Get A Good Look At Iron Man's Arc Reactor From Christopher S. Ross Concept Art

Tony Stark's chest Arc Reactor in Iron Man (2008) is a technical marvel. No one gives us a better look at it's wondrous technology than Christopher S. Ross (Men In Black 3, Avengers, Minority Report).

His site is http://dezyn.com/

It's interesting to see the elaborate device Tony Stark could - and should - have had to work on it. Of course, we wouldn't have gotten the hilarious scene of Pepper taking it in and out for him.



Official Synopsis:
From Marvel Studios and Paramount Pictures comes Iron Man, an action-packed take on the tale of wealthy philanthropist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.), who develops an invulnerable robotic suit to fight the throes of evil. In addition to being filthy rich, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark is also a genius inventor. When Stark is kidnapped and forced to build a diabolical weapon, he instead uses his intelligence and ingenuity to construct an indestructible suit of armor and escape his captors. Once free, Stark discovers a deadly conspiracy that could destabilize the entire globe, and dons his powerful new suit on a mission to stop the villains and save the world. Gwyneth Paltrow co-stars as his secretary, Virginia "Pepper" Potts, while Terrence Howard fills the role of Jim "Rhodey" Rhodes, one of Stark's colleagues, whose military background leads him to help in the formation of the suit. Jon Favreau directs, with Marvel movie veterans Avi Arad and Kevin Feige producing.

See more of Christopher S. Ross' portfolio at http://dezyn.com/

What do you think of the illustrations?

@ Copyright 2008 Paramount Pictures, Marvel Enterprises, Christopher S. Ross. All rights reserved

Glorious 'The Dark Knight' Concept Art by Jamie Rama

In the book The Art and Filming of the Dark Knight Trilogy the only concept artist mentioned by name is Jamie Rama (Transformers, Super 8, X-Men: First Class). He's one of the best in the business.

He shared some of his concept art for the film The Dark Knight (2008) on his site.

@ 2008 All images copyright of Warner Bro. Studios and the artist

See more of Jamie Rama's portfolio at jamierama.com and read my interview with him Jamie Rama Talks About Retro 'Super 8' Concept Art and the Biggest Mistake an Artist Can Make

What do you think of the illustrations?

Review: The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy' is More Making Than Art

The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy is good, but is less art and more making of the three films Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

The book is published by Harry N. Abrams and written by Jody Duncan Jesser, and Cinefex magazine writer Janine Pourboy. It's a decent size at 9.2 inches x 1.1 inches x 11.9 inches and weighing a whopping 4.5 pounds. If Batman could keep it in his utility belt, he could knock out the Joker.

It's 304 pages of behind the scenes stories and quotes. The pages start out with the quote from Henri Ducard: "Your parent's death was not your fault...But if you make yourself more than a man... if you devote yourself to an ideal...then you become something else entirely. Which is? A legend, Mr. Wayne."

Here's the official description:
"In 2005, director Christopher Nolan redefined the Batman legend with Batman Begins, starring Christian Bale as the Caped Crusader. A fresh, dynamic reboot of the franchise, Batman Begins explored the comic book hero’s origins and his evolution from billionaire Bruce Wayne to dark avenger who fights crime and corruption in Gotham City. A 2008 sequel, The Dark Knight, took those compelling, character-driven foundations and raised the stakes, pitting Batman against a deranged master criminal, the Joker, in an all-out war for Gotham’s soul. Now, the final film of Nolan’s trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises, is 2012’s most anticipated film release.

"The Art and Making of The Dark Knight Trilogy tells the complete behind-the-scenes story of these three monumental films. Based on in-depth interviews with Nolan and all of the films’ key cast and crew—including cowriters David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan, cinematographer Wally Pfister, and more—the book reveals the creative process behind the epic Dark Knight Trilogy, supported by lavish art and never-before-seen photography."

Here's the video preview of the book:

I was disappointed that it focuses very little on the artwork. We get many great photos of the filming though. My favorite is the shot of the life size Bat-Pod sitting on Nolan's patio while his wife and son look on.

Most of the book tells the story of the making of the film and the challenges they face. There are great stories and quotes, but very little you wouldn't find on the Internet, or in online interviews. It's nice that they put it all in one book though.

On the other hand, there is very little concept art and only one storyboard. Contrast this with book on Inception: The Shooting Script which was full of dozens of drawings and pages of storyboards.

There is no concept art for Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), which Gary Oldman (Commissioner Gordon) described as "fantastic." Only two images of Bane (Tom Hardy).

