Neil Blevins
@artofsoulburn.bsky.social
Art Director & Senior Concept Designer in Film, Games, Books. Builds Scifi Worlds. Professional Work: Pixar Alum (16 Yrs), Blur, WarnerMedia, ++
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Neil Blevins
@artofsoulburn.bsky.social
· Oct 18
Looks like we have another influx of people coming to bluesky, so a quick intro post, my name is Neil Blevins, I'm an Art Director and Senior Concept artist for films, games and books. Worked at Pixar for 16 years, +Blur, WarnerMedia, etc. & I post lots of personal artwork, hope you follow along!
Two more videos, the first I show a common example of a False Color Texturing, bundling 3 separate masks into a single image split by color channel. youtu.be/dQ2G0Z_y9Xk Then I give some book recommendations for art students (and pros, aren't we all lifelong students?) youtu.be/q4Q1oOuXMmw
September 22, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Two more videos, the first I show a common example of a False Color Texturing, bundling 3 separate masks into a single image split by color channel. youtu.be/dQ2G0Z_y9Xk Then I give some book recommendations for art students (and pros, aren't we all lifelong students?) youtu.be/q4Q1oOuXMmw
This #ThrowbackThursday it's everyone's favorite shape, the #sphere! It's curved in 3 dimensions, it lets us play many sports, and we wouldn't have a world without it.
September 17, 2026 at 2:58 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday it's everyone's favorite shape, the #sphere! It's curved in 3 dimensions, it lets us play many sports, and we wouldn't have a world without it.
One of the most visually daring scifi films ever gets a new art book, #FifthElement A bit of a different format, rather than just art, this contains the script to the film with concept art peppered all throughout related to the scene. It's almost like a narrative artbook. Recommended!
September 16, 2026 at 3:03 PM
One of the most visually daring scifi films ever gets a new art book, #FifthElement A bit of a different format, rather than just art, this contains the script to the film with concept art peppered all throughout related to the scene. It's almost like a narrative artbook. Recommended!
This video is part of my making of series. I take the Passenger Rescue Drone I surfaced a few weeks ago and go through all of the materials / textures showing how they're made. Hopefully this practical example is helpful! youtu.be/WMBZWFxOXFw
September 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM
This video is part of my making of series. I take the Passenger Rescue Drone I surfaced a few weeks ago and go through all of the materials / textures showing how they're made. Hopefully this practical example is helpful! youtu.be/WMBZWFxOXFw
Another two videos, the first is for #Affinity and #Photoshop users, giving a trick to create spun textures for cymbals, pots or robots youtu.be/WSBdUHXW9Oo Then one more Basic Material for Blender, Powder Coated Steel www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1td...
September 11, 2026 at 2:21 PM
Another two videos, the first is for #Affinity and #Photoshop users, giving a trick to create spun textures for cymbals, pots or robots youtu.be/WSBdUHXW9Oo Then one more Basic Material for Blender, Powder Coated Steel www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1td...
This #ThrowbackThursday years ago I made a whole bunch of these funny aliens that were all mouth and not much else. I called them "Suckers", and had great fun trying to come up with as many variations as possible. All made in 3dsmax and photoshop.
September 10, 2026 at 2:49 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday years ago I made a whole bunch of these funny aliens that were all mouth and not much else. I called them "Suckers", and had great fun trying to come up with as many variations as possible. All made in 3dsmax and photoshop.
A Two-For Tutorial Tuesday! Here's two videos, one on creating Polished Metals in #Blender (should I use Metallic?), and one for creating Glazed Pottery youtu.be/G6WkwCeAH6I and youtu.be/8mm_S_Q9m9I
September 8, 2026 at 2:45 PM
A Two-For Tutorial Tuesday! Here's two videos, one on creating Polished Metals in #Blender (should I use Metallic?), and one for creating Glazed Pottery youtu.be/G6WkwCeAH6I and youtu.be/8mm_S_Q9m9I
Another new making of book, the 4th and my favorite #StarTrek film. Really well made as usual, curious if they will make a 5th since Startrek 5 wasn't nearly as beloved as the first 4.
