The Journey Begins Challenge (3D) Entry: Eric Machmer

[jonone]

Looking great Ocean!
cant wait to see your final picture !

[Try]

Hey, hey, hey Eric! This is truly as weird and wonderful as I would expected from you!
Think this will be great stuff in the end! Making great art should not be easy you know.
In fact it should belike giving birth to an elephant it think.
Extremely gratifying when it is over!:)

[MT-Cup]

okay I can see better why you talked about them being over saturated. :eek: I finally agree. :blush: I owe you a beer next time you're in the area.

[individium]

hi there!
my onyl crit. is about the colors right now

when everything is pink or red and the tones between them nothings understood on the picture
but if you change the colors of flowers or butterflies everything will be much clear i think

good luck

[oceanbluesky]

What understanding words of encouragement! Thanks all! Would have been fortunate to have pulled a nice easy image out of the hat but this train wreck will require a week of exhausting, determined tweaking, to be even somewhat respectable...or at least not offensive.

End result very unpredictable. (The only thing I am sure of I can't give up because this dang thread pops up screaming-fast-first-in-line if anyone were to Google my name! Not to be shallow and vain, but, heck, potentially having a truly embarrassing image hanging over my head for the rest of my life is freaking me out so much it wakes me up at night...when sleep is possible.) This is very much: in process(!).

---

It is a bit bizarre to be so concerned though about a few stray overly saturated pixels...while replying in such a self-absorbed manner this news broke:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12838343/

What I like about Seuss's work -- particularly the Lorax, Sneetches, and Grinch -- is he tried to engage the world in an implicitly postive political way. (--Like your Rainbow Chasers, Per!)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Suess

Oh well the point to making this has also been to have fun.

FREE DRINKS FOR EVERYONE ON BOARD!! THIS TRAIN IS COMING IN FOR A LANDING!!

[for non-native English readers...trains don't "land," planes do...(unless they are trains way off their tracks)]

Cheers!

Working, working, working....

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1147925922_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1147925922_large.jpg)

Think this image is difficult to understand?

And how much of reality do we understand?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12838343/

[oceanbluesky]

Questions:

After we ftp a version of our final image we can still upload an improved final version, right? We can upload a final "work in progress" just to make sure something is submitted a day or two before the deadline and then upload a final "final" after last minute tweaks -- right? Once we ftp we can ftp again?

In Photoshop does anyone know how to select a layer within a grouping of layers ["a briefcase icon group"] by using a Hotkey combination similar to CTRL + Selection Tool (which is the shortcut used to select an ungrouped layer...by CTRL Selection clicking on an item in the layer to be selected)...?

Will the image be judged at full resolution of the .tiff submitted or as if it were printed on an 8 1/2 x 11 page at 300 dpi? --What is the best resolution to work at in Photoshop to get an idea of what the final image will look like?

Thanks!

And, most importantly, IS there a single color in the universe complimentary to Pink?? I had to capitalize "Pink" because Pink has such serious "holier-than-thou" entitlement issues....

Who invented Pink -- and why??!?

[kreuz]

hey man , great image you did

can't wait to see your final , post more :)



Best reagrd
kreuz

[oceanbluesky]

Thanks Kruez! Really appreciate your kind words...just clicking on the link to your image has lifted my spirits. Your work is so bright and cheerful it has been fun to watch it evolve.

Cheers!

[cbernardo]

Hi, Eric,

Thanks for your kind words!

I have to tell. Your image is really fantastic, so many details!!! I really love!!! Is it a bee war? Its really cool, looks a fairy tale! The 300dpi image certainly will deserve a big print poster!, please share your final image with us as soon you finish. :bounce:

Take care with the coffee. :eek: :eek:

Ps. Sorry my poor english :)

[]s
carlos

[oceanbluesky]

Hola Carlos! ¡Tu inglés es grande!! ¡Gracias por todas tus palabras buenas!

!Buena suerte!

[MT-Cup]

Eric, I'm beginning to think you are a tease. I'll leave it at that.

[medunecer]

Impressive image my friend! I like the colours! Congrats!

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148014214_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148014214_large.jpg)


Thank you very much for the crits and encouraging words. What do you all think of the change in the color of the cockpit from purple to red?? (Is it even noticable...?)

Polishing this up is fulfilling but a bit like waking up in a room which hasn't been cleaned in weeks and suddenly coming to the realization: "Sheesh, what a mess!! I've got to get to work!" So many elements are in this image my mind can only manage their generalities -- I can't hold 180+ butterflies in my imagination and think, "Well this one belongs there, this one there, this one there [...] and this, the 180th, here." Just can't. Wrangling the pixels of this moster is an act of faith, persistence, and determination. ((((as Lord Lasseter is often quoted, "'at one point every Pixar film "is the worst movie ever made.'" --Sir Lasseter must be spoken of in deeply hushed, humble tones with sentances in which only his name receives the honor of capitalization...i am definitely not drawing comparisons...just hopeful about finishing something which isn't a total embarrassment.))))

One way or another this train will land. I hope the end result vaguely resembles what I have in mind...but, that image is accompanied by a lot of atmospheric music: Tuvan throat chants, Tibetan nun chiors, drums, thigh bone flutes, and hundreds of bells.

Another all night party at the back of the train! Everyone invited except Dreamcrushers!


Imaginary soundtrack:

http://www.buddhist.ca/audio/9.mp3
http://www.buddhist.ca/audio/6.mp3

And the chorus from this (minus its unbelievably cheesy piano -- what are enlightned people thinking??):
http://www.buddhist.ca/audio/2.mp3

And this wonderful program...some of which includes music made from a human thighbone:
http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newsounds/episodes/2005/04/07


(Also the previous post was not meant as wishy-washy political commentary -- the Wild Wise Butterflies ardently favor spreading democracy and enlightenment values throughout the world...)

Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

Hey MT Cup and Marco!

Your images are so much fun Marco -- very coherent use of color and such engaging
clever details. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your works in future Challenges! Your
Spectacular image was terrific -- especially its beautiful moon.

Glad we clarified that gender thing MT Cup! Since you wrote "As for your earlier comment, <blush> thanks." back in April, I had been saying to myself: "Okay, so, MT Cup's a very effiminate guy...no problem, that's cool...heck he sure is nurturing!" Since 90% of the people on this board are very unfortunately guys, and, since your webpage has a young man on it -- I thought he might be you. My inexcusable bias! The funny thing is, my estimation of your opinions has skyrocketed now that I know you're a woman.