There's no list of the artists that worked on The Dark Knight Rises (like Tully Summers) but they do mention Jamie Rama in connection with The Dark Knight bat-suit design. Most of the time they focus on the work of Production Designer Nathan Crowley and Costume Designer of Lindy Hemmings. These guys are at the top of their game and did a lot of the designs, but they didn't work in a vacuum. The book gives vague terms like "artists" when acknowledging the contribution of other illustrators. The Avengers book had a complete list of all the illustrators who worked on the film. This book has none.

I can only assume they put everything in The Dark Knight Manual: Tools, Weapons, Vehicles and Documents from the Batcave because this book is empty.

The book is good if you're not familiar with the filming of the other movies and don't care about concept art and storyboards. Otherwise, it's a disappointment.
2.5 stars out of 5

Have you read the book? Would you read it?

Felipe Sanchez' Never Before Seen 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Costume Designs

Click on the images to enlarge

Designing such an iconic costume for The Amazing Spider-Man was a huge challenge. One of the costume illustrators Felipe Sanchez (X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Green Hornet, Speed Racer), shared some exclusive artwork of Spider-Man's costume and Gwen Stacy's (Emma Stone) look.

Here's what he told me about working on the suit.

"I was thrilled to work on style lines, web patterns and color blocks for the suit, gloves, boots and mask, but I have to say: What impressed me the most about working on Spider-man was the 'full circle' journey the ideas for the suit took from the original, vintage character to the end result. The exploration started with a broad scope of possibilities using Organic Life morphed with Advanced Technology, followed by a focus on Active Speed-Sport gear, then refined and developed to a plausible, Peter Parker invention. The concept coverage left no stone unturned for the 'right new look.'


"The payoff: A new suit design emerged with the Classic Formula respected, updated and enhanced. It was a great experience to be able to participate proactively through all the creative stages."

Learn more about artist Felipe Sanchez at his IMDb page.

What do you think of the illustrations?

The Artists of 'The Dark knight Rises' (2012) - Update

Here are some of the artists that worked on the superhero film The Dark Knight Rises (2012). There are many talented artists involved in the production of a film. These are only some of them according to IMDb and my own research.

One artist I spoke with suggested there's a gag order on them, so it might be only after the film opens that we get the full list. If you know of any other artists, please let me know in the comments or via my contact form.

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Production Design
Nathan Crowley  IMDb
Kevin Kavanaugh IMDb

Storyboard Artists
Gabriel Hardman gabrielhardman.com

Concept Artists/Illustrators
Callum Strachan callumbo.blogspot.com callumstrachan.com
Tully Summers tullysummers.com
Eddie Yang - eddieyang.com
Jamie Rama - jamierama.com
Bryn Court - http://moviesculptor.co.uk/
Philippe Gaulier http://philippegaulier.blogspot.com/

Official Synopsis:
Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “The Dark Knight Rises” is the epic conclusion to filmmaker Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy.

It has been eight years since Batman vanished into the night, turning, in that instant, from hero to fugitive. Assuming the blame for the death of D.A. Harvey Dent, the Dark Knight sacrificed everything for what he and Commissioner Gordon both hoped was the greater good. For a time the lie worked, as criminal activity in Gotham City was crushed under the weight of the anti-crime Dent Act.

But everything will change with the arrival of a cunning cat burglar with a mysterious agenda. Far more dangerous, however, is the emergence of Bane, a masked terrorist whose ruthless plans for Gotham drive Bruce out of his self-imposed exile. But even if he dons the cape and cowl again, Batman may be no match for Bane.

Leading an all-star international cast, Oscar(R) winner Christian Bale (“The Fighter”) again plays the dual role of Bruce Wayne/Batman. The film also stars Anne Hathaway, as Selina Kyle; Tom Hardy, as Bane; Oscar(R) winner Marion Cotillard (“La Vie en Rose”), as Miranda Tate; and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, as John Blake. Returning to the main cast, Oscar(R) winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) plays Alfred; Gary Oldman is Commissioner Gordon; and Oscar(R) winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) reprises the role of Lucius Fox. The screenplay is written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan, story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer. The film is produced by Emma Thomas, Christopher Nolan and Charles Roven, who previously teamed on “Batman Begins” and the record-breaking blockbuster “The Dark Knight.” The executive producers are Benjamin Melniker, Michael E. Uslan, Kevin De La Noy and Thomas Tull, with Jordan Goldberg serving as co-producer. The film is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane.

US Release Date: July 20, 2012
Official Site:

Updated list of artists

What do you think of the film? What do you think of the artists? Have you seen their other work?

Dream of 'Inception' Concept Art by Paul Christopher

Inception (2010) is one of those science-fiction movies that feels like it's not sci-fi. The technology is realistic and the story is grounded. Despite all that, it's a visual masterpiece of creative designs.

