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, ++
This #ThrowbackThursday About 30 years ago I made a series of #Fonts in #Fontographer While I am no font expert, I had a ton of fun developing these, and still use the skills (but not the software) today for logo work.
September 24, 2026 at 2:23 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday About 30 years ago I made a series of #Fonts in #Fontographer While I am no font expert, I had a ton of fun developing these, and still use the skills (but not the software) today for logo work.
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
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.
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...
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.
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)
For the next week (July 13th-20th) my pdf bundle is a full 50% off! Get pdf copies of all 5 of my scifi artbooks. Check it out here: artofsoulburn.gumroad.com/l/kufndh and use promo code ybg48bu at checkout.
July 13, 2026 at 3:19 PM
For the next week (July 13th-20th) my pdf bundle is a full 50% off! Get pdf copies of all 5 of my scifi artbooks. Check it out here: artofsoulburn.gumroad.com/l/kufndh and use promo code ybg48bu at checkout.
This #ThrowbackThursday let's temper that summer heat with winter, and look at some #snowy environments!
July 9, 2026 at 3:04 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday let's temper that summer heat with winter, and look at some #snowy environments!
4 quick videos on creating Glass, Rubber, Xray and Leather materials in Blender. These materials are basic, but if you're just getting started in Blender, it will give you an overview of the material building process as well as commonly used nodes. #blender3d #texturing www.youtube.com/artofsoulburn
July 6, 2026 at 2:34 PM
4 quick videos on creating Glass, Rubber, Xray and Leather materials in Blender. These materials are basic, but if you're just getting started in Blender, it will give you an overview of the material building process as well as commonly used nodes. #blender3d #texturing www.youtube.com/artofsoulburn
Probably the best #StarWars in the last decade, so happy it finally gets an artbook. Lots of stories in this one, really well researched and written, as well as the beautiful art of course :)
July 3, 2026 at 2:23 PM
Probably the best #StarWars in the last decade, so happy it finally gets an artbook. Lots of stories in this one, really well researched and written, as well as the beautiful art of course :)
This #ThrowbackThursday is all about #spores I've always loved electron #microscope photography, and was inspired 20 years ago by my buddy Michael Spaw and his explorations to do my own takes on the subject.
July 2, 2026 at 2:32 PM
This #ThrowbackThursday is all about #spores I've always loved electron #microscope photography, and was inspired 20 years ago by my buddy Michael Spaw and his explorations to do my own takes on the subject.