Master and Servant 2D Entry: Samuel Farinato

[farinato]

Erk. First post, and I double post it! Way to start.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1112771346_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1112771346_large.jpg)

Oh ho! Already, I like this much better. The upward angle is a better dynamic, and I can see this setting a much darker, richer atmosphere. Maybe shrink him down a bit so there can be more puppets hanging from above, or something.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1112833772_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1112833772_large.jpg)

This is the one I'll settle on for the picture, a few tweaks here and there, and I realized there was a bit more of a story to be told if the puppeteer is manipulating two servants, as opposed to just one.

[JTD]

Keep going. Right now I can't see any form so it's hard to follow along. But there's plenty of time left in the contest.

[userBrian]

Nice concept. I like the expressions. The way the master enjoys
controlling his puppet servant just for the pure feeling of fun. And
the way the servant attempts to look exactly the way his/her master
wants no matter how absurd. Looking forward to seeing this develop.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1113548850_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1113548850_large.jpg)

WAY behind schedule at this point, but, I'll try and make that up. This is about as much as I'm going to get into the line art, I think I'll take a much looser approach to this that I tend to, free up those lines and rely on contrast, tone and color.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1113549396_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1113549396_large.jpg)

Just starting to play with color ideas at this point. Color comp number 1, though I doubt I'll actually stray too far from this. I think I'll build up these colors to make a very dark, rich atmosphere, maybe using some yellowish highlights and reflected light on the figure towards the final.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1115539960_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1115539960_large.jpg)

Okay, there have been obvious setbacks (namely educational distractions), but I think I can pull this out of the fog and get it back on track.

In order to clear the air and get a fresh take on it, I hit it up with a bit more color, then flattened the image. Using the flattened layers as a background, I'm now just painting over them, and it's feeling a little more sensible to me already. Lost the eyepatch for now, made the nose a little bigger, and am letting that beard/moustache take whatever path it very well feels like.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1115541858_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1115541858_large.jpg)

Again, I flattened my image and continued working over it. For this version, I've made a couple of Hue/Saturation layers, and darkened the whole image. Then, using a soft eraser, revealed the lighter portions of the image. It's a quick way to generate the mood and contrast I'm aiming for, so I'll work with this for a while before starting to punch up color where I want it to be more saturated.

I'm feeling happy enough with the face and beard area, I'll start working my way down from here.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1116453141_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1116453141_large.jpg)

Having made it past major setbacks (finals), I'm going to go ahead and pull this together for the deadline rather than just giving up. It's a matter of principle, now.

Just continuing to build up color and depth one brushstroke at a time, now. Should have the finished piece in a few hours.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1116471817_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1116471817_large.jpg)

Well, this is where it wraps up. I've nudged a few things around, but I've stayed pretty much with the idea I had come up with. I'm fairly happy with it, considering it's my first 100% Photoshop piece.

I've printed this out on Epson Enhanced Matte paper, it came nice and warm like I was intending, so that was a big bonus.

[farinato]

http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1116472055_medium.jpg (http://www.cgnetworks.com/challenge/entries/8/7255/7255_1116472055_large.jpg)

Well, this wraps it up. I had fun, and best of luck to all the other contestants! There's some amazing work in this competition, the best of the best are -really- going to be nice work.

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