I’ve managed to update my gallery which now includes several NEW categories including 3D and Vector albums!
Here’s a taster of the 3D images created in Vue Complete…
The Vœrken Mire from the roleplaying campaign setting of the Shadow World
And 2 Avatar inspired images
Go to the Gallery for the full size versions! 
A boring title, I know – but this is just updates so tough!
I’m working on a Shadow World Players Guide which will have a lot of Vue landscape renders as well as some drawings. As it’s still in progress, I can’t add any images here so I have a couple of other things to show.
A Vue render trying out a technique for ‘hyperterrains’ – the name given to the creation of the unusual shaped terrains which aren’t possible in the traditional terrain creation process.
An old-school Vector in Adobe Illustrator. Some subtle object blends but mostly a line work. Michelle is the woman featured and she has a gallery here.
That’s it for now.
I thought I’d let every one know about E-on Software’s Vue product line. Vue is a 3D landscape & animation program available for both PC & Mac and it produces stunning images.
They’ve made Vue Pioneer, the core program, available for FREE so it’s definitely something you’d need to checkout!
Here’s the full image I used in the banner ads for my site; just so you know what to expect. This was created in Vue Complete but only a couple of extra modules would have been needed on top of Vue Pioneer for this image.
As always, click that image for a larger version.
To try and counter any confusion before you go to the E-on Software’s web site, Vue comes in 3 main versions. Starting from the top they are…
That’s not to say that Vue Pioneer is no good, Vue Pioneer has many features that gives you access to the powerful 3D landscape modelling. When you’re ready to take the next step, you can purchase just the modules you need if you like – you don’t need to conform to the specific modules that’d take you to Vue Esprit or the Vue Pro Studio versions.
Some of my recent additions (as well as several to come) have used Vue and I’ll be including this banner below any of my posts that have used Vue.
It’s true that I’m altruistic …to a point. 
If you make any purchase on the Cornucopia3D web site for extra modules or 3D content within the first 30 days of visiting the site, my account will be credited 10%. After that, I see nothing.
Vue Pioneer is completely free and you needn’t purchase anything at all, which means I’d get nothing …but if you do, I’d certainly appreciate it. 
Following from my previous post, here’s a scene later in the day. I love the colours in this one!
(Software – Vue Pro Studio 7)
As always, click that image for a larger version.
I’ve included this banner on all blog posts that have used a Vue product. Primarily Vue Complete.
This scene looks like a small island with a tall black pillar reaching into the sky, far beyond the clouds.
There’s a reason for that – and it’s a simple reason: It’s because it IS a large pillar towering above the clouds.
(Software – Vue Pro Studio 7)
This a location in the Shadow World which is a campaign setting produced by ICE for their Rolemaster rule-set (for both Rolemaster Classic [RMC] and Rolemaster Fantasy Roleplaying [RMFRP] which is my favourite) that’s known as The Pillar of the Gods.
Millions of years ago, a singularity passed through the core of the planet; the pillar standing here was the molten core sucked out as the singularity exited the planet and cooling in the atmosphere.
I just liked the idea of that and needed to create an image of the pillar disappearing through the clouds. I’m trying out variations of this as we speak and I’ll upload these as well once I’m happy.
The Shadow World was the idea of Terry Kevin Amthor who must be an amazing genius to come up with a whole planet, weaving intricate and detailed backgrounds for all the peoples. I thoroughly recommend the Shadow World setting to anyone who loves to roleplay. There’s plenty of information provided so you can create adventures and fortunately for me, who’s not so good in the story creation, there’s a large amount of pre-made adventures.
I have no doubt that my inspiration in the future will be owed to the Shadow World series which means more images from me.
As always, click that image for a larger version.
I’ve included this banner on all blog posts that have used a Vue product. Primarily Vue Complete.
Finally, I’ve added an image gallery of some of my work!
Check it out – Craig’s Sketchpad Gallery
…and ironically, this post has no pictures. 
I’ll also be adding a gallery at Craig John (the Blog) which will include more of the ‘design’ projects covering both web and print work but I’ll let you know when that happens.
Ah, once again I find myself wanting to create lost civilisations – but not the type we have nowadays with the Egyptians, Aztecs, Mayans etc (which are pretty cool themselves); I love the concept of a futuristic civilisation in ruins over thousands of years old.
This is a concept I’m going to go into a lot more detail for a while as well as futuristic civilisations that aren’t in ruins. It might be fun to have the same images side by side – current, and in ruins. Yes, there will be lots of overgrowth and decay.
This is just a rough render and composite to get the feel of what I’m doing but there will be a lot higher res versions soon!
This entry doesn’t have a larger version because it’s a rough concept so for a change, you can keep the clicking at bay.
While I’m on the subject, here’s one that I did earlier
…about 10yrs earlier to be precise. As you can see I have a long running fixation with dead civilisations – and sunsets as well it appears.
Fortunately, I’ve grown out of my need to have everything orange though.
Click on the image to play the movie – it’s 3.8MB
This was also an initial rough concept I made so it’s not a high quality render – and the plane is modelled out of standard shapes and isn’t textured at all.
This is what sparked my idea to do a short animation but thanks to ill health and work constraints, it never actually got finalised. Many of the models were created and textured so I may add them to this blog later.
I thought I’d show you the Map on it’s own which makes it easier to see.
Click for that larger version.
Well, an alien landscape actually.
Some more Vue Infinite action again. This is going to be on the cover of the Alien Sketchbook that’s going to be my entry to the ICE Alien Contest.
Click on the image for a larger version.
ICE’s second Mapping contest is for a Crypt Map.
I wanted to do something that isn’t the usual Gothic/Egyptian style setting so Aztec was chosen (well, my friend chose it for me – I was totally going to go down the ‘predictable’ Gothic route). And with the Map itself, we need some support illustrations and one for the front cover of course and this is what I’m going to be using.
The Temple was modelled in Strata CX and the landscape was modelled and the whole scene rendered in Vue Infinite.
I’ll be posting more Work In Progresses as soon as I’ve done any more – that is the reason for this site after all!
Click for a larger view.
This site will form the basis of my portfolio but this isn't going to be only finished pieces; it's going to be a large collection of roughs, in-progress drawings be they on paper or on the computer.