Storn

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Back from 2 weeks in Puerto Rico! Back to the studio! Back to the drawing board!

While I haven't posted much art of late, I have been busy doing art and now I can share some of it with you. First up, another oddball concept from Death Tribble. This time I was the one who pushed for doing the head inside the chest...originally, it was supposed to be a helmet with water/fluid suspending the disembodied head. I wanted to push the concept just a tad further and this is what I came up with...

Additionally, it is the first time I've done digital inks in a long time, and the first time on my wacom Cintiq. I was pretty fast and more importantly, happy with the result. Much, much easier than inking on a wacom tablet.

Next up is another private commission... Warrior with mystic sword.. the patron went into some detail on how the sword was all jaggedy and energized.

Next are two images from the first kickstarter I'm discussing today. These are from "The Skies of Danbury"... a follow up to the "Within the Devil's Reach" adventure. This is for the game, Dungeon World. The cover, followed up by an interior. You can find the already-funded Skies of Danbury kickstart here:

And for superhero lovers, this is an image for a Mutants and Masterminds Villains pack. Link to that is here and this worthy project is NOT funded yet, so it could use your help:

note: This was also digitally inked.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Storn,

 

Observe !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have corrupted them all !

LoL! Our deranged partnership is finally bearing fruit...bwhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahah!!!!!!!

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

or killer whales

Wow. Way to steal my thunder! That is a bit of awesome!!!

Re: Herophile Fantasy art

Death Tribble wanted an Evil Whale. My first go around tried to animorphasize the beastie, but DT really wanted a pretty straight up baleen whale. I gave it a bit of a "chin" growth and red eyes to hopefully push it a bit into 'eeeeevvvviilll!!" territory. But I'm not sure.

This is another in Paul T's Exalted femme fatale series. This time, it is Red Lotus Blossom, described to me as a redhead (but using an actresses very orange hair color), wearing red, and being a "sword princess" but with a naginata (if I preferred.. yes, I preferred! I get to draw swords all the time, naginatas are much more rare!)

p.s. Really, really diggin' my Cintiq!!!

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Death Tribble wanted an Evil Whale. My first go around tried to animorphasize the beastie, but DT really wanted a pretty straight up baleen whale. I gave it a bit of a "chin" growth and red eyes to hopefully push it a bit into 'eeeeevvvviilll!!" territory. But I'm not sure.

This is another in Paul T's Exalted femme fatale series. This time, it is Red Lotus Blossom, described to me as a redhead (but using an actresses very orange hair color), wearing red, and being a "sword princess" but with a naginata (if I preferred.. yes, I preferred! I get to draw swords all the time, naginatas are much more rare!)

p.s. Really, really diggin' my Cintiq!!!

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Well, Millie encouraged me to make Xmas cards. So I did the obligatory cat Xmas card starring our cats, Chrissie and Baby. Chrissie is the one wearing the santa hat. So this is the cute. Down with watered down acrylic ink.

Then we have a dear friend who is a major horror fan. Last year, I did a zombie Xmas. This year, well, how about Vampire Xmas. So, Bloody. Maybe next Xmas will be hairy (ie Loup Garou). Another acrylic, done on these cool watercolor cards that I acquired along the way somewhere. By the way, although the font was hand done, it was based on a pencil transfer from Blambot's excellent YouMurderer font.

Lastly, the divine, the last in my triad of angels.

I will put all three of these up on my FineArt America. They can make nice cards and such.

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/storn-cook.html

I'm off to Puerto Rico for Christmas. I hope to do some art while down there. I'll post it when I get back.

Re: Herophile Fantasy art

Prints, Portfolios, Princesses and Poignards!

Okay, maybe not a poignard, but I needed a 4th "p" for my alliteration. The dude does have a rapier!

So, a couple of folks asked about prints of a couple of recent pics... you can find several pieces of art available for prints in all kinds of sizes and formats here:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/storn-cook.html

Let me know if there are pics I've posted up that you would like to see as prints and I will put them up too!

