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Breaking Into The Game! Danny Carreras: Freelance Artist.
My name is John Daniel Carreras. You can call me Danny
I've been doing character design all my life. I'm 47 years old now, and all I do is play videogames, and design videogame characters.
I've been designing characters since "Pong" came out for the first time. So, I guess you can say, I have some experience.
I've been drawing since I was 7 years old, and I was pretty good back then!
I'm definitely NOT traditional, as far as concept art. I design concept art in my sleep, so I never have to worry about thinking outside of the box. For me, it's natural.
Every concept has to be "over-the-top" and completely original! It has to be something that has never been seen before. That's what makes me different than everyone else.
I think with the following images ( all of which are my own original work: John Daniel Carreras ), you will understand what I mean. See for yourself. [ TAKE A LOOK TO YOUR RIGHT >>>>>>>>>>> ]
There's nothing I can't do in the realm of character design.
As far as "original concept": def: coming up with new and fresh ideas, I believe I am one of the best.
I "think" of life in terms of a videogame, if you can understand that, which is a huge advantage against other concept artists.
Whenever I see a great idea in the market, I always immediately know how to make a better idea! And it's usually about 10 or more better ideas!
My ambitions:
A: To work as a freelancer with videogame developers.
B: To design character concept art.
C: To concieve new, exciting, groundbreaking concepts for videogames, such as, the storyline, and the initial idea for the entire game itself.
D: To serve on a consultation basis for all of the above.
To the right of this page, you will find my art archive assembled for the purpose of displaying my abilities to game developers, and publishers.
Note to gamer developers: Many of the artpieces that I have done have suffered water damage and overall weathering with time.
I had to modify many of the images just to make them legible.
I Hope that you enjoy them as they are, and can determine for yourselves, whether my style of art and design, suits your companies needs. ENJOY!!
In the event you would like to contact me concerning my work, you can reach me at dancarreras@yahoo.com. I will be looking forward to speaking with you! signed, JD Carreras
Written Material:
There is a theory is physics, that has eluded theorists for decades, and for good reason. Because there is no formula that can contain its expression.
This theory, called "The Theory of Everything", that is the common denominator, tying all other theories together, is non other, than The Human Imagination itself!
If you study the lives of all of the worlds greatest inventors, physicists, theorist, mathematicians, as well as anyone who ever came up with a great idea, they all have one thing in common. Their Imagination!
Everything begins, and ends, in our imagination. The "Theory of Everything", is not a formula! Rather, it is "The Source" from where every idea, theory, or formula comes from. . . The Imagination!
The Universe of Videogames, is replete with The Imagination, and is constantly being explored for new forms of expression, which has a causal effect on everyone, and everything around that world.
I've discovered, that based on discoveries in neurology, quantum physics, and other well established sciences, that videogames, and the gamer, has an effect on their environment.
This theory is based on "quantum cause and effect relationships". Specifically, how the gamers interaction with a virtual environment, actually effects the physical environment!
The gamers perception of, and involvement in videogames on a subconscious level, via the virtual universe, has the power, to mold reality in many ways!
The entire purpose of my site, is to share the things that I have discovered with gamers, and all other interested parties, concerning the link between what was thought of as a mere leisure activity, and introduce,
"The Science of Gaming"!
gaming and the imagination
videogames and the human imagination
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energy and the force
Energy and The Force
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Magic and Videogames
Magic and Videogames. The Magic Connection in Videogames, and how it effects The Physical Universe
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Virtual Dynamics
Virtual Dynamics: The Power Of Videogames to Reprogram The Mind Via The Subconscious!
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respawn
Death, The Afterlife Compared to The Idea of Respawning in a Videogame.
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Videogames, Nanotechnology, and Genetic Modification
Videogames, Nanotechnology, and Genetic Modification
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gaming-and-credits
Can "Credits" in videogames, help you improve your personal financial strategy, to be more successful?
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new freelance videogame character designs
People keep saying I'm the best they've ever seen at rendering videogame concept characters, so it's time to go pro!!