In this trainwreck you, Mona, Gunie, Debbie, Selina, and Sirkku have a fully catered railcar all to yourselves. Right next to the caboose, where the party is. Whoowhoo!

We're coming in for a landing!

[Womball]

The image with the butterflies is rather trippy. :-) A little dizzing too.

Whoa MT_Cup is a lady?

[oceanbluesky]

Whoa MT_Cup is a lady?

Yeah, can you believe it?!? Her Avatar's "Cheerleader Extraordinaire" subtitle is an afterthought...as in, yesterday! (Just joking around...she's been off-the-wall supportive...really great!)

[shakes]

this a really lovely surreal psychedelic image! very nice colors

[oceanbluesky]

Thanks buddy! You're so dang supportive! --Can't wait -- cannot wait!! -- to see your wonderful furry aliens comped into your cityscape. Just so much imagination packed into each element of your scene it is thoroughly inspirational. Your green tongued dog, two headed cycloptic duck -- shesh!! The Wonder!!! Good luck!

Working, working, working...

[makaron]

the Wild Wise Butterflies ardently favor spreading democracy and enlightenment values throughout the world...)

deep thinking butterflies... :eek:
well... I like it anyways... this pink whimsical chaos.... :bounce:

[MT-Cup]

:blush: Okay, so are you guys intimating that a woman can't offer helpful criticisms? I think a few people like.. makaron, gunilla and selina for starters would take exception to that. :hmm:

I have to admit to hating the color pink in all it's bright glory, but Eric, it so fits here. The fuzzy pink butterflies are just amazing. I am in awe of your moth suit. All I can say at this point is, Long live pink chaos! :buttrock:

;)

[Selina42]

Well admittedly theres a lot going on -but isnt that the point?! I think its marvellous, uplifting and fanastical!
You can enjoy it on the level of being a rush to the senses -or take the time to ponder it -like some crazy medatative device!

Really are there no other ladeez in this comp? Surely not?! And what is MT Cup's website btw? I'd love to see it!

Anyway good luck my friend! I'm really looking forward to seeing the end piece!

[MT-Cup]

Oh no, my site is hopelessly out of date and only contains my very first dabblings into 3d art. Nope, it's pathetic and embarrassing. :blush:

[oceanbluesky]

Okay, so are you guys intimating that a woman can't offer helpful criticisms?

They better not! --The conductor is under strict orders to only listen to the women...that's why in this flying train you have your own lounge car.

Ice cream is being served...no men invited. It's a girls night out. Relaxing after last night's party. (Discussing MT Cup's cool website and anticipated participation in future challenges....)

---

A handful of participants in this challenge are women -- and they are the most common posters to this thread! How fun is that?!!!

Working, working, working....

[Womball]

Nothing wrong with being a lady. Although pink does play a part in my scene as well.... Giggity giggity goo!

[oceanbluesky]

" deep thinking butterflies..."

You know it Mona!!! They certainly try. Your image is coming along wonderfully, love the blue...such Wagimation (Wacom+imagination)...looking forward to downloading a full highres final...go Gp!

"uplifting [...] meditative device"

That's it E X A C T L Y ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Thanks for being so encouraging Selina! So envious of the wonderful perfect subtle texturing in your scene...very coherent, very professional...the worm turned out perfectly.

Hope you are working on a turntable flyaround -- just 120 frames of an untextured single material model from your scene...very, very basic...you know how to do this, right? Turntable submission directions could be more clear. Here are some tips posted to help entrants who asked for assistance:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=326936&page=10&pp=15

And another here:
http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=348216&page=3

This is a proactive mutual supoort community!! ...Over a long period of time -- as we conciously control the Culture in which we exist and are nurtured -- improving the artistic ability of any one of us individually will in the (very) long term improve and inspire our own work...likewise for increasing the financial awareness of all artists in general......I love the way digital artists, 2D, 3D, and ESPECIALLY interactive, are so helpful -- these tools and workflows can be so complicated no one ever knows all they should...anyhow, just being hopeful -- hope you have a turntable soon!

"Long live pink chaos!"

Thanks as always MT -- your cup overfloweth! Hope you enjoyed the ice cream and girls night out. Looking forward to seeing your entry in the next challenge -- absolutely confident it will be full of wonder -- and surprises!!

"The image with the butterflies is rather trippy."

Yes! And 100% drug free. (Don't use 'em; never have.) I'm convinced if a person has never used drugs he or she is MUCH more confident artistically -- this isn't drugs, this is (me)!

Not to draw vain comparisons of course, but like Salvador Dali said, "I don't do drugs, I am drugs!!"

Whoowhoo! I love that statement!

Have a good weekend all! Cheers!

Working, working, working...working...working, working, working...

[jonone]

PINK ftw hehe
waiting to see ya final image ocean!

[oceanbluesky]

Multumesc Ioan!

Really appreciate your encouraging words...this image is demanding an enormous amount of effort...every ounce of support makes a difference.

Very excited about the progress of your work...glad to see a workflow using layers in compositing is coming along. Thoroughly appreciate the conceptual optimistic postive interesting theme to your piece -- can't wait to see it comped together there are so many extremely well-made elements, especially the boots! It is truly exceptional! Good luck!!

[MT-Cup]

Hey Eric! Just a :thumbsup: to keep you going!

[oceanbluesky]

Thanks MT Cup -- you're the best! New Pun: I tried inventing new colors that go with pink but they are all in the UB range.

Hope you, Mona, Gunie, Debbie, Selina, and Sirkku are all enjoying the sauna in your own private railcar. We're still in orbit at 90,000 feet but this overly saturated bright pink trainwreck should land by the 27th. In the meantime the view from your upperdeck skydome sauna is great; for midnight snacks the conductor is serving all-you-can-eat chocolate covered ice cream sundays to enjoy beneath the skydome in swirling bubble baths of 110 degrees. We have turned the train upside down to enhance your view! Whoowhoo!!

(You girls kicked all the guys out for privacy and downtime before the deadline...some of the guys are hanging out in the caboose playing poker with Soapy...I'm up front throwing Dreamcrushers from the train..."Hey come here you! Stop screaming!".)

Working, working, working...

[ericmachmer]

Well, this is interesting...I can't log into my Oceanbluesky account...

