Welcome to my blog page.
|
0 Comments
Back in 2015 I was approached by a fellow artist about teaming up to help develop an IP for a client. Two other great artists and myself were tasked with creating a stylized world, backstory, and characters all on spec work. I was hopeful so I dug in and did a bunch of development work while only being paid in hope.
The other artists and myself did some cool work for that project but I am generally hesitant to show my part in that in my portfolio. I recently spent a little time to elevate a few of the pitch pieces because the originals were a great foundation for the skills I have developed since then. I didn't want to leave them unfinished for my current portfolio. The first five pieces are the ones I just bumped up a bit, and the rest are a few of the rough concept sketches done during the earliest development process. I hope everyone involved in that project are doing well. Enjoy this little slice of history. -NR 
Sometimes a small seed grows a large and fruitful tree.
Way back in 2010-2011, I was given the opportunity to help develop and illustrate a children's book series for an independent author Chely Schwartz. It was a great learning experience for me, and was the first published work I was credited on. The first two books were done in a blend of watercolor, color pencil, and ink. I began developing a digital process for the third book to streamline the process, but had to shift away from the project at that time. I am glad I was able to help get the project going, and to see that the author continued the series. Looking back on the artwork I did for these books is endearing and serves as a great reminder of the many lessons I have learned along this journey as an artist. You can still purchase this book series. They are very cute. Visit the link below for more info about them and about the author. theadventuresoftandytheteddy.com
With Love, -NR
Emotion and energy are synonymous. We are conduits in these forms. The swirling mix. Every dimension. Omni-directional. Embrace the awe. Accept the sadness. Allow the anger. Let it go. Hold the love. Nurture it. Release and enjoy. All perceived constructs we define, form temporarily. It's frustrating. It can be. Miracles imprint and dissolve. Like us. It's okay. It hurts. You are not alone. Rest. Don't give up. You are loved. -NR  Here it is. The culmination of my time in pre-vanilla KSP. The Hover-Bot.1. It is a single stage to 'Munar' encounter, VTOL, all electric, Ion-propulsion driven lander vessel. After all of the lessons learned from the Hover-Moth, I ended up here. Addressing the problems I encountered with the Hover-Moth, this vehicle ended up bigger, heavier, but far more prepared for round trip 'Mun' encounters, and actually all around easier to fly.
The HoverBot.1 is a practical linear flyer (nothing remarkable), but is actually very adept in VTOL and close proximity maneuvers. The HoverMoth.1 was a test bed for the VTOL and electric propulsion systems, but it didn't have re-entry systems, reverse thrusters, or even lights (which made for deadly conditions in the dark craters of Mun). I added the aforementioned systems to the HoverBot.1, and set out for Mun encounters and return trips. I was still using the WASD/SHIFT/CTRL control systems with a single throttle control with multiple toggle switches for various propulsion combinations. I eventually got the hang of flying around Kerbin, and gently hopping around the Mun. The HoverBot.1 performed excellently in all scenarios, and was an all around success. This vessel's performance was a major inspiration in the my second novella Hydray.5. This video is sped up 4x Orbit  This was the only screenshot I took from the Mun encounters. It sucks, but it's true ("It's a HOAX!"). The HoverBot.1 was the easiest vessel to explore the Mun with that I personally have experienced. It had great control in the sinewy gravitational field, and was able to set down and hop off repeatedly with little fuss or struggle. I have since learned so much more about the static effects of Lunar silt and am wondering if Ion propulsion would be able to function for long without some form of repulsive field emanating from the mechanisms. I'm still hopeful. -NR It's that time of year again. This year for Swordtember I decided to go with less magical designs, and more forgeable, or makeable designs. I also did full color renders this year and learned a lot about material rendering. I'm quite happy with the results overall. Enjoy. -NR      I have been making concerted effort lately to improve my linework and sketching ability on a Wacom tablet. I have found that the 12"-18" parallax from the tablet to the screen has led me to habits of avoiding doing linework in digital. I tend to default to broader strokes and painting methods instead of beginning with drawing fundamentals and linework. There is a huge difference to me between my line grace with physical mediums and digital.
In an effort to improve my work and my processes, I have been returning to old sketches and adding to them with new iterations and expanded designs. These sketches are a blend of actual pencil and digital pencil done in Clip Studio Paint. I am hoping to develop the ability to blend the two mediums as seamlessly as I can for various approaches to the design process. I think these sets turned out really cool. I love woodland creatures and animal amalgamations. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do, and perhaps they will inspire you in some way. Be wise, be well. -NR |
Nicholas RodriguezArtist, designer, musician, writer, craftsman, nature geek... Archives
September 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