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virtual-life
Virtual Life, and The Physical Game: There Are No Boundaries . . .
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Quantum Power And The Force
The Quantum Field, The Force, and The Human Imagination!
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Energy and God. The God Particle and The Power of Human Intention
The power of your intention can create, and reshape your destiny with limitless potential!
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Can videogames unlock your potential?
Fact;The human mind cannot tell the difference between fantasy, and reality! Can we use this fact to unlock abilities that we never could before?
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How can you use Quantum Physics,like Magic,to create what you want in your life?
Magic is explained in Quantum Science and the nature of human thought! Discover how to create your universe with the power of the mind! It's Quantum Magic!!
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Gamertag Legends Design Archive: Products
create & buy custom products at Zazzle
Danny Carreras' Videogame Character Art
Allow me to introduce Hel, Norse Goddess of The Underworld. When I look into Her eyes, I can "feel" her saying, "Suffer no dillusions, I will dispense with you in short order!" She's focused, stalwart in confidence, and unshakeable. . . She is one of my first attempts at 3D imagery using photoshop alone. I do want to make a point here though. My specialty is "linework". It allows me to concieve the ideas as they come to me in rapid succession. I don't want to be bogged down by 3D modeling or color rendering. There are others better suited to those tasks.
This imposing figure goes by the name Griff Firemane. He is the official maskot for Gamertag Legends. He is The Guardian for all The Realms of Gamertag Legends. For me, all of my characters have a personality and a soul. Each one of them is completely unique, which also sets me apart from other artists in the videogame industry, as most artists have a distinct style, as their calling card. My "calling card" is to summon a new being into exhistence every time! If you notice each of the following characters, you will see that each one of them is embued with what I like to call their own "Virtual DNA", which identifies them from each other. They are all completely different, yet a unique spirit unto themselves.
I did this design for a Horrorcore rap group on the East Coast. The design went on T-shirts and the music label. The shirts were black, and the fire was changed to red and gold, which came out awesome! The one thing that you can't see here is the level of detail that went into the linework previous to adding color, which is in the following drawings. This design also inspired a videogame that I have the concept for, that is going to be incredible, when I find someone to work with! I realized from coming up with the game idea , that my creative ability is not limited to imagery, but it is very applicable to the game concept itself, in a very effective way. It will be just as exciting to develop game concepts as well. Note: If you delve into my written material ( what I have written so far ) You might note that I am very serious about the "science" that ties into the virtual universe of gaming.
As you can probably tell, this is the upper portion of the previous image. Up close, you can see the detail better. When I went to college for computer graphics I was told, "the more detail you put into your work to begin with, the better the final outcome". I went crazy for detail! All I need to be satisfied with my work is to see the initial image, or "blueprint", before rendering. My hope is to acquire work, that will allow me the freedom to do what I enjoy the most, and leave the rendering to the experts. "Ideas" are my area of expertise.
This fierce beauty forms the lower portion of the color version design above. I very much enjoy the challenge of using "perspective" to express the spirit of a character. From start to finish, I feel the design must be intensely cohesive, without compromising in any way. Every square inch of the character has to fit with the rest. In a very real way, when I begin a project, I allow the character to "reveal" itself to me, and "guide" my hand to completion. I am very "connected" to every piece that I do, as a result.