September 4, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Another new making of book, the 4th and my favorite #StarTrek film. Really well made as usual, curious if they will make a 5th since Startrek 5 wasn't nearly as beloved as the first 4.
This #ThrowbackThursday I celebrate the #futurecities I've illustrated over the years, both the bright and dark futures. May the dark ones remain science fiction #architecture
September 3, 2026 at 2:38 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday I celebrate the #futurecities I've illustrated over the years, both the bright and dark futures. May the dark ones remain science fiction #architecture
Made a new video that discusses 5 tips that relate to the way the human eye and brain perceives and interprets #Color when producing paintings, films or games. Color Relativity, Color Blindness, etc. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Coq...
5 Tips About The Way Humans Perceive Color
YouTube video by ArtOfSoulburn
www.youtube.com
September 1, 2026 at 3:37 PM
Made a new video that discusses 5 tips that relate to the way the human eye and brain perceives and interprets #Color when producing paintings, films or games. Color Relativity, Color Blindness, etc. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Coq...
Really interesting 11min video trying to unpack why it takes 10x the number of people to make what is essentially the same game 20 years later. Layers of unneeded management might be too simplistic an answer, but it is certainly a factor. www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5qK...
The Invisible Layers Holding Games Back
YouTube video by Laura Fryer
www.youtube.com
August 29, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Really interesting 11min video trying to unpack why it takes 10x the number of people to make what is essentially the same game 20 years later. Layers of unneeded management might be too simplistic an answer, but it is certainly a factor. www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5qK...
This #ThrowbackThursday My time on the first #Cars film at #Pixar This year is its 20th anniversary. Helped model and surface a number of environments for the project, my first time using Slim, the node based material editor for prman. Here's a number of the sets I contributed to.
August 27, 2026 at 2:35 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday My time on the first #Cars film at #Pixar This year is its 20th anniversary. Helped model and surface a number of environments for the project, my first time using Slim, the node based material editor for prman. Here's a number of the sets I contributed to.
Last year I had my students make a 3d animatic for a film based on a short story called Go. Now. Fix. by Timons Esaias. Took one of the characters they designed and did a more finished 3d model which I'll use in my teaching this year. Final model in max / blender, & shaded in blender.
August 24, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Last year I had my students make a 3d animatic for a film based on a short story called Go. Now. Fix. by Timons Esaias. Took one of the characters they designed and did a more finished 3d model which I'll use in my teaching this year. Final model in max / blender, & shaded in blender.
In this video tutorial, I discuss the importance of checking all your 3d assets in a neutral lighting rig to ensure your textures and materials will react to light as expected. I also do a demo on how make one in #Blender3d www.youtube.com/watch?v=37wW...
Creating A Neutral Lighting Rig In Blender
YouTube video by ArtOfSoulburn
www.youtube.com
August 20, 2026 at 2:32 PM
In this video tutorial, I discuss the importance of checking all your 3d assets in a neutral lighting rig to ensure your textures and materials will react to light as expected. I also do a demo on how make one in #Blender3d www.youtube.com/watch?v=37wW...
I find painting alien rock landscapes very relaxing, a great way to unwind after a day of intense artistic thinking, analyzing and decision making. Here's one painted primarily in #Procreate, going for a more stylized color palette.
August 17, 2026 at 3:31 PM
I find painting alien rock landscapes very relaxing, a great way to unwind after a day of intense artistic thinking, analyzing and decision making. Here's one painted primarily in #Procreate, going for a more stylized color palette.
As I continue my switch to #Blender3d, one thing I thought I was going to miss was the asset browser I wrote years ago for 3dsmax. Turns out Blender has one and it's actually quite good. This video goes over how to use it to save and recall material/object/env assets www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYMm...
