CGTalk - ALIENWARE Challenge Entry: Kory Heinzen

KOryH

10-21-2003, 07:44 PM

Well I don't normally do Sci-fi stuff really, so this should be a lot of fun and a challenge.
I have started a couple of sketches and a painting I'll post em when I get a chance.
I am looking forward to blowing everyone away. maybe not winning but by putting up some kick ass work for people to enjoy. Just like I expect everyone else to do.
Good luck every one!

DimitrisLiatsos

10-21-2003, 09:28 PM

:beer: Hi KoryH ....good luck man...looking forward for your work....have fun

KOryH

10-22-2003, 08:23 AM

for my concept look below...

I just realized that the challenge website updated my thread. cool.

elvis75k

10-22-2003, 08:27 AM

Nice. :lightbulb

KOryH

10-22-2003, 08:29 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1066807765_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1066807765_large.jpg)

this is my first pass at getting my idea out of my head.

MikaelPersson

10-22-2003, 09:41 AM

I like that, it has a very calm feel to it. Will definetly have to keep an eye on your thread. I've been interested in your work ever since I saw those children book images you posted two (?) years ago. How's the book coming along?

cheers.

DimitrisLiatsos

10-22-2003, 10:29 AM

Holy bubbles!!! this is great concept...u are tuning my mind in a new point of view man!!!....cool stuff has started...weeeeeee!!!

fellah

10-22-2003, 11:10 AM

I've always liked your work and this is no exception. though I cannot see how a concept like that can be made better in 3d. I've always liked images like that in 2d, more than 3d. but maybe you can be the first one prove me wrong. you definitely have the talents for it, keep it up :)

zbgump

10-22-2003, 11:41 AM

Thats a beautiful image... I really appreciate the wide, shifted perspective in the background.

I just wanted to give you a "heads up" that Alienware said they didn't want the figure in the image.

FrankyMo

10-22-2003, 11:47 AM

Very nice concept... Like the colors very much!!!

ssloan

10-22-2003, 01:48 PM

That is great stuff, shows me i need more ideas

ZrO-1

10-22-2003, 03:35 PM

Yo KOryH! man oh man, I see your art is as fantastic as always.

I look forward to watching this piece progress throughout the challenge.

Bezerker75

10-22-2003, 04:04 PM

possibly my favorite piece so far....love the style and colors....can't wait to see it take form in 3d!!!:thumbsup:

KOryH

10-22-2003, 05:28 PM

Thanks everyone.
Yeah I know that the figure is not supposed to be in the mage. Which is unfortunate because you loose the narrative and sense of scale. Especially when creating a completely alien environment there may not be any recognizable points of reference.
I may do a piece just for myself with the figure and have a slightly different point of view for the final challenge image.

Thanks again for all the support so far.

KOryH

10-22-2003, 09:40 PM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1066855215_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1066855215_large.jpg)

Here is an other concept peice. I am exploring the environment a bit more. I am also playing with the vertical format and attenpting to get a little narritive in there with the ship.

comments welcome

juanitopablito

10-22-2003, 09:52 PM

If it were a sketch contest and the winner should be picked right now, I don't doubt you would win. :hmm: Anyway I still think you will win in the end. Your art is so... :eek: I don't have words. Can you send me a picture of the Alien system when you get it?
Are you using a wacom for your sketches? I'd kill for one of those...:D my hand drawing is sooooo not-good.

KOryH

10-23-2003, 12:05 AM

juanitopablito-- thanks for the kind words.Yes I use a wacom. But really it in no way helps me draw any more than a nice sheet of paper does. Just keep practicing.
what do you mean send you a image when I get it? You mean when I go there and take a photo?

lildragon

10-23-2003, 12:37 AM

Heya Kory, good to see you back in the fray, good luck bud, digging the idea so far.

-lild

leigh

10-23-2003, 01:45 AM

Great concepts, Kory! I think the second sketch would be easier to translate into 3D. I love the idea of floating chunks of land, like the Lodestone in Gullivers Travels.

