Step 1 – Choosing the Subject Matter

For this exercise i chose Kristanna Loken, which some of you may remember as the TX from Terminator 3 fame. Personally i always thought she would be just perfect as an older version Supergirl.

Step 2 – Removing Excess Material

Although there are many elegant ways to cut out images depending on the program you’re using but for this part, I just used a combination of channel mask mapping and a little free hand selection when it was required. Then it was just a simple matter of placing her onto a nice space background.

Step 3 – Creating a Base Costume

Ok most people just paint by hand over the top of a separate copy layer. However I figured for speed, it was just as easy to color grade the whole layer to the color of my choosing. In this case a kind of Iridium Blue tone for the costume. Then it was just a simple matter of roughly painting over the areas of her original clothing that I didn’t need.

Step 4 – Adding Costume Accessories

This part just involved roughly painting in parts of the cape and belt onto separate layers once again. For easy positioning but not only that, it’s just good practice to create new layers when adding new elements. Especially if you make a mistake, its much easier to remove that layer section without ruining the rest of what you have created thus far.

Step 5 – Adding  More Features

Here I just added a new layer of the face cut out of the original layer in step 1. So that I could overlay her image over the top of the cape and newly added S shield logo.

Step 6 – Adding Additional Tonality

This part just involves painting in more shaded areas to simulate the direction of the light shining on her face. It also makes the suit look more believable and less painted on. Again this step is also done on separate layers for each area of the costume to avoid mistakes, you can of course merge all shaded areas once your happy with the results.

Step 7 – Adding Background Material

So by now if you have done it right, you will have a whole bunch of separate layers to create your masterpiece thus far. However we still need to add some images into the background to make our picture look more complete. Here I added a city scene and planet earth into the backdrop and using the city scene, I just changed its layer mode to Hard Light so that I could use a faded edge eraser to blend the city into the space background. Then using another color grade layer and setting its mode to Burn, so that i could better match my model into the added scenery. You may also need to play around with light and contrast as I have done here to make it work.

Step 8 – Adding Titles and Overlays

Now the final stage is probably the most easiest but is still no less easier to stuff up, so again making sure you add new layer when adding your overlay effects such as titles, color grades or even electro energy as I have done here. This stage is of course not always necessary but for this image, I felt it needed a more complete look to properly sell her as being part of the image. (Click image below to see a larger view)

Ok so obviously there are some things I’m not quite happy with in this image but, it at least gives you a good idea of the kind of process involved when creating digital works such as these.  However this is just like anything else! Quality takes real-time and practice.

All Artwork remain the properties of NSG Productions.
For Personal Use Only, No Copying, Editing Or Redistribution of Images.
Copyright © North Star Genesis

Well now that im officially settled into my new home, I thought I would start with one of my old film script ideas which I never ended up using. However, I still think it has a reasonably good basis for a story and hence why I kept it around. For the purpose of this article, I’ve adapted the script to more of a short story form. To give you a some what better understanding of where I had originally intended to go with this project–the idea being to leave the viewer with a slightly ambiguous ending, although I’m sure some folks will come up with their own perceptions.I hope you enjoy reading.

Legacy of Shadows A short story by Mark J. McClinton

Jade Taylor, a star reporter for the evening news, lies slumped upon a couch in a seemingly endless sleep. Locks of her generously sleek blonde hair gently sways across her beautiful face from the cold night air, which blows in from the open window nearby. The darkened apartment room is filled with strange trinkets and are positioned in a deliberate fashion all around her. With the scene appearing almost sacrificial or ritualistic by design. A violet-blue emanates from a display clock indicating that the time is now a quarter past four in the AM, with nothing but the sounds of faint street noises to break the room’s deafening silence. However, this deathly calm is abruptly interrupted by the telephone ringing. Jade awakens to blindly reach for the phone, eventually finding the receiver. She slowly places it over her ear…

“err… hello!” Her slurred speech is only matched by her distinct irritation. “Do you know what frikken time it is?”

On the other end of the line is her station manager ringing about a breaking story. “Jade, I need you to get down to sector six to cover the story,” he exclaims.

“What story?” she says.

The station manager seems surprised. “Huh, what do you mean what story? What the hell have you been doing for the last two days?” Jade barely begins to answer just as the voice quickly replies, “Never mind! Just get your ass down there asap! Valerie will fill you in on the details. We need a crew down there pronto and I want my best reporter on it.”