Step 1 of 3 - Login using your CGTalk account

No such username oceanbluesky


Panic is not an option...this is just to have fun...but...it would be nice to have a completed image up!

I've written to the webmaster but I guess they won't come into work until Monday in Australia...so, in the meantime: working, working, working...sorry for no new images!

(The issue involves Hotmail's coversion to Windows Live and its ability to accept messages forwarded from other accounts...in case you are considering switching to Windows Live's beta, it is cool, but evidentally has a few quirks yet.)

[MT-Cup]

Interesting enough, there is on oceanbluesky in the member list. I think the pinkness blew you away, Eric. :eek:


Oh and thanks for asking, us gals had a grand day. ;)

[oceanbluesky]

Whew! This account is reactivated -- thank you CG Society!! (Actually it was a delay issue with Microsoft servers...a few minutes ago I was hit with email from the last several days. Microsoft is really unimpressive in most they do, but, even the beta of Windows Live puts Gmail to shame...it is really, really cool...like Outlook on the web. --Just wished it had worked!)

Glad you girls had a good time MT Cup! We lowered our orbit over Columbia to pick up fresh coffee beans for this morning and we will soon swing through Istanbul at several hundred thousand miles an hour to pick up different types of baklava for everyone to choose from at breakfast.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Baklava.jpg

Yuuummmmm!!

The guys are still playing poker in the caboose. Shakes, Lemog, and I are searching with flashlights for the last remaining Dreamcrushers hiding under seats.

Adjusting orbit for sunrise over Athens.

This trainwreck will land.

Enjoy!

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148273688_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148273688_large.jpg)

What understanding words of encouragement! Thanks all! Would have been fortunate to have pulled a nice easy image out of the hat but this train wreck will require a week of exhausting, determined tweaking, to be even somewhat respectable...or at least not offensive.

End result very unpredictable. (The only thing I am sure of I can't give up because this dang thread pops up screaming-fast-first-in-line if anyone were to Google my name! Not to be shallow and vain, but, heck, potentially having a truly embarrassing image hanging over my head for the rest of my life is freaking me out so much it wakes me up at night...when sleep is possible.) This is very much: in process(!).

Cheers!

Working, working, working....

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148274064_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148274064_large.jpg)

I think it is VERY important for non-artists, hobbyists, and those of us who are just getting started, to be under no illusions about the amount of effort and sheer work involved in polishing an image. The only key determinate of a half-decent image at this point will be real, intense, deliberative work. I hope this series of comps shows that...

What I like about Seuss's work -- particularly the Lorax, Sneetches, and Grinch -- is he tried to engage the world in an implicitly postive political way.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Suess

Oh well the point to making this has also been to have fun.

FREE DRINKS FOR EVERYONE ON BOARD!! THIS TRAIN IS COMING IN FOR A LANDING!!

[for non-native English readers...trains don't "land," planes do...(unless they are trains way off their tracks)]

Cheers!

Working, working, working....

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148274526_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148274526_large.jpg)

Changing the orientation of an image can allow oneself to check the color scheme, sense of motion, and general shapes within a scene. Also, comp lines can reenforce a sense of motion, perspective, and depth -- but also of coruse can become a crutch or excuse for not thinking more intuitively about your work. I would like to read what Picasso thought of them, when I have free time again after rescuing this image -- if possible.

In general I'm not a fan of comp lines at all -- chaos and being flexible enough to recognize something cool in a sheer accident, are often much more rewarding. The general sense of motion though in this scene is sweeping with the march into the distance -- I hope!

Back to working, working, working....

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148274659_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148274659_large.jpg)

Added a few characters -- along with Shinto and Tibetan prayer flags! Will work them into the details.

Speaking of which...working, working, working...

Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148275805_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148275805_large.jpg)

A series of comps like this is so self-involved but it is something I would have profited from when just starting in digital media -- or any anything in life which requires persistence for that matter.

One of the ridiculous, presumptuous, cheesy titles I'm think of is "Flight of Hope from the Kingdom of Hearts" -- but then I'd have to cook up some sort of preposterous hollier-than-thou poseur philosophy for the backstory. I hope this whole image isn't gaudy retro 70s kitsch...will need to cool it off a lot with blues and grays in the background.

Working, working, working...

[shakes]

looks beautiful Eric! would make a great poster .the colours are fantastic

[Russel-Nash]

Now that's an image to dive into. Looking forward to see it in final resolution so one can see all the details. :thumbsup:

Russel

[oceanbluesky]

Thanks Russ and Shakes! --But are you sure this image isn't the type a person will come back to after having time to step away from it, and think, "Oh !#^&@* @($&!@*(@( !&@$^!@O( @#)*%#& @#($#(*@ how @$!@%^&Y @*()@(!@!! embarrassing!!! What the @%$&#%@&* was I !#%^@ #$# #$@ thinking!??? @#^!#*#(#!&! --Open the @#$@#&#*! window because I'm comin' through!"

?

I have no perspective on it whatsoever. Just know it needs work.

Working, working, working...

(Thanks again!)

[coochaki]

fantastic image..

i like the way you used colours!
best wishes to you....

[mdavid]

I think this image is working really well. I'ts a beautiful image. I like the fact the eye is drawn to the 'heavier' parts of the image that contain more detail, and that happens so well because of the contrast with the other parts. It would look fantastic really big. Oh by the way, I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet but Woolloomooloo is an inner city suburb of Sydney that rhymes with Kathmandu, Timbuktu, Honolulu...

[MT-Cup]

Interesting. I love seeing the flips. I've done that quite a few times myself, it is an excellent tool. While I'm getting hungry looking at all those luscious cherries, I would like to see the ship just a little better. I just feel sorry you put all that detail in there and it's hard to see through the mass of blossoms and flutterbyes and the turtle lamps. Overall, all I can do is :drool:

[oceanbluesky]

I don't know if anyone has mentioned it yet but Woolloomooloo is an inner city suburb of Sydney that rhymes with Kathmandu, Timbuktu, Honolulu...

WOOLLOOMOOLOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Holy @!%@#&!* that's the best one yet!!! Thank you so much Mark! That makes my whole morning...absolutely terrific! Thanks mate!

