I haven't had my style called precious in many years! I could use some of that, thanks :D

I cleaned this whole mess up, and it took absolutely forever, so I get to make some new renders.

Those pine trees stole my heart.

Orange ou rien!!!

Very good stuff here. Somehow the coolest projects are always the cancelled ones!

I wonder is the life cycle you pointed out might be more of a generational thing? At the start of the 2000's social platforms helped created bonds between people who started using them at that time, bonds which now endure. But they no longer help create new bonds for people of the same generation...

While sculpting, I break down reference into volume and shape, peaks and valleys. While drawing you normally discard such information and analyze the values, dark and light spots, smooth gradients and abrupt changes of color. The two processes may actually engage different hemispheres of your brain.

Let's talk about reference!
In my career I have made extensive use of all kinds of reference for sculpting. That formatted my brain to look for certain things in a reference, extract them, and put them to good use.
Now the same exact process can not be applied to drawing, how do we fix this?

It's ironic that even real-life events are mostly organized online and end up being spread through algorithms, or involve the people you got to know through algorithms..

Thank you for bringing this up!
The only strategy I have experienced that seems to yield some results is to alternate sketching from imagination and doing quick studies of references, in order to experience the gap between the two types of process, and understand how to close this gap.
Good luck!

This is actually a great point, because these two situations might just be two sides of the exact same coin, and symptomatic of the same issues, that I'm trying to eradicate myself.
What strategy do you use to fight stagnation?

This is an excruciatingly interesting topic!
If I may sum this up so far, in order to keep using reference but avoid relying on it:
- Make quick gesture-focused studies
- Observe first, then draw
- Alternate sketching from refs and from imagination
- use real life refs

What else would you advise?

Things suddenly took a turn for the blue. I guess I should have known!
I'm still messing around with this, here's a patched-up render:
#legacyofkain #purple #spectralrealm #raziel #videogames #fanart

That's one sharp-looking dragon!

Same here! Instruments are complex objects, unless you already held one in your own hands and know how to use it, it can be really hard to understand its shape and how it impacts functionality.

those legs are the bomb!

Nice brushwork! Love that palette too.

Great balance of spec and painterly feeling you have here.

Looks great, both soft and edgy.

This feels both haunting and cozy, such a great vibe!

This looks like so much fun!

Now I gotta know what happened to that team of bounty hunters!

Very impressive!

Sneak peek on how this creature is coming together~
Next step is posing!
#baroque #artnouveau #creatureart #zbrush #fantasyart

Is this an ornament? Is it a creature? Who knows!
It's a lot of clean-up work, I can tell you this much.
#zbrush #characterdesign #fantasyart #baroque #rococo #creaturedesign

Who doesn't! Looks great :)

Finally that's out of my system!
Got half a thousand shots, check them out here:
www.artstation.com/artwork/1NBb08
#characterart #stylizedart #zbrush #blender

Does anyone need a little extra bling in your feed?
#baroque #artnouveau #creatureart #zbrush #fantasyart

Another 2025 resolution:
Stop trying to improve things, and try to get them done instead.

While aiming for better isn't a bad thing in itself, if it becomes a hindrance to your process, it needs to take a back seat:
One imperfect thing is better than 60 possible variations that still don't exist.

How about a new resolution for 2025:
- Never look down on humble beginnings.

In life, career or simply in your next artwork, it's okay to start from the wrong foot. It's fine to take a detour. And it's alright to take things slow, change your mind, redefine your goals. Some things just take time.