TONI MIJATOVIĆ

I'll be more than happy to chat with you about any of the topics from the above so I encourage you to get in contact with me using any of the previously listed links.

Hi! My name is Toni and I looove drawing giant mechas and modern military tech both digitally and traditionally. My instagram profile is your go to if you just want to keep up with all I do concerning my artistic development but for those who want more, here is a breakdown of my creative process from a creative thought to a technical realization.

1 - a scanned sketch imported into Photoshop
2 - basic lineart with a singular line weight
3 - thick outline
4 - inner outlines separating body pieces from each other and giving a clue as to what objects are closer to the viewer
5 - flat colors give objects a sense of volume and shape
6 - various decals, markings and stripes that make specific areas pop or draw the eye
7 - black gradients used to darken objects obscured by other objects and give objects a sense of distance from each other
8 - light emitting objects such as "eyes", flashlights, screens etc. aren't affected by gradients
9 - color dodge shows what parts of the body are lit by the light source from above and enhances the contrast when combined with black gradients
10 - a greatly enlarged png image of a finished mecha illustration placed above the default white background layer - the png is being gradually erased from the bottom up using a layer mask with a black gradient
11 - additional flavor added by a tape featuring fictional production and distribution information - it also makes the figure not feel as if standing in an endless white void

Reading and drawing comics are my two big passions. Therefore, exploring this medium from both reader's and artist's perspective is endlessly fascinating to me.I start with a rough sketch of the page depicting the panel layout, sfx, vfx, character actions etc. Once I have an idea of the page as a whole, I start drawing individual images which get sorted into their panels later. This way, I treat every panel as its own little piece of art. I use ordinary office paper, technical pencils and rapidographs for drawing and my old trusty scanner for scanning.After I'm done with drawing, I import scanned drawings into photoshop and begin paneling the page while also adding borders, sound effects and page numbers.Due to my comics being a mix of traditional and digital elements, I have to manipulate them in order to smoothen out the differences between the two. This includes desaturation of scanned drawings, applying textures to big pieces of text and lowering contrast between different elements by working with dark greys instead of black.

I've been drawing ever since I could pick up a pencil. It is my goal to find happines and satisfaction during my creative process all the while inspiring others to do the same. Due to the type of media I had access to as a child, video games and animated films had a huge impact on my identity as well as my work.Main examples of such games are Starcraft, Overwatch, Titanfall, Into the Breach etc. These games feature high-tech suits, mechs, spaceships, conflicts between human race and extraterrestrial beings and many more things that my inner child will never stop considering cool.

Speaking of cool stuff, there are numerous pieces of media outside of gaming that depict the same or similar themes. It should come as no surprise that I draw major inspiration from mecha/sci-fi anime, manga and movies such as Code Geass, Neon Genesis Evangelion, Gundam, All You Need Is Kill and District 9.

Something I would suggest to anyone trying to build their own visual library would definitely be creating a collection of sorts, be it digital or physical, in which you'd put various materials associated with artists and works that inspire you. Hence why I myself have a folder on my google drive full of art books and books featuring art from works that inspire me.Repeatedly going through artists' notes and carefully observing how they handle certain tasks makes a great difference in the long run. First know your art heroes and then get to know their way of forming thoughts and channeling them onto a given medium in which they create.

DEADBOLT and SIGNALIS are my two favorite games. The way these games play, sound, look and the stories they tell speak to me on a very personal level. No wonder I made fan art and custom game content regarding these two gems.

My music taste consists of soundtracks ranging from ambient tunes and orchestral scores to rock and metal. These two opposites either put my mind at ease or make me thrilled and ready for any task at hand.
I've created this spotify playlist in order to communicate my taste and connect to other people more efficiently. Feel free to give it a listen if you're interested.