War of the Worlds Tripod (part 3)

Here is some more progress on the War of the Worlds tripod work in Google SketchUp.  This, again, is only so I have something to rotate around into the angle I need it rather than having to figure out what might be going on when I draw it in a different perspective.  Here is a link to the original sketch: tripod 

It has been interesting trying to teach myself 3D, but a rewarding factor is seeing how menacing the thing can look when rotated to another angle.  You can't always anticipate that when drawing one angle 2Dimensionally.

Here is a sketch I quickly did during break at work.  I've been trying to think of how some of the framework might look within the tripod.  I want it to look alien and organic, yet still have a mechanical and structural look. 

Anyway, stay tuned for more when I become able to work on the project and post stuff here!

War of the Worlds Tripod (part 2)

Here is some in-progress for the design-faze before I cutaway the tripod / fighting-machine for War of the Worlds.  

This is what I'm affectionately calling the Martian "T-rex Arm."  What is the arm for?  Not sure, but it will have something to do with the extermination of humankind... There are three on the main body of the tripod just above the three main legs (see previous post for the tripod sketch).  

I am sketching in Google SketchUp as it will be easier to cutaway rotating the 3D image to different angles (like from the front and the back, etc.).  I have barely touched 3D- in fact today was probably my most exposure to using a 3D program.  It's not going to look perfect, but as long as it is near the general shape I want then I'm happy as ultimately I will be drawing over the 3D image in Adobe Ai and Photoshop.  

Anyway, as usual I will post the progress as it comes along when I'm not busy with work at my job.

War of the Worlds Redux (part 1)

Here is a quick, rough sketch of a long project I have ahead of me.  I am currently planning a complete cutaway, cross-section book based on H.G. Well's War of the Worlds.  There are a about 3-5 versions of tripods (or fighting machines), 2 worker machines, 2 versions of the cylinder, an "assembler", a miniature alien pod, and several other machines for the martians that I plan to design and cutaway.  Each will need to be fully designed- having all the proper orthographics before being cutaway.  The tripods will be loosely based on my previous tripod designs I had cutaway long ago, but hopefully better designed and in proper perspective.  

The project will take a very long time to complete mostly due to the fact that I have a full-time illustration job with a long commute.  I will try and post what I have as I develop rough sketches and flesh out the ideas that make the martians and their machines work as they do.

This proposed book will be very thorough covering the smallest of tech to largest and potential reasons why the martians have developed the tech as they have.  As for the finish of this project, expect it to be done 3-6 years from now at least.  As to why I'm doing all this crazy work on the side from my job... because it's sci-fi, it's cutaway art, and most of all... it's fun!

Job in the Space Industry!

Awesome news for all of you who didn't get to see my facebook post.  I recently was hired as a full-time technical illustrator for Space Systems Loral down in Palo Alto, California.  I will be mostly illustrating satellites.  They are a great company and have been around for the past 50 years so they have great experience and deep connections with the space industry world wide.  I'm still currently living in SF, but hope to move closer to work as soon as I'm able.  On the side I will continue to create cutaways and cross-sections and have a book (based on a very popular science fiction novel) in the works that will probably be published in the next two or three years depending on the time I'll be able to devote to it.  Either way, in the future you will be able to see updates and in-progress of the book.  As far as seeing what I produce for SS/L you will just have to wait, if and when, those images are posted by the company on the site.  

Workspace Update

New Work-Technical Illustration

Check out my other blog for more views of work completed for the company I have been working for: Tungsten Advertising and their client Seatel: http://swhowardillustration.blogspot.com/

All work shown on this post and the post of the other site are property of Tungsten Advertising and Seatel 2011.

Raijin Progress Update

Here is an updated sketch of a planned cutaway of the Raijin suit (design by the amazing Emerson Tung!).