Master and Servant 2D Entry: Matt Dixon

[ChrisThatGuy]

It looks great. I really like the contrast between the girl and the robot. Good luck.

[MattDixon]

Thanks, chaps.

[MattDixon]

I just wanted to leave a note about the concept behind this pic and how it relates to the challenge topic. Some people seem a little confused as to which is master and servant. There's no correct answer. I've tried to leave things as open as possible, in the hope that people will find their own interpretation of the image; it's for you to decide.

For what it's worth, this was the idea in my head when I began -

'The Machine' represents adulthood - the spinning wheels and monotonous rhythm of a working life of responsibility and repetition. The child, obviously, represents our youth - shining with innocence and optimism before the inevitable fate waiting to swallow her up. The girl's hand is raised - is that in curiosity, or a gesture intended to halt to metal beast? The machine appears to smile - is that because the child has touched it's rusty heart, or in anticipation of a new slave to join the ranks already toiling upon it's back? We're all born to be servants, but each of us has the power to be master of the machine if we so choose.

I hope that makes sense to someone. If not, I've tried my best to paint something interesting to look at whatever story you see.

( EDIT: Pasted this text with another update so it appears with image at the start of the thread. )

[Speaky]

Matt, you done good, easily one of my favourite entries! Very nice balance of detail. I can't imagine much more of a contrast of size, power and vulnerability than you've shown here. My take on it is that the little girl is the master and the enormous robot is somehow bound to protect and provide for her. The girl knows it too, since she's not really flinching as the robot chews up the very landscape around her! Is that a flower she's going to gift him? Awwwww :)

[Ducklator]

AMAZING WORK!!!

the machine's texture is realy cool.:eek: .. and the little girl said me that she's more powerful... great final image. Congratulations!:thumbsup:

[anzibon]

Myazaki meats Giger.... gorgeous!!!

I'm physically stunned.


bravo,
~B

[MattDixon]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/5763/5763_1116455796_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/5763/5763_1116455796_large.jpg)

I just wanted to leave a note about the concept behind this pic and how it relates to the challenge topic. Some people seem a little confused as to which is master and servant. There's no correct answer. I've tried to leave things as open as possible, in the hope that people will find their own interpretation of the image; it's for you to decide.

For what it's worth, this was the idea in my head when I began -

'The Machine' represents adulthood - the spinning wheels and monotonous rhythm of a working life of responsibility and repetition. The child, obviously, represents our youth - shining with innocence and optimism before the inevitable fate waiting to swallow her up. The girl's hand is raised - is that in curiosity, or a gesture intended to halt to metal beast? The machine appears to smile - is that because the child has touched it's rusty heart, or in anticipation of a new slave to join the ranks already toiling upon it's back? We're all born to be servants, but each of us has the power to be master of the machine if we so choose.

I hope that makes sense to someone. If not, I've tried my best to paint something interesting to look at whatever story you see.

I've had fun working on my first CGTalk challenge and it's been great to watch so many wonderful artworks develop over the last few weeks. Now I'm off to get a beer. Cheers to everyone who's left comments and good luck to all the entrants! Hoorah!

[Kraull]

So cool!!! This is one of the first thread I've visited, and I still really like it. Great job! :)

[AlyFell]

Fantastic Matt! A tight emotional piece, with depth and feeling. A pleasure to watch the process. And thankyou for your support matey, in many ways, not least; having a computer that does ftp! :)

[AndyH]

Whoa!
This piece has really come together over the last few days!

Great sense of scale, good composition and excellent mood and colours.
I think the factories and buildings on his back seem a little small in comparison to the girl, but overall its a very effective piece.

Would look great on a huge wall-to-ceiling canvas display

[CoreyArtE]

Now this is some really sweet stuff! I love this picture, Soemthing about the color that really draws my eye in....well enough of my babeling. This is one of my fav, I wish you ther best of luck!

[Tris3d]

Shame I didn't see this in the early stages! :( Superb piece! Good luck!

[Fish-KAart]

Cheerfully Big Fan!!! Veru good work!:bounce:

[artjunkie]

Congrats on such a wonderfully powerful image. It's got just the right balance of whimsy and impact. I love it!

Good luck in the judging!

Cheers!

[THECLYKE]

CLASSIC....THIS IS A CLASSIC:surprised:bowdown:

[Nigel-Q]

this is awesome, i think it's definately one of the better expressions of the theme. that combined with beautiful rendering, characters, colour work and contrast makes it a fabulous entry that deserves to be right up there in the judging. inspirational to say the least.

[ErwinM]

Very nice lighting and beautiful design! Great job and good luck!

Erwin

[beelow]

Your are one of my favorites to win...Good luck and see you next time round here...holla!

[ArtisticVisions]

God, I wish I had come across this sooner; what a great concept! :thumbsup:
Terrific illustration, Matt, and congrats for finishing. :)

[Rudeone]

Man I so dig this one, awesome job:thumbsup:

[grf]

Awesome job man! Your painting style always looks fresh. It hardly looks digital at all, which is a difficult thing for most of us to do. And you make it look easy! ...which probably means it is. For you, I mean. Good reason for me to hate you. hehe....

