It's Inktober again and here are my art entries.

If you haven't heard of Inktober read on. This is an artist motivation site created by Jake Parker to get artists to ink a drawing everyday for one month. This is probably my third year doing this and I just realized that I haven't really posted my entries this year for this little game. The above graphic is from his website and he typically lays out a theme for each day. Some artists follow this and others don't. Below are my entries this year. I will update this list daily until October is no more. Newest art at the top. Come on back and check it out.

31. Mask

30. Found

29. United

28. Fall

27. Climb

26. Squeak

25. Ship

24. Blind

23. Juicy

22. Trail

21. Furious

20. Deep

19. Cloud in color

19. Cloud

18. Filthy

18. Filthy in color

17. Graceful

16. Fat

15. Mysterious

14. Fierce

13. Teeming

12. Shattered

11. Run

10. Gigantic

10. Gigantic in color

9. Screech

9. Screech in color

8. Crooked

8. Crooked in color

7. Shy

6. Sword

5. Long

4. Underwater

3. Poison

2. Divided

1. Swift

Check back for more...

This really has nothing to do with Quantum Enigma in anyway, but, I thought Ultraman was cool when I was a kid and now the first origin story episode is on Youtube so I had to share it. Check it out before it's gone.

Here is a close up of the board below.

These are some of the storyboards used for the short film promoting the Quantum Enigma comic book.

Storyboards are essential in any film, video or animation shoot. I have been doing storyboards for years, and this little production is no different. It really helps everyone involved with the project to be on the same page. The storyboard above was originally going to use a lot of NASA footage from their archive for a short film contest. We later scrapped the idea for this part of the story.

It helps to explain not just the action, but the narrative as well as camera angles etc.

I will post more here once they're scanned.

Here's a little update on some of the artwork panels in the Quantum Enigma book. If you don't see post's everyday, you have to know that these things take time. The panel above started off as a blue pencil sketch, then I ink it. From there I will do a little halftone wash on the shadows to get off on the right foot.

I am a really a traditional artist and I usually like to do everything by hand. In this case I needed to save a little time, because this is a big series for me. I scan the artwork in and digitally paint it. I will usually wait to do a final pass once all of the other panels are done, that way I can color correct everything to match throughout the book.

These panels are in no particular order. I chose these because they are interesting  and further along than some of the others.

It is interesting to see these images go from a 2d black and white illustration to almost a 3d looking image with just a little paint.

Here you probably recognize the ship from the live action Quantum Enigma teaser video.

Before I start on any paint, I create a mood board for the entire book. This idea gives the whole thing continuity so it looks and feels like it comes from the same place. A mood board really sets the stage for everything else down the line.

I started a whole tutorial series on How To Make Your Own Graphic Novel on my other comic book site Prisoner of the Mind if you are interested.

I will have more work coming soon...

This is how it all begins. It all starts with an idea and then a series of sketches. From here it is developed into real world practical effects and props utilizing a range of creative processes. This process has taken almost as much time to create as the actual comic book.

These are concept sketches for the bridge dome of the mothership.

Here is some side detail concept art for the landing bay and engine intake for the mothership.

This little robot is an all terrain exploratory unit for QE.

This suit looks like its part "The Martian" space suit and "Prometheus" from the Alien franchise.

Here is the reverse shot where you can see the backpack detail.

A closer look at the helmet even before we've seen the finished product.

Here's a better look at the exploratory robot that will be used in the book and short film.

Here are some very cool concept illustrations and the prop design of the alien blaster seen in the QE teaser for the upcoming Quantum Enigma comic book release. Linder started off with some basic outline illustrations based on a movie weapon used in G. I. Joe and later released as a toy blaster from Hasbro. Further down you can this page, we have included a photo of it of the basic toy before the heavy modifications.

The total amount of work required to create something like this is amazing. There are several designs here that we would love to see come to life.

These all look pretty cool, but in the end I guess you can only pick one.

This is a little graphic design work for an H.U.D. that will be used in the comic book released later this year.

After a series of sketches this little critter was turned into a moving, walking creature. We will add video here soon so you can see the little guy move. There will also be a build log available soon.

More robots inspired by living creatures.

Here we've got new images of Linder's robot companion known as G.R.I.F.O.N. 1.

Android hand with inner workings.

Another working robot in Quantum Enigma.

L.E.G.S. 1, robot designs.

Space shuttle designs.

Multiple space shuttle designs.

Prepare for the launch of Quantum Enigma in 2020!

These sketches are early design concepts for the G.R.I.F.O.N. 1. (Geological Research Instrument for Foraging and Observation in Nature) robot design that is used in the comic and in the short film.

Above are full mech-head designs with multiple sensors and cameras used for collecting different types of exploration data in the field and on alien planets.

Here are a variety of different styles of mech-heads drawn in a traditional style here. Linder does use computer illustration as well as traditional in his work, but most of his early concepts are pencil and paper. The robot is supposed to be an exploration robot similar to a NASA rover or moon explorer. This is not a war robot that we see so much of today.

The upper torso is more humanoid like while the bottom section of the robot is on tracks.

These interesting high-tech track covers for the robot give it a futuristic look, not like a typical tank or tractor tread.

Here are some sketches of of various side panels that will be utilized on the robot.

Several different types of mechanical part designs that will be used for both the comic book and the actual practical prop.

Here are the early rough concept sketches for the astronaut helmet in the Quantum Enigma comic book and the live action trailer. Linder says that his inspiration comes from real NASA based suits, the film Prometheus and the Martian.

The ideas here are mostly real space based designs for space travel, nothing to futuristic or far away. Linder says, "looking at many NASA designed space suits over the years, I tried to create something that would look modern, real and functional." 

Here is just an early rough quick sketch idea of the shuttle design in the book.

Concept art for multiple objects and some tech in the story. It's difficult to understand how this all fits together without knowing what the story is about but it is a peak in.

Here are a series of rough mech sketches, robot parts, and silhouettes for the initial design of his character G.R.I.F.O.N. 1. (Geological Research Instrument for Foraging and Observation in Nature)

Let the full on sci-fi begin! Here are some very early rough concept sketches for the mothership scale model that will be used for the Quantum Enigma trailer and short film. 

We'll add more soon, check back for updates.