Texas Pin-Up

Likely going to be selling some prints at this years Vet Fest, so figured this was a great excuse to get back to some of the more patriotic art I used to make much for often.  Being that I've been in TX over a year now, I thought I'd dedicate a pinup to the Lone Star State. 

This was created in Photoshop from concept sketch to final render.

This is my ax... There are many like it but this one is game art...

Here is a low poly prop and texture I recently created in front of my class to discuss texture workflow and storytelling within your texture.

Modeled in Modo
Textured in Photoshop  

Texture Painted at 1024x1024
Marmoset Render 512x512 diffuse only


To create a good looking, realistic game asset, you first want to collect your images for the base materials.

Ask yourself these questions:
What is this asset made of?
How is this asset constructed?
Where has this asset been?

Once you've made those decisions, you can begin finding the right source images to create your base metal, plastic, wood, screws, bolts etc...  Now using PS, place/rotate all your source images to your assets UV shells.  Once everything is in place and seam free, you can begin adding additional shading that the images did not supply but you want to create based on your concept.

After you have a nice looking asset that looks new from the hardware store, it's then time to give your asset some personality.  This is where the "Where has this asset been?" question comes in.  Has this item been used as a weapon?  Has it never been used but been sitting in the back of an old truck or tool box for the past 5+ years?  These are the things that will help you decide if you need dirt, dust or blood...and how much!

With every asset you make, you'll want to get better at asking yourself or your art lead these questions and then use the answers to help push your texture to a more interesting place.

Colt 1911 Game Model (Revised)

Another model from the vault of past goodies.  I originally made this 1911 model for a game idea where the player could customize and build their firearms and than use them at progressively more challenging shooting ranges.  Sort of a Hogan's Alley meets Gran Turismo.  The past renders I had of this asset were done with Maya's Mental Ray and not actually real-time as I had intended.  Now with current game engines and tools like Marmoset I am able to show off this pistol as it was meant to be seen.

Software Used:

• Maya
• Photoshop
• Marmoset

AK-47 Game Model

Here is a low poly AK I made at my time at Cole Engineering.  The version we used on our project was a bit too low poly for portfolio use, so I took the time to add some polys where needed and updated the texture to something a bit more realistic and higher quality.

Software Used:

• Maya
• Photoshop
• xNormal
• Marmoset

M14 Game Model

This is a model I started on awhile back but simply didn't get around to finishing until I found some time this week.  I love the Springfield Armory M1A and wanted to create a game model of it's original design, the M14.  Chambered in .308, the M14/M1A has been in service since WWII and is still looked at as one of the best semi-auto rifles on the market today.  It's like the 1911 of the rifle world.

Software Used:

• Maya
• Photoshop
• xNormal
• Marmoset

M2 Browning Game Model (Revised)

This is an older model that I made in down time a couple years back.  I revisited the model, updated the textures and than rendered it out in real time using Marmoset to show that even an older, super low poly  model can look pretty sharp when it's rendered with the current real-time tech.  Good time to be a game artist for sure.

Software Used:

• Maya
• Photoshop
• Marmoset

Mossberg 590A1 Game Model

Here is a game resolution Mossberg 590A1 I recently finished.  As a fan of the Mossberg 500 series, I decided it would be cool to create the 500's thicker and heavier big brother.  Added a 6 shell side saddle for good measure along with a fiber optic front site.

Software Used:

• 
  
• Maya
• Photoshop
• xNormal
• Marmoset

School Props: Turntables 1 & 2

This is a collection of assets I made at Cole Engineering for a test scene to be placed in Unreal Engine 4.  I have gathered the assets I created (high and low resolution model, color/specular/normal textures) and placed them onto this turntable for demo reel/portfolio purposes.  All props are low poly with LOD's and were used in a real time walk through rendered with Unreal Engine 4.

You can view these assets in their natural environment in the video below.

I worked closely with the talented Justin Wildhorn and Sorob Raissi, you can see examples of this project as well as more of Justin's work here: http://www.justinwildhorn.com 

...and check out  Sorob's work here: http://sorob.net

Software Used:

• Maya
• Photoshop
• xNormal
• dDo
• Marmoset
• Unreal Engine 4

Fishing Scene Turntable

This is a collection of assets I made at Cole Engineering for a test scene for a client.  I have gathered the assets I created (high and low resolution model, color/specular/normal textures) and placed them onto this turntable for demo reel/portfolio purposes.  All props are very low poly with LOD's and were used in a real time cut scene compiled in Unreal Engine 3.

You can view these assets in their natural environment in the video below.

I worked closely with the talented Justin Wildhorn, you can see examples of this project as well as more of Justin's work here: http://www.justinwildhorn.com

Some design work and small boat done by Sorob Raissi, you can see examples of his work here:
http://sorob.net/

Software Used:

• Maya
• Photoshop
• xNormal
• dDo
• Marmoset
• Unreal Engine 3

Glock 21

I was planning on only doing 3 of these, but then I realized I hadn't done a Glock yet, and I can't be leaving out "Glock Perfection"!  This is the awesome Glock 21 chambered in .45acp.  This is Glock's full size .45 and one of their larger and more aggressive models which is used by many law enforcement agencies nation wide.  ...it is also my personal go to gun for both home defense and carry.  Something that really makes the G21 stand out above some other .45's out there is it's capacity.  With a 13+1 capacity you'd be hard pressed to find a better .45 for your money.  This is the gun I have shot above all others and to this day, I have yet to have a failure or malfunction of any kind.

Taurus Protector

I really like the "Drawn with Lead 1911" digital painting I did last year, and Jess was telling me the other day that I should do some more guns in a similar fashion.  She also didn't hesitate to drop the Taurus Protector as a possible choice for my next gun painting as it's probably going to be my wife's first handgun.  So my love, this one's for you!!  I am so lucky to have a wife that supports my hobbies and my beliefs the way you do, I love you darl'n!!!

Colt 1911A1

Haven't posted any new 3D in quite awhile, so I felt it was due time to dust off my 3D software and put something out.

This is a Colt 1911 that I built as a level 0 game model.  I wanted to start off with the classic version that was used in WWII  but I also plan to change out some of the parts and make a few other variants of this classic firearm.  Please feel free to leave comments with any suggestions to what 1911 you think would make a cool game model and maybe I'll do that one next.   Appreciate anyone who participates.