About Me

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Santa Clarita, California, United States
Jonathan Payne is a freelance artist residing in Santa Clarita, California. His sculptures and paintings focus primarily on creature and character design . He has studied under Jordu Schell (Men In Black, Edward Scissorhands, Avatar), concept sculptor Simon Lee and fine art sculptor John Brown. He prefers to sculpt in oil, polymer and WED clays. Recently he has become consumed with creating an original line of tumorous balls of flesh known as the Fleshlettes. In addition to his macabre "babies" he also enjoys composing fine art sculptures depicting both wildlife and the human form. Jonathan is available for hire as a freelance artist and for individual commissions.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

New Zbrush Challenge: Dinosaur! - (or Jurassic mini-golf)

So March's Zbrush challenge at Dreamworks was a bit different: We all submitted themes/sculpture ideas into a hat and each person drew a different piece of paper with the subject of their sculpture written on it. Mine was a Dinosaur. I decided on an exaggerated Greg Broadmore-style T-Rex because they're just too cool to pass up. When I was thinking of pose ideas I became obsessed with a T-Rex bending way down and arching it's back yelling in frustration. This became a T-Rex who keeps trying to putt golf ball into the last hole of a mini-golf course and he keeps missing because he is so uncoordinated with his tiny little arms. Here is is roaring in agony after missing for the 12th time. The flag is flapping in the gust of breath.

So I am happy with it overall and the group seemed to really like it BUT I can't escape that "creator's disappointment" were you just see what you wanted to do vs what you were able to do. hopefully I can pose it and redo the teeth, face detail, feet and overall skin textures.

I hope you enjoy my silly scenario:






Monday, March 07, 2016

The Oracle

An original character from "Skins and Bones", the Oracle can see much more than her physical appearance would suggest. She and her sisters know the goings on of the mothercity on an granular level.
Zbrush concept.





Thursday, February 18, 2016

Merlin Update

Here is the final sculpt for my Merlin / Milt Kahl study in Zbrush.







Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Feb Zbrush challenge (WIP - Milt Kahl study) "Merlin"

Here is my almost complete but still in progress Merlin sculpture for Feburary's Zbrush challenge. This month was a free-theme. I have been wanting to try my hand at a Milt Kahl character in Zbrush. In the decision making stage it was a close heat between Roger from "101 Dalmatians" (love his profile!) and Merlin from "Sword In The Stone".

In the end Merlin won out due to him being a more likable character. Here is my 85% complete sculpt. Since the due date was pushed back I am hoping to add his hands and, if time permits, polypaint him.






The primary reference image. Note how my bust does not have lovely posing in the original sketch due to time constraints. When my sculpture is viewed against the original sketch it suddenly seems very stiff and lifeless compared to the masterwork of Kahl. I think it's more valuable to see the comparison than guard my pride :) :


Friday, February 12, 2016

Big news!

Two of my most recent Fleshlettes will be included in the BeinArt Surreal Art Show 2016 at the Copro Gallery in Santa Monica, CA! The show will run from Feb 20th - March 12th.

Please come and visit the gallery and see the "Vera" and "Cassandra" up close and 'in the flesh'! I'll be attending the gallery opening on Feb 20th. You will be able to recognize me as the guy that looks totally out of place.

For now please see some cropped previews of my newest pieces that will be on display at the show:

Vera:

Cassandra:


CoproGallery: http://www.copronason.com/feb16_pr.html

BeinArt Collective: http://beinart.org/