The Codeine Chronicles

[Chillalex]

Dr Thibault's Behaviour Correction Programme -

The Codeine Chronicles

The Codeine Chronicles is a self written, self illustrated & self published book that uni have forced me to do, but I'm actually getting in to it at the moment. Within the next two months its going to be completely finished if anyone is interested.

Its 32 pages long, with each page being a full sized illustration. The story is a whimsical affair that doesnt concern itself with politics or preaching - a refreshing break from todays crap. Think of it as a throw up between Edward Gorey, Tim Burton & Saw (the movie series) and you're along the right lines.

Because this is in the art section, heres two examples of storyboarded illustrations. The finals are in production now and for those who have seen the cat and bird illustration (thread is in this forum) the quality is very similar to those, albeit with a lot more weird and wonderfully violent contraptions.

Bare in mind these are old works, used only for flatplans and storyboards. They are not the final quality.

For those interested I will post the new ones soon, or at least, a sample, and let people know when its available to buy. Yeah, itll be cheap, and yeah, you'll be supporting me. Stuff in my sig was visual dev. work for The Codeine Chronicles.

Oh and for those interested, Thibault is a reference to our good friend Toki.

Edited January 20, 2008 by Chillalex

[Spectre]

Sounds Cool, Is this for College or just what you do in your free time.

[Chillalex]

Its uni work but its actually enjoyable. Usually, uni work gets done because it has to get done, but I'm quite enjoying this. I developed my own unique methodology for drawing which I've yet to post up (need a scanner!) which seems to just add sinister. I'd even develeoped unique tech workflows and a new method for drawing, totally, for it, but it ended up being too time consuming considering a 6 week timeframe for 32 illustrations.

Couple of beauty renders of reference models I've made for it.

I make the models, then pose them and position camera for unique viewpoints in my illustrations. It also ensures no dodgy perspectives, no off-sheet characters, and so on.

Edit: HOPEFULLY will have scans of final art real soon. Its done, but now I just gotta get to a scanner.

Edited January 23, 2008 by Chillalex

[Nemo]

amazing so far.

explanation of the second render prz.

[ALL STAR]

Wow this is really impressive stuff love the look of the renders good one.

[Chillalex]

lol sal no explanation

thats the job of the text&story and I can't be flingin my product for free yo

but formally it was inspired by gaudi, who would hang weights on strings to get a fluid design that was also structurally sound. Not the same concept here - Dr Thibault has used them for decoration and also something more dark... but to say that will spoil the twist.

New render

Im stuck today doing concepting and model/renders, so here we go

STUPID high poly count. Trees are 11k each, entire model is 28mb. Its pretty much film quality tbh if I added spec, normals and a bit more. Really not looking forward to the drawing of this!

[Nemo]

REVEAL YOUR SECRETS. I DEMAND TO KNOW HOW THE BLOOD WORKS.

the third was is pretty fucking nice too. suggestion from someone with no talent: right to the top of the collapsed tree, there seems to be a big empty space. maybe you could put something there other than a patch of dirt. something like...captain america:

cap is all business. just look at him, waiting to lay the smackdown on some poor traveler.

[Chillalex]

bahahaha fuckin A

if this wasn't accountable for pretty much my past three years I'd blatantly hand that in.

See the first image in this thread? Thats what its become

and then it evolves in to this:

Click for full size

which after a further 6 hours work will become something extra (which I'll need to scan)

Simple.

Edit: think I might put all these environment model displays in their own seperate little art book along with all the sketches as well. Does anyone think they'd be interested in that, or should I just not waste time on it and only publish the illustrated story?

Edited January 24, 2008 by Chillalex

[Chillalex]

yet another

"Jardin De La Crainte" - Garden of Fear

Look close and you might be able to see that DE and LA sculptures have dropped from their chains and are on the floor. Sorry the renders a bit too small for that detail though - zbrush has to be rendered 2x res for aa

thats 4 out of 7 page plans for this chapter in a day

mostly using the same assets but that only makes sense to me, I've added something fresh in each of the scenes though

thinking I'd quite like to add a small art-of book for this story, showing all these models and renders. I sort of think theyre a work of art in their own, and its a shame that only one view of them is ever going to be seen.

[Chillalex]

moar

lung scene

[Nemo]

i cant wait to see how all this random shit ties into a coherent story. really....a fucking lung? craziness.

"jim escapes the garden of fear finding himself at the doorstep of a spooky laboratory. after some b n' e, jim explores the facility, finding his way into the weird hanging triangle pipey speaker room. he trips on a loose tile and hurts his knee. as jim gets up and heads for the exit, the floor beneath him suddenly opens and he descends into.... a lung. he thinks to himself 'WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!? A LUNG!? WHY IS THERE A GIANT LUNG UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR!?'"

on another note: yeah, itd be nice to be able to see all the sketches and renders that went into making the book. however, i dunno if id buy a seperate book to see how another was made. maybe you could include a section at the end of the book or a pamphlet or something. another book would be... meh.

also, any idea yet on how much this shiz is gonna cost?

[Spectre]

Wow

Render mean you made it on the comp, right? HOW the fuck did you do that, it doesnt seem possible to make something that good. How really im asking how, dont say practice, cause i hate when people say that. there IS a secret that everyone(including you sal) knows to making great art, i wish i knew, i need help.

Edited January 26, 2008 by TV's Joe Lauzon

[Chillalex]

lol

I've pretty much shown you the process. Concept them, model them, stick em on my model base, export as .obj and call in to zbrush (fastest renderer evar.) After that its just loading up a material shader I based off vinyl toy refs and rendering.

the rest is practice - form, content and composition comes naturally. I've been studying art for five years solid and practicing longer, and I've only now got a sense of who I am and what my style is. There is no "make-good-art" button or tutorial or whatever I'm afraid. Only learning and natural predisposition to art.

and sal, I have a rough idea. around 15 british pounds I think, or 30$. I think publishing costs me quite a bit (gotta look in to it) then I have to hand make the finishing touches to each book. I've scouted around and art books by faggy illustrators are quite expensive (30 quid) so i think mines alright considering they do some crap shit. Seen a small book by Baseman for about that price but it didnt have a story or anything, just small illustrations. Obviously though price might change if I find other things.

I'd join the two books together if I could - the brief I was given was a 32 page childrens book. As it is, its not really a childrens book so I'd be pushing my luck further lol. Also it'd somewhat detract from the storybook concept and I sort of might want to enter the Booker prize this year.

I'm probably going to do it anyway (unused/concept art book), label it up as a visual journal and make it available if wanted - I have to make one to hand it in anyway.

No updates till about monday-tuesday as i take weekends off now to fend off depression.

Edited January 26, 2008 by Chillalex

[Spectre]

Ok i can do the Concepting, but what model base? where is it. and is Zbrush a program, if so where can i get it.

[Chillalex]

not dissin, but, google.

and model base - see the round thing that says codeine chronicles? that. Its a model I made and use as a base for all scenes

[Spectre]

thx alex ill give it a try.

[Chillalex]

not sure about this yet

need to find an interesting way to present the line work but as its so overpowering I'm coming up a loss. I think this is growing on me though.

Let me know what people think and or suggestions. Anyway, thats roughly what the finals are like, sans text.

[Smacktalks]

Looks really good Alex, just been checking out your newer renders on your blog. Looks f'n awesome.

[Chillalex]

For those interested I've thrown up pictures of the final book on the site

It's very nearly finished but I'm being asked to hold it back for a bit longer which is a bugger. But let it never be said I cant finish things!

Edited March 22, 2008 by Chillalex

[Nemo]

your low-res pics make me unhappy.