Grand Space Opera 2D Entry: Kinjal Mitra

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1098763715_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1098763715_large.jpg)

Took a while to get a concept going, at least something no one else has really done (I think so far) first sketch done in ink on paper on the train home
very very rough right now...basically an Alien explorer ala Indiana Jones finds an ethereal mysterious Guardian in a cavern who gives the alien hyperdrive technology thereby kicking off the eventual colonization of the local galaxy as well as contact with many other races creating the Galactic Empire at large

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1098764363_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1098764363_large.jpg)

another sketch...this one done in photoshop, just working out the idea a bit more and working on composition

[sidchagan]

Since it's still in a rough concept stage, I cant say much about the images themselves- however, as far as I can tell, the first one would make a more interesting final.
Hope to see more later.

[Dragonbreath]

I agree - the 2nd image has a nice composition - it separates the elements well, but the first image is more foreboding - more powerful.
Keep it up!

[Ranath]

quite fantasy like approach, it's good because it's original. Good composition in that second one

[SteelPixel]

I appreciate the comments so far, I know there's not much to go on, I like the drama of the first one also, I think I just have to tweak the comp a bit and it can work, meanwhile something else may pop into my head...still got a lot of time and I tend to work better under pressure, but I know the point of this is to show progression so that's the part I have to work on!

[funkbuttah]

I think the first one has more drama, but I think it would be cool if you show exactly when they first see it. Sort of a distant establishing shot(vertical to exemplify the size of the thing from a low angle again) but maybe they just rounded the corner of a cave formation or underground structure and ... behold. who knows. just giving some input. cool idea though.

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1099385706_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1099385706_large.jpg)

Ok I hate this so far, I mean it has potential but this isn't the way I work so please bear with me, the colors aren't accurate, they are just blocked in for shapes but just trying to keep it moving, things are very subject to change

[oldhobo]

Don't even worry about it- I can totally relate. This is my first competition in this format and I find it very challenging to post stuff that doesn't really show what's in my head yet. I just wince and carry on, knowing that eventually I'll be posting the developed image. /lol

But this is a great start. I like the color, the layout, and the implied story.

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1099864690_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1099864690_large.jpg)

Ok since I have over 2 months left I thought I'd work on some other ideas, here's a sketch that's a bit more galactic in nature, basically a galactic energy being that is intent on destroying worlds, here succeeding while being attacked by huge battlecruisers....I like to leave the rest to the imagination.....

[SteelPixel]

funkbuttah: thanks for the input I've been considering different angles so who knows

oldhobo: thanks for the encouragement, it sucks showing people my WIP, I'm used to just showing my final piece and that's it! but you have helped me look at it differently, so I'm just going to post whatever and trust that the final product will make up for the in between lol

[malcolmvexxed]

I like the most recent concept more in terms of the more confident linework but i like the first one more in terms of the anticipation of the characters meeting.

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1099888133_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1099888133_large.jpg)

just a color block of the space guy, this one has potential I think, but there's always room for more...

[SteelPixel]

sorry double post

[SteelPixel]

sorry triple post

[Dragonbreath]

Hey Steel..

I know this is just my opinion, but I think you should mix the 2 ideas.
The explorer finding the artifact as he looks outside the cave to see that giant thing guarding it, while he is distracted by the fighter ships.
I still like the first idea, but this latest one now has the energy.
Keep it up!

[Ganthu]

Whoa, talk about total devastation... the whole planet sliced like some fruit under
a chef`s cooking knife. That`s nice and all but why not consider some other
look for the galactic energy other than human. If I were a non physical entety I`d
make myself look like a giant smiley face, and chomp down on the planets like pacman :]
But seriously, your anatomy skills are something to wish for, carry on brainstorming.

[Tranchefeux]

Hi, All my encouragement for your project to follow.... good luck...

[SteelPixel]

Thanks for all the comments,

malcolmvexxed, thanks I still have a long way to go, still thinking!

