Meet the Artist: David Levy

#76

Amazing Q&A you generated here.

Never saw so much high quality information on concept design like here on this thread.

You should write a book after that. BTW if you know any nice books on concept design, please mention them here.

I am right now writing on concept design for a special studies group at Méliès Cinema 3D and Animation School here in Brazil, I always thought that emotions were the main subject a concept artist should work out to bring out the idea behind the concept itself, reading your answers I can see you made it clear too.

Would you say that basic knowledge about psychology and theater would improve concept artistÂ’s view? I think personally that the most we know about mind, emotions and how they operate better artists we become, at least we become better as human lol.

Can you say to us a little more about your background with emotions/ psychology at your work?

Thanks a lot to be sharing your knowledge and time with us here,

#77

Fl3wk>>

  • I have not used traditional media at work in ages, although once in a while for no reason whatsoever I would throw a sketch on paper (sometimes when I have a complex building to prepare, I do a top view or something). Your workflow suggestion about being easy for the pipeline is very right: by using photoshop you reduce the amount of translations to the digital media (scanning, contrasting etc…). So all in all, much more logical in production, plus the tablet PCs coming up soon will make all this much more userfriendly.

  • For backups, I work with 4 hardrives at home. I have a raptor drive to run my softwares, an internal for main work (250GB), an external for large backups and video editing (250GB), and another one for large work in progress especially when dealing with recording (250GB).

  • For the organising, well, I am just very organised :slight_smile: In my life I am quite the opposite, and I can’t remember the things I did the day before (my gf hates htat too…), but on my PC and at work, I am very tidy, and everything I do follows precise naming conventions.

  • I work around 4000 pixels for painting and general concepts. I work at 6000+ pixels for marketing illustrations. I hate having to resize my pics in the middle of a work, but I sometimes do the mistake.

  • I have to work with music, I think I mentioned that earlier, my most influencial and inspiring tune is the theme music from the movie “Amelie”.

  • 40 hours week

Pamyla>> thanks for the kind words! I am the lucky one to be interviewed here. Such an honour! Thanks again to CG talk, for allowing me to participate.

Djampa>>

  • Thanks for the kind words! Well, if I was to write a book, there would definitely be a LOT of stories to tell! But that would probably take a long time, and people would not believe me on many of them! I think I went through all the worse experiences of the gaming industry history …

  • I had never thought about the importance of Psychology and theater in my job, but it makes total sense now that you say it. The systems I use right now, when it comes to emotions are very basic, and I would say more “gut feelings” driven. I think it comes back to the “story telling idea” that I mentioned regarding script writing or film making studiying.
    So many books to read, such little time to live!
    But that’s a great comment that gets me thinking! Thanks!

#78
  • I have not used traditional media at work in ages, although once in a while for no reason whatsoever I would throw a sketch on paper (sometimes when I have a complex building to prepare, I do a top view or something). Your workflow suggestion about being easy for the pipeline is very right: by using photoshop you reduce the amount of translations to the digital media (scanning, contrasting etc…). So all in all, much more logical in production, plus the tablet PCs coming up soon will make all this much more userfriendly.

Traditional media can be rather messy and inefficient. I see why its important to stick to digital. I bet you had to start with traditional when learning to draw and such (studying).

  • For backups, I work with 4 hardrives at home. I have a raptor drive to run my softwares, an internal for main work (250GB), an external for large backups and video editing (250GB), and another one for large work in progress especially when dealing with recording (250GB).

Damn, all I got is a 80GB main for my software and downloads, then a 19GB as my storage,which I just put my work there and my software back-ups. I need to invest in an external HDD : / Well thats a poor student for ya!

  • For the organising, well, I am just very organised :slight_smile: In my life I am quite the opposite, and I can’t remember the things I did the day before (my gf hates htat too…), but on my PC and at work, I am very tidy, and everything I do follows precise naming conventions.

I consider myself like this too, but I dont have enough digital work to say that I name every file/folder correctly.

  • I work around 4000 pixels for painting and general concepts. I work at 6000+ pixels for marketing illustrations. I hate having to resize my pics in the middle of a work, but I sometimes do the mistake.

Damn thats large! I am lucky to get maybe 1500X1500px…

  • I have to work with music, I think I mentioned that earlier, my most influencial and inspiring tune is the theme music from the movie “Amelie”.

Sorry I must have passed it by accident. I will look up that theme tune.

I added this one a bit late I think. You dont mind answering it do you?

