Monday, November 24, 2014

'Phoenix 9' and VFX breakdown

No posts recently, since I've got too much work and no time for personal stuff. I'm heavily concepting for a couple of exciting projects, both to be announced early in 2015, I believe. However, I have a big personal project coming up but for details I'll direct you to its official website when the time comes :)

In the meantime, you can check out this short 'Phoenix 9' that debuted online a while ago, for which I prepared some matte painted post-apocalyptic elements. There is also a VFX breakdown (my additions are shown mainly at 1:16 - 1:21) with some impressive effects done in Blender. And who says it's not a production worthy app?

Sunday, October 12, 2014

Golden peak

As I mentioned in the previous post, here is an outcome of my first 'date' with World Machine -> Vue. It takes a while to set everything up but the results are quite nice. Post in Photoshop.

Saturday, October 11, 2014

'Alien construct'

On my previous hardware, Vue always crashed but since I switched to Mac, it's rock solid. So, I decided to refresh some of them long forgotten skills. Here's one quick experiment. Base layout and shapes in Maya, some ZBrush sculpting for the frozen lava/rocks and the rest in Vue. I'll be looking into World Machine next, so look out for some sexy (hopefully) mountains.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

'Downtown'

Three large scale paintings created for a night-club here, in Shanghai. Large scale (20-30k pixels wide) futuristic version of Shanghai. Multi-leveled highways and enormous towers, filled with living areas, shopping malls, parking spaces and entertainment centers. The air is filled with floating pagodas and vehicles heavily influenced by traditional Eastern style. The print outs were enhanced with LED and black lights to make the environments feel more 'alive'. For the project, I also created a couple of concepts for the bar area. If in Shanghai, you can visit the club here




Wednesday, September 24, 2014

'Quintessence Outburst'

Concept created for the latest art pack from Goverdose, a collective of Polish artists. Check out their website for some serious visual treat.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Design Sketching Series - Ep.1 - Our traditional and digital tools

The first introductory clip is online and, hopefully, is watchable :) In it, I go over some traditional and digital tools I'll be using throughout Digital Sketching Series. Get your pencils ready!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

'Killing Floor'

'Killing Floor', personal work. Inspired by short story 'Johnny Mnemonic' by W. Gibson. Molly taking on yakuza goon. Good luck, pal. PS + Copic pens.

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

'Creation'

Personal piece. Mixture of Photoshop and Copic Multiliners. Prepared for the upcoming series of YouTube tutorials.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Hellfire X-3

One of the projects started during recent Gnomon Master Classes. Never had time to finish it but eventually found a while. The rifle is a part of several connected designs (the rest are: character, environment, vehicle and creature), so hopefully more will follow.


Tuesday, September 9, 2014

'Jade Dragon Club'

In 'Jade Dragon Club' you have to be careful what you're saying... Personal work, mix of Indiana Jones, cyberpunk and ...jade exoskeletons? Well, why not?

Friday, August 22, 2014

'Eject!'

When things get a bit too hot, what else can you do but eject? Personal concept.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

'Store' is up and running

'Store' section has been added to my website. For now, prints and licensing options are available, with tutorials and other stuff coming soon.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

'Store' section coming soon

Just a quick update about a 'Store' section that will be added to my official portfolio soon. It will feature several options that might be of interest to some of you, namely:

1. Prints: I will be offering selected artworks as high quality prints, something to mess up your walls ;) You can already find the first images on my Society6 profile.

2. Tutorials: I will be creating several longer tutorials, filled with useful stuff (I think) and put them out there via popular Gumroad service. In addition to these paid ones (but affordable, I promise), I will be updating my YouTube channel with free, shorter video tutorials, covering various tips and tricks. Gumroad will also contain some freebies like wallpaper-size images and, in the future, free e-books (the first one with cool pen/marker sketches and some tips regarding the use of those).

3. Licensed images: if you are looking for sci-fi artworks for your eBook, presentation, indie game, etc. but you are on a tight budget, this may be an offer for you - I will be offering many of my personal artworks for use in such projects. Currently, I have over 70 high-resolution artworks on the constantly growing list.

So, a bunch of stuff is coming. I'll keep you updated, also make sure to check my AK-ART Facebook account for more updates.

'The deal'

'OK, boys, put the money bag on the scanner and step back. Slowly...' Yep :) It's 'The deal', another personal piece, in my all-time favourite cyberpunk style. Hope you guys dig it.

Friday, August 15, 2014

'Morning stroll'

Before new prefessional project begins, time for some fresh content. Here's the first, cheerful piece :) Nouveau riche girl with her personal bodyguard and pet rabbit on a morning stroll, probably to visit latest boutiques. The bodyguard is customized Sato-3 from Sakura-Otomo Inc., used more as a display of status than anything else. The girl is wearing a quasi-traditional dress, probably nagged to do so by her parents. Electronic AI-driven pet is cute but a bit unpredictable, so an old-school leash is somewhat a necessity. It adds, however, a bit of a classic feel to this idyllic snapshot.