They also have the impression of gigantic, ancient jellyfish slowly gliding through time... or perhaps I'm reading a little too much into the concept :)

Great stuff, looking forward to seeing how this one will progress...

KOryH

10-23-2003, 02:01 AM

thanks Lil.D it should be a fun challenge. I am especially motivated for this one because I am 2 years over due for a new computer. We have been spending our money on diapers and other fun baby stuff.

Leigh- I'm glad you like it so far. and that youv'e noticed the slight underwater influence. My goal is to have a fractle type environment where the large shapes are reminicent of the smaller shapes. the undersides of the "islands" will have the appearance of an inverted coral reef. I'm still tring to decide if I want to add some hints of civilization or at least order on the tops of the islands. Maybe just one in the far distance obscured by the clouds, so you have to look for it. That might be cool.

anyway any suggestions or words of encouragement are always welcome.

mjm

10-23-2003, 02:20 AM

Great concepts, Kory. Are those islands moving to the right (just looking at the swaying undergrowths, and the composition leaning to the right)? I really like the vertical format; it leads the eye up and down very nicely.

The darkness of the lower half's background somewhat detracts from the scale, though. Maybe throw in a few more islands very far off into the distance to really push the awe factor?

Looking forward to more.

Fish-MD

10-23-2003, 02:23 AM

nice concept...i gotta get me a wacom (damn things cost so much in Canada). I like both, but in the second one the rocket seems to be outa place, I would say to put a bit more "population" in that area like a ship port or a group of buildings. In the second one it would be cool to have like a opening to a underground city.

Magnusv

10-23-2003, 03:25 AM

Beautiful concepts.I prefer the first,but the second too certantly has it's appeal.:thumbsup:
Kory: From the instructions for this challenge what are your thoughts on having buildings of some kind.I asked this elsewhere but have still not gotten a direct answer.
The part that confuses me is: "you have a feeling that something was created here".To me this sounds as if there is nothing actually there.But signs of something are there.
To me it sounds like just an environment is not very complex for a 3 month period,it seems that a larger civilization makes more sense.What's your thoughts on this?Thanks,and keep up the great work.:beer:

zbgump

10-23-2003, 06:00 AM

The second image is just as lovely as the first, but the composition of the first is much more exiting to me. I like how the figure was looking out at a "slanted" world.

In the second it appears that the camera is just rolled.

I dig your style; I'll be keeping an eye on this thread

juanitopablito

10-23-2003, 04:38 PM

Originally posted by KOryH
juanitopablito-- thanks for the kind words.Yes I use a wacom. But really it in no way helps me draw any more than a nice sheet of paper does. Just keep practicing.
what do you mean send you a image when I get it? You mean when I go there and take a photo?

Hahaha nevermind. I just wanted something to drool over if I don't win (which I won't) :thumbsup:

klingspor

10-23-2003, 04:43 PM

Really beautiful concepts, I love how the colours work to create an atmosphere. Like the others I also prefer the first one, it gives a better sense of scale!

Jensen

10-23-2003, 07:52 PM

Although the first one may be harder to translate into an actual model, it's more breathtaking, and if you can accomplish it, I'd go for the first one. It's execellant, just how massive it is. i'd say go for the first one.

Execellant work so far. I'm looking forward to see how this one develops.:beer:

Xtronik

10-24-2003, 12:56 AM

Nice work Kory....

I think you ll give us a lot more to see as the challenge rolls.....

By the way........I agree that you need a figure just to be there as a metric reference .....
I think of using it in my post too...

Do you think that we have to mention it from now?

mindrot

10-24-2003, 03:07 PM

looking forward to seeing this in 3d...

best of luck :thumbsup:

ivanisavich

10-24-2003, 04:04 PM

Why shouldn't he be allowed to be proud of his work. With all of the good entries that will be incoming, lots of people will be blowing all kinds of entries away!

