For some of my sketches I take them to another step – a time-boxed exploration of color renderings. This is still short of a full-on, finished rendering, and a great exercise for learning how to quickly set a tone or mood.

Multi-role transport and emergency rescue vehicle

Almost like a cel animated feature

A bit more technical, like a Ron Cobb drawing

Capable of refueling by skimming the atmosphere of the gas giants, this frigate maintains the peace in the outer system

I added the hints of a Jovian atmosphere, engine plumes, and shockwave

My mashup of classic Ron Cobb designs and possible sister class to the Firefly transports

An homage to production design art for ALIEN. Digital – Procreate on an iPad

After arriving at their destination star system, the passengers grafted the remains of their colony ship to a local asteroid. This provides them with sufficient raw materials and fuel to stage orbital landing and support.

After arriving at their destination star system, the passengers grafted the remains of their colony ship to a local asteroid. This provides them with sufficient raw materials and fuel to stage orbital landing and support.

This is a giant solar sail – the initial drawing was colored with watercolors

I love scenes with large spacecraft docking ports

Rendered with Procreate on an iPad

Ship repair and tug vessel

Straight up color rendering

With background. Procreate on an iPad

Pen and marker sketch

Rendered with Procreate on an iPad

Clearly from the same lineage as the Sulaco, this variant carries ordinance within massive, armored pods

Color treatment for the Bronco

I couldn’t resist the Wave Motion Gun effect

More spacecraft hovering on final approach to a mooring tower

My friend Scott Thoms shared a great sunset photo that I used as the color scheme for this rendering. Photoshop with a Wacom Intuos Medium tablet

Hovering ships over a futuristic city

Rendered with Procreate on an iPad

All thrust manifolds wide open for high speed maneuvers

Rendered with Procreate on an iPad

Star Trek meets John Berkey

Rendered with Procreate on an iPad

Engine / Drive end of an unusual spacecraft

Rendered with Procreate on an iPad