Life update

Posted on 13 maart 2012 by The Filecreator

Well well well, what do we have here?
An internship at Disney? Getting to design webgames for the Dutch websites?
Well that is good! Right? Of course it is!

All jokes aside, life is going good.
I got hired at Disney as a web intern and the interviews at “art school” are starting next week.
Most of the project for the interview is done, just the finishing touches~!

Speaking of finishing touches, starting in April this year, I’ll throw some updates into the website.
Hopefully I can get the Flash content running by then.
I also have plans for a Projects sub-page where I’ll feature my on-going projects as they progress.
Call it some extra motivation to finish what I started!

With all that being said, now its time for bed.
Got another busy day of hard work again tomorrow!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Uploads, Art Dummy, Pro’s and Con’s

Posted on 25 januari 2012 by The Filecreator

As some of you may know, I have been keeping up with a personal “A Drawing A Day” challenge, naming it ADAD on my Tumblr.
However, this also means that in my spare hours, I`m off doodling in my big Dummy, instead of making digital drawings. Guess showing motivation is a double edged blade!

For Filecreation.com, that means there are slightly less uploads.
Maybe some w.i.p’s of drawings I`m really fond of, or even some ADAD pages combined into one or multiple sheets. I`ll have to figure out a nice formula for that.

In the end, its not really that important to upload something new every week or so, I just feel that I should not neglect my duty to push my artistic boundaries.
Then again, if you wish to stay up to date with every single drawing I make, keep an eye on my earlier mentioned Tumblr page. For digital drawings that are still not classy enough for an upload here, you can check out my DeviantArt page instead!

Aim for the stars and reach the sky!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Got my Entry Assignment for the HKU!

Posted on 16 januari 2012 by The Filecreator

So, as some people may know, I am currently trying to get into the bachelor program for Game Art at the HKU in Hilversum.
If that line does not make sense to you, don’t worry. Its just super great news for me!

The assignment asks of me to make a game, where the central topics should be the bachelor program of Game Art and myself.
Right now I`m pondering about what I can do with that, which is pretty much a lot.
However, there seems to be a catch.
I have to hand in everything on paper.
Even the game.
And it needs to be functional and play able.

So it will probably come down to the fact that I have to make something like a board game, card game or some other medium that is not digital.

Wish me luck!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

New Years Resolution

Posted on 1 januari 2012 by The Filecreator

Happy 2012 to all readers!
I hope you all made it with all 10 fingers, 2 eyes and all limbs.
(Unless you started 2011 with fewer fingers eyes and limbs, lets hope you didn’t lose more!)

For my New Years resolution, I will draw even more.
I`ll try to flesh out Project VirscA even more, getting the storyline to a more complete state.
I currently have 3 drawing styles I wish to flesh out, so lets get that going.

Last but not least, getting into the HKU!

But for now, back to drawing more stuff.
Check out my Tumblr and Deviantart for more updates and doodles.

~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Tumblr

Posted on 8 december 2011 by The Filecreator

On Deviantart, some people asked me to post the sketches I am doing for my Daily Drawing challenge.
However, I don’t think its good to fill either my website or my Deviantart with sketches and doodles. So to make up for this, I decided to make a Tumblr account just for that.

Per day I`ll upload some pics of the better looking sketches, or full page scans.
I`ll also upload work-in-progress images there, since I feel that Twitpic has its limits.

That being said, back to my exams project!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

One page a day keeps the boredom away

Posted on 4 december 2011 by The Filecreator

To get into the HKU spirit and give sufficient proof of my motivation, I decided to buy a Dummy, and give myself the task to draw one page a day.
So far, so good!

Yesterday I took the time to sketch the design for my latest drawing, the Lava Bug.

04 December 2011

Today I scanned it and colored it.
Even though I did not draw anything today, I guess I can print out the digital version and just put it on a page.

To wrap up the post for today, if you are interested in the dummy and its pages, please let me know. I can bring it on interviews or as a showcase.

That’s all for today, more next time!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Hyped for HKU

Posted on 27 november 2011 by The Filecreator

So, yesterday was the open house at the HKU in Hilversum, where I checked out their course ‘Game Art’.
From what I could tell, they offer the whole deal.
How to design a character, how to draw the backgrounds, how to conceptualize, how to bring the models to life, etc etc.

In any case, I`m really hyped to sign in. To get in, I will have to pass 3 rounds:
Round 1 – The Assignment
I have no idea what the assignment will be at this point. From what I have heard from upperclassmen that where available for questions, it will probably come down to thinking up a new gaming concept. But there are probably other options as well.
I`ll just have to sign up and find out!
Round 2 – The Presentation
Once I get through the first round, I`ll be asked to present my portfolio at the HKU.
They will have a table in a classroom with my name on it where I`ll get the chance to present my “history” of game artwork and tell them why they should give me the chance to study there. I`ll have to show them my influences, past projects, past work, ideas for the future, my failed scribbles and the way my art styles came to be.
Sounds like a tough cookie to bite!
If they like what they see, they`ll invite me in for round 3!
Round 3 – The Talk
During the talk I`ll have a couple of minutes to really reinforce their idea that I am worth their time. I`ll probably have to explain a few things about the drawings and projects, while keeping my cool if they ask difficult to answer questions.
I think I can handle that.

In the meantime I have to build up a stronger portfolio, and work on project Tsunacon!
After all, if I dont graduate here, I`ll fail to get into the HKU by default~!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Line-less vector art

Posted on 8 november 2011 by The Filecreator

8 November 2011

Today I finished a piece in Flash, after figuring out how to represent it as good as I can without hard outlines.
Its quite a new experience, making a drawing and vectorising it.
I kinda like how soft it becomes.

So who knows, the future might give me more chances to work with this style!
And the more I`ll work with it, the better the results will be!

~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Project Tsunacon is a Go!

Posted on 7 november 2011 by The Filecreator

After all this time, we finally got the green light to start with our exams, or in my groups case, Project Tsunacon.

Back in May 2011, I got contacted by Foundation Tsunacon, which asked me about the possibilities to make a game for them, as part of my school assignments.
After talking it over with my teachers, we agreed it could be done for the exams, where we have to make a game for an external client, in my case, Foundation Tsunacon.

Foundation Tsunacon requested a game for their convention, so that they have something that separates them from the crowd. After all, what is the difference between all the Japanese orientated conventions in Holland besides their names and size.

I am confident to say that, in February, it will be the games.
Who will have their own game, and who will have to go by with the games they have on loan?

As the project progresses, I`ll add a new tab to the website disclosing some teaser information about the game, if Foundation Tsunacon allows me to publish it.
However, in the end, you`ll probably have to visit the convention to actually play it!

Stay tuned for more updates!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Adjusting the website

Posted on 27 oktober 2011 by The Filecreator

After feedback from a multitude of sources, I`m adjusting a few things about the website:

The header will be smaller.
It seems that this is a persistent problem for all WordPress users and visitors with a smaller resolution monitor
Improved interactive gallery.
Right now, you have to click and download all the projects in the Interactive gallery, which can be seen as an hassle.
I`ll look into finding a better solution for displaying everything, and probably make some “trailers” for the C++ demo’s.

As for the drawings I`m working on, I`ll try my hands on more Vector images and pixel artwork, see how that goes!
While I have some experience with both of these, I currently do not have allot to show for it.

Better get back to work!
~Daniël de Ridder
The Filecreator

Filecreation.com – by Daniël de Ridder

The new and improved Filecreation.com