  • How many concept artists participated in the development of Prince of Persia the Two Thrones. And how many, estimation, concept designs did you do (rough figures if possible).

Thanks for your time!

#79

“For large area with textures, I created a brush that fakes perspective using various settings on the pen pressure. It is one trick that does not always work, so on complex images (unless they are speedpaintings), I tend to use photo textures, or the texture checkbox option in the brushes when painting.”

Could you explain this in depth a little more? I am intrigued. Perhaps a screen shot of the brush settings or a description of the settings or perhaps even the brush itself as an abr file to download?
Great works, I always look forward to your posts on CA

#80

Hi man! I am your big fan, love your works very much.
I haven´t much time now, but I will ask you some question later, cya :slight_smile:

#81

Hello David :slight_smile:

I have seen the little V signs on your most recent work.
According to their design: Are they understandable as a hommage to V for Vendetta?

Have fun :slight_smile:

#82

wow wow it buautiful nice concept idea

#83

Hey Dave, your work is okay at best.

Alright just kidding. You know you rock! Keep up the great work, my friend! It’s always exciting to see new work from you.

Isn’t V for Vyle?

#84

Fl3k>>

  • I used to be a poor student too, and I can tell you one thing: my first PC was the best investment I ever did.

  • We were 5 on Prince of Persia: Hydropix, Viag, Patrick Lambert, Martin Deschambault, Myself. Difficult to tell how much work I did. I will count and post the numbers!

The Prof>>
I will probably post that brush once the CA workshop in Montreal is over (tuesday). But it is fairly simple: opacity and roundness are both set to “pressure” on a basic round brush that looks like a “rust texture” that fades on the side. Ahem, yep, probably easier if I post it.

rawwad>>
Thanks! Looking forward to answer those.

Azurelle-Ray-Ray>>
Actually the V (for vyle yep) is not for Vendetta. I actually did not know that comic book until recently. I thought signing the whole nickname was not very discreet, and also got lazy.

Ray-Ray (also called smeagol if I remember? Brad booker is sitting next to me right now and he is the one who gave me the tip!)>>
:stuck_out_tongue: Great to hear from you! Congrats on your new little family member! And tell hi to Vanessa. I miss going to Barton springs on hot days, I hope Austin is still as beautiful as it was!

#85

I see what you mean, and that’s really a cool coinsidence since the two signs look exactly the same - but there are too many different people on the world, so coinsidences are a real must.

Keep up the good work. I especially like your prince of persia “portrait” :slight_smile:

Az

#86

Djampa>>

  • Thanks for the kind words! Well, if I was to write a book, there would definitely be a LOT of stories to tell! But that would probably take a long time, and people would not believe me on many of them! I think I went through all the worse experiences of the gaming industry history …
  • I had never thought about the importance of Psychology and theater in my job, but it makes total sense now that you say it. The systems I use right now, when it comes to emotions are very basic, and I would say more “gut feelings” driven. I think it comes back to the “story telling idea” that I mentioned regarding script writing or film making studiying.
    So many books to read, such little time to live!
    But that’s a great comment that gets me thinking! Thanks!

:slight_smile: Thanks for the answer. Glad I made you get thinking. :slight_smile:
“gut feelings” driven… lol Thats the best I´ve heard ! I´d say you may have a lot of “gut feelings” then… hehehehe your work rocks !

Best wishes,

#87

hello Vyle. Youre a great and very inspiring contemporary Artist :thumbsup:

questions:

What are for you personally the 3 most important qualities of cd in the whole production ?

Do you think that this job will ever evolve more in europe in the future ? :slight_smile:

I assume that for your gut driven system it is very important to be able to work very fast with fluent brushwork. Especially in your free work at home where you let yourself be inspired by the image itself. How much Ram do you have so you can be fast in those 4000 & 6000px high resolutions ?

#88

My real first PC was in 2003, and I’ve been fixing upgrading it ever since. Been a real investment in both luxary and studying! I’m thinking of getting a new one with my student loan when I go to UNI. Even though I might have to pay the loan back, atleast I bought something worth while.

I dont really have any questions right now, thanks for posting :smiley:

#89

Hello Vyle, love your work since the first time i saw it at CA
I wanted to ask you if you think that it’s possible to reach a professional level, and be updated with the latest trends in the industry without going a normal/top school? these last months i’ve been doing a lot of stuff at school without seeing the purpose.
I attend to a fine arts school where no technical skills are being teach. So i’m always asking myself if i should do my own schooling.
Anyways, thanks for taking the time.

