Michael Tinstman

Modeled a head in Blender

2011-10-08T07:29:00.001-07:00

I sculpted this head in Blender :) It's rough in a few areas like the eyes and the ears. The polygon count got so high that my computer was really choking on it. If I'd had more power I might have done something about it. I'm rocking a pretty old Dell here at home.

I've been itching to try Mudbox or Zbrush for a few years now, but couldn't justify plopping down some cash just to play with those expensive programs. Of course, most expensive software packs usually offer a short period (usually 30 days) as a trial. I'm never quite satisfied with that experience...30 days sounds like a long time, I'm pretty busy in my free time. So 30 days isn't usually enough for me to feel like I've fully explored any given program.

Then three weeks ago I discovered Blender 3D on the Internet by accident. I had actually heard of it before. To be honest, I kind of ignored it because I assumed it was another open source program that was generally awkward to work with (I won't bad mouth any particular programs. How can any one badmouth free software?). Previous to Blender the only open source programs that I found very useful was FireFox and somewhat useful OpenOffice. Blender 3D is pretty much awesome. I haven't finished exploring it. Supposedly it isn't as good as Mudbox or Zbrush, but I've heard it's pretty darned close. Since it's free, I won't need to feel guilty about plunking down thousands of dollars for hobby use. Though I can see how this may be useful in my professional job. Fortunately my computer at work is a bit more powerful.

This Old Pole

2011-09-08T02:15:00.000-07:00

There is an old laundry pole in our backyard and Maria (my wife), thinks it should just go. I think it would make a great stand for a birdhouse. We have Blue Jays and Cardinals that show up every now and then. So it would be great if this encouraged them even more.

Space Jet

2011-09-07T19:49:00.001-07:00

This space racer has two main rockets (top and bottom back center) for travel in the void. During atmospheric travel it has two jet pods slung underneath. It has swing wings mostly to look cool. Overall, I wanted to create an F1 racer in the pit, kind-of-feel, with this drawing. Thus the techy paint scheme and sponsor tags.

...more from my Ipad

2011-06-11T03:53:00.000-07:00

created in Sketchbook

drawn on paper, scanned, and colored in Sketchbook

created in Sketch Club

I had more art work for the post below this, but Blogger seemed to max out on 5 images.

Ipad 2

2011-06-11T03:36:00.000-07:00

created in Sketchbook

It has been awhile since I have posted, partly because our baby is more active now, and partly because I also have now have an Ipad that kept me from sitting at my computer. I've made a bunch of new drawings on that Ipad. Clearly you can't be as precise "finger painting" but I do love how spontaneous I can be when I think of something to draw or am inspired. I like to think of using the Ipad as a way to create roughs. If I really like what I have created, I can then upgrade it on my computer to something high res.

FEDEXbot

2011-03-13T07:01:00.001-07:00

I put more effort into this piece then I have on others lately. Ironically, having a baby to take care of, has freed up more time for this sort of thing. While she sleeps I work on "productive" stuff such as this. Prior to having her around, I would have gone out of the house and done something completely different :)

This drawing is about the way packages might come to your door someday. It probably wouldn't look anything like this, but I wanted to get the base idea out and have a fun picture to draw. With advances in automation such as UAVs and the Darpa Grand Challenge, perhaps we will have those swords beaten into plowshares for use in our neighborhoods.

Here this robot drives right up to the door step while pulling a package out of its back container. It might take 20 or so of these to replace one truck, but they would have other advantages like 24 hour service.

This was also the first time I feel like I made some personal progress in drawing up a contextual background. It's something that I usually struggle with, but I seek to sharpen this skill as I do more illustrations (I also need to work on drawing people).

Bird Seed

2011-01-08T04:54:00.001-08:00

Dancing Bot

2010-05-29T04:38:00.000-07:00

Finished this about two months ago and delayed posting it. I wasn't completely happy with the result. Couldn't think of a way of resolving my small dilema, so I just let it go.

Remote Camera

2010-04-10T09:30:00.000-07:00

Jet

2010-04-02T17:48:00.000-07:00

Not real happy with this one. Fussed with the colors for too long, then got tired of, so I just kicked it out the door.

Atmospheric Cruise

2010-03-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

A starship glides over the surface of a planet with a thick atmosphere.

Happy to have my Cintiq

2010-03-12T04:22:00.000-08:00

Space Elevator II

2009-08-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

Another space elevator drawing, this one of the station at the end of travel.

Space Freighter

2009-08-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

An interplanetary space freighter that ferries pressurized ISO containers from Earth to Mars. Image made with the Gouache tool in Corel Painter on a Wacom Cintiq

Wednesday night car

2009-08-12T18:32:00.000-07:00

Tuesday evening robot

2009-08-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

Made on my Cintiq with various airbrush tools in Painter 8.

