Early D3 Barbarian models

Found these while transferring old data to my new comp. These are the first iterations of the male and female Barbs. The male went through several iterations before they settled on the current in-game appearance. The last pic is the first pass on the female Barb's default state before they changed her face. I made her a biiiiiit too buff also, so on the 2nd pass I toned that down a bit. These pics are from 2006.

Diablo 3 Barbarian talking head!

Those of you with keen memories will remember that D3 briefly experimented with having 3d character portraits during dialogs à la SC2. The Barb and Deckard Cain were the only test subjects. Paul David made Deckard, while I made the Barb. There's a bit of Randy Couture and Bruce Willis DNA in there...

Homage?

While perusing through CG Hub today...Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right? I think it's kind of neat actually to think that someone was inspired by my stuff like this. I really like the improved color palette and composition Xiaosa chose, but at least change the obvious design elements and maybe shoot me some credit. I made the Ranger concept art for Diablo 3 in 2005.

Xiaosa's CG Hub

I actually began updating it back in 2009, but put it aside and haven't done anything with it since.

Stuff from the Diablo 3 Art Book

Barbarian vs Ranger PVP
This is the first scene I ever painted, as in, not just a dude standing there with a foggy background. There are so many things in here I see that need repainting/correcting but I'll resist. Those of you with the collectors Edition would have seen it in the hero section of the Art Book. That's the thing about Blizzard; stuff you work on is kept in a secret vault for around 5 years give or take, and then BAM! Funsplosion happens all up in your face.

Also, here are a few older Barb concepts I never got around to posting. These have been floating around the internets for awhile.

And finally the models I made for the 2nd round of D3 Goatmen. This was when we were still in our gritty phase before the rainbows and shit hit the public fan. Ahh, good times.

Diablo 3 Hero Art contest

Even though I don't work at Blizzard anymore, am I a douchebag for entering as a fan?

It's been awhile since I painted these two. Working on the Barbarian at was the funnest project ever. All the concepts, all the modeling. I learned so much while on this character too - primarily just how bad my anatomy was!

Here the D3 Barbarians maintain their vigil of Mt. Arreat.

DIABLO III on May 15th!

http://us.blizzard.com/en-us/games/d3/index.html
It's about time.

Buy it! Play the Barb! I can't believe I started on D3 in 2003...a few hiccups later and voila! Possibly the most anticipated game in history. Congrats to everyone involved. :) You know I'll be Barbing it up in this place.
In celebration of hell freezing over, here's an old piece that I'm touching up just for fun. 2 more months...

More from Blizzcon 2010

Here are a few early concepts for the Ranger which eventually lead to the Demonhunter class in D3. I can't wait to play this class the way it finally turned out. In my opinion it's the closest thing to a Gothic-fantasy styled character in the current Diablo hero lineup.

These all range from 3-7 years ago. In order, newest at top:

Early Diablo 3 concepts

Here are a few pieces that have been shown at recent Blizzcons that I never got around to posting.
Barbarian sketches and a badguy concept from about...6 years ago!

Hyper cover #2. Diablo 3 Monk

That would be the monk from D3. Yes, I am slacking on keeping this blog updated. Starcraft 2 is a time destroyer. But I'm #1 in the gold division! woo!
Also: Page 1 features the Fallen.

Diablo 3 Barbarian

I thought this would be fun to put up. Here are a pair of rough concepts I made for the Diablo 3 barb in 2006. The touch up's I made for Blizcon 2008...I need to get back to posting new stuff.

The Fallen

Art created for the Fallen reveal last week. These two are portraits of two of the figures in the main image.