Wolver ine VS Deadpool Corps
KD was invited by CB Cebulski to paint a Marvel scene. Here’s how he went about it…
“Because you don’t have total creative freedom when painting established comic characters, the difficulty is relatively large. I pick one I know a little better, Wolverine.
I depict Wolverine riding a motorcycle in the wind, with Deadpool Corps as the provocateurs. I add a bridge above them, so the more dramatic lighting will be seen. I work hard to create realistic lighting.
I make it more symmetrical on both sides, to break the background feeling. I adjust the sign many times: I like to use elements of the scene to help manufacture the story. I adjust the overall light and add more detail. After adding contrast, subtle colour changes make the painting look richer.”
“What has influenced me the most is the aspects of tolerance and synthesis of Chinese culture, which is something that I’ve thought about from time to time and gradually started to explore,” he says. “Regardless of what aspect of the culture [you look at], being able to examine and understand the essence of it and use it – that’s my main inspiration.”
Currently, most of his time is taken up with preproduction for two films in the Legend of Ravaging Dynasties (LORD) series, directed by Guo Jingming and scheduled for release in the middle of 2016 – although again, these are unlikely to be shown outside of China.
“My main work is handling all the different conceptual designs and drawing
I love sculpture. I also have a large collection of film and television merchandise
up the artwork for the atmospheric effects, as well as overseeing the main scene designs,” says KD. He’s also been hired by Chinese game company Perfect World, which develops numerous online games such as the incredibly popular DOTA 2, as well as lesser-known titles such as Empire of the Immortals (a long-running MMORPG) and Hot Dance Party, another online-only title where the clue is in the name. “There, I’m responsible for the main poster designs for numerous art projects, and leading the team responsible for the preproduction concept art for CG trailers,” he says.
Wherever possible, KD prefers to work at his clients’ studios while on a project: “I really like working in the studio because I like to interact with colleagues and find it interesting cooperating with people,” he says. “I find it helps us all to improve what we do.”
making time for sculpture
Clay modelling is another area which interests him. His website portfolio, for instance, features a brilliant rendering of Sir Ian McKellen as Magneto in the X-Men films, as well as Bill Nighy in Underworld. Their accuracy is incredible.
“I love sculpture,” he beams. “I also have a large collection of merchandise from films and television programmes. I’d love to make some things completely in my own style, but I lack the time and I’m limited by materials, so I only have some semi- finished pieces at the moment.” But it’s more than a hobby: creating a 3D representation of a character can help with figuring out lighting and facial structure. “Sometimes you can greatly improve the structure of the bodies in a painting by referencing physical objects,” he says.
“It can give you more ideas, too. For example, you’re portraying a person’s face, and you think the bottom part of the facial structure will look ‘tougher’ with side lighting – but then you try it backlit with a real model, and you discover something you didn’t think of before.”
The year 2016 looks set to be KD’s biggest one yet, with more commissions and projects on the go and, hopefully, a move into other areas of development.
“There are a lot of opportunities presenting themselves to me,” he says excitedly. “I’d love to be able to work with some of the masters, and I also hope I can inspire more people,” says KD.
“In terms of films and television programmes, I’d like to increase my exposure to a variety of different conceptual designs and be able to discuss my ideas with directors.” Frankly, we’re as excited about his new projects as he is.