This is my Atlantean Warrior Goddess. I am very proud of Her. She embodies the best of my work, and this is the way I'm going to keep it. I have no interest in color, or 3D rendering for any amount of money. It's not my gift. My gift is "rendering the soul" of a character. And that's a lot more difficult than one might think. But when you look at her, you can "feel" her, can't you? That is the secret of my success! The ability to make a character "tangible"
As I have mentioned before, I do my art for the sheer pleasure of it, as you can sense from the serenity depicted in the artwork above. Although not all of my work is "warm and fuzzy", I enjoy expressing the entire range of emotion in specific characters. Some are wrathful, others are an expression of joy or playfulness. At times they can also be very sexy and powerful, as you will see later. I invite you to interpret them, as you see fit, and let them speak to you accordingly. ( By the way, you might be able to read the signature above my name, Reiden Hol. That's me too. It was a pen name I used years ago. )
This is "Tiamat and The Kraken". It was inspired by ancient Norse and Babylonian Mythologies. The original linework is lost, as is much of the mythologies and manuscripts that inspired it. This image is a composite of four separate images because the "original copy" was too large for my scanner. It has seen a tremendous amount of weathering, but my intention is to complete it in due course of time. The coloring was an effect of the copy itself, that I had to modify for the sake of visual clarity. Nevertheless, It remains one of my favorites. This is how I feel a Dragon should look like!
This is Abbadon, The Beast who stands guard over The Bottomless Pit. At least, my perception of what He looks like. I almost left him out of the archive due to the fact that the watermark was too dark. Under the circumstances, there is nothing I can currently do to change that. But I felt that He was such a powerful figure, that He deserved His place among the rest, regardless of the fact that it is difficult to see Him. For each one of the characters I "conceive", I always "conjure" the videogame setting that surrounds the character, giving birth to an entirely new game concept. It's as if each character comes with their own game concept package! It's a very enthralling development process for me.
I'm quite fond of this little trickster. If you're not careful, she may cast a spell on you if you stare too long! I also have a color version on a T-shirt design through my zazzle store, which will be back online shortly. But as I have said before, I'm only focusing on the form, rather than the rendering process.
This bad boy is all business! I've noticed over the recent years, that many of the characters we are seeing in gaming now are lacking a pulse. They are not the immersive characters we use to know. Perhaps it's because the industry relies too heavily on impressive technology, rather than the "experience" of the game. When I look at this warrior, He beckons me, to become like Him. An expression of power. In so doing, I become, "a part of the game"!
This image to me has always "felt" a little creepy. The "creepy" part, is that it looks just like someone I know! I had to ask myself once I finished it, Hmmm, does this have something to do with synchronicity somehow. And if so, what does it mean. It's stuff like this, that inspired me to look into quantum physics, neurology, the subconscious mind, and such, to explain these "connections" and how we interact with them, and vice versa. What I found, was more fascinating than I had ever hoped for. I have written just a small fraction of what I have studied on this website, and plan to add more material, when time allows. But for now, The Gaming Industry calls! Anyone want to play?
I call this piece "Lazarus", after the biblical account of Christ raising him from the dead after 3 days. He has a definite "ghostly" aspect to him, as if he brought something back with him, from "the other side. Many of my characters have this "chilling" aspect to them. I can't completely explain it in words, other than to say, that something about them, is indeed, ALIVE!
This is Osiris, for those of you acquainted with Egyptian mythology . He is the God of the Egyptian Underworld, and Lord of Judgement. When a soul crosses over The River Styx ( if my memory serves me correctly ), they are brought before Him to determine if their heart is pure, and worthy, to enter paradise. His mother, Hatur, and sister, Isis, rule the Underworld with Him. I imagine, Lazurus, ( the previous character ) might have met Him, and was sent back to The Land of The Living, on request of Jesus summoning Him from the dead. Just a theory. I guess, that in the "Spirit World", about anything is possible! Note: Check out my written material to find out how I equate ( theoretically ) The Spirit World, with The Virtual World, and how that effects the understanding of our entire existence!
This little honey is Tinkerbell, according to my interpretation. My apologies for the lack of uniformity in image size, color, and quality. I did my best with what I had available to work with, and the present state of the graphic hard copies. She is delicate, yet so, what's the term, virile? I'm not sure if the word "virile" is gender specific, but it works for me. All my girls typically turn out abundantly sexy, unless I tone it down.
This image is of a character that I call "The Lord of The Deep". His "personal" name is unknown. He is The King of The Merfolk, otherwise known as mermaids and mermen. Even though I haven't finished Him, what is done, is enough to capture the essence of this ominous and foreboding monarch. He strikes me as one that is not very forgiving, and as treacherous as the sea.
This Beautiful Warrior, is my depiction of The Goddess Hatur, the mother of Osiris. In many cultures, She would go by other names. Athena, Selene, Diana, Innana, Ishtar, all Goddeses of war. The image, as you can see is a rough draft. It took me about 20 minutes to get the perspective and attitude right, but those are the elements I always begin with. I "imagine" the overall body posture to reflect the expression of emotion. Then I begin to link that expression with the face, which exudes that feeling. After that, the rest, is simply embellishment.
According to Egyptian mythology, Isis, Hatur, and Osiris, form a divine trinity. This would be Isis, the sister, and wife, of Osiris, and Hatur ( previous image ), is Their mother ( kind of kinky ). The signature Reiden Hol, is on a few of my artpieces as a pen name that I used to use. I have since decided, that I want everyone, to know exactly who I am. I've had those who have tried to discourage me ( the haters ) from pursuing my ambitions to be in the videogame industry, but I won't be discouraged in this lifetime, or in any other for that matter! Those who know me, know that I never stop, until I achieve my objective. As far as I'm concerned, it's inevitable, that I am destined to be a character artist, and scriptwriter for the gaming industry. Of that, I am entirely confident. Patience is my ally. In time, I will be a freelance artist. Shame on you haters! :) I'm going to rock the industry, so BACK OFF!
This is "The Night Demon". He came to me without warning, and decided He was going to "manifest" into this world, like it or not, so I obliged Him. He has been one of my most successful images, in that he has become a favorite among those who have viewed my work. Eventually, someone had asked that He become the mascot for their business, but like all "little-league" endeavors, nothing became of it. I started to see a pattern. Nothing has ever come of dealing with "individuals" with short money, so NOW, I'm hittin the PRO's! I suspect the outcome will be different. In truth, I know it will. The Major League, is where I belong. It's where I flourish. I have found that the greater the challenge, the better the end product.
This is my "Sublime Beauty". Regardless, of the water damage to the image, Her genuine Divine nature, shines right through. When the time comes, I have "plans" for this image, and many of the others from a purely fine art perspective. All these years I have been doing these characters, and never knew what the application was. When I was young, art was still not considered a legitimate occupation. It was still frowned on like the ramblings of a lunatic. But now, through persevearence and faith, I have come to understand, why, I kept conjuring these images! It was to "Bring Them To Life", through the media of videogames! I can't wait for my first project. The Universe, "Works In Mysterious Ways". . .
This terrifying beast is Kingu, the leader of Tiamat's armies, according to Babylonian texts. Strangely, the ancient texts read as if these Beings actually exist. In fact, most of The Judeo-Christian Bible, gets it's Old-Testament information from the same accounts that these characters are mentioned in! The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Book of Enoch, and The Enuma Elish! I'm fascinated by mythology and ancient writings. In fact, for the past 5 years or so, most of my inspiration has come from studying the mythologies of The Gods, of various cultures. A lot of times, I might give the artpiece "a little rest", just to let it sink in. This image was so powerful, that I could'nt get past His shoulders before I had to take a breather because He was so intense! Imagine what He would look like completed! I can . . .
On the more "pleasant" side we have "The Pixie Devil". A tease that aims to please. I'm VERY good, at rendering the more sensuous aspects of women, as I am at delivering the aspect of The Warrior, in men. I love her little wry smile. A smile that says, " you'll never know what to expect, but you can bet, it will always be good!
This is Heimdall. One of The Aesir of Norse Legend. As the lore goes, it is said that He is "The Whitest" of The Gods of Valhalla. There is much to be said about Him, as far as mythology is concerned, but in this case, I chose Him to demonstrate, my understanding of the male form. He is in motion, moving forward, and suddenly stopping. I can feel myself moving when I look at this picture. In His spirit, He is the personification, of perfect balance. Perhaps that is why The Norse call Him "The Whitest" of The Gods, because His "spirit" is in perfect balance?
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