[oceanbluesky]

I would like to see the ship just a little better. I just feel sorry you put all that detail in there and it's hard to see through the mass of blossoms and flutterbyes and the turtle lamps. Overall, all I can do is :drool:

Hey MT Cup thanks for the encouragement! Yeah I'm so bummed about not being able to show very much of the ship, or Bob, or Barb -- it's ridiculous! I guess their character sheets will have to do...the ship had about another two, maybe three, weeks of modeling added to it since the early WIP screenshots. The problem is the entire craft is gigantic (in proportion to the characters), so it would be awfully difficult to show them well, one way or another. (Originally the idea was to show the ship reflecting off water in the background of character close-ups, but -- hm, maybe water would be possible, but at a new angle. --STILL haven't started the background.) Unbelievable amount of work left.

Really have had the hope of animating the ship and resubmitting it as a more interesting turntable since the cockpit is kind of like a gyroscope, and the whole things is flexible and would look pretty cool if blowing in a breeze over cherry blossoms....

Hope everyone is having a good day all across the globe! Cheers!

Working, working, working...450+ layers-in-Photoshop-kind-of-working...

[MT-Cup]

Eep! You're going to make PS explode! :scream:

Aww that's a shame about the ship, Eric, it is a lovely bit of work. Barb gets my vote with her snazzy suit as the "belle of the ball".

[Try]

I have no idea about where this thing of yours is going still, Eric...
But I know this will be setting a new standard for, wacky psychedelic poster art in the future!!
I’d love to have a whole room wall papered with this image, that would be great!

But seriously, simply wonderful stuff man!:thumbsup:

….What drugs are you on by the way?
And where can I get some??:)

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148296168_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148296168_large.jpg)

100% Good-for-You art. As Salvador Dali said, "I don't use drugs, I am drugs!!" <--One of my favorite sayings in the history of the universe.

Wow!!! This would be an ULTRA cool CG Challenge!!! Artists' Concepts for:
http://science.slashdot.org/science/06/05/20/138256.shtml

Adding a few more characters and instruments next...

: ) Whoowhoo!

Working, working, working...500+ layers-up-all-night-kind-of-working (keeping-a-wishlist-for-Photoshop improvements-to-send-to-Adobe kind of day...they actually have a very active wishlist submission process, in case you are interested...especially after having mereged with hyper-user-centric Macromedia...would be possible to participate in their beta-programs if you inquire...)

Cheers!

[living_for_cg]

so nice use of colors.:thumbsup: i like it man.
Also thanks alot for your support and nice words on my journey thread.:love:

[ashiataka]

thanks oceanbluesky.l realy like your amorphous motifs.Also motif's modeling seems like play-doh.Good luck to you.

[medunecer]

psychedelic! Cool! Will you print it when you'll finish? It will be a great poster!

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148341481_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148341481_large.jpg)

Broadly suggesting background colors, painting in a few shadows using similar colors, trying somewhat to tone down the saturation -- while maintaining (through very humble aspirations) a "next-generation-Pixar" like look. (The idea is to create a scene with complex models and such which computers
several years from now could handle on the cutting edge of children's oriented
movies similar in the cheerful uplifting story-centric artwork of Pixar.)

The background is meant to draw upon elements from classical Asian
landscape artwork in which well defined subjects were painted against very
etheral, faint, virtually non-existant backgrounds...I'm unsure of the academic way to describe this tradition, but I hope you know what I mean from your own casual or formal studies.

Finally this cool image has been hiding out unnoticed...I think it is really beautiful, very appropriate for this Challenge theme, and deserves more attention:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=327157

Cheers!

Trainwreck still flying, lowering orbit over Kenya to pick up more coffee. Working, working, working...working, working, working...

[MT-Cup]

I hate to do this Eric. I just went through everything from the beginning. I think flip13 was the most readable. I put a few of these in front of people who have never seen it and with 13 they all said either "someone's in there" or "there's round thing like a boat in there". So close, but I dont' want you going too deep if you lose the plot. :sad: Sorry if I make you wince.

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148364151_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148364151_large.jpg)

Thank you thank you thank you thank you!!!

I was beginning to wonder if this thing is so tacky and bizarre viewers stop by to offer occasional plattitudes while shaking their heads and chuckling privately in front of their screens -- who knows, probably they are! I certainly am glad though -- very, very grateful -- for your constructive criticism!! You are right! The ship has become completely obscured! --I was afraid of this so I made that Air and Space magazine cover a while back in order to flesh out in some sense the backstory (even if it shows only the ship's separated cockpit)...Bob's viola is now completely covered too...I think it is one of his most fun character building details (Bob playing viola while floating in the stratosphere).

Okay so, anyhow, every pixel is virtually on its own a separate layer, so, I'll get to work right away revealing the ship -- time to clean house once again! Always glad to keep working -- if it may even remotely make the image worthwhile -- or at least not so dang embarassing! Thank you!

Working, working, working....

-----

Dang! I screwed up -- that is only the partially redone version MT Cup! Sorry...will repost again shortly....

[centurionit]

I love the use you have don with the colors...is great, I'm feeling like in a dream, the only critic is about the ship...Is not really visible and all that butterfly can confuse it....Try something because is really great!!:bounce:


http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=330707

[MT-Cup]

okay you're going to hate me againg. *cringes* I really like the flags, but again, you've got a bit overboard (hee hee). I like the idea of them running down the poles of the lamps, but I would remove most of the other strings. They seem like too much of an obsticle for the ship. But that touch of black and white is perfect. Then the background. You had a good start, just needs some tweaks, easily done in PS.

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148382393_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148382393_large.jpg)

Hopefully more of the ship -- or at least its circular shape -- is revealed now. I'll post another version in just a moment without prayer flags across its front.

Here's another thread which hasn't received (in my humble opinion) nearly as much attention as it deserves -- it is one of my favorites:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=330905

Absolutely wonderful modeling, poses, and texturing...extremely appropriate to this theme...it pays to scroll look through the WIPs...this Disneyesque entry has so much potential thus far it is breathtaking. Hope you like it as much as I do!

Most people may not realize how difficult it is to create cheerful, uplifting children's work...maybe guys doubt their masculinity and girls are afraid of their work being interpreted as "too girlish" or immature...or optimistic, polyanish, naive? --What the heck is wrong with teaching children in an uplifting cheerful manner!? --Quite the contrary, we overcome both naivity and cynicism by being Loving (in my opinion...).

Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148383008_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148383008_large.jpg)

Version with prayer flags behind cockpit.