Jade begrudgingly accepts the assignment. “Ok but you’re gonna owe me big time for this one! I’m sick of chasing your god damned shadows!”

She slams the phone down as her eyes slowly search the room. It’s just now that she realizes that there is a cold chill which fills the air; a shudder creeps up her spine as she notices the open lounge room window. “Funny, I don’t remember leaving that open.” she mutters.

Jade curses as she cuts her leg on the corner of the glass top coffee table. “arrrgh… Bastard!” She kneels down to wipe the trickle of blood from her leg. She pauses for a moment, gazing at the small drop of blood which now rests upon the tip of her index finger. Her mind suddenly focuses on fragmented memories from the past, which also seem strangely unfamiliar to her. Visions of bodies scattered through the streets and random unconfirmed news reports of a shadowy figure apparently linked to unexplained deaths.

Now frustrated by the task that was given to her; she thinks that this latest news story will lead to nothing more than just another dead-end. Although complaining about it never did anyone much good, especially considering the fact that there is still all those unpaid bills which are piling up on the kitchen counter…

Finally she decides to get up and heads over to the bathroom and as the light is turned on, it reveals some more of the scattered trinkets in the apartment. The room is a mess with obscure hieroglyphics painted on the walls–some similar markings are also adjoining on the floor. Jade seems completely oblivious to her surroundings and walks over to the sink to run the hot water. Steam rises while she stares intensely at the bathroom mirror.

“This is the last time I put myself on the line for you,” she says.

Before Jade has even finished the sentence, a shapely image materializes in the mirror before her, an image which is no longer her own, a dark and menacing figure with no shape or distinguishing features. As it begins speaking, a resonating sound can be heard with ear-piercing clarity.

“You can not escape your destiny! It was always preordained.”

“NO… This can’t be! That’s impossible!” Jade screams.

She slams her fists on the mirror and it cracks across the figures face, as if by some cruel twist of fate drawing a crooked smile. The image all but begins to fade before parting a final message.

“I will always be with you Jade. I am you and you are me!”

“We are immortal…”

No Copying, Editing in Whole or in Part.
Copyright © North Star Genesis

The top three being the older of the five, shows you just how far I have come when compared to the bottom two. In terms of both visual design, expression and quality of image. The latter being my most recent “The Last Daughter of Krypton” and my original character design “Lealla The Leopard Huntress” both of which can also be seen here in much larger format.

Click the thumbs below for larger view

All Artwork and Original Characters remain the properties of NSG Productions.
The Copying, Editing Or Redistribution of these Images is strictly prohibited.
Copyright © North Star Genesis

What little is still known about the Sol’Lumei, that isn’t now told through such tales as bed time stories to frighten small children. Were once feared, revered and hated throughout the galaxy. For they were a most formidable force and there were none amongst the out-worlds, who could match their level of strength, speed and agility. This could indeed only ever matched by their armor and weaponry.

The Surillian ancestor’s power was thought to be so great, that even time itself opened up doorways for them. Some say they could even walk amongst the stars, although most everyone today believes this to be nothing more than mere fantasy. However this sort of theorem does not account for the reasoning behind, some remnant artifacts and technologies that still remain scattered throughout the citadel to this day. There are some scholars and scientists who do believe the rumors to be true, that their ancestors could indeed walk among the stars. By the use of some sort of what they call a portal or teleportation device. Although most serious researchers scoff at this view because there is nothing to support or suggest this, apart from what looks like an old console panel in one of the old citadel ruins.

It should also be pointed out that much of the Rygellan cities were destroyed due to a more turbulent time during the second dynasty. Today all that remains intact are the old catacombs which lay deep below the new Rygellis capital. Although not much of the catacombs were ever properly explored during the rebuilding phase and to my knowledge, no one has or ever will. This is due to the fact that much of the ancient city is too dangerous to explore now and without a map or full working knowledge of the tunnels, it would be practically impossible to find your way around much less map the area. You can’t even scan the catacombs due to the planet’s high concentrate of a mineral ore called Talinium, it is said that this is the mineral that’s supposed to be what their ancestors had used to fashion the Talanguard suits from. (cont next page)

No copying, editing, reproduction or the creating of derivative works.
All characters including the names, places, music, artwork and designs,
Relating to Revelation of One remain the properties of NSG Productions.
Copyright © North Star Genesis

Age: 22 years

Race: Surillian
Status: Single
Occupation: Princess
Height: 10 ft 7 ins
Body: Muscular/Athletic

Features:
Pale skin complexion
Cat like eyes
Elongated ears
Hair color silver with red streaks
Markings according to Academy Officer Rank. (Red being the highest and most skilled level of attainment.)