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Updated demo reel - August 2014

Finally updated my demo reel with several new shots taken from projects done during the past year. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Friday, July 18, 2014

#GALAXY11: The Match Part 2

Forget the World Cup - the second and final part of 'The Match' is out! Did we manage to save the planet? Well, watch and find out!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

'Crackdown for Xbox One' trailer

Here's another game trailer I worked on recently to get it ready for this year's E3 - 'Crackdown for Xbox One'. I created several matte painting projections of the cityscape, visible in various shots, the main ones for city reveal at 0:10, sniper scope POV at 1:10-1:15 and tower destruction at 2:13-2:14. Enjoy the trailer!


Here's a bit of info (required to be attached by the client):

All new Crackdown for Xbox One!

The long-awaited new installment of a gaming favorite! Microsoft is bringing a whole new meaning to open world gaming and Axis has had the joy of bringing that vision to life in our brand new trailer for Crackdown on Xbox One.

The Agency is back and it's time to show what new tricks they have up their nano-tech sleeves. The reveals will blow you away....!

Director Stephen Donnelly worked closely with the Art and Design team on the game to create a unique visual style that’s simply stunning. This feast for the eyes will set your heart racing and move you to the edge of your seat as our highly choreographed chain of events unfolds and defies expectations.....

It’s bigger, it’s better and it’s new and exclusive for Xbox One.

Copyright by Axis Animation & Microsoft.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Samsung's 'Galaxy 11' concepts

I added to portfolio a hefty selection of concepts prepared for Samsung's 'Galaxy 11' - a scifi-themed advertising campaign. Check out the sets, vehicles and props I created for the first two clips. Click here to view the gallery!

UPDATE: The gallery has been featured on the main page of Behance.net and TheDigitalAge.com, generating over 9000 views in about week. Thanks, guys!

Friday, June 20, 2014

'Halo' trailer concepts online

I added to my portfolio some of the concepts created for the latest 'Halo' trailer. I hope you guys dig them. Just follow this link.

Monday, June 16, 2014

Concept sketches

For a change, something in a bit different style, more focusing on design.




Friday, June 13, 2014

'Halo: The Master Chief Collection' trailer

Here's the first trailer from this year's E3 I contributed to, creating concepts for one of the sequences. I'm sure most of you will recognize or at least have heard of this little franchise ;)

Tuesday, June 10, 2014

#GALAXY11: The Match Part 1

The next part of Galaxy 11 campaign is out! Our team goes up to kick some ass. Check out the slick space shuttle and the whole launch site I designed. It took quite a while but I have to admit it looks pretty cool and follows the concepts very closely :) It's great to see it in action. Anyway, enjoy the first part of the game.

Monday, June 9, 2014

'Iron Cloud' concepts and matte paintings

'Iron Cloud' is an independent Polish sci-fi drama, set in a dystopian world divided into decaying, underdeveloped 'East' and modern, utopian 'West'. While working on the project, I created pre-viz animations, concepts of several locations and props as well as a couple of matte paintings.

Here are some of the concepts:

Overall view of the East.


Face-recognition scanner's HUD.

Surveillance bot-camera.

And a couple of matte paintings:

Establishing shot of the West.

One of set extensions.

Friday, June 6, 2014

Data heist

In a society, where sect-like religious groups hold power, information is the most valuable commodity. Regular citizens don’t have access to the Archives and each data heist is a life-or-death operation. Here, a couple of highly skilled thieves is trying to implement their ‘bug’ into one of the data pool ‘feeders’. The main core and the servers are being cooled by special plasma, based on liquid oxygen. Robotic sentry reacts to any movement or sound, so the operation has to be as quiet as possible, though humming cooling and shimmering data streams help a bit.

Thief, hanging on a floating rope can only use anti-gravity ankle bracelets - anything more powerful would make too much noise. Even though the thermal suit allows to withstand -50 degrees room temperature, a feeder has to hacked into manually, thus the whole operation can’t take longer than a couple of minutes. Otherwise, due to hypothermia, navigating through the system efficiently would be impossible.

Wednesday, June 4, 2014

A bunch of news

Sorry for the lack of updates, been quite busy recently creating concepts and matte paintings for two cinematic trailers that will be featured (or at least should be) on this month's E3 event (June 10-12). Both are big franchises and it was a blast to work on them.