Next, I have a new clipart portfolio up through LPJ Designs, featuring recent fantasy pics. Check that out here:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/108714/Image-Portfolio-Platinum-Edition-23%3A-Storn-Cook?filters=0_0_0_0

And now! More Art (yah!)

First up, the next in the Xmas Angel series... here is my Cerulean Angel.

Next, is another in the Exalted series for Paul L. Although it is Exalted, working from Paul's descriptions, I am interpreting a more restrained visual look than the usual Exalted gonzo/anime/over the top stylings I've seen from other sources.

And lastly, a fencing Spaniard for Death Tribble...

Keep the comments coming, love to hear what folks think!

Til next time...

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

CasualPlayer, I put the link to a print for Ilia below.

Prints, Portfolios, Princesses and Poignards!

Okay, maybe not a poignard, but I needed a 4th "p" for my alliteration. The dude does have a rapier!

So, a couple of folks asked about prints of a couple of recent pics... you can find several pieces of art available for prints in all kinds of sizes and formats here:

http://fineartamerica.com/profiles/storn-cook.html

Let me know if there are pics I've posted up that you would like to see as prints and I will put them up too!

Next, I have a new clipart portfolio up through LPJ Designs, featuring recent fantasy pics. Check that out here:

http://www.rpgnow.com/product/108714/Image-Portfolio-Platinum-Edition-23%3A-Storn-Cook?filters=0_0_0_0

And now! More Art (yah!)

First up, the next in the Xmas Angel series... here is my Cerulean Angel.

Next, is another in the Exalted series for Paul L. Although it is Exalted, working from Paul's descriptions, I am interpreting a more restrained visual look than the usual Exalted gonzo/anime/over the top stylings I've seen from other sources.

And lastly, a fencing Spaniard for Death Tribble...

Keep the comments coming, love to hear what folks think!

Til next time...

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

That warrior woman is off the charts amazing but I don't know if she is Exalted enough. Maybe if she had a frost giant's heart clenched in her teeth or had just cloven a mountain in twain. If she won the battle all by herself, that would be Exalted enough.

 

I wish it wasn't a contracted piece because I would love a print.[/quoteie

 

Just because it is a contracted piece doesn't mean you cannot have a print. Give me until monday, I will put it up on fine art america, and you can get prints through that website. I'm away from my main computer with its files at the moment or I would do it right now. I will come back and give up the link.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

That warrior woman is off the charts amazing but I don't know if she is Exalted enough. Maybe if she had a frost giant's heart clenched in her teeth or had just cloven a mountain in twain. If she won the battle all by herself, that would be Exalted enough.

 

I wish it wasn't a contracted piece because I would love a print.[/quoteie

 

Just because it is a contracted piece doesn't mean you cannot have a print. Give me until monday, I will put it up on fine art america, and you can get prints through that website. I'm away from my main computer with its files at the moment or I would do it right now. I will come back and give up the link.

Re: Herophile Fantasy art

Another in a series of Exalted females for Paul L. This one is a bit more horrific in its description as being during or just after bloody battle. And oh yeah, this is the first piece of digital art done with my combo birthday/Xmas present... a brand new, 22 inch, Cintiq!!!!! Oh, by all the angels of art, what a difference from a wacom tablet!!! I am one happy, jumping with joy, boy.

Note: It isn't completely digital, I did scan in fairly tight pencils done on vellum. All the color was done digitally.

Next is the first of three Angels that I'm doing for Xmas presents for Millie's family. I did a couple of angeds last time I was in Puerto Rico, on the spot, with cheap travel watercolors. We are heading for Puero Rico for my first PR Xmas, something I'm quite looking forward to!

Now, I'm taking my time and doing these in acrylic... a medium I haven't used in quite some time, but wanting to give it a go again. Inspired to go that route from a couple of coffee table talks with local friends n artists like Jeff Szuc and Steve Ellis!

