Articles by:

Creative Bloq ART AND DESIGN INSPIRATION

Ian Dean is Editor, Digital Arts & Design at Creativebloq, and the former editor of many leading magazines. These titles included ImagineFX, 3D World and leading video game title Official PlayStation Magazine. In his early career he wrote for music and film magazines including Uncut and SFX. Ian launched Xbox magazine X360 and edited PlayStation World. For Creative Bloq, Ian combines his experiences to bring the latest news on AI, digital art and video game art and tech, and more to Creative Bloq, and in his spare time he doodles in Procreate, ArtRage, and Rebelle while finding time to play Xbox and PS5. He's also a keen Cricut user and laser cutter fan, and is currently crafting on Glowforge and xTools M1.

Articles by: Ian Dean

Game engines; a render of a large snowy mountain

Why is everyone obsessed with Unreal Engine and Unity?

By Paul Hatton published 22 August 23

We ask three pro artists.

Unreal Engine and Unity learn a game engine; a dragon in a colourful fantasy environment

Unreal Engine and Unity: why you need to learn a game engine

By Paul Hatton published 21 August 23

Unreal Engine and Unity use is on the rise in all areas of art; why and how to learn a game engine.

Drawing of fantasy character in Procreate by Fatemeh Haghnejad

Use Procreate to create a fantasy character

By Fatemeh Haghnejad published 21 August 23

Fatemeh Haghnejad shows you how to use Procreate to take a fantastical character idea from concept to creation.

Blender 3.5 review; a sci-fi solder in a broken factory

Blender 3.5 review: smart upgrades signal a bright future

By Paul Hatton published 21 August 23

Paul Hatton believes Blender 3.5's new features signal a bright future for this free 3D art software.

Blasphemous 2 review; a small knight runs across a sandy environment in a pixel art game

Blasphemous 2 review: a beautifully grotesque sequel

By Ian Dean published 17 August 23

A little different but still as creatively macabre as before, here's why I love Blasphemous 2.

Nothing Phone 2 review; a black phone with LEDs

Nothing Phone 2 review: a month later, I'm still impressed

By Ian Dean published 17 August 23

After weeks of daily use, Nothing Phone 2 proves to be more than a gimmick.

Use Procreate with 3D reference models

By Glen Southern published 14 August 23

Glen Southern demonstrates how to use Procreate with 3D reference models to speed up your concept art workflow.

Shutterstock AI; a photo real scene created by AI

Honestly, NeRF generative AI could be incredible

By Ian Dean published 14 August 23

Photoreal CG video just got easier.

Synapse review; a man runs through a portal

Synapse review: an artistic triumph but something's missing

By Ian Dean published 11 August 23

Perfect VR design but limited.

AI world building; a New York skyline created in CityBLD

Could this Unreal Engine 5 AI tool really 'kill' 3D modelling?

By Ian Dean published 11 August 23

Create lifelike cities with CityBLD.

Lords of the Fallen hands-on; a knight fights a demon in a fantasy video game made with Unreal Engine 5

Lords of the Fallen: Unreal Engine 5 makes a difference

By Ian Dean published 10 August 23

Why Lords of the Fallen and Unreal Engine 5 are a match made in Hell.

How to paint with four values in Procreate

By Min Yum published 10 August 23

Artist Min Yum explains how to paint with four values in Procreate (and Photoshop) for striking environments.

These new AI tools for Maya could transform 3D art and animation

By Ian Dean published 9 August 23

Will 3D art be changed forever?

Unity and Weta tools at Siggraph; a close up of a woman's face

Unity gets Wētā's Hollywood VFX tools, and "assisted artistry"

By Ian Dean published 7 August 23

Advanced VFX tools are coming to real-time game engine Unity. Natasha Tatarchuk, VP of Unity Wētā Tools tells me why.

Danny Casales interview; illustrations hanging in a gallery

Artist Danny Casale reveals the secret of his success

By Ian Dean published 7 August 23

Danny Casale, AKA Coolman Coffeedan, dropped out and made art his own way, gaining 2.7 million fans. Here's how he did it.

AI for Unity; a screen from an AI for Unity

Struggling to learn Unity? There's an AI for that

By Ian Dean published 3 August 23

But it looks very helpful.

Has your art been 'stolen' by generative AI?

By Ian Dean published 3 August 23

This website knows if you've been scraped.

Use Procreate to rework old sketches; a painting of an alien warrior

How to use Procreate to rework old sketches

By Rafael Sarmento published 2 August 23

Artist Rafael Sarmento reveals how to Use Procreate to rework old sketches for new illustrations.

Game made in Unreal Fortnite Editor; a buggy on the moon

It's happening, actual games are being made in Fortnite

By Ian Dean published 1 August 23

Moontopia was made with Unreal Fortnite Editor.

How to use VR models in Procreate

By Pauline Voß published 1 August 23

Pauline Voß reveals how to use VR models in Procreate to paint a stylised character from a 3D base.

Adobe's new AI just 'fixed' Akira - is nothing sacred?

By Ian Dean published 31 July 23

Messing with perfection.

How to use Photoshop and Procreate to paint vivid scenes

By Nick Kennedy published 31 July 23

Artist Nick Kennedy shows you how to use both Photoshop and Procreate to bring to life a vivid background.

Darkboard for iPad; an iPad Pro in a black drawing frame and stand

Darkboard iPad stand review: a clever accessory I never knew I needed

By Ian Dean published 28 July 23

Taking the pain out of iPad art.

3D skills report; an abstract colourful 3D render

The 'future of design is 3D' says new Adobe skills report

By Ian Dean published 28 July 23

Start learning now.

Photoshop generative expand; a waterfall photo

Photoshop's new one-click AI just shifted the balance of power

By Ian Dean published 27 July 23

One-click magic.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
View Archive

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions: