Ezra Lau Art Blog

Inktober over the Years

2014-11-01T20:47:00.000-06:00

I felt like doing a throwback/flashback/whatever type of post to recap some of the similar pieces I've done for Inktober over the past couple of years. It's fun to notice improvement, even if it is just marginal. I always wish I was better than I am, but I guess I'll just settle for better than I was!

Dota 2 - Slark item set

2014-09-27T02:00:00.000-06:00

This post is essentially just a WIP thread for a Dota 2 Workshop submission. Updates and pics to follow, hopefully on a somewhat-regular schedule!

concept

zbrush sculpt

Test paintover

test paintover #2

polypaint on mask

wip polypaint + base model

Hand-painted Orc

2014-04-04T18:09:00.002-06:00

I just updated my portfolio with this bad-boy, and I wanted to give Sketchfab a try. Let me know what you think!

Follow me on Instagram!

2013-10-06T18:29:00.002-06:00

Haha, not really... But it's over on Instagram that I've been posting a lot of my latest art and stuff. I just find it too convenient to sketch a little something on my phone and immediately post it to Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. On that note, I'll give this blog a bit of an update with just a few highlights from the past few months.

You might notice that some of these sketches are symmetrical, and that's because they were done using the mirror function on my 4.7" HTC 4G LTE screen in the SketchBook Mobile Express app. And the funky filters and fake depth of field are from the Instagram app itself, because in reality all of the sketches were done on the exact same grayscale background.

Right now I'm in the midst of working on my daily Inktober sketches, which I'm also posting on my IG account, and I'll probably compile a bunch for another blog post in a little bit.

Either way, thanks for looking!
(http://instagram.com/ezra_lau)

Elf

Dwarven Beard

Medieval RoboCop

Nose/Ear Face

More Bushy Beard

Fish

Freelanced!

2013-07-09T00:42:00.000-06:00

I had a spot of freelance working for a friend and it was a really great experience. He commissioned an illustration for the cover of his Young Adult Fiction novel. The book is self-published, and you can find it on the Amazon Kindle store at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DSUQZ7G.

I posted some of the process shots below. I built up the layers gradually, working in a methodical, iterative process, and trying to involve the client as much as possible. It was altogether a really fun, rewarding, and educational project!

Final Image

Linework.

Base colors with minor shading work.

Building up lighting and other effects

Zbrush Sketches

2013-05-16T12:52:00.000-06:00

Time to clear off the dust on this blog! I've been doing some speed sculpting exercises (about 30-40 mins) and I wanted to share some of them. I've also just started uploading some of the time-lapse videos to Youtube. I would love to hear what you think! You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Social media everywhere!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTi33QIF9kY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_1TYo9nMWY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNHI3AqwgZA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdlQS9CLyTM

A Shape Sculpt

2012-12-19T15:29:00.000-07:00

This started as a speed sculpt referencing an old shape drawing from my character design class at BYU, but I tweaked the design a bit. I got into the polypainting and messing around with lighting and BPR renders and this is the result.

#inktober Bat Spider hunting and breeding behaviours

2012-10-30T23:50:00.000-06:00

Left: Bat Spider in flight
Right: Close-up of Bat Spider head

I was thinking about different animals that were considered "Halloween-y." Spiders and bats were at the top of my list. But then I thought, how about a hybrid Bat Spider? Then I started thinking about all the possibilities and unique evolutionary traits of such a strange creature. Some of my random thoughts are recorded below:

The first recorded encounter of a Bat Spider was in a deep cave amidst the jungles of South America. The entrance was draped with spider webs, and the ground was littered with the desiccated remains of unidentifiable animal corpses. The ceiling was a writhing carpet of many thousands of spider-like creatures. The villagers were extremely shocked when the spiders lept from the ceiling and dove directly at their faces. With deadly accuracy, the spiders darted nimbly after their fleeing prey. They maneuvered through the air like hawks with the aid of spider-spun wings stretched between their legs. As soon as the first sparrow-sized spider sunk its oversized fangs into its victim, a quick and potent neurotoxin disabled his muscles and he collapsed to the ground, foaming at the mouth. He was immediately swarmed by the rest of the bat spiders and the other villagers were able to escape.

