Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Improvement

I've been working on the HeroMachine expansion pretty much non-stop for the last few weeks. I took a brief break a few days ago to create one character using the old items, and the same character (or as close as I could get) using the new ones, to see how they'd compare. Here's the side-by-side, new stuff on the left and old stuff on the right (as always, click for a larger version):



Once you graduate from school, you don't get graded any more. There aren't tests whereby some objective third party can pat you on the head and say "Yes, officially you have acquired at least a bit of new knowledge and skill." You just plug along, studying and striving, hoping you're learning something along the way. It's gratifying to take a look at something like that image, and to realize that yes, you are in fact getting better.

Very gratifying.

I have a lot further to go, of course, and I don't doubt that in another five years I'll look back on this set of drawings and want to hurl, like I do for that long-ago Jeff's work. But for now I feel pretty good.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's amazing! It looks so much more real. I hope Landon inherited your talent!
Hope

Anonymous said...

Agreed, and commented to the HM group, this is fantastic! It's only through the magic of looking back that we can see how much we've progressed, and you have grown well in your gift. Nothing wrong with the original, it served me well and I can still see it being appropriate at times, but I can't wait for the NEW AND IMPROVED HM :D

Jeff Rients said...

Man, that looks great! Keep up the awesome work!

Jeff Hebert said...

Thanks for the kind words and encouragement everyone!

Unknown said...

I love the new look! Now, any chance of getting some new models? That pose is starting to look a bit tired, and a flying model would be great for, well, all those pesky flying characters!

Keep up the great work!

Jeff Hebert said...

The general user community has been in favor thus far of adding more items before adding another pose, which likely would be a flying pose. Once I'm done translating the new items across the other five body templates, we'll see what comes up next on the docket. Ideally I'd be able to get to work on HM3 full time, which would allow people to pose the figure to get more customized looking images.

Anonymous said...

Awesome Jeff!! It's always a cringing moment to go back and look at early work. But, taken in another vein, it's a way to see progress, and without a grade, it's tough to see, as you said. You're very, very talented, buddy!! -- Denise