It is interesting to be tackling Christian iconology... I am not a christian (very wayward jew, btw)... yet being an american, immersed in a Wasp environment, married into a Catholic one, it feels different to be painting angels as opposed to, oh, I don't know, valkyries or medusas from other religions. Like it is weird to be "right next door" to a subject matter, but apart from it too. It ain't like hundreds of famous artists haven't done angels or anything... sheesh. Yet, I feel somewhat blasphemous for tackling a subject I don't believe in..... I don't believe in medusas or valkyries... for the record.

As I was doing this, I was struck how similar doing an angel is and doing many a female superheroine. Maybe it is just my habits are so practiced they are now hard wired into my muscle memory.

Anyway, time to shut up and put up the artwork....

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Another in a series of Exalted females for Paul L. This one is a bit more horrific in its description as being during or just after bloody battle. And oh yeah, this is the first piece of digital art done with my combo birthday/Xmas present... a brand new, 22 inch, Cintiq!!!!! Oh, by all the angels of art, what a difference from a wacom tablet!!! I am one happy, jumping with joy, boy.

Note: It isn't completely digital, I did scan in fairly tight pencils done on vellum. All the color was done digitally.

Next is the first of three Angels that I'm doing for Xmas presents for Millie's family. I did a couple of angeds last time I was in Puerto Rico, on the spot, with cheap travel watercolors. We are heading for Puero Rico for my first PR Xmas, something I'm quite looking forward to!

Now, I'm taking my time and doing these in acrylic... a medium I haven't used in quite some time, but wanting to give it a go again. Inspired to go that route from a couple of coffee table talks with local friends n artists like Jeff Szuc and Steve Ellis!

It is interesting to be tackling Christian iconology... I am not a christian (very wayward jew, btw)... yet being an american, immersed in a Wasp environment, married into a Catholic one, it feels different to be painting angels as opposed to, oh, I don't know, valkyries or medusas from other religions. Like it is weird to be "right next door" to a subject matter, but apart from it too. It ain't like hundreds of famous artists haven't done angels or anything... sheesh. Yet, I feel somewhat blasphemous for tackling a subject I don't believe in..... I don't believe in medusas or valkyries... for the record.

As I was doing this, I was struck how similar doing an angel is and doing many a female superheroine. Maybe it is just my habits are so practiced they are now hard wired into my muscle memory.

Anyway, time to shut up and put up the artwork....

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

My sister recently cleaned out my parents barn (just so you think I'm not heartless, I helped too). The barn had become a holding place for all kinds of treasures...and my sister held a huge garage sale to help with her books for college. One of these "treasures" is a bit of art I did, sometime between 10-12. I'm not sure how old I was. I remember doing this piece of art. It was during classes. I'm thinking 8th grade, but it might have been some other time too. So. Without further ado, here is a piece of art from the beginning of my career. The really EARLY part of my career. Hope y'all get a chuckle. I certainly did seeing it again.

Somehow, the concept of this early piece strikes me as an awesome concept for Primetime Adventures if I was playing with Aaron Sorkin, JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon. Dunno why. For those who don't know, Primetime Adventures is a roleplaying game who's structure is very similar to pitching TV shows or mini-series. Very clever game.

And to see perhaps, some of my path... I recently got a chance to do three female characters from the same Exalted game.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

My sister recently cleaned out my parents barn (just so you think I'm not heartless, I helped too). The barn had become a holding place for all kinds of treasures...and my sister held a huge garage sale to help with her books for college. One of these "treasures" is a bit of art I did, sometime between 10-12. I'm not sure how old I was. I remember doing this piece of art. It was during classes. I'm thinking 8th grade, but it might have been some other time too. So. Without further ado, here is a piece of art from the beginning of my career. The really EARLY part of my career. Hope y'all get a chuckle. I certainly did seeing it again.