August 13, 2026 at 2:21 PM
As I continue my switch to #Blender3d, one thing I thought I was going to miss was the asset browser I wrote years ago for 3dsmax. Turns out Blender has one and it's actually quite good. This video goes over how to use it to save and recall material/object/env assets www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYMm...
Looks like Epic has sold Artstation: magazine.artstation.com/2026/08/kitb...
KitBash Acquires ArtStation and Sketchfab - ArtStation Magazine
Today, ArtStation and Sketchfab are becoming part of KitBash, the company behind 3D art platforms KitBash3D and Greyscalegorilla.
magazine.artstation.com
August 10, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Looks like Epic has sold Artstation: magazine.artstation.com/2026/08/kitb...
This #ThrowbackThursday it's #Pixar The Good Dinosaur. I was part of the asteroid team, sculpted the hero rocks, then FX team made the final belt which included hero & procedural rocks in the distance. Also did temp shading, with a final pass by another artist. Also textured a ton of corn.
August 6, 2026 at 2:38 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday it's #Pixar The Good Dinosaur. I was part of the asteroid team, sculpted the hero rocks, then FX team made the final belt which included hero & procedural rocks in the distance. Also did temp shading, with a final pass by another artist. Also textured a ton of corn.
The new Art of #Avatar3 book has arrived, and once again it's filled with some of the best art in the industry, and quite detailed stories about the thinking behind the designs. Really well done.
August 4, 2026 at 3:17 PM
The new Art of #Avatar3 book has arrived, and once again it's filled with some of the best art in the industry, and quite detailed stories about the thinking behind the designs. Really well done.
July 31, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Back in the late 90s - early 2000s, I had carved out a niche for myself doing lots of #WiresAndTentacles So for this #ThrowbackThursday lets go way back, including an image I made in 1997 using 3dstudio max r2.
July 30, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Back in the late 90s - early 2000s, I had carved out a niche for myself doing lots of #WiresAndTentacles So for this #ThrowbackThursday lets go way back, including an image I made in 1997 using 3dstudio max r2.
With the latest layoffs at my alma mater #Pixar, I'd point out there's 2-3 Pixars worth of amazing talented people in their prime looking for work who want to make movies. If only investors had a fraction of the vision Steve Jobs had back when he started the company, they'd fund them to make magic.
July 22, 2026 at 2:44 PM
With the latest layoffs at my alma mater #Pixar, I'd point out there's 2-3 Pixars worth of amazing talented people in their prime looking for work who want to make movies. If only investors had a fraction of the vision Steve Jobs had back when he started the company, they'd fund them to make magic.
Here's a video discussing how to use #Blender3d to make a Distance Texture, which created a gradient that can be used to mix between multiple colors, patterns or materials based on a distance in world space. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ2W...
Changing Material Based On Distance In Blender
YouTube video by ArtOfSoulburn
www.youtube.com
July 21, 2026 at 2:17 PM
Here's a video discussing how to use #Blender3d to make a Distance Texture, which created a gradient that can be used to mix between multiple colors, patterns or materials based on a distance in world space. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ2W...
Wow! Instagram’s AI just inflated my resume! This is why you should never believe these AIs on facts, it’s just a guessing machine (I did used to work at Pixar, I have been an art director, but I was never an art director at Pixar)
July 19, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Wow! Instagram’s AI just inflated my resume! This is why you should never believe these AIs on facts, it’s just a guessing machine (I did used to work at Pixar, I have been an art director, but I was never an art director at Pixar)
Only recently found out you can do 3d texture painting on 3d models in #procreate This video shows the workflow youtu.be/CoyjgRWESKo
3d Texture Painting In Procreate
YouTube video by ArtOfSoulburn
youtu.be
July 14, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Only recently found out you can do 3d texture painting on 3d models in #procreate This video shows the workflow youtu.be/CoyjgRWESKo