I think he meant it in a kind of "I'm excited to challenge myself and see how amazing my final image will look, like many others images will" kinda way. No harm done.

Anyways, still like the first one better...keep it up!

KOryH

10-24-2003, 05:31 PM

thanks for keeping this thread "lively"

I think I understand froggys position, but he indeed misunderstood the intent of the post. I have addressed this matter offline.

Let's get back to ART.

I agree with the comments about liking the first one better. I personally like the vertical format. My next peice will try to get what seems to be appealing about both of the concepts and bring them together.

thanks for the support.

Bezerker75

10-24-2003, 05:35 PM

IMO, I prefer the first concept sketch to the second, I think even without the guy in there you have a nice sence of depth and scale.....the floating Islands theme seems to be popular in this contest...they kind of remind me of the artist roger Dean who created fantasy type album covers for the band YES with that sort of theme...you should check out some of his work for inspiration...:thumbsup:

KOryH

10-24-2003, 05:59 PM

Yes I have noticed the floating island theme. The decription of the contest lends itself to that.
I almost want to ditch the idea and come up with something else. After all it is still early and I haven't invested much time so far. Now would be the time to do it. Maybe and inverted forrest, that might be cool.

As for Roger Dean. I am familiar with his work, but was not directly influenced by him.

leigh

10-24-2003, 09:32 PM

Oh good, the silly posts are gone :)

Kory, I love the idea of blending the two concepts together - now hurry up with the update! I'm sure it's going to be great.

Leigh- I'm glad you like it so far. and that youv'e noticed the slight underwater influence. My goal is to have a fractle type environment where the large shapes are reminicent of the smaller shapes. the undersides of the "islands" will have the appearance of an inverted coral reef. I'm still tring to decide if I want to add some hints of civilization or at least order on the tops of the islands. Maybe just one in the far distance obscured by the clouds, so you have to look for it. That might be cool.

That's a great idea! I like the idea of just a hint of something way off in the distance. The coral reef idea is a fascinating one, and would be quite a challenge to model.... It would be cool to be able to create the grand scale of these in such a way as to be almost terrifying - I remember reading a book a number of years ago, by Storm Constatine, called Calenture. And in the book there were these massive cities that could literally crawl across the terrain on these bizarre contraptions - your concept reminds me a lot of an organic version of that imagery. And I loved that book, and I love your idea!

eirenicon

10-24-2003, 09:53 PM

That second sketch is utterly gorgeous, but it looks like it was strongly influence by the Matrix. Perhaps it's just the color scheme, and the encroaching purples in the corner, but it just looks like something I've seen before. :shrug: Powerful work nonetheless.

JAG3D

10-26-2003, 07:53 AM

very impressive.
I think the first one is much stronger.
The panoramic wide view and small figure show the grand scale of the piece.

impressive body of work too.

-J

DimitrisLiatsos

10-26-2003, 10:06 AM

:cool: I still like the first one and...and..if anyone disagrees i will send HULK to your living room (he is a personal friend of mine..) ..ok?

well ...The first one....there ..i said it!

:wavey:

Dreamwave

10-26-2003, 11:53 AM

lot of reading, not much to see ;)
but the concept sketch looks great, I'm looking forward to see this in 3d!

sakenstein

10-26-2003, 12:35 PM

I think your work so far is amazing...i'm looking forward 3 see what's coming up next...:applause:

visualboo

10-26-2003, 03:59 PM

Hey Kory, long time no talk.

It's great to see you back in action after the baby and all. How is the baby doing btw?

I LOVE your first concept. You swiped one of my ideas but that's ok... I've got more where that came from. :D Seriously do it exactly like the first concept just tweak it out with all the options you have with 3d.

Designer2

10-26-2003, 10:21 PM

this thread realy deserve to stay alive the sketches are great i'm sure you are a Fine Artist, waiting for you making this with 3D...

By the way the concept is so great, i prefer you add some lights coming out from that Spots of their world...

you deserve more complements for this nice work, Good luck...

