Goblin concepts for Jon Lewis's Grey Griffins Project.

Goblins

Here's a cover I did a while back, that I can finally show. For Philip Reeve's GOBLINS, published by Scholastic. When I come up for air, I'll try to post some sketches  for this. Take care-S.

creature head with process GIF

Storm Entry

Hope everyone who got hit with Sandy managed okay and is doing well now.

Just going to post a few random things that have been sitting around the HD. I tend to get either too busy or distracted (or lazy) and forget to post all the little doodles and scribblings I do on a daily basis. These don't include all the other traditional media scribbles I tend to do ...and am too lazy to scan. I'll try to be better about this in 2013. Gotta get it together already.

today's Sunday sketch session

just a quickie

This next batch of sketches were done using ProCreate- my favorite sketching app for the iPad. Going to look into getting  a pressure-sensitive stylus soon. 

Did this interior b/w art for ABDO / Magic Wagon Pub. using ProCreate as well.

These are some screenshots when I was tinkering with 3D a bit more. I haven't had a chance to pursue it lately, but I'm itching to get back into it...learn more and improve. It's pretty fun. Top image is Sculptris while the others are Zbrush.

Lastly, every now and then I get a moment to tinker with some noise making. Feel free to DL at will if you like : https://soundcloud.com/mathmatica/nitvo

Be well everyone- S.

new World of Warcraft TCG card art

Just saw this card was released for Blizzard's World of Warcraft TCG. Nothing like a magical hammer right to the bread-basket. Uhhhh

S.

Adventures in Extreme Reading : Book #2

This is the second book in the new series by Jan Fields, and published by ABDO / Magic Wagon.
I had hoped to do a mini-interview with Jan for this post, but time has been quite limited. Hopefully next cover post I can get it done. Thanks for checking folks -S.

From the Archives -a Hobbit

I was digging through the HD this evening and came across this image which I believe may be over 2 years old now. Quarto / Quintet Publishing had asked me to do an instructional for their book, so I have some of the steps saved. At the time they had planned for the instructional to coincide with the new Peter Jackson The Hobbit movies , but with all the director switches and  delays the book was completed much earlier.

Nothing too fancy here - I think I was definitely influenced by the skin tones of Haddon Sundblom , while creating this little guy.
Okay - hopefully next post I'll have something a bit more recent. Thanks for checking in -S.

let's dance

5.27.2012


I started a tumblr - which will likely mirror what I post on my blog, but I may repost older work there to serve as an all-purpose place to host images. Here's the link : http://scottaltmann.tumblr.com/

I also update my Store with some originals. If there are any prints that you don't see listed in the store, please feel free to email me and I will likely be able to get it done.

For some images here are some two Young Adult book covers:

Following the Sword of Light cover, here is book #2: Lance of Truth by Katherine Roberts:

Also here is the first wraparound cover for a new series I am doing for ABDO / Magic Wagon
titled "Adventures in Extreme Reading: Hack Attack ". I'm only through Book 1 but I am really liking this series so far:

I realize it's been quiet here - NDA's have been cramping my blogging.  I did grab a moment to try out the free 3d program Sculptris. I have never done 3D before and I didn't even bother with any tutorials - just started pulling and pushing. I have to admit - I kind of loved it. I hope to continue with Sculptris and eventually head into Zbrush.  This stuff is too fun.

The paint job was done in Photoshop CS3 which doesn't take advantage of the 3D paint abilities of CS5.  Time to upgrade I think!

Here's a cover I did for "The Selfish Giant" being published by Oxford University Press. It may be a while before I can show the interiors since publish date may be a bit away.

I'm also posting the sketch they didn't go for, but I strongly prefer it. At least it can now exist on this blog.

Thanks for checking in- I'll try to update soon.-S.

After the cover, I was asked by Templar to create some character designs/ images for promotion and such. This was really fun , and I wish publishers did this with every book. It's really great being able to explore characters that you might not get the chance to illustrate for the cover.

I also have to give Katherine Roberts and the fine folks at Templar UK praise for the character development of Rhianna.  This is one of the few times that I have ever been asked to make a character less attractive and a bit grittier. You can see the development in the top sketches below. 

Thanks for stopping in!

-S.

Wrapping this exercise up. I'm not satisfied with many aspects of it , but I did learn a ton from doing this and I'm excited to try another one. Thanks for everyone's input on this. It made the exercise even more beneficial than I originally hoped.  Big thanks to Nigel Quarless -whose blog you can check out here:

http://mixedbagmythography.blogspot.com/  

Got a huge amount of valuable info from him that has really altered my thinking of designing characters.

There's a huge batch of work that's under NDA right now, but I'll be back with soon with plenty of new covers to show soon. Take care everyone -S.

Some more progress on this character. Think I'll do at least more iteration of her and then move onto something else.
I wanted to thank all of you who have commented and gave me valuable crits. It is greatly appreciated - sincerely. Please always feel free to leave me your thoughts- I really value it!

Have a great weekend folks and thanks for stopping by!-

S.

W.I.P.
Getting quite busy over here, but wanted to post a little something . Here's a WIP of a character design I've been playing with between jobs. I'll try to update as soon as possible. Thanks for stopping in!