But seriously... the purple in the sky being carried over to the flowers around the little girl makes this piece for me.

Just right.

Congrats! and good luck.

:thumbsup:

[taz23]

Impressive stuff Matt! Good luck!

[InTerceptoV]

This is probably the best image I saw till now at this competition. So beautifull, really great. I am going to watch it for 1 more hour. :)

[ilusiondigital]

Wow, i like the small girl and the gigantic metal thing, love the illumination os the girl, very very good scene :applause:

[theuni]

Hi Matt,

fantastic image you "painted"... I just love the mood you caught in it... really like the "open end" of your story :thumbsup:

[MattDixon]

Thanks for your support, folks. This image seemed to be in progress for a very long time which makes it hard for me to look at it objectively, so it's very encouraging to read your feedback in this thread.

Looking forward to the judging - there's a few that must be destined for prizes, but there are so many really beautiful entries that it'll be very interesting to see that final line up of winners. I've got a couple of favourites that I really hope will make the grade! All the best to everyone who entered..!

[jugeras]

congrats on your piece n gud luck :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[blakbird]

I am requesting an urgent attention to here!!

This challenger made a strange thing here.

I am willing to give a vote for him and asking you if it is possible to give a prize.

Great work. Thumbs up. Two thumbs up. Way up.

[Jezzarts]

Wow Matt! such a cool style, hav'nt seen it in a while and man this is awsome. Ominous yet fragile.. Love the website also! best of luck with this one although some how I dont think you'll need it :thumbsup:

[Blackmombassa]

Hi Matt,
This is a lovely piece. I'm glad you decided against the balloon and it's interesting to read your notes on the progress of your ideas. We've all been kids and sometimes as a kid you can be knowingly in the right when the adults are in the wrong, but often just because they are the 'adults' they get the last say and as a child that can be deeply frustrating.

So! I love it when a kid gets some recognition: in a small and undeveloped body there can be great determination and willpower. The balloon for me would have symbolised what an adult might give a child to keep them quiet. With a balloon she may have simply been gazing at the monster, about to be swept up by it, but *this* little girl has character and will take on a huge menacing machine - well, that's my interpretation anyway! She may have had a trick up her sleeve with the balloon, but for me, here she's communicating and that's a very positive sign.

I like the juxtaposing of the two forces and the story that you tell. It's a very nicely balanced piece of work! Not too much and not too little. :applause:

[paperclip]

CONGRATULATIONS on your prize, Matt!! You must be super proud.:buttrock:

Enjoy your prizes...you deserve them!

:thumbsup: :bounce:

[arkinet]

awesome piece & congratulations dude!!

[walrus]

Congratulations, Matt! I've always liked this image, and it's great to see you get rewarded for it. and i dunno, maybe it's just me, but I think the Cintiq is a way cooler prize than a workstation, so you definitely scored. Nice work! :)

-mike

[PauGfx]

you should have won :-/

/PauGfx

[xric7]

congratulation!!
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[ArtisticVisions]

Congratulations on the win, Matt. :)

I kinda agree with walrus - a 21inch Cintiq is so much cooler to have than a new workstation. :drool:

[Miyagu]

congratulations! :thumbsup:

and it´s really cute :love:

[artjunkie]

Ah, I was hoping this piece would do well! Congrats on being first runner up! Yay! Love the magical, storybook feeling I get with this piece... absolutely love it. Well deserved, my friend.

And now, onto the next challenge!

Cheers!

[MattDixon]

Thanks, everyone. Especially Blackmombassa - it's absolutely fascinating to read how someone interprets an image; thankyou!

To be honest, I'm still completely amazed that my pic finished up where is did and the news is really only just starting to sink in.

Everyone here helped to make this challenge a lot of fun to be a part of, and I'd particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of my workmates, Duddlebug and Poshspice, in that regard. Here's to the next one! Chocolate eclairs all round!

[AlyFell]

I hope you share those eclairs with Linda and the other winners Matt! ;) You piggy...

[duddlebug]

I'd particularly like to acknowledge the contribution of my workmates, Duddlebug and Poshspice, in that regard. Here's to the next one! Chocolate eclairs all round!

Oh yes... he says that... but he's not unchained me from my desk for weeks. And I have to thank him repeatedly as he drops his eclair crumbs on my wacom for me to gratefully devour, whilst poshspice buffs his stylus.






oh... ok then... it couldn't have happened to a nicer fella. Well done Matt you big swot!

[gardogg]

Oh MY! That is one freaking awesome image and I love your concept story and the "morale of the story." Not only can I read meaning, but I can also create many different meanings which is fun to do!

I know this post is a day late, but hey, I just now am seeing your thread! Its too bad you can't sell digital art like you would a painting... or can you? Because this would be worth a load some day!

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