'Jupiter Ascending' has been postponed till February 2015, unfortunately, so you'll have to wait a bit longer before I can upload some of the cool concepts created for the show. However, a Polish sci-fi drama 'Iron Cloud' premiers on June 8th, so soon I'll post some of the concepts and matte paintings created for the flick.

I'm also looking forward to the next chapter of 'Galaxy 11' that will feature majority of designs I prepared for the campaign. Hopefully, so are you :)

If you're on Facebook, make sure to 'Like' and follow my new profile 'AK-ART'. That's where I'll be putting all the news, WIPs, selected artworks and links to video tutorials (coming soon via my YouTube channel).

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

#GALAXY11: The Training

Next clip from Galaxy 11 is up! I did a bunch of concepts for the training sequences/interiors and the 'sparring robots' designed in collaboration with Oscar Cafaro look dope! Check it out!

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

#GALAXY11: The Beginning

Teaser of an awesome project I spent a few months on, creating tons of concepts. More kick-ass action coming soon :)

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

'Phoenix 9' is approaching

Check out this article about another sci-fi flick, 'Phoenix 9', I'm currently doing some matte work for. Nothing like a bit of post-apocalyptic fun :)

Sunday, April 6, 2014

'Iron Cloud' teaser

First short trailer for 'Iron Cloud', an independent Polish sf flick I helped on a bit. It's nice to see some of the concept and matte work coming to life. Looking forward to see the whole thing! Production also has also started generating some positive buzz over the Internet, e.g. here

For more information about the movie, check its Facebook page

Thursday, March 27, 2014

New 'Jupiter Ascending' trailer

New, kick-ass trailer for 'Jupiter Ascending' debuted today. Check it out and hold on tight. Can't wait to see the whole thing and to share some of the concepts prepared for the show :)

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Shanghai Show & Tell - March 11th

If you're in Shanghai and want to meet for a chat, this Tuesday (March 11th), you'll find me and other industry professionals there:


More info on the website: here. Make sure to drop by if you have a chance.

Sunday, March 2, 2014

Royal outfit

Concept No. 4 for 'Etherna' project. Royal outfit, somewhat inspired by traditional Chinese dresses.

Friday, February 28, 2014

'Throne room' speed painting

Trying some new '2D kit-bashing' techniques with custom brushes, around 20 min for this image. Throne room.

Chambers entrance

One more environment concept for 'Etherna' - entrance to the chambers, guarded by the royal sentinel.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Royal garden

Another concept for 'Etherna' - a small, private garden attached to the royal chambers.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Capital of Etherna

First of a series of concepts from a small personal project 'Etherna'. Overall look at the capital of the kingdom.

As always, all my personal stuff has some background story behind it :) For those interested, here it is:

In a distant future, a society of Etherna, ruled by Medieval-like noble houses, lives peacefully and prosperously. Leading House of Lanthium, whose research focuses on bionics, eugenics, rejuvenation and nano-technology, a couple decades ago managed to invent a supreme artificially created energy, called ‘Unipower’, and practically has monopolized technological industry.

Unknown to the rest of the population, House of Lanthium for decades experimented with interstellar travel, particle transfer and teleportation, keeping their research in secret in order to avoid mockery and possible damage to their hard-earned reputation. During one on countless experiments, accidentally, a gateway to a distant planet has been established. Quickly assembled research team was sent through but gravitational anomalies, radiation and lethal weather conditions on the surface killed almost all members of the expedition. Only few managed to come back (to succumb to their injuries soon afterwards) with an artefact found in ruins of some sort located near the portal. Artefact proved to be a source of almost immeasurable energy that, if carefully extracted and controlled, allows for things seemingly impossible in common physics like energy fields, telekinesis, even shape-shifting. Since the artefact’s energy flow respawns by itself, it became Lanthium secret weapon - fused with sophisticated machinery and encapsulated in small solid beads became the acclaimed ‘Unipower’.

Unfortunately, Lanthium scientists were unable to fully shut down the portal to the distant world. It has been thwarted and kept under control by the most powerful of royal psionics but their powers are slowly diminishing, in spite of advances in rejuvenation and longevity potions the House of Lanthium is known for. In the recent years, the portal grew almost three times in its size and now elements of alien radiation start making their way into Etherna. For now, they are contained within the underground ‘Portal Chamber’ but it won’t last forever. Few unfortunate scientists, exposed to the radiation, mutated and died soon afterwards in horrible agony. House of Lanthium, aware it may never be stopped, secretly started preparation for an exodus to one of the nearby planet.

Friday, February 21, 2014

Fallen

Piece done a while ago, inspired by a certain movie about big machines fighting even bigger monsters :)

Friday, January 24, 2014

Speed-bot

I feel a need... need for speed! This mech is piloted at very low altitude at insane speed in a no-holds-barred post-apocalyptic race.