#90

Hi Vyle ! Are you a member of Ubisoft’s 3D team ?? - what a great job !! which’s software do you often use ?

Thanks for answering us !

#91

hi vyle

i am currently a 2nd year ID student here in montreal,i like to sketch A LOT

so i went in ID, they say its hard to find a job, got to be the best and loads of negative blabla ( good thing my parents didnt really know what is ID really like )

i planned to be a car designer , they say its even harder to find a job , you have to be the best of the best and loads of negative blabla

now i want to be a concept artist… suis-je suicidaire?

#92

Also, I would like to thank CG talk to allow me to post here, it is a real honour. I am very humbled, and feel so lucky to help one way or the other the CG society.
Vahn>>
3 qualities (that I can think of right now):

  • Creative, team player, hard worker.
  • Hopefully that job wil be recognised more in Europe, either that or productions won’t be competitive.
  • 2gig of ram, ATI radeon 9800 pro.

Diego>>

  • It is possible, but it will take you extra discipline and motivation.ALso you do not need a “top” school per say. You need a top teacher, and you can find that in many schools I am sure. Just ask other artists online, and see what could match where you live and what you need to learn.
    About your art school, first of alldo not be too confrontational, it could be that what you are learning are the basics, and they want the students to be confortable before going into more complex things. On the other side, if you think that it is really not what you expected, and you feel really not happy, nothing stops you to switch to another art school.
  • Own schooling sound good at first, but for 99.99 % of the people, it is not the right way to go. A teacher will allow you to advance MUCH MUCH faster. Think Mister Myiagi in Karate kid :wise:
    Ahem, maybe that was not the best exemple… :stuck_out_tongue:

Tebaochet>>
Not part of the 3D team, just concept design.Softwares I use are: Max, Photoshop, and sometimes painter.

subvicto>>

  • Hi there! It is a good thing when you are young to have desires and dreams. YOU are the master of your own life once you are freed from your parent’s education harness. Fulfill your dreams, and don’t dream small. I love car design, and eventhough I did not manage to get in that industry, it allowed me to grow in the game industry, and discover a completely new dimension. If you are always protected from failing, you will never know who you are. Face your fears!

  • I am not a competitive person, to be honest. Any industry is somewhat competitive, but if you approach it as being a passion, and embrace it, you wont’ need competition to be motivated. Competition in between people of the same company is the fuel needed by people that are insecured and unmotivated or lazy. Competition against other companies as a team, is what really counts.
    Think like an organised war, not a coup d’etat.

#93

Hey Vyle,

I’ve always enjoyed and admired your work, theres a couple of questions I would like to ask you. How much of your ideas in the concept stay? Does the art director usually have open mind to your ideas? Or does the art director have final say so. I realize that a concept artist usually is the spark for most visual creation. I’m just trying understand if the concept artist can put alittle of his or her personality and vision into the concept.

Much respect, and thanks in advance!

Take care man

PS: DesignstudioPress Forum is back up!!

#94

here I am :slight_smile:

At first I must say again,that I love your work very much. Your ideas and style is just fantastic.
You are one of artist that I called “speed realist” (for example work of Craig Mullins), because you have very dynamic style, with sharp brushes but your works still looks realistic, I mean, with right shadows and light atmosphere which make it more realistic. Many artists have beautiful scenes fully of details but not realistic as yours.
How you know which realistc lightning and color atmosphere is good for it and make your idea realistic, and are you use any references ( enviroment, nature photos) or 3D basic light scene?
Also I want ask you how brushes you use?
If you use mostly basic brushes or you have lot of customs, because in your works you have very intresting brushes strustures, looking like something from graphic design.
Which tablet do you use (wacom right :smiley: ) normal or special with screen board?

And one question to your ideas, which are very original and great. What is inspiration for you? music, movies, film, dreams, …?
And which kind music do you listen usuall?

That´s everything what I want know :slight_smile:
Good luck and be original as always! :thumbsup:

Tibor

#95

“The Prof>>
I will probably post that brush once the CA workshop in Montreal is over (tuesday). But it is fairly simple: opacity and roundness are both set to “pressure” on a basic round brush that looks like a “rust texture” that fades on the side. Ahem, yep, probably easier if I post it.”

Sounds interesting, I look forward to seeing/trying it out.

PS. Did you enjoy the workshop?