Here's something done a while back.

Mila Film

So here's a color key I did early last year for "Mila" the short film I'm Art Directing. There's a nice article on Mila and it's Creator/Director Cinzia Angelini over at Characters Engage.com. As you can see from the article we're still looking help. So if your interested you can contact Cinzia directly at Milafilm.com. Please help spread the word! Thanks

Happy New Year everyone. Here's a quick sketch to get the New Year started.

Spectrum 18

So I just recieved my copy of Spectrum 18. Here's the pieces of mine that made it in. There's some really beautiful work by some great artists in this years edition and I'm proud to be a part of it.

So little time to work on my own stuff lately. Anyhow here's a quickish sketch exploring some ideas. Couldn't figure out which version I preferred so figured I'd post all three, although I guess it does also show the progress of the piece.

Painter

Sketching in painter.

New website.

So the new site is up. Still have a few pieces to add and I'm sure I'll be tweaking a few things but at least it's up. www.richardsmitheman.com. Cheers.

Mila development art

So here's a piece of development art I did recently for the Mila project. It's based on a real building in the town of Trento in Italy which is where the story of Mila takes place. I wanted to stay faithful to the original architecture while at the same time try and push the proportions and give it more of an animation type appeal.  Lots more of these to do. I'm sure by the time I finish the last one I'll want to go back and redo this, but for now this is it.

On the Spectrum front, it looks like they are going to publish the two environments (below) I submitted.  Really pleased they chose two pieces, I was not expecting that.  Can't wait to see them published!

Spectrum 18!!!

 I'm in! I can't tell you how psyched I am to have made it. These are the five pieces I submitted. Not sure at this point which made it, I guess I'll find out in the next week or so.

And yeah I know, my posting of late has been pathetic! My job over the last few months consumed me in many ways. Finished up last Friday and between looking for a new gig I've been busy with art direction on a friends short. It's called Mila and it's the creation of the very talented Cinzia Angelini. You can find out more about the project here. It's a great project and I'm proud to be a part of it but as with everything in life something else has to give. In this case my own work. Anyhow I will, I promise be posting more here soon. I have lots of half finished pieces which hopefully I'm going to have time to finish over the next few weeks. Watch this space!
   

Work in Progress

Well dear visitor I figured it was high time that I at least do something in the way of an appearence on my own blog. I have been so busy lately with work its given me little time to work on my own stuff. The small amount of free time I have had has been focused on doing color studies which are not really fit to post but more for my own edification. So here below is an oldie. This is a work in progress which after this point the image got turned upside down and became the piece that you'll find under the June 26th post. To be honest I think in hindsight I prefer this version, possibly being a case of simpler is better. Anyhow as you can see this version never got finished and will most likely not be. So here it is in all it's unfinished glory.

BTW, I'd be curious to know which version you prefer.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

I try to sketch as much as I can, whether it's in front of the tv or at my desk. I don't like sketchbooks, never have. I get far to precious with them, especially the more expensive types and find that I don't want to waste them on mindless doodles. But it's those doodles that tend to produce some of the more interesting ideas. So I use animation paper or even just cheap copy paper. The less attached I am while drawing the better things tend to turn out.  Sooner or later most of these doodles, good or bad end up on "the board". This serves a couple of functions, it keeps certain ideas I have which may be worth pursuing front and center. I may not be able to get to them right away and this way I'm reminded of them more so than if they were just another file on the computer. It's also good to just stand back every now and then and see where I'm at. I love this old board and it's constantly evolving as old pieces get taken down and new ones go up. Here's what it looks like today. In a few weeks it will have morphed into something completely different. Maybe this is one of the few advantages of drawing traditionally than on the computer with a cintiq, other than the fact that personally I think nothing beats good old pencil and paper.
BTW, you can pick up these boards at just about any do-it-yourself center for about ten bucks.

Quick Sketch

So I haven't posted as much as I would have liked recently. Among other things I've been busy working on a new website which will hopefully be up by the new year. This blog will remain, but my other sites will be consolidated into one, with what will hopefully end up being a better way to view things. It's a lot of work but should be pretty cool once it's done. I've also been working on a piece that I will hopefully be able to share soon. In the meantime here's a really quick little sketch from this morning.

Speed painting

Quick sketch from this morning.

Background Test

So here's a piece I did for a background test a little while back. It needed to be in a similar style to the Kung Fu Panda opening sequence. Wasn't really given any direction as far as the pallet goes and the rough was pretty vague so I figured I'd have some fun with it.

 

Listening to A Perfect Circle's, Thirteenth Step. Brilliant album!