One of the artists on the film was Paul Christopher and he shared some art from his blog.

Here's what he said there:
"I was very excited to be a part of this project. I am an avid fan of Mr. Nolan's films and having heard that he penned the story, and the script as well...I knew this would be a very compelling project to be a part of, and feel very honored to have contributed. These images speak of the collaborative efforts and ideas of many talented associates in the Inception Art Dept. This was a very gratifying experience, especially working with such a visually accelerated Director. Bravo Mr. Nolan!"

Click on the images to enlarge

Official Synopsis:
Acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan directs an international cast in an original sci-fi actioner that travels around the globe and into the intimate and infinite world of dreams. Dom Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb’s rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible–inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming. This summer, your mind is the scene of the crime.

See more of Paul Christopher's portfolio at paulchristopherart.blogspot.com

@ Copyright 2010 Paul Christopher, Warner Bros. Pictures, Legendary Pictures. All rights reserved

What do you think of the illustrations?

First 'Guardians of the Galaxy' Concept Art by Charlie Wen

(click to enlarge)

Guardians of the Galaxy concept art above shows (left to right): Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon and Gamora.

Marvel Studios chief Kevin Feige have more details on three upcoming Marvel films at San Diego Comic Con. They also revealed concept art for the superhero team film Guardians of the Galaxy scheduled for release August 1, 2014. It was done by in-house concept artist Charles "Charlie" Wen (Thor, Captain America: The First Avenger, Iron Man 2).


The galactic superhero group, which was created in 1969 by Arnold Drake and Gene Colan. It was rebooted in 2008 by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning with a new timeline. The team has featured multiple characters over the years, but the lineup for the movie will be: Drax the Destroyer, Groot, Star-Lord, Rocket Raccoon and Gamora.

Here's what the characters look like in the comics.

Drax the Destroyer

Groot, (Moondragon), Star-Lord and Rocket Racoon

Gamora

The most radical design change is Gamora's rather "Vampirella" style costume to a warrior uniform. I'm thinking armor is useful for covering an exposed chest.

Charlie Wen has a bunch of great concept art at his blog charliewen.typepad.com

Image Sources: comicvine.com comicbookresources.com wikipedia.org marvel.com

Image courtesy Marvel Studios @ 2012 Marvel Entertainment Group. All rights reserved.

Via Wired

What do you think of the illustrations? Are you looking forward to the Guardians of the Galaxy? Are you glad they modified Gamora's costume?

Breathtaking 'The Amazing Spider-Man' Concept Art by Jonathan Bach

Jonathan Bach (Iron Man 2, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Star Wars: Underworld) worked on The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and shared a piece of concept art.

 

Here's what he said on his blog:

"This interior concept was done for Dr.Connor's apartment in The Amazing Spider-man.  It was to be situated in an existing New York building which would be digitally restyled to show these large art deco statues surrounding the building that are visible through the windows here.  It didn't fit the bill probably because Dr. Connors was shown most of his time in the lab working so the set they went with was more modest.    

"I got the opportunity to work very briefly on this film through Production Designer Michael J. Riva whom recently passed away while working on Quentin Tarantino's Django Unchained in New Orleans.  He took a chance on me with the first film job I worked, Iron Man 2 and I really appreciated his warmth, patience and humor.  He was multi-talented and had taste to spare, designing the visual language of such widely varied films as The Goonies, The Golden Child, The Pursuit of Happiness, A Few Good Men, Iron Man 1 & 2...The Amazing Spider-man, and the list goes on. Hate to gush, but I am and will forever be a fan and he will be missed.. 

"So many greats passing this year, I never even mentioned Jean Giraud Moebius. Anyhow, I was looking forward to many more movies with Riva, but I can only be thankful that I got to work with him on Iron Man 2."

There's a real sense of mood in this illustration.

See more of  Jonathan Bach portfolio at jbachdesign.blogspot.com

@Copyright 2012 Columbia Pictures Entertainment

What do you think of the illustrations?

Ride 'The Dark Knight' Batpod Concept Art by Matthew Savage

In The Dark Knight (2008), Batman's Bat-mobile broke apart to reveal a motorcycle known as the Bat Pod. It was designed by Nathan Crowley, who designed the Tumbler for Batman Begins (2005).

One of the artists on the film is Matthew Savage (Doctor Who, X-Men: First Class, Prometheus) and he shared his designs. His work is always meticulous.

The illustrations below give a good look at variations of his machine guns and missile launchers.

Here are some shots from the film.

You can see more of Matthew Savage's portfolio at http://www.mattsav.co.uk/