RIP! That news kinda hit me on the head hard and made me think, especially that he was so much younger than I am. Great artist, with lots of potential. You never when your time is up
My condolences to his friends and family. Paul's art is amazing! I am really inspired, I just wish I heard of him earlier to say thanks for inspiring me on his own Polycount page. Rest in Peace.
Absolutely gutted by the news. The polycount community have named a Martian crater in his honor.
Super nice attention!
I was so knockout when I saw the post on astroneer blog last night, His work will always be a great inspiration. Best wishes to his friends and family.
Sincere condolences to his family, thank you Paul for all the inspiration. I still use his sci-fi doors as a computer desktop background. Truly saddened by this news, he will be missed...
I can't believe this.... When someone of this caliber passes away, even though you've never met him, you end up feeling a strong sense of loss. A testament to how talented and inspiring he was.
When I read Adam's post on facebook, I was stunned. I could't believe it.
Even though I'd never met him, I was choked up nearly in tears. Paul was a tremendous inspiration to me. Everyone I taught, everyone I worked with, every game art compatriot I ever had heard me talk about his work ad nauseum.
My condolences to all of his friends and family, and everyone who's lives were affected by his loss. I feel like I just lost one of my heroes.
I just heard the news. It's so sad, the world just became a shade darker.
I always looked forward to seeing his new stuff, it was always amazing.
It's hard for a layman to appreciate his work, but anyone that has moved verts can look at his work and just be stunned by the thought of how much time and effort was spent on one of his pieces. His attention to detail and use of references that melded with his style was unparalleled. He is one of the greats and his passing has created a vacuum in the talent pool. God speed.
I don't know why the drama. He simply asked if someone have the information... it's not like he is asking for someone to break the right of privacy of his family to talk about this matter. If no one knows what caused, we move on. No disrespect in my opinion.
I haven't been around Polycount much lately, but should have come here to share this with you (which I shared on my Facebook, as well, closer to when he passed away).
------------------------
It feels like I just lost my right hand.
Paul is my favourite artist and designer in the world. I looked up to him. He’d blush and get quiet whenever I told him that. He was this incredible sense of confidence for myself. When we'd brainstorm and wax poetic about these ideas we had (mostly art and design projects, a couple of times they were game ideas) he was the wall I could throw my ideas at. If any of them stuck then I was certain it was a good idea. I aspired for his affirmation. I dreamed of one day creating something with him; to collaborate with my favourite artist and designer in the world. It eventually happened. It's currently happening.
System Era started off as just Paul and I. I’d build some art concepts for it and we’d riff on ideas of what a game like Astroneer (or ‘the Astroneers’ as it was once called) might be like. We got so excited for its potential we’d dream even further. What would our own company be like? Who are the type of people we’d want to surround ourselves with? What would the vibe be like? Would the studio be poured concrete or exposed brick walls?
This game we were collaborating on now became a collaboration of dreams.
The dream is this song of creativity, freedom, and our teams own desire to be explorers and the piano is just getting tuned. When we’re ready to... when we try and continue playing this song... it'll be obvious we're only playing with one hand. But, we have to try and play it. The song has to be heard.
Rest in peace, Bert. I hope we play all the right chords.
It's almost been a year, is there anything special we can do to mark this anniversary?
i dont know i feel like enjoying his work is the best ? his family is still probably grieving, bringing it up again might not be a good idea. ( but what do i know )
It's almost been a year, is there anything special we can do to mark this anniversary?
i dont know i feel like enjoying his work is the best ? his family is still probably grieving, bringing it up again might not be a good idea. ( but what do i know )
his work was always great and awe inspiring, one of those people you just want to examine over every detail in an attempt to break it down. had myself looking at it again the other day, the way he mixed soft quilted spacey designs with amazing hard surface was just great and could blend and integrate those elements seamlessly.
He was a huge inspiration to me and such a waste to see such a great artist die so young. He had so many visions / stories to show the world. Nevertheless his impact lives on through the next generation looking to his ideas for inspiration and understanding.
Who knows what he might have created if he was around for a few more decades.
I think a celebration would be worthwhile, maybe there could be a contest named after him or in his memory etc. (just a thought).
Oddly I thought about him just the other day. I had his website bookmarked but it seemed to be down, I presume expired. Where's the best place to view his stuff?
Oddly I thought about him just the other day. I had his website bookmarked but it seemed to be down, I presume expired. Where's the best place to view his stuff?
Yeah his artstation has "Remembering" status pretty nice that they have done that.
That's nice of them to do that. I admire his work, and I often mention him and a few other artists when it comes to hard surface modelers. I want to say I often bring up Paul Papera, Tor Frick, and maybe one more. I wish I had the chance to talk to him. I remember vaguely seeing him in the Polycount Meetup, maybe in 2015, but didn't get a chance to talk to him.
He left a mark in the game art/game dev world, and it's interesting knowing that him and Adam started System Era Works and Astroneer just a while back, and seeing how it has grown to what it is now.
Replies
I was so knockout when I saw the post on astroneer blog last night, His work will always be a great inspiration. Best wishes to his friends and family.
Rest In Peace, Good Sir
I can only image what this guy would have created in his years going forwards. What a loss...
RIP.
sad to hear as well
When someone of this caliber passes away, even though you've never met him, you end up feeling a strong sense of loss.
A testament to how talented and inspiring he was.
Even though I'd never met him, I was choked up nearly in tears. Paul was a tremendous inspiration to me. Everyone I taught, everyone I worked with, every game art compatriot I ever had heard me talk about his work ad nauseum.
My condolences to all of his friends and family, and everyone who's lives were affected by his loss. I feel like I just lost one of my heroes.
I remember staring at his cutaways in amazement. My condolences to his friends and family.
R.I.P
I haven't been around Polycount much lately, but should have come here to share this with you (which I shared on my Facebook, as well, closer to when he passed away).
------------------------
It feels like I just lost my right hand.
Paul is my favourite artist and designer in the world. I looked up to him. He’d blush and get quiet whenever I told him that. He was this incredible sense of confidence for myself. When we'd brainstorm and wax poetic about these ideas we had (mostly art and design projects, a couple of times they were game ideas) he was the wall I could throw my ideas at. If any of them stuck then I was certain it was a good idea. I aspired for his affirmation. I dreamed of one day creating something with him; to collaborate with my favourite artist and designer in the world. It eventually happened. It's currently happening.
System Era started off as just Paul and I. I’d build some art concepts for it and we’d riff on ideas of what a game like Astroneer (or ‘the Astroneers’ as it was once called) might be like. We got so excited for its potential we’d dream even further. What would our own company be like? Who are the type of people we’d want to surround ourselves with? What would the vibe be like? Would the studio be poured concrete or exposed brick walls?
This game we were collaborating on now became a collaboration of dreams.
The dream is this song of creativity, freedom, and our teams own desire to be explorers and the piano is just getting tuned. When we’re ready to... when we try and continue playing this song... it'll be obvious we're only playing with one hand. But, we have to try and play it. The song has to be heard.
Rest in peace, Bert. I hope we play all the right chords.
Who knows what he might have created if he was around for a few more decades.
I think a celebration would be worthwhile, maybe there could be a contest named after him or in his memory etc. (just a thought).
Yeah his artstation has "Remembering" status pretty nice that they have done that.
He left a mark in the game art/game dev world, and it's interesting knowing that him and Adam started System Era Works and Astroneer just a while back, and seeing how it has grown to what it is now.