Elrod

10-27-2003, 01:19 PM

really nice CS, it has a certain look and feel depicted in the scene setting for this contest. looking forward to seeing more work.

KOryH

10-27-2003, 05:33 PM

Hey folk,
Well, I've done a couple more sketches. And I guess I'll post 'em. They are mostly just variants on what I have already done, just tweaking and refining ideas. I started some R&D and a proof of concept for an object or two. I hope to have some thing to show in a day or two. Basically those island things are a symbiotic organism. One thing provides the zero g and the other provides the locomotion. One allowing it to get to its food source and the other providing an efficient means to germinate.
I satisfied with my idea, now I just have to get it out of my head and into the computer.
Thanks for the positive comments and the suggestions. They have helped a lot.

Pgraphics

10-27-2003, 05:37 PM

Great concept. This should be a fun project to watch.

KOryH

10-28-2003, 04:25 PM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1067358326_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1067358326_large.jpg)

here is a test for the zero gee pods that will inhabit my little world. there are going to be lots of these things in various stages of their life cycle. I think it turned out kind of cool.

KOryH

10-28-2003, 04:44 PM

thanks again the great comments. here is a turn aroung for the object above.

http://korysdiner.homestead.com/files/FORUM/CHALLANGES/pod_turn_1a.mov

I should have another drawing to post soon as well as some other modeling endevors. man there is so much to do , I am glad we have plenty of time.
I am so impressed with everyones efforts so far. Keep up the good work.

DimitrisLiatsos

10-28-2003, 09:45 PM

I like this pod symbiotic thingy ...it looks like a red like onion....(j/k)

Nice thought for the symbiotic organisms..never thought of that ....damn!!!:thumbsup:

KOryH

10-28-2003, 10:17 PM

actually it's more like a pomegranite with a wig.
I always they seemed like outer space.
I am doing some tests on how I can do the main coral type stuff. There is going to be lots'o'polys in the final scene.
I have never done anything that has this much fine detail before in the modeling. It should be fun.

NoJuice

10-28-2003, 10:40 PM

I see a lot of potential with the second concept; although the spaceship isn't the first thing I see. Perhaps if you tilt the islands (i find that having all the islands at the same angle takes away from the scene) so that they all "funnel" towards the space ship, that way the when the eye starts from the top, it rolls down the floating islands and sort of zigzags its way down to the ship.

as for the first concept, so much detail! wow!

incher00

11-02-2003, 11:45 PM

wow! all in all just amazing! the most recent post is like a pomegranate being a radish for halloween! very creative stuff!

in response to nojuice: I guess it depends if you want the spaceship to be the first thing you see. I like that you don't focus on it right away (just my opinion.) However, I do feel as though the spaceship is too far into the scene. I feel removed from it, not removed like someone took me out of it and put me somewhere else, but like it's not mine. I'm not sure if bringing more attention would help that. Footprints are cliche, but it might work to lead you in and out of the spaceship visually. just a thought.

I have to admit I'm mining for comments and crits other than, whoa and hot diggity. Is hot diggity a crit?:p

well, the hairs on the pomegranate/radish look beautiful in the test render! It will great once you put them into the dramatic lighting you have in your concept compositions! I feel like the pod part is somewhat translucent. It would be cool if you could see through it a little and see guts or seeds or a nucleus or an egg sac (ok now i'm jet getting gross.) know what i mean? it would look interesting if you could see the guts and also see how the hairs attach to the pod. maybe there would be some sort of velcro.... well maybe not velcro. ok. not velcro. but it seems like you are trying to go for a rational explanation for the pods symbiotic existence, so maybe there should be an obvious way the two connect to each other. know what i mean?

one question: what is the scale of the pod? that's going to play heavily on how your picture (artwork) reads.

can't wait to see more!!!!

rock on!!!