Unsure of whether I prefer this but can't seem to get much perspective on the image as a whole -- normally would like a few weeks to pass before revising, but:

Time left: 4 days, 12 hours, 52 minutes, 23 seconds.

Also, just joking around about "High Density Images...Next-Generation Pixar"...why not dream?

Cheers! Thank you so much for your critiques!

Working, working, working -- actually have to do real work but will return to this in a few hours!

[MT-Cup]

Much better, I can see Jane now too! :thumbsup:


I have to agree with you on Ali's thread. His work is lovely and so fun! I'm anxious to see him wrap his up. His tree is just marvelous!

[Try]

Wonderful and amazing image Eric!

Have you tried out different backgrounds…? When I looked at it before I kind of expected a steaming jungle environment….

Or maybe something darker …

But this is so strange and beautiful, that either way it will make a lasting impression on whoever looks at it!

Yes one thing… you might use the Liquefy filter a little here and there on the butterflies.. So they don’t look to duplicated…

It is like a psychedelic dream, beautiful and a little scary…:)

[makaron]

I like those hearts you put in, makes a better reading of the image... nice touch... :)

[MT-Cup]

I like to think of this as cherry blossom time gone to riot. :applause:

[oceanbluesky]

Thanks for the positive criticism!! Really need it -- struggling to get perspective on this in the last few days...the backstory hasn't been written and I'm convinced it will be ridiculous sleep-deprived drivel.

Super appreciative of your help MT Cup!! Will write more soon with another post...working, working, working...especially on the background now Per, thank you also so much for the inspiration!

Oh! Mona -- you may be interested to know, Per, Lemog, Soapy, and I personally had to throw these nasty Dreamcrushers from the train at 40,000 feet:

http://mikebaird.com/peru2001/113cusco/guinea-pig-cui-cusco.jpg

They tried hanging on but MT Cup gave them a final kick. Cooking guinea pigs is 100% i m p e r m i s s a b l e ! !

[MT-Cup]

:eek: Oh you're hearless, Eric! LOL! How could you do that to Mona? Fabricating a crewl lie like that. :argh:

[makaron]

Oh! Mona -- you may be interested to know, Per, Lemog, Soapy, and I personally had to throw these nasty Dreamcrushers from the train at 40,000 feet:
They tried hanging on but MT Cup gave them a final kick. Cooking guinea pigs is 100% i m p e r m i s s a b l e ! !

that what I call teamwork... :bounce: these challenges bring out the best in people :p
my GPs are happy with that excellent defence... haha

[shakes]

gosh it's such a complex image(in a great way) it's hard to spot any differences!
looks finished to me-perfect and very pretty!

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148426445_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148426445_large.jpg)

...thinking, thinking...

4 days, 0 hours, 54 minutes, 24 seconds...

Thankfully this image is 500+ layers (and apart from the matte 100% 3D animatable!).

The cool thing is -- since the overall canvas size is just upped, the previous image can be cropped for whatever close-up purposes...and reverted to in a worst case scenario. (Still working at that resolution though too.)

Please take your seats; coming in for an emergency landing. Time to open the windows and add some atmosphere!

---

Here's another charming entry -- hopefully more people will see and appreciate it too:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=3567413#post3567413

The better the artists are of our generation the better an artist we individually may at least strive to become -- can't wait for "history" to select "artists." A community like this allows us to encourage each other now so we can improve our skills and perhaps grab the reins of history while we're still alive. ...Only live once!

Swinging for the fences!

[shakes]

7970x10908 pixels! Thankfully this image is 500+ layers (and apart from the matte 100% 3D animatable!).


Haha..in the nicest possible way, you're quite mad!

[ThierryS]

Intriguing piece of art you did there man! colours are wonderful and hypnotizing. I wonder how it'll end up on the final piece. All the best for these last hours of work:thumbsup:

[MT-Cup]

Where are you, Eric. I'm now getting nervous. :sad:

[oceanbluesky]

....thinking...thinking...

Only live once!

One thing we can be certain of: we sure as hell won't make a difference when we are dead.

(thanks very much for not abandoning the train)

!

[MT-Cup]

Yay, the Beesa logo is back and better than ever! Love seeing the peek at the ship behind the logo and of course, a nice touch of pink there. ;)


Don't you dare over work that image. :wip: Come on... give. :D

[oceanbluesky]

Thanks for your support MT Cup! (Again, and again...)

I am trying!!! God is in the details...(sleep is for eternity!!)

The competition here takes my breath away -- and that is a good thing! (I keep telling
myself..."This is a personal journey, this is a personal journey...so much has been learned"...I'm so happy to be communicating with such phenomenal artists I am beside myself.

Such opportunities are rare in this world:

http://www.nytimes.com/packages/khtml/2006/04/18/world/20060418_DROUGHT_FEATURE.html

[MT-Cup]

http://www.cosgan.de/images/midi/frech/a080.gif

[Try]

How is everything going Eric?

Hope your computer hasn’t caught fire yet…:)

[MT-Cup]

Eric? :sad:

[Try]

I dont want to stress you Eric, but....:)

Time left: 0 days, 8 hours, 17 minutes, 13 seconds.

[Try]

Don’t you dear do a Zapan on us!

[jonone]

come on eric hurry up with the final image!:)

[Selina42]

Hi Eric!

Hope its all going ok! Cmon dont you do a me! Get that image up man! I'm still all touched by your post -and wanted to recipricate -so thought i'd come over to your page to do it! I think your image is seriously brilliant btw -and i'm not just saying that -when i was discussing favourite images with my XSI buddies this week we were trying to work out our top 6, and although we couldnt decide which exact order cos were a bit useless -you were up there! And thats 3 random strangers in agreement with me -so hope that puts your mind at rest about this image! So get your work up here! Its a brilliant, fun, exciting and unusual image and theres nothing quite like it! Also does anyone know how you can nominate people for the community awards? Cos i'd very much like to nominate you! (And MT Cup too! -Can you nominate someone who didnt actually enter the challenge?!)

Good luck!

[MT-Cup]

Hey Eric, I just figured out how to view everyone's turntable and I'm glad I did! I'm so glad you did the ship! Please please please finish!

