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.
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.
It was doodle time tonight and the subject was trolls! I’ve got the roleplaying bug again which means exploring the characters & creatures around the fantasy lands – watching ’24′ was not reason enough to not doodle (although it did come close)!
Tonight’s doodles were mainly about trolls but there’s been many iterations of Orcs as well which I’ll upload as soon as I’m happy with the final result of them. I’m working out the different features and stature for the goblin type variations as well – goblins, hobgoblins, lesser and greater orcs.
In the following image, I’m heading towards the pot bellied, gorilla style stature and playing around with facial expressions, body hair and armour ideas.
Hopefully, I’ll be adding some digital paintings of trolls to the gallery in the near future as well.
Once again the Bic fine biro is the weapon of choice for the doodles – it doesn’t smudge as easily as pencil does – and it gets me concentrating on each line.
Click on the image for a larger view. 
It’s that time of the month again – it’s ICE’s map contest! This time it’s a lair for Kobolds (a lesser goblin type creature).
I was going to enter the old-school hand drawn map that I uploaded here – old-school map but after I added a little bit of texture to it, I just had to carry on!
Here is the opening spread describing the tactics the kobold’s would use to defend their lair and a larger map view is below that.
And here’s a close up of the textures so you can see it at it’s actual size
This is the cover illustration used for the PDF depicting the nasty trap the Kobold’s have in store for unsuspecting adventurers!
Click those images for a larger version!
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.
After deciding to leave it as an old school style map, I couldn’t help myself and I had to colour it in and add some textures.
The story so far, the initial colour and textures have been added and now I need to colour in the other elements (the wood has just been started as a sold colour but needs more textures, highlights and shadows)…
And a close up of the textures.
As usual, click on the image for a larger version.
Once again, another ICE competition raises it’s head; This time in the form of a Kobold lair!
I’ve been looking through some of the b/w drawn maps and I like them. So much so that I thought my first entry would be in that style (and it meant I could draw it while watching TV).
I need to stick it in a PDF with separate pages tiling the map, but here it is in it’s full size form.
As usual, click the image for a larger version.
For a closer look, click on one of the 4 sections to enlarge them.
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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.