Somehow, the concept of this early piece strikes me as an awesome concept for Primetime Adventures if I was playing with Aaron Sorkin, JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon. Dunno why. For those who don't know, Primetime Adventures is a roleplaying game who's structure is very similar to pitching TV shows or mini-series. Very clever game.

And to see perhaps, some of my path... I recently got a chance to do three female characters from the same Exalted game.

Re: Herophile Fantasy art

This one is great. I can easily see Gabe making her character based off of this image.

Aww... music to my eyes!

My sister recently cleaned out my parents barn (just so you think I'm not heartless, I helped too). The barn had become a holding place for all kinds of treasures...and my sister held a huge garage sale to help with her books for college. One of these "treasures" is a bit of art I did, sometime between 10-12. I'm not sure how old I was. I remember doing this piece of art. It was during classes. I'm thinking 8th grade, but it might have been some other time too. So. Without further ado, here is a piece of art from the beginning of my career. The really EARLY part of my career. Hope y'all get a chuckle. I certainly did seeing it again.

Somehow, the concept of this early piece strikes me as an awesome concept for Primetime Adventures if I was playing with Aaron Sorkin, JJ Abrams and Joss Whedon. Dunno why.

And to see perhaps, some of my path... I recently got a chance to do three female characters from the same Exalted game.

Re: Herophile Fantasy art

Josh Mannon, the guy behind Within the Devil's Reach, is starting up another kickstarter. This time it is another 3 linked adventures connecting into Within the Devil's Reach storyline. Called Skies over Danbury. Although, from what I understand, you could do these adventures separately too. Both adventure books are for the game system Dungeon World.

If the kickstart succeeds, I will be doing the art for Skies over Danbury. So. I really hope that it does. I enjoyed doing the art for Within the Devil's Reach quite a bit. To give a little visual indication to both Josh and y'all of where I wanted to go cover wise, I worked up a preliminary sketch, very preliminary, and gave it a bit of a underpainting treatment.

I present it here to whet your appetites and to show a rare behind-the-scenes stage of what goes into a painting. Hope you like and I hope you will check out Josh's kickstarter link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jbmannon/the-skies-over-danbury-dungeon-world-adventures

Here is the underpainting for Skies over Danbury:

p.s. I haven't played Dungeon World yet, but after flipping through my swag copy of Within the Devil's Reach, I SURE DO want to. And it seems very cool how Within the Devil's Reach has questions of the players to set up parameters for the adventures to be forthcoming.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Glad you are liking folks!

Josh Mannon, the guy behind Within the Devil's Reach, is starting up another kickstarter. This time it is another 3 linked adventures connecting into Within the Devil's Reach storyline. Called Skies over Danbury. Although, from what I understand, you could do these adventures separately too. Both adventure books are for the game system Dungeon World.

If the kickstart succeeds, I will be doing the art for Skies over Danbury. So. I really hope that it does. I enjoyed doing the art for Within the Devil's Reach quite a bit. To give a little visual indication to both Josh and y'all of where I wanted to go cover wise, I worked up a preliminary sketch, very preliminary, and gave it a bit of a underpainting treatment.

I present it here to whet your appetites and to show a rare behind-the-scenes stage of what goes into a painting. Hope you like and I hope you will check out Josh's kickstarter link: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/jbmannon/the-skies-over-danbury-dungeon-world-adventures

Here is the underpainting for Skies over Danbury:

p.s. I haven't played Dungeon World yet, but after flipping through my swag copy of Within the Devil's Reach, I SURE DO want to. And it seems very cool how Within the Devil's Reach has questions of the players to set up parameters for the adventures to be forthcoming.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Even more from Death Tribble! A new take on the ol' D&D monster, Shambling Mound, with instructions to not make it massive.

And a MothMan, super villain... meybe... super hero. Wasn't clear from the description. But a bit more on the super spandex set than I've done for awhile. It was fun to return to doing that. Hope y'all enjoy!!!