Designer2

11-03-2003, 01:28 AM

you are amazing me man with all this masterpieses you put here, just give me some time to show myself before I die or something,:D

that zero gee pods reminds me of Pomegranate...:drool:

keep going,:applause:

finchy

11-03-2003, 04:42 AM

hey KOryH you've done some nice concepts here! the first one was a great idea, any chance of combining the two ideas? i think it will look cool! the last ones remind me of Jellyfish air born ones though! well keep it up and thanks for the comment on my project!, Finchy.

KOryH

11-05-2003, 09:14 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1068023641_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1068023641_large.jpg)

here is a layout test and some very rough "block mesh"

KOryH

11-05-2003, 09:55 AM

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1068026153_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/3/275/275_1068026153_large.jpg)

here is an other couple of layout tests and some very rough "block mesh"

cgmonster

11-05-2003, 10:03 AM

hmm, in these layouts we can't see the flat tops of the flying islands, and I liked that layout much beter. Yust IMO :)

KOryH

11-05-2003, 09:57 PM

hmmm I think you may be right. I will do some more experimenting with the perspective tonight.
I think that a nice balance betwen the two is what I am looking for.

Gobbledoc

11-07-2003, 03:11 PM

I sadly wonder what hope there is for the rest of us when peoples concept drawings could pass for a final image.
This appears to be an awe inspiring place in the cosmos. I must agree that to see the tops of these structures would be nice.

Jensen

11-14-2003, 07:49 PM

Personally I think it'd be alot better if you moved the camera up to where it would almost be touching the top of the cave. I think that was part of what made the first concept seem so massively overwhelming.

Borro

11-14-2003, 08:52 PM

Great work so far, but i think that: "...no life forms are existant...", that means I think even a human shouldn't be visible. Just remove it from your scene.

P.S. You don't want to get disqualified!!!!

Bingo Little

11-14-2003, 11:32 PM

Hi KoryH,

I'd break down the main diagonal a bit more if I were you. The composition looks a tad too artificial and "prepared" as it is now.

BTW, even though I'll probably participate as well (too much work is what stops me from jumping both feet in), I'm putting my money on your idea :)

All the best,
Bingo Little

pearson

11-15-2003, 08:58 AM

Kory's got no skillz...don't worry, no challenge here! :p

Just kiddin' man. good to see you around again. Didn't remember that you were at PDI...one of my former coworkers is painting mattes for Shrek 2.

You know I've got a lot of respect for your process, man. Colors, Composition, then Model. lol it seems so simple... :D

Congrats on the baby, BTW. :thumbsup:

dobermunk

11-16-2003, 09:05 AM

Kory, That color Scheme is pure Perry Rhodan!!! (or what was the name of that 60s space adventurer?)

I like the retro-direction. Might not be what a hardware retailer will choose to sell its wares, but it sure is fun!

TheFirstAngel

12-24-2003, 08:29 AM

Hey KOryH!

How's et goin'? Your Panorama looks great and I can follow that fractal thinking (thats what I normally also do myself) I wonder, will you post something soon? Keep your great work comin', cant wait to see how you bring your stunning paintings into 3d!
Well, keep rockin' and make me go wow:buttrock:
and for now, merry Xmas and Happy Hollydays!

KOryH

12-24-2003, 06:08 PM

I am sad to report that I will not be able to finish this challenge. Work and family always get the highest priority and right now they are both pretty hectic.
I hate not being able to finish stuff like this, but I have to pay bills and have my wife and daughter recognize me when I see them.
It's not a total loss however, I learned a couple of things and I did enjoy seeing everyone’s spectacular work.'
I will try to put up some of the more recent images, just to show where I was going. It might not be anytime soon.

Thanks for all your support and best of luck to all the challengers!

TheFirstAngel

12-24-2003, 06:19 PM

Hey KOryH

Thats bad news:cry: Like your work a lot but also understand your point. If you will finnish this work another time, letme know, you sure will have my attention, your work rocks!

Wish u the best dealing with your business and respect for your Responsebillity!
Have Merry X-mas and a happy new year!:wavey: