The Art of SketchUp - part 1: Fantasy

artysmedia

@ Michalis, Eric/Boofredlay and delineator: Thank for your kind words. I am glad you like it.

Just dug out an old visual development from that game I worked on. I will post some more later.

The ship and boat wreckage are a mixture of Sketchup and Maya models. Environment done in Vue. Postwork in Photoshop as usual.

Have a great week!

_KN

Great models Ken, as ever forever!
The only think that i dont like is the composition. The warriors on the left and right keep all the attention and in the middle is "nothing" relevant (only a far far ship). Sorry for the crit

ken28875

@michaliszissiou said:

More a scene from odyssey, could be. Except the palm trees, but could be. Pine trees are more appropriate. LOL
Beautiful work.

@ Michalis: Thank you. Yes, maybe I'll try a version with the pines in the future.

@artysmedia said:

Great models Ken, as ever forever!
The only think that i dont like is the composition. The warriors on the left and right keep all the attention and in the middle is "nothing" relevant (only a far far ship). Sorry for the crit

@ Roberto: Thanks, glad you like the models. No problem, you don't have to apologize for the crit. I am all ears to hear what people like or don't like.
I guess I should have blended the skeleton warriors more into the vegetation as they seem to distract you. But at least my goal was to put the focus on the big ship and I believe it worked.

Usually I tried to compose the scene so your eyes will get directed to the main object.

Same here. On this one, I also use the Rule of Thirds .

Here are some atmospheric studies for the Tyrian Wash concept.

Have a great week!

_KN

ken28875

Hey guys,

I forgot to mention that I had an online interview with Sketchupartists.org last week. I would like to thank Mr. James Hannigan for the article.

SketchUp Art: in the online game industry :: SketchUp 3D Rendering Tutorials by SketchUpArtists

Ken Nguyen is a professional designer and conceptual artist who is now currently working in the online game industry. Ken has built 3D models w

(www.sketchupartists.org)

Have a wonderful day!

_KN

artysmedia

Thanks for the explanation, ken28875

Very interesting interview

ken28875

The tents and banners are Sketchup/Maya models. Environment with Vue.

Thanks for viewing.

_KN

igacici

I wanted to say something about your work here, but... I'm amazed,.. I can't say a word, except this: BRAVO!

ken28875

@igacici said:

I wanted to say something about your work here, but... I'm amazed,.. I can't say a word, except this: BRAVO!

Thanks, Igacici.

Here are some quick atmosphere studies of that visual development.

Take care,

_KN

My interview with Sketchupartists.org:
http://www.sketchupartists.org/spotlight/artists/sketchup-art-in-the-online-game-industry/
Sketchup for Fantasy Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27028
Sketchup for Sci-Fi Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27030

ken28875

Shipwrecks were made in Sketchup/Maya; environments in Vue; Postwork in Photoshop.

Atmospheric studies:

Thanks for viewing and have a terrific day!

_KN

My interview with Sketchupartists.org:
http://www.sketchupartists.org/spotlight/artists/sketchup-art-in-the-online-game-industry/
Sketchup for Fantasy Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27028
Sketchup for Sci-Fi Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27030

jarynzlesa

hi,
I don't play games but I think that your work is terrific , moreover this work it's your hobby and job and I think that is guarantee of success .
Keep posting.

ken28875

@jarynzlesa said:

hi,
I don't play games but I think that your work is terrific , moreover this work it's your hobby and job and I think that is guarantee of success .
Keep posting.

@ Jarynzlesa: Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I am quite lucky to have job that is also doing the same thing as my hobby. It's a dream career. Actually, since I love what I do at the office, it's not really "working".

Here's another render. The fortress is a Sketchup model and the environment was done in Vue.

A bunch of atmosphere studies:

Have a wonderful week,

_KN

My interview with Sketchupartists.org:
http://www.sketchupartists.org/spotlight/artists/sketchup-art-in-the-online-game-industry/
Sketchup for Fantasy Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27028
Sketchup for Sci-Fi Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27030

ken28875

Hi there,

So I mentioned in my other thread that ASGVIS/V-Ray just had a Featured Artist article about me a couple of days ago.

You can see it here.
http://software.asgvis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=886&Itemid=466&utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Winning%20Subject&utm_term=Read%20more%20about%20Ken%20Nguyen

There are 2 new renders that have been done mainly for the interview and have not been posted anywhere else. I have others WIP that I will post later when I will finish them.

I also fixed/finished some older renders of the Temple (renamed "The Curse" based on my video game concept - added the colored characters) and the Interior Hallway (fixed some of the lighting and added sun rays).

I am still not quite satisfied with the Interior Hallway. I need to add stuff on the back wall. I will work on it some more when I have time.

Thanks for stopping by.

_KN

My interview with Sketchupartists.org:
http://www.sketchupartists.org/spotlight/artists/sketchup-art-in-the-online-game-industry/
Sketchup for Fantasy Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27028
Sketchup for Sci-Fi Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27030

michaliszissiou

Great modeling Ken. I never asked though. Where these figures (statues) comming from? Your models? Using what app? Not SU of course.

ken28875

@michaliszissiou said:

Great modeling Ken. I never asked though. Where these figures (statues) comming from? Your models? Using what app? Not SU of course.

Hi Michalis,

The statues were modeled in Maya and exported into Sketchup.

Same thing for my characters of the Temple (The Curse). These characters are old though. I did them back in 2005 for my game degree's final thesis.

I modeled, textured, rigged and animated using Maya and Photoshop. The fortress in the back was modeled in Sketchup and exported into Maya.

Here's one of my latest models and renders done for ASGVIS/V-Ray interview. Egyptian Museum. For this project, I used the new Spot lights to illuminate the Egyptian artifacts. Beware at night, when the museum doors close, the mummy comes to life!

Have a wonderful week!

_KN

My interview with ASGVIS/V-Ray:
http://software.asgvis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=886&Itemid=466&utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Winning%20Subject&utm_term=Read%20more%20about%20Ken%20Nguyen
My interview with Sketchupartists.org:
http://www.sketchupartists.org/spotlight/artists/sketchup-art-in-the-online-game-industry/
Sketchup for Fantasy Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27028
Sketchup for Sci-Fi Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27030

michaliszissiou

Nice characters, and great last egyptian museum scene.
I like it a lot, I have my reasons

ken28875

@michaliszissiou said:

Nice characters, and great last egyptian museum scene.
I like it a lot, I have my reasons

@ Michalis: Thank you. I am glad you liked it.

So here is Johnny's Room. This was done for 3D Connexion contest. I had to use one of their models (e.g. the robot in the center of the image) and place it in an original 3D environment. Obviously, the robot would not work well in Karoline's room (the render I did for my daughter). Therefore I had to create a boy room.

Hope you like it.

Thank you for stopping by and have a great week!

_KN

My interview with ASGVIS/V-Ray:
http://software.asgvis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=886&Itemid=466&utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Winning%20Subject&utm_term=Read%20more%20about%20Ken%20Nguyen
My interview with Sketchupartists.org:
http://www.sketchupartists.org/spotlight/artists/sketchup-art-in-the-online-game-industry/
Sketchup for Fantasy Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27028
Sketchup for Sci-Fi Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27030

liam887

Nice work Ken I really need to learn how to make some good materials for my models, the children's bedroom scene is amazing! ALways nice to see your work.

ken28875

@liam887 said:

Nice work Ken I really need to learn how to make some good materials for my models, the children's bedroom scene is amazing! ALways nice to see your work.

Hi Liam,

Glad to hear you like it. Thanks.

Yup, materials are very important to have a good render. What rendering engine do you use?

Hope you had a great Christmas and I wish you the best for New Year 2011.

_KN

Here are some more visual developments from the game Gods and Heroes.

Shipwrecks done with Sketchup/Maya - Environment with Vue - Photoshop for postwork.

Some atmospheric studies:

ken28875

Hi guys,

It's nice to be back. I apologize for the lack of updates the past half year. Things have been quite hectic.

My grandfather passed away a few months ago. I spent a few days in Los Angeles with my family to attend the funeral.

Back to San Francisco, I was really busy finishing the game Rift that was shipped on March. You can check out the website here if you're into MMO: http://www.riftgame.com/en/. So the NDA was lifted and I now can share some of my concepts/Sketchup models that I did the past 3.5 years.

I was also busy working on personal stuff that I will post later.

Anyway, here are some art works I did for Rift, mostly architecture, weapons and props.

As usual, modeling was done in Sketchup; texturing inside Sketchup and done in Photoshop; rendering with VRay for Sketchup; postworks in Photoshop.

I have hundreds of them and will post them when I have the chance.

Thanks for viewing and have a great day,

_KN

Raw renders/ WIP in Sketchup:

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Shadebane_raw_skp1.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Shadebane_raw_skp2.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Shadebane_raw_skp3.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Shadebane_raw_skp4.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Shadebane_raw_skp6.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Shadebane_raw_skp7.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Shadebane_raw_skp5.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/A_P_stonefield_chapel_01.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/A_D_temple_small_01e.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/porticulum.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/barrel_chest_crate.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/metal_chest.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Metal_Crate_barrel.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/Metal_Strongbox.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/1H_Maces_set_05.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/1H_Maces_set_05_skp.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/2H_Swords_set_07.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

[img:2x623wj1]http://i593.photobucket.com/albums/tt12/ken28875/Art of Sketchup - Fantasy 2/2H_swords_set_07_skp.jpg[/img:2x623wj1]

My interview with ASGVIS/V-Ray:
http://software.asgvis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=886&Itemid=466&utm_source=Publicaster&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Winning%20Subject&utm_term=Read%20more%20about%20Ken%20Nguyen
My interview with Sketchupartists.org:
http://www.sketchupartists.org/spotlight/artists/sketchup-art-in-the-online-game-industry/
Sketchup for Fantasy Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27028
Sketchup for Sci-Fi Art:
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=27030

numbthumb

Nice to have you back, Ken. It's always a pleasure to see such a wonderful work!

Pherim

Incredible Stuff! I wish I was as good as you are. I also do fantasy modelling in Sketchup, but I am far from being as good as you are with it. Looking forward to more!