Sketchbook: System404

system404 · Mar 2010

Want to get back on doing some color studies to further improve my painting skills. I'll also be posting any other work I might be working on (3d, graphic design, etc.) Critiques and comments are always welcomed.

KateC · Mar 2010

Woah, super nice. Love the colours on the first one especially.

ENODMI · Mar 2010

Love how youre building those eyes out, really nice!

Spatz · Mar 2010

Really nice!

man_o_mule · Mar 2010

damn man, those are hot. gonna have to realyl study your step by steps. thanks for those!

system404 · Mar 2010

Wow thanks for the kind words everybody.

I always wanted to do one of those cheap paperback covers, here's my attempt at it.
I'm also adding the progress image and the palette I used, if anyone's interested on that sort of stuff.
All done in Photoshop in about 2 hours.

crasong · Mar 2010

Very nice! I'm lovin the colour choice!

"well I guess he.....had his last laugh"

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

bbob · Mar 2010

Great stuff mate, been following your work with great enthusiasm, especially your steampunk stuff, which is beyond top notch..

system404 · Apr 2010

Thanks for the comments.

Here's a heavy repaint I kind of gave up on. Don't know if I'll ever finish him.

ZacD · Apr 2010

Finish it please. Its like 90% there and looks awesome.

system404 · Apr 2010

I might finish him someday, right now i'm just in no mood to do it.:)

Here's another study. Wanted to do something a little bit looser but still readable. Not to happy on that front, kept going back and refining it. Need to be a bit more looser and confident with future paintings. Also played more with color. Used 5 colors plus white and black for the whole piece. Critiques and comments are always welcomed.

bounchfx · Apr 2010

I'm not going to critique you, but I'm going to say I really love your style, please do more. don't make me beg.

Slum · Apr 2010

fantastic work in here, really great.

system404 · Apr 2010

Thanks a lot guys.

Here's some 20-30 min sketch using the same color palette.

peppi · Apr 2010

Brilliant work!

Muzzoid · Apr 2010

Really nice mate

.

Those portraits from ref?

system404 · Apr 2010

Thanks for the comments. Yeah those portraits are from reference.

system404 · Apr 2010

Another quick set. Trying out some new brushes. About 30 - 40 min a piece.

bounchfx · Apr 2010

holy shit man, the newest 3, my new favorites.

system404 · Apr 2010

Did this for fun, was really inspired by Askhat's (Conte) sketchbook. After seeing his progression I really wanted to paint something.

Spatz · Apr 2010

great updates man! keep rockin!

system404 · Apr 2010

Thanks Spatz!

New one's I did this week.

This one started as a sketch with no reference, but as I painted him more he looked like Nixon. Ended up pulling a Nixon picture to finish him up. Doesn't quite look like the former president, looks kinda like Dan Aykroyd playing Nixon.:\

Critiques and comments are always welcomed.

ENODMI · Apr 2010

That heavy repaint is sick as all hell, finish him!! All that left is the boots! THE BOOTS!

system404 · May 2010

LOL, I will probably finish him later. I really just don't feel in the mood to get it done.:poly124: It just once the feeling is gone it's like you might as well call it done.

Here's a quick one I was able to squeeze in between some work.

HonkyPunch · May 2010

Honestly I almost like your heavy more than the default.
Seriously, it's beautiful. I am super envious of your painting skill.
Someday...

Emeriastone · May 2010

Love the Hwg repaint. Plus, very impressive painting there, thanks for sharing!

I also wanted to ask, are you painting in photoshop, or something else? And what tablet model are you using? Just curious.

system404 · May 2010

Hey guys thanks for the comments. I do all my painting with Photoshop on an Intous 3.

willy-wilson · May 2010

If you don't mind me asking, what brush did you use on that last one i really love the way it looks.

Devin Busha · May 2010

Incredible style man! Really digging the brushwork and process shots. Also, you MUST complete that Heavy repaint! It's wicked!

system404 · May 2010

Thanks again for the comments.

willy-wilson - I used just two brushes for that painting. One for creating the underpainting and another to fill it out.

I included a gif to show the buildup.

Here's a rar with all the brushes I've used for all the paintings posted.

bounchfx · May 2010

dude, thanks! that flat bristle brush looks awesome. I'll do a portrait tonight with it. it's been forever since I've done one anyhow.

keep up the awesome work

willy-wilson · May 2010

i agree about the heavy repaint, it looks awesome and makes me want to try something like that with one of the other classes.

VianReps · May 2010

Inspiring - thanks for sharing these.

system404 · Jun 2010

Haven't been able to post my latest until now. Here's what I worked in the last couple of months.

And John Carter of Mars. Kinda gave up on him, might finish him someday.

Zack Fowler · Jun 2010

Really great stuff. Thanks for showing so much of your process as well, very cool.

Carl Brannstrom · Jun 2010

Excellent work!

Very well placed strokes.

Uly · Jun 2010

really great stuff man, love the paintings and the HWG repaint. : ) keep it up!

marlfox8 · Jun 2010

awesome i love your paintings

Chemical Alia · Jun 2010

Wow, your paintings all have a great sense of lighting and the color schemes are beautiful. It would be nice to see a little more selective detail in a few of these to bring out the focal point a bit more, but they're seriously awesome.

system404 · Jun 2011

Wow it's been a year! I have been extremely busy at work to do much at home, here's the latest sketches.

These next screens are what's been taking most of my time at home, trying to do a level for a sidescroller.

As you can see it's still WIP, the foliage is from Unreal. The final ones will be something more stylized to match the rest. Any critiques or question will be greatly appreciated.

Daven · Jun 2011

holy crap! Your work is incredible... I think I'm salivating.

leslievdb · Jun 2011

great work , i really like the use of color in your paints

system404 · Jul 2011

Thanks guys!

Here's more environment studies

And here's the latest portrait study

lampekap · Jul 2011

amazing colours!

bbob · Jul 2011

Please do keep them coming, loving it all to bits..

phats · Jul 2011

ah man! this work is rude.. nice flows

pictoglyphic · Jul 2011

Absolutely incredible work. I could stare at this stuff for hours!

system404 · Aug 2011

Last week I left Shadows in darkness after almost 8 years, going to be taking a break. These next images were done this week. I won't be posting again for a month since I'm moving and I'm packing my machine up. I hope to come back and do a lot more work on the sketchbook more frequently.

As always critiques and comments are welcomed.

Joseph Silverman · Aug 2011

Extremely inspiring!

Kot_Leopold · Aug 2011

I'm not a 2d guy by any means (yet) but these are some of the most amazing works I've ever seen! And I've seen a lot of work!

Daven · Aug 2011

Very awesome. Your attention to detail is masterful and I love your lighting compositions.

Sketchbook: System404

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