Background Story

Even though Aurora Roshan is the most highly decorated officer by the Shal’Vach Academy, her mere presence is treated as some what of a joke by the senior council members. All because of her royal heritage and family history, as it has long been a tradition of the Royal family to enroll their first-born daughter into the school. This is a way of learning discipline, strength and honor, all of which are characteristics highly regarded amongst her people. By doing this, she will be better prepared to someday rule as the next Empress of Rygellis.

However there are those who are ever watchful, especially among the Omari Order. A governing circle of twelve who are second only to the Empress herself. These individuals are made up of three distinct and separate casts, Military, Religious and Worker Casts. in the past their decisions have always influenced the ruling party of the time, not so with the current and now sixth generation of Roshan’s. For both her mother Iylliana and Aurora refuse to be influenced by anyone, instead preferring to have council with the populus which have resulted in a number of new reforms.

Such as reinstating the Scientific cast who were once persecuted by previous rulers which they believed, were the ones responsible for many of the atrocities that erupted between people of the out-worlds. For their ancestors would later help to create what is now only referred to in the scrolls as myths or legends, such as Aurora’s unique skill in the art of the dueling lance. Not since the time of great Shylon Fei in the first dynasty has their been such prowess used with a pulse-lance, nor has there been such peace and prosperity among the Surillian people. it for this reason that both Aurora and her mother are so beloved by the populace. These are facts of which have not gone unnoticed by the ever watchful eyes of those that dwell within the Order. For they are secretly jealous of the Roshan family’s newly found popularity, and feel that they are fast becoming obsolete.

No copying, editing, reproduction or the creating of derivative works.
All characters including the names, places, music, artwork and designs,
Relating to Revelation of One, remain properties of NSG Productions.
Copyright © North Star Genesis.

This was just an idea I had long ago but never really got round to doing, that is until recently when I was doing some research on Greek mythology for a different project. What initially reignited the idea was that i had come across some references to the Oceaniades, the three thousand daughters of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys. So needless to say that this ended up being a very plausible starting point to begin my new character’s story. As most of the daughters were just demi gods of various rivers, pastures, clouds and oceans, I decided that my character would have power over sky and sea. I thought by doing this it would give my story a real starting point, so that my new character could be then later cast out of Mount Olympus for her past misdeeds for gaining too much power. From this idea alone, the rest of the story began to flow really simply and thus my comic idea OCEANICA was born.

My Comic Book Sample - Click on images to see larger versions

The Story Background – Origins of Oceanica

Oceanica (oh-shee-an-nic-uh) meaning deep blue sea, is an ocean Goddess believed to be closely related to Oceanus. Although the details of her exact family tree remain unknown, who is now punished by Zeus for her past indiscretions. Oceanica was stripped of power and banished to more earthly bounds, in order to serve out the rest of her days amongst mere mortals. However like all her fellow Olympians, she still possesses great strength, stamina and agility while in her human form. So in defiance of Zeus and the other gods, she now uses her identity and knowledge of the elements in order to protect humanity. Having learned to focus her mind on the natural power contained within Earth’s atmosphere, she is able to use her body to act as a conduit for focused energy. With this she can defy Earth’s gravity, which is represented by the faint blue electrical mist that can be seen surrounding her body whille she is flying through the air. Oceanica is also able to use this siphoned energy to create bolts of electricity and electromagnetic shields, which is just as well considering she is no longer Immortal. When she is not out saving the world, Oceanica can be found living in the guise of her alter ego Jenna Kyanos, (Managing Director of Cobalt Industries) One of the worlds leading developers of Renewable Green Hydro Energy Projects.

Concept, Art & Character Design by Mark McClinton
All Properties Relating to Oceanica are Copyright © North Star Genesis Productions