairly quickly. Not drama or issues that I recall. The focus is all on the figure an the weapons, so the rest is kind of loose with all the detail on the subject. A quick and straight forward painting does not make for an exciting story on the blog. Hopefully the images can tell a better story of how this being created. Here are some images of the painting coming together in ten easy steps...

Tools for the Job - Process steps
© 2016 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Please understand that the image looks more like the final image throughout the process, the photos I take during the process just do not do the painting any favors. Here is an animated progression of the painting so that you can better see the steps coming together...

Tools for the Job - Animated process
© 2016 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

If you may or may not have noticed I made sure to put this Aqualish in some orange. Because Aqualish always look great in orange. Ponda Baba now and forever! Here again is how the final Tools for the Job illustration turned out as well as the final production card. If you missed it last year, the art was used on a different card which allowed it a bit more room to breath and show itself off. Always nice when that happens,

Tools for the Job
Star Wars Imperial Assault - Jabba's Realm
14 x 11 - Acrylic and pencil on board
Art Director - Deb Freytag
Original - SOLD
© 2016 Lucasfilm, Ltd. TM Lucasfilm, Ltd. Under license to Fantasy Flight Games

Tools for the Job in handy dandy card form

That's all for another exciting Wednesday on the blog, see you back here on Friday! Until then...

For more samples of my work or to contact me regarding my availability head over to my website: www.christopherburdett.com

No comments:

Post a Comment