[makaron]

please finish... :bounce:

[MT-Cup]

Listening to Bic Runga, "Beautiful Collision". Come one Eric. I need a dose of pink. :love:

[oceanbluesky]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148759681_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/13/9972/9972_1148759681_large.jpg)

Things to know before reading the “poetic” backstory (backstory to the backstory):

"Space X" is a real privately operated commercial space exploration company; Point Magoo is a satellite launch facility in Southern California. Boxx is a computer manufacturer sponsoring this CG Society Challenge (of course); Boxx makes an ultra-highend line of computers called Apexxes. Additional sponsors are the makers of the design tools: Maya, Z Brush, and Painter.

Meant to be read in Seussian-like anapestic tetrameter verse (or as close as possible given I wrote this without adaquate sleep...will update later):


From the cherry gardens of Kyoto,
to the launching pads of Point Magoo,
one hundred and twenty wise butterflies set off
to see what they could do!

They watched many Space X launches,
from here to Timbuktu;
on napkins, dried leaves, and blackboards,
outlandish concepts grew!

Optimistic with their hunches,
a little nutty too,
they joined CG Society,
to see their concepts through!

Studying design at breakfast,
dreaming of Apexxes at lunch,
they searched the world for sponsors:
Z Brush, Maya, Painter
with Boxx, the best of the bunch.

They were joined by little bees who could
Barb and Bob Woowhoo,
and set off on their journey
to Valbo, Hjo, and Manacapuru.

"Where do they come from?" people would say.
"I don't know -- but they've come a long way!"
Places you might know:
Brazil France and Sweden,
Örsundsbro Värnamo, Fitou Örebro.

Some say Saint-Cloud, others Chateauroux.
They spread their message joyfully
from Honolulu to Woolloomooloo,
from Nogent Le Retrou to Kalamazoo.

What do they sound like flying?
Can you say?
Like Talmudic pages turning,
in an old fashioned way.

What do they say when you hear them?
They say, "I wish,
I wish, I wish, I wish -- I wish I were a kish!

Tell people you love, you love them
before it is too late.
Set a date to tell them
to set the matter straight!"

Oh!
This is something new!
I wish I were a kish too!!
I would spread lots of kishes
in Kathmandu and Xanadu
from Aracaçu to Pacaembu.
I would spread many kisses
for me
and also
for
you.




_______



Congratulate yourselves if you have done
something strange and extravagant and
broken the monotony of a decorous age.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson


! :: C R E D I T S :: !

Very briefly...will write more after catching up on sleep...roughly in the order of your posts to this thread:

Efcharisto! Antonis Papantoniou
Danke schön Torsten Thuenen!
Khawp khun! Kanokporn Mahaek!
Thanks Andrew Kinabrew!
Thanks Selina Moore!
Gracias Mario Antonini!
Tack så mycket Gunie Elam!
Thank you Adrienne Donatelli! (MT Cup whoowhoo!)
Merci Michel Cavro!
Danke schön Matt Benya!
Lee Niven, thanks!
Dank je Nico Strobbe!
Mark David! Thanks mate!
Thanks Jacques Pena!
Hey Michael Burburan thanks mate!
Tesekkür ederim, Ozan Çivit!
Muchas Gracias Jorge Lescale!
Thanks Matt Jones!
Takk Mathias!
Thanks Alvin!
Terima kasih banyak-banyak, Vincent Wan!
Thanks Grant Warwick!
Merci, Mamnoon! Mohammad Coochaki!
Tack så mycket Mona Eriksson!
Thanks John Shakespeare!
Merci Thierry Schiel!
Takk Per Trystad!
Dank je Job v Linden vd Heuvell!
Hey Alex Voznesenski, thanks mate!
Muchas gracias Richard Suarez!
Thanks Nathan S (or NDS)!
Thanks Glenn Dean!
Merci Derferic!
Gracias Omar Carias!
Efcharisto! Dimitris Liatsos!
Hey Paul Riess, thanks mate!
Thanks Debbie Overstreet!
Grazie Marco Fantechi!
Gracias Giovanni Castro!
Doh je! Kreuz Chang!
Merci Olivier Ponsonnet!
Obrigado Carlos Bernardo Junior!
Dakujem ti Juraj Molcak!
Doh je! Qian Jin!
Mnogo blagodarya Sergio Ghazarian!
Gracias Omar Carias!
Hey thanks James H. Genius!
Thanks Mike Moir!
Gracias Fernando Aracena!
Thanks Jack zhang!
Merci, Mamnoon! Ali Jalali!
Thanks Eric Maslowski!
Sayol Timur Kiryashov!
Thanks Ed Parkinson!
Thanks to you and your hot fairy Mauro Bonelli!
Merci Laurent Antoine Lemog!
Multumesc Ioan Dumitrescu!
Tesekkür ederim Berkay Dincman!
Mark Endre Seljan Hungary
Gracias Stéphane Chasseloup!
Hey thanks David Russell!
Tesekkür ederim Soner Yurtseven!



Thanks to all who participated in this Challenge and enabled the CG Society to thrive as a
community of support, learning, and wonder (in addition to being a generous purveyour of BoxxTech goodies!) Nice meeting you all! Such a wonderful supportive creative bunch of artists...it is humbling and breathtaking to have conversed with and learned from you! Have a good summer!

[Womball]

wowzer! You finished! Very nice image, interesting format too. Very poetic image too.

[JurajMolcak]

Are you kidding me? That "thank you list" is just crazy... ok ok... Your image is crazy too. I really love that tiny point light up there... I need to print your story... and read carefuly... again and again and again...

Thanx for your support :thumbsup: Good luck!

[MT-Cup]

Oh, oh, oh! I'm speechless! It's great! I love it. :thumbsup: LOL and you pulled the story off. :applause: Eric, I am your number one fan. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this trip with you and I thank you so much for allowing me to tag along.

I dread the thought, but hopefully I will go head to head against you in a challenge. ;) I'm looking forward to it.


Congratulations!

[oceanbluesky]

The image is still 7970x10908 pixels (and takes over a half our to save as a 700+ layer .psd) so the original "March" scene (now in the lower right corner) is at its initial resolution (and slightly improved...I hope....).

I'll post close-ups soon -- will the Challenge pages be closed in a few hours? If close-ups are posted to the Challenge page would that knock the Final Image from this thread's splash?

It would be cool to continue to show the progression of this image in the Challenge section...maybe I'll stay awake to do that.

--Thank you so much everyone for your most recent encouragement -- it meant a lot! Looking forward to responding more thoroughly after catching up on sleep!! Hope you are having a good weekend!!

