LawDraw

Mistakes, Musings and Visual Thinking from a digital game creator.

[jameslawdraw]

Anatomy of an Acrobat: Making Swinging Stupendo

The purpose of this blog is to showcase the journey from idea to iPhone -- and Outplay/Bitesize Games have let me do just that right over here:  

Anatomy of an Acrobat: Outplay Blog

It's a behind-the-scenes exploration of the visual thinking that went into my latest project 'Swinging Stupendo' -- a new and exciting trapeze game from Bitesize Games, featured by both Apple and Google Play. 

You can get the game for free right here:

Google Play: 'Swinging Stupendo' App Store: 'Swinging Stupendo'

I really loved this project -- start to finish it was stuffed full of personality, and upon release Apple featured it in their best new games: an absolute honour. 

So head on over and have a gander at how the Bitesize team got there!

Anatomy of an Acrobat: Outplay Blog 

[jameslawdraw]

The Illusion of Life

Sometimes, our own drawings can surprise us.

I've been trying to draw more, and in those times drawing more. By that I mean more than just heads, faces or clothes.

I've mused on this before, but last week I finally saw it pay off.

I was drawing a girl character from a story I've been brewing, and trying to have a character moment. I drew her in a moment of indecision, and got this:

Now is this the best drawing ever? Nope. Is it even accurate or on-model? Negative. Does it still have a massive journey to full clarity for a viewer as opposed to the author's fully informed eye? Oh my, yes. She could be confused here, or angry, rather than just indecisive.

Here's the wider sketch page for a little more context:

And a super quick draw-over for line clarity:

However: this little moment right here is Lily's character, not her look.

And as such this one little pen doodle -- one amongst a 15 min session last week -- will prove infinitely valuable moving forward into her development.

This isn't a model sheet for how she looks but rather who she is, even if it's just a teeny-tiny bit.

So, let me beat the drum one more time with greater passion: keep drawing moments, ladies and gents, and your characters will show up and surprise you.

-- James

[jameslawdraw]

Bridging the Gap: Doodlin' On

A fresh start!

Welcome Denki Doodlers! 

Thanks for coming across. Make yourselves comfortable.

It is with heartfelt emotion that I salute Denki Doodles: what it started and what it allowed me to express. It will live on -- and hopefully improve -- in this new blog.

What you'll find here (for starters) is: the (deep breath) non-polished, 'behind-the-scenes' visual thinking innards of art from both the video games I work on and my own varied personal projects. Plus a smattering of thinking alongside.

My first post will be a refresher for both yourselves and me: I've gathered the most useful advice/tutorial style posts from Denki Doodles history into an easy guide for any game artists out there.

This is just my thinking and process on this, obviously, but hopefully my mistakes can teach as much as my successes.

Starting off: Inspiration Research: HERE

Establishing Tone: HERE

Illustrating Play Moments : HERE

Illustrating abstract games: HERE

Function over Form: Art always bows to Play:  HERE

Exploring Style Range: HERE

Defining a style: environment: HERE

Game Assets Examples:  HERE

Information Design Woes: HERE

Application of Concepts: HERE

There'll be a lot more to come!

As always I’m delighted to receive any questions, or advice, you guys have and am looking forward to 2015.

— James