Actual acrylic paintings

2009-08-01T19:40:00.000-07:00

A break from digital. Created with acrylic paints on tiny canvases.

Core77/Nidecker graphics contest

2009-07-12T17:18:00.000-07:00

I created this for a core77/Nidecker Snowboard Graphic design competition. It's a bunch of arrows that gradually thin out as they move along the board. The idea is to graphically capture the paths left behind during the first runs of the day on a slope, whether its fresh powder or just freshly groomed. It was made on my Wacom Cintiq with Photoshop.

Land speeder

2009-01-23T19:58:00.000-08:00

Made with the marker and airbrush tools in Painter 8.

Space Elevator

2009-01-23T19:54:00.000-08:00

A space elevator off in the distance using the Picasso brush in Painter 8 (6x8 Wacom Intuos).

Star Ship

2009-01-23T19:50:00.000-08:00

A star ship drawn on the 6x8 Wacom Intuos with acrylic painting tools.

4 Legged Transport Capsule

2009-01-23T19:45:00.000-08:00

Drawn on a Wacom Intuos 6x8 with air brush tools in Painter 8.

2009-01-10T13:48:00.000-08:00

BMW Concept Motorcycles

2009-01-10T05:33:00.000-08:00

A bunch of nice renderings found on Autoblog.

Master Robot Hunter

2008-11-23T08:57:00.000-08:00

I have been working on this illustration for awhile and just finished it this morning. It's focus is an old master at rogue robot hunting :) Here a robot has been lying in wait for him and is lashing out. I imagined that this is the moment right before the man realizes he is being ambushed. He will spin about at the last possible moment and dispense of the robot with his special rifle/canon held in his left hand.

Voting Booth

2008-11-23T07:26:00.000-08:00

This is my submission to a Core 77.com One-Hour Design Competition in October. It was created barely under an hour and on my Cintiq tablet with Corel Painter 8. I was left somewhat uninspired because I feel this particular problem is better solved with political solutions. As usual, I still appreciate the attempt that everyone put forward. Specially since it only involves one hour, so it doesn't make any effort feel vain.

Here are all the submissions to the contest.

Cars

2008-09-28T08:18:00.000-07:00

I spent a few hours this weekend working on these cars. One of which I submitted to Core 77's One Hour Design Challenge. Both are hatchbacks, because it's my favorite format for a car. Lightweight, low profile, great hauling capacity, low fuel use, easy to park, etc.

One of the requirements was to make video of the process. You can see it here.

Three Year Giant Mecha

2008-09-13T07:40:00.000-07:00

It took me 3 years of free time to finish this one. I started it...came close to finishing it about 2 years ago. Then my computer crashed. So I had to start over with the coloring. Its now finally finished. As with a lot of these illustrations, I make them more for the enjoyment of illustration in general. It's not a race to create content for me. If it had been a work related drawing, then I think it would have taken me 1-3 days.

What is it? Like a lot of people in Industrial Design (maybe 25% of us) have a deep interest in Sci-Fi and Anime. So this is my take on the giant mecha subject. Its not a robot, its a giant bi-pedal vehicle that a human can control from within the cockpit sphere above the torso. It can walk, fly in the air (jets on the back) and in space (multiple rocket pods). The head is also air tight when closed, so no need for a spacesuit. It's cockpit is mostly windowless, since portholes are often a structural challenge with space vehicles. To replace the portholes, the user has wrap-around monitors to give a better view then portholes or a canopy would have.

I'm still not sure why these types of vehicles capture the imagination of so many people. They definitely aren't any more practical then wheeled vehicles, airplanes, or conventional rockets. Someone must have done a semi-serious psychological study on this cultural fascination. Freudian? An extension of ego? On the surface, I know why I like them anyways.

International Space Station

2008-06-25T18:48:00.001-07:00

Forged from NASA image for color and form study. Produced in Corel Painter with Acrylic brush on a 6x8 Wacom Intuos.

Blue Fin Tuna

2008-06-23T18:05:00.000-07:00

This one was partially traced and partialy forged from an image (Corel Painter, 6x8 Wacom Intuos) found on the net.

The Wrigley Building

2008-06-19T17:30:00.000-07:00

The Wrigley building in Chicago. I traced a photo that I took on a recent visit.

French Alps

2008-06-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

Worked and posted this while watching

game six of Celtics and Lakers final. Traced photo in Corel Painter on a 6x8 Wacom Intuos Tablet.

Lulu

2007-06-09T12:05:00.000-07:00

Maria and I adopted Lulu last February. She is very friendly to humans, but is a bit skittish to sudden noises. Also, she is trying to take over the job of our alarm clock by purring in our faces at 630 am every morning.

2007 NYC 5 Boro bike tour

2007-06-09T09:37:00.002-07:00