[MT-Cup]

Hey Eric,

Yes, if you post the details, it will bump your final from the front. You can always repost the final again, though. Again, congratulations!

[Tremoside]

Eric..Congratulations on the final! You've put an unbeliveable mass of thoughts inside this work. It was a fun to follow. hope to see ya next time! Bests,
Tremo

[cbernardo]

Hi, Eric,

Congratulations!!! Your image is so beautiful!! Really a piece of art!!! The colours are fantastic!! And the design is very poetical! Please share with us a hi-res image! =D

:applause:

[]s
carlos

[MT-Cup]

I agree, a high res pic of the finished article is in order. ;)

[makaron]

that story rocks... :bounce: and the image is a dream to look at... :bounce: well done Eric... :bounce:

[oceanbluesky]

Wow! You all are the best! Just when I thought I couldn't get any happier (to have just finished)! It could be interesting and perhaps somewhat instructive (at least it would have been to me) to see the progressive stages of this image, particularly following its larger expanded "fresh idea" phase. The problem is -- the master files are about 500 MB and take a long, long time to open (30+ minutes). I went through a number of versions and saved out images to post only to discover jpeg compression has pretty much destroyed them...I was so tired, I completely forgot to make the cropped versions of the files smaller in size to maintain their legibility.

Will reopen and resave from these files first thing when I wake up a few hours from now...completely, thoroughly exhausted. Thanks again! CAN'T WAIT TO FINALLY CATCH UP WITH EVERYONE'S WORK! Hope you are all having a fantastic weekend!

"Yes, if you post the details, it will bump your final from the front. You can always repost the final again, though. Again, congratulations!"

MT Cup! The rest of us are going to be in trouble when you enter a coming Challenge -- especially if you already know more about this than someone like myself who is actually in one! Thanks so much for your encouragement (and guidance) once again!

[shakes]

congrats eric- it's a beautiful artistic image. this has been fun, and you're hilarious!
hope to see you on the next one mate. good luck!

[mdavid]

Hi Eric. Not sure what to say about your final except for: I love it. Congratulations to you. You've produced a beautiful and poetic piece of art and this Challenge is richer for it

[Try]

Congratulations on your finished image Eric!

I just had time to take a peak at it before I went to bed last night!
And I must say you surprised me one more time!!

First I was a little disappointed that the great pink cluster of butterflies and flowers became so small in the final picture…
And the blue was overwhelming the pink…
But when I look at it now, I really like it!!
I wouldn’t change a thing (ok if I’m honest… a great big rainbow curving around the pink down there would be even greater):)

Fantastic job my friend!

Why in the world did you make the image so big though..
Are you panning to hang it from the Eiffel Tower?

The best of luck to you with the judges Eric!:thumbsup:

[oceanbluesky]

Hey Per! This is the first image I've made at such a huge size so it was quite a learning experience -- glad to know now how to make poster sized work! Just felt the celebration of the butterflies down in the blossoms wasn't enough, aesthetically, and was kind of caustrophobic...animated it would look pretty cool to pull up from them in a sweeping pan across the cherry orchard to a view of the sky and ship, but, since this is a still image this had to take place in a single shot.

The shot is actually so big it is kind of like a little movie! : )

Very much enjoyed participating in this Challenge with you buddy! Glad you like the image! Looking forward to hanging out in the next CG Society event! Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

Hi Eric. Not sure what to say about your final except for: I love it. Congratulations to you. You've produced a beautiful and poetic piece of art and this Challenge is richer for it

Hey Mark -- very much enjoy your work, I was just over reading through your thread! Looking forward to seeing more in a future Challenge! (There may also be more to say about this work once I catch up on sleep and have time to post a sequence of images from saved versions...I always love to see how people work, and how their images evolve...we tend to underestimate the amount of thought and sheer persistance it takes to complete one of these! Hope you're having a good weekend, Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

congrats eric- it's a beautiful artistic image. this has been fun, and you're hilarious!
hope to see you on the next one mate. good luck!


You bet Shakes! You're the best! I still can't get over Oweron's comment that you would make a great grandmother (because of your fantastic encouraging comments)! Actually you are very gifted at guiding aesthetically in the most postive, subtle ways...you would make an ideal art teacher...a teacher of art teachers...hopefully that is in a sense what you are doing here, since to a degree we are all teaching each other (and you are teaching us how to do this so well!) Next Challenge mate! Cheers!

[Gunilla]

Wonderful image, Eric! Big congrats :thumbsup:
This have been a very pleasant thread to follow I hope we can take another journey together in the future. Good luck with the jury :)

[Greatto]

Great! Very Strange! Congrat! I wish you luck in judging!
Is it nesseory create details if you will hide them under leaves? just question!
but i accept this method i do the same:thumbsup:
As Isaid Good Luck! and have fun on Christmas islands :)

[cgoz]

hey man it was fun, really fun to read your posts...and thanks for sending "thanks" in my language :))
and of course congrats with the beauty of your final image...see u in next one

[Climax]

Congratulations on your final image Eric, Well done, I wish u luck and that we meet in the next challenge! :thumbsup:

[PELENG]

Congratulations, man!!!
Very stylish and taking breath img you have here! I like it!
Thank you for supporting me juring challenge and good luck!

[KangarooMan]

Hey there Eric, wonderful work on your entry! The scene has an amazing feel to it, very original! :deal: The colors you've used build up a very happy feeling place. Congratulations on finishing and best of luck to you in the challenge! :beer:

Matt :)

[individium]

hi eric,
congratulations!!

very nice image, however i cannot make a comparison becouse you're the only 3d pal i've got in this challenge.

i dont think i had been any use to your work but its nice to talk to you, hope you win something.

at least boxx should give you an apexx ;)

[vincent1]

Hi Oceanbluesky, congrats on finishing and sharing the creative process of this piece. The small posted pict does does it no justice.

The picture grows on you and some creative writing too.:thumbsup:

[oceanbluesky]

Intriguing piece of art you did there man! colours are wonderful and hypnotizing.

Thanks Thierry! Very glad you like it! Looking forward to seeing your work in a future Challenge!

Also does anyone know how you can nominate people for the community awards? Cos i'd very much like to nominate you! (And MT Cup too! -Can you nominate someone who didnt actually enter the challenge?!)

Wouldn't it be wonderful if MT Cup were to recieve an award? I'm wondering how closely the judges have been following these threads and whether they know
she actually hasn't even entered the challenge, is more or less starting out in 3D, and has been so amazingly helpful and encouraging! Just terrific! --And you too!! The two
of you have posts on all the threads of my favorite entrants with such postive comments I truly believe you two are part of the formula! Muses!! That's what you are! Real life
Muses -- that's why you and MT Cup, and Mona, and Gunie all have your own private Muse only railcar. With ice cream sodas on tap! --And, you all are the only ones issued parachutes!

wowzer! You finished! Very nice image, interesting format too. Very poetic image too.

Whoowhoo! Glad you like it Nathan! Thanks for your support these many months, cheers!

That "thank you list" is just crazy... ok ok... Your image is crazy too. I really love that tiny point light up there... I need to print your story... and read carefuly... again and again and again...

Yeah very funny! The thank you list took a l o n g time to create, but, there were very long moments of downtime since saving the file in Photoshop took over half an hour! It was kind of funny, working with a 2500 pixel paint brush,
waiting a few minutes for it to update. Hopefully I'll have time to finish some Wikipedia articles I've written about this contest and the CG Society during such periods, too! --If you can make any suggestions about improving the
text that would be terrific! Thanks again -- glad you enjoyed the image!

Oh, oh, oh! I'm speechless! It's great! I love it. LOL and you pulled the story off. Eric, I am your number one fan. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this trip with you and I thank you so much for allowing me to tag along.
I dread the thought, but hopefully I will go head to head against you in a challenge. I'm looking forward to it.

MT Cup I would be your number one fan but I think several dozen other entrants would be competing with me for that too! You've been amazingly helpful to so many people on this board I am sure all of us look forward to the next challenge just so we can encourage you to join in and work and learn along with us! In the meantime I'm going to miss reading your postive words offered at just the right moment, right when I was feeling down. Can't wait for the opportunity to return your support and postive encouragement! Thank you thank you thank you -- huge ice cream sundays are being served in the Muses-only railcar! Whoowhoo!

Eric..Congratulations on the final! You've put an unbeliveable mass of thoughts inside this work. It was a fun to follow. hope to see ya next time!

Yes Mark! I can't wait for the next Challenge -- I'm suffering withdrawls already...very glad you enjoy this image!

Congratulations!!! Your image is so beautiful!! Really a piece of art!!! The colours are fantastic!! And the design is very poetical! Please share with us a hi-res image!

Thanks Carlos! So glad you enjoy it! BRAZIL INPSIRED IT TREMENDOUSLY!!! Wish I knew what evidentally makes Brazilians, Turks, Russians, Iranians, and the French such outstanding artists! Learning this could be world culture changing! Hopefully high-res images will be posted soon!

that story rocks... and the image is a dream to look at... well done Eric..

Thanks Mona! Very glad you enjoy the image...thank you so much for your encouragement too! Enjoy the Muses ice cream sundays! Best of luck with the judging...really love your cute GPs!

congrats eric- it's a beautiful artistic image. this has been fun, and you're hilarious!
hope to see you on the next one mate. good luck!

I wish everyone participating in a Challenge would go through a quick tutorial of "How to Offer Positive Comments and Inspiring Encouragement" by John Shakespere!! It AMAZES me to read so many threads and to consistently find on almost every one
a quick straight to the point dead-on postive criticism delivered in the most polite useful way -- always by you! Incredible really. You're in a totally different league! Cheers!

Hi Eric. Not sure what to say about your final except for: I love it. Congratulations to you. You've produced a beautiful and poetic piece of art and this Challenge is richer for it

Whoowhoo! Thanks Mark! Really appreciate it! Can't wait for the next challenge, this one has been such a postive learning experience!

First I was a little disappointed that the great pink cluster of butterflies and flowers became so small in the final picture…
And the blue was overwhelming the pink…But when I look at it now, I really like it!!

Yes I should really post high res versions soon because the corner cluster of butterflies are a bit different and more cheerful than the gray background versions shown earlier -- a bit more G rated than the terms in which I normally think, but this is for a Children's movie pitch (eventually...as vain as that may be) so it's a bit bright and overwhelming! Looking forward very much to hanging out again in a future challenge! Glad you like this image!

Wonderful image, Eric! Big congrats This have been a very pleasant thread to follow I hope we can take another journey together in the future. Good luck with the jury

Gunilla! Thanks so much for your encouragement (as one of the first to post to this thread)! Hope you are enjoying the Muses-only car -- unlimited ice cream with pools of chocolate and big marshmellows! Looking forward to sharing time the next challenge too! Cheers!

Great! Very Strange! Congrat! I wish you luck in judging! Is it nesseory create details if you will hide them under leaves? just question! but i accept this method i do the same

Hey Timur! Glad you like the image -- do hope it is different and may become in future instantiations somewhat thought provoking! (Still working on it...) I'll post a highres version soon so the details can be more apparent! Hope you'll like them too! Cheers!

hey man it was fun, really fun to read your posts...and thanks for sending "thanks" in my language ) and of course congrats with the beauty of your final image...see u in next one

Yeah Ozan! You know figuring out how to say "thank you" in so many different languages was just about as fun as completing this image! Really enjoyed it -- I'm actually happier about doing that than finishing the image. This is just such a cool world-wide sharing community! Anyhow, glad you enjoyed the image and reading this thread! See you in the next Challenge! Cheers!

Congratulations on your final image Eric, Well done, I wish u luck and that we meet in the next challenge!

Yeah Omar! Thanks so much for your support! I'm so looking forward to the next Challenge...really bummed there isn't a new one starting right away! Until then, cheers!

Congratulations, man!!! Very stylish and taking breath img you have here! I like it! Thank you for supporting me juring challenge and good luck!

Hey thanks Sergey! Very glad you enjoy it! I'm so looking forward to pointing out your fantastic work to engineers this summer, trying to solicit space-related artists-concept work for you...just terrific professional skils you've shown! True artists are very much needed in the space exploration community -- promise to do what I can, with enthusiasm! Cheers!

Hey there Eric, wonderful work on your entry! The scene has an amazing feel to it, very original! The colors you've used build up a very happy feeling place. Congratulations on finishing and best of luck to you in the challenge!

Hey Matt! Great to hear you like it! Hope it has an original feel -- there are so many wonderfully inspiring works in this challenge and, as well, many equally inspiring works which were for often tragic reasons unable to be finished. This has been a lot of fun! Looking forward to seeing your work in future