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Here is some more art. More from the fertile imaginings of patron extraordinaire, Death Tribble. Nuff said.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

A couple of comments got it all wrong. Winston Churchill looked like a bulldog... not the other way around.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

My latest collection of fantasy pics for my clipart portfolio series is up at RPGnow. Link is here: http://www.rpgnow.com/product/107417/Image-Portfolio-Platinum-Edition-22%3A-Storn-Cook?filters=0_0_0_0

This collection has 6 different pics, ranging from a jungle ranger to a sorceress to a studly swordsman. Check it out. A sneak peak of all the art is available, so you can see what you are getting. All the pics are print resolution.

Just to whet the appetite, here is the cover to the collection.

I also have more from the fertile mind of Death Tribble. He wanted a "real six shooter" loup garou and a boxing british bulldog. His wish is my command!

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

I mentioned that I would let you know about another kickstarter, this time, aimed at making a bunch of villains for the superhero role playing game, Mutants and Masterminds.

Okay. That was a bit of a run on sentence. But I'm leaving it. Because I'm amused. Sorry, that kind of day, as I'm knee deep in digital work for Legend of the Five Rings Collectable Card Game. Painting always leaves me a bit loopy.

Anyway, Robert Grady, the man behind this Kickstarter, had me do one art piece as a sample. So, first, here is the link to the Kickstarter: http://kck.st/VkW0KQ

And here be the art:

Seems pretty interesting bad guys for a pretty awesome game. Check it out!

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Excellent work. I thought at first glance that Torque was wearing a peace symbol on her headband' date=' but it's actually a Mercedes-Benz hood ornament, isn't it?[/quote']

 

Yup. At that size I wuz drawing it, it was tough to make it read like the Benz ornament. I was afraid it was going to read as a peace ornament too... but then sorta shrugged, and went; "well, that is okay too, if it gets interpreted that way." So I inked and colored it and went on my merry way. But I'm glad you picked up on that little detail. Gives me a warm fuzzy.

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

So, I got the chance to do some art for a very intriguing kickstart called Sixcess Core Rulebook. They've given me the approval to show some of the art and to do a wee bit of guerrilla marketing for them.

The link will take you to the kickstarter, with a nice video, and there is a quick start pdf available too.

And here is some of the art that I did for them. First up, is a painted piece that was asked to be a "faux" Tarzan. We talked about how to make it a bit different than the Tarzan we know. Red hair was requested and that led me down a sorta viking cum jungle man character. And since the game is capable of multi-genre, it was asked to have a hodge podge of genre characters being stalked. The Harsh Realities crew asked specifically for the stalked characters, like Star trek wannabe and cowboy. I didn't make them up.

Next up is a sorta Mexican-cowboy-shaman. The character illustrations were requested to be done in my digital color over line art. So, I complied. This was a really cool concept presented to me by the Harsh Realities crew. I think they have very solid imaginations, I got to draw some characters that were a bit different for me.... and that is really saying something, considering how many character concept illustrations I've done over the years.

And here is the last one I'm gonna show (if ya wanna see more of my art, go support the kickstarter! ... my blatant attempt to always leave 'em wantin' more!). I really like Torque, as I came up with a bit of action to show off her post apocalyptic vibe. Of course, y'all are better judges than I. I'm always waaay to close to my artwork to really see what people like or don't like.

p.s. I've also been involved in the preliminary stages of a kickstarter aimed at Mutants and Masterminds ruleset. Those folks are not quite ready to put up their kickstart, when they do, I will let y'all know about it!

Re: Storn's Art & Characters thread.

Death Tribble, my commission patron extraordinaire came up with these three concepts.

I am working on another kickstarter, some news on that soon, I think.

And some Legend of 5 Rings cards...but it will be months before they come out... and the NDAs on those are tight. Don't want to show them until they are published, which can take some time.

But anyway, enough of my babbling, onto some art!!!

First up, British Badger. Sort of a laid back sort.

Next, we've got a Bollywood dancer

And lastly, Leopard Seal!