Dragonbreath, I have taken your suggestions under consideration, I think it would be cool to combine some elements but I also don't want to make it too busy, I do agree about the energy thing also

Ganthu, I was considering a different creature also, I mean hey this is the vast universe right? why does the creature have to be humanoid? not sure about the smiley face :) but I will sleep on it, and thanks for the compliment

Tranchefeux, preciate it

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1101188896_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1101188896_large.jpg)

another sketch, I don't want to get locked down on my first idea, I'll keep sketching until I get something I will follow up on. I don't feel the urgency yet so I'm delaying a bit...

quick synopsis: in this painting I am envisioning a sun that has gone supernova in the distant sky in the upper left corner, I will have to expand the canvas a bit but that's the basic idea...I don't like the bottom of the tower too much so if I go with this one I have a lot of tweaking to do....actually that goes for everything I've posted so far, my drawings/paintings occasionally tend to end up in a different place then where I started

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1101189161_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1101189161_large.jpg)

I don't have any elaborate stories behind my sketches, I prefer people to imagine their own scenarios, but I am trying to convey more of an epic feel to these drawings as I go along...hope it's working let me know

[SteelPixel]

ooooooops!!

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1102877293_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1102877293_large.jpg)

After going off on a tangent with the towers and the guy slicing the planet, I have decided to stick with my first concept, plus I like the backstory better than any I was thinking of to go with the alternate sketches.
This will be my first lineart submission, I have expanded the canvas a bit and I'm still playing with the composition but this is generally what it will look like. Now my challenge is to render a good background, a lot of that wil be looking at pictures of caves etc as I am still leaning towards the cavern with stalagtites and things but I'm also thinking of it being in some alien ruins (sort of an egyptian theme a la stargate or 5th element) so I may look at pics of that nature too and then we'll see what inspires me...

[Ganthu]

Veeery impresive, I`m feeling spaced out and belitled just by looking at this guy.

[walrus]

Very stylish, I like it so far! Can't wait to see where you take it from here... Good luck!

-mike

[NathanielWest]

Your composition is nice, and I like the way you have used a low angle to make the larger figure more imposing. I'm not too sure what's happening with the pyramid object, and I think you could use more expression/action on the smaller figure. That way we'd know if he/she were being injured, etc.

Also, I think you would benefit from putting the small figure in front of the other figure to show some depth. Just a slight overlap would do. I think your depth will come once you put the cave around them, and put some foreground elements.

I think you've done a good job so far, and I look forward to seeing more!

[SteelPixel]

Ganthu I'm feeling pretty spaced out about the whole thing myself :)

Walrus thanks I hope to impress with it we'll see!

Nathaniel West thanks for your interest, I have taken all your comments into consideration and will probably move the guy in front a bit, anyway you're right that the smaller guy should have more detail but I just haven't got to that yet, when I'm done hopefully everything will be more clear, also I've been looking at various photos of old ruins and caves and I've been letting things percolate in my head, I also think I'm going to approach this in a way that other entries have suggested, start with a grayscale rendering first and then lay down color on top, I've done that before but not as a deliberate and conscious method, I'm learning new things everyday!

[Tranchefeux]

Hi,

The personage of your station is sympathetic, I waits
dévelopement:), good road

[KaleN]

Looks impressive. Can't wait to it with some background elements.

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105205836_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105205836_large.jpg)

Ok I'm feeling the pressure a bit and here's my final Line art entry, next will be the coloring milestone (actually greyscale), so the posts will be close together and probably not much time for adjusting, but at least I think I will have a finished piece!
Anyway until next post...

[se7en-z3r0]

good stuff so far - I like the protagonist looked more evil when they were lined up together instead of split across the scene. It just looked a little more menacing. Anyway, good work so far. I really liked the tower designs btw.

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105507285_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105507285_large.jpg)

OK I have listened to suggestion and have tried to make the guardian guy bigger and a little more imposing, more like my original sketch, this should be the final layout and now I've got to really dive into my coloring....

[bolchover]

I like teh emnacing design of teh guardian... look forward to seeing it develop, quickly, as we speed up for the last dash :)

[Adamos]

good one, glad you're not doing a typical space battle! Hurry up!

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105809345_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105809345_large.jpg)

So the shapes are forming, the values getting layered and the details are tightening up!!
Time left: 2days 6hours 46 minutes and 54 seconds....


Hurry hurry!!!!

[Dragonbreath]

Awesome color scheme for the background! It's kinda eerie and won't overpower the main character color - I hope you keep it.
Jocelyn likes it too - she says - "Yeah! What HE said."

[SteelPixel]

thanks bolchover doing it as fast as I can, the Girlfriend already knows I'm home for the next few nights...

adamos thanks - it may not be "epic" enough but I just couldn't go with the space battle theme....

dragonbreath - thanks I like the color scheme too - it's staying, and tell Jocelyn she's given me great motivation! :buttrock:

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105958714_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105958714_large.jpg)

done with a few hours to spare!

[SteelPixel]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105958997_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/6/4803/4803_1105958997_large.jpg)

done with a few hours to spare!

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