While the adult variety of the bat spider is remarkable for its hunting prowess, its behaviour while still in its larval stage of development is truly terrifying. A female bat spider will spin a thin nest on ceilings or overhanging surfaces onto which she spreads her small spider eggs, forming what looks like chocolate sprinkles on a whipped cream topping. The larvae will burst from their eggs when they sense the heat of a living creature pass by underneath. The unsuspecting animal is then assaulted in any available orifice, usually the ears, nose or mouth, but also any open wounds that they find. Death usually results from suffocation or self-inflicted head trauma trying to dislodge the nearly microscopic invaders. The flesh of the dead animal is then used as nourishment for the voracious appetite of the young bat spiders. The most horrifying aspect of this method of laying eggs is that often the mother will place her nest above the head of a sleeping animal, and the larvae will enter the body and brain cavity while it is still unconscious.

Happy Halloween!

#inktober 18: No good deed unpunished

2012-10-19T01:34:00.001-06:00

So my good friend and fellow BYU artist Meredith (@LaFemmeAtomique) posted an encouraging tweet aimed directly at me. There's no way I would let such an act go unanswered. Let this be a lesson to all of you potential do-gooders out there.

ArenaNet Art Test 2013

2012-10-18T16:38:00.001-06:00

This is where I'll be putting my WIP images for my application to the latest ArenaNet internship program. It was a huge relief when they moved their deadline from Oct. 20 to Nov. 14.

I've been learning a lot as I've been going along, and learning is good. Not always the easiest or most fun thing to do, but that's how it goes, eh?

Concept provided by ArenaNet:

http://www.arena.net/blog/n..internship

3.5 weeks worth of modeling/sculpting

detail of wear/tear pass 1

detail of wear/tear pass 2

detail of wear/tear pass 3

tweaked proportions, details, fabric

retopo, uvs, baking: front

added alpha cards and misc accessory stuff

Finished!

#inktober 17: Ermagersh Pernda

2012-10-18T01:44:00.003-06:00

Shoutout to my newest Twitter follower: @meister403

#inktober 16: Protoss sketch #Starcraft

2012-10-17T00:58:00.002-06:00

With Authentic Battle Damage

#inktober 14-15: random sketch + Krang

2012-10-16T01:57:00.006-06:00

Melancholy deer creature

Shredder: Don't you know how to say please?
Krang: No, but I do know how to say NOW!

Shredder: Close enough.

#inktober 13: Brooding Ninja Turtle

2012-10-14T03:16:00.001-06:00

Some days I'm reminded of all the different ways my life is going horribly. That's what he's thinking, maybe.

#inktober 12: Quick Venom Bust

2012-10-13T01:29:00.002-06:00

A quick sketch that I felt like inking. Venom was so much cooler than Spider Man: he was like an alien ninja.

Quick and simple sketch for #inktober 11

2012-10-12T01:15:00.000-06:00

It's a bunny.

Missed opportunity, but better late than never #Starcraft #Muppets

2012-10-11T02:22:00.001-06:00

Today's Inktober is brought to you by the famous Starcraft celebrities Sean "Day[9]" Plott and Nick "Tasteless" Plott. The idea for this sketch came from a silly forum post that outlines in great detail how Sean is actually a muppet. Since Sean and Nick are brothers I went with a kind of Bert and Ernie vibe. And trumpets.

Image found at: http://gifsoup.com/webroot/animatedgifs3/1273760_o.gif

The "missed opportunity" part comes from posting this today, this being the 10th day of Inktober, and not yesterday, which would have been day 9.

Inktober day 9. Nothing special

2012-10-09T23:19:00.003-06:00

Yup. Just a quick sketch, although I can say from experience that going in for a drink and missing the straw is incredibly humiliating.

Catching up on my #Inktober posts: days 5-8

2012-10-09T01:44:00.002-06:00

I spent the weekend hanging out with family celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving and enjoying the LDS General Conference weekend. I was still sketching throughout, but I didn't have access to a scanner or Photoshop. Enjoy the art dump!

A style-exploration-type sketch of good ol' Wolverine, probably my favorite Marvel hero (he's tied with Batman as my all-time favorite hero).

We watched Disney's Tangled, and my nieces were eager to sing along to all the songs. Granted, I probably could have, too, but I chose to remain silent.

A preemptive bird sketch, in anticipation of the upcoming turkey feast that my sister was preparing. I think I was experimenting on shading for feathers.

If turkeys ever won any award, it would be for the most awkward-looking bird ever. Their gaudy-colored faces are saggy and wrinkly. They're fat and oddly proportioned. There isn't much else to say, BUT they are really fun to draw. :D
This post is brought to you by Sharpie Ultra Fine Point Permanent Markers (Google Affiliate Ad).
(I'm testing to see if this works...)

#inktober Day 4: The Man's Battle

2012-10-05T14:04:00.000-06:00

When I was growing up I always thought MegaMan and BomberMan were related. Kids... they are so dumb. Either way, if it came down to a Battle Royale between these two retro heroes, MegaMan wins for two reasons: a) BomberMan only has ground-constrained bombs that explode in cross-shaped configurations. b) MegaMan can jump.

Getting Adventurous! #inktober day 3

2012-10-04T00:43:00.001-06:00

I wanted something more exciting with more contrast. Well, there's nothing like Adventure Time to channel excitement and contrast.

There's some cool artwork on Twitter with the #inktober hashtag. You should check it out if you're into that kind of thing.

day 2 #inktober

2012-10-03T00:02:00.000-06:00

Calgary is getting colder. Cold is not my favorite.

Anyway, here are some of my thoughts/critical analysis looking at these past two days:
- line quality needs work
- lack of contrast in value and shape
- my artsy signatures are pretty sweet
- I need more Sharpie markers

So it begins... #inktober day one

2012-10-01T18:48:00.000-06:00

I've decided to commit to a daily draw-a-thon for the month of October that is known as "INKTOBER." The format is very unforgiving, in that once you put a line down, it's there for good. Which is something that I struggle with... (aka commitment issues, but that's a topic for another day) This whole Inktober thing was conceived by the extraordinary Jake Parker, and he has written quite eloquently concerning the concept:

It’s a month long appreciation of the art of drawing in ink and the practitioners that embrace that art. To celebrate I’m posting one ink drawing a day for the entire month. No pencils, no water colors, no photoshop, just the unadulterated black and white beauty of thick black ink on crisp white paper. Drawing with ink means commitment. There’s no hemming and hawing as to which pencil line you’re going to use, no sitting on the fence of values, no pussy footing with color. When you make your mark you better mean it. It’s black and white. True or false. On or off. And that’s what Inktober is all about.

INKtober rules:

1) Make a drawing in ink (you can do a pencil under-drawing if you want).

2) Post it on your blog or tumblr, twitter, facebook, flickr, or just pin it on your wall.

3) Hashtag it with #inktober

4) Repeat (you can do it daily, like me, or go the half-marathon route and post every other day, or just do the 5K and post once a week. What ever you decide, just be consistent with it. INKtober is about growing and improving and forming positive habits, so the more you’re consistent the better.)
Parker, Jake. "INKTOBER DAY 1." Agent 44: The Art Blog of Jake Parker. Web. October 1, 2012. <http://mrjakeparker.com/2012/10/01/inktober-day-1/>

(ya i just used MLA format whatuuup)

So even though I made a whole bunch of mistakes on this beastly fellow, I resisted the temptation to touch things up in Photoshop. My hope is to publish a post daily and by the end of the month maybe see some form of improvement. #HopefulYetDoubtful

some quick concepts

2012-09-26T16:32:00.001-06:00

The idea is a 3rd person fixed-camera tactical squad-based shooter game, but we needed something visual to keep the ball rolling. These are some rough style explorations as we're talking about target audience and logistic issues. I'm leaning towards the simplified, "cartoony" version, not only to avoid any COD or BF comparisons, but I just like the way it feels.

Oh, and are there any game-devs out there (art or programming or whatever backgrounds) available to help out on a neat, little side project? Me and this guy might be looking for some people in the near-ish future.

Finally the final post about this Norn

2012-09-25T03:10:00.001-06:00

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Made some presentation images for my portfolio. I've been thinking that I need to update my website design... and maybe even get my own domain name... If there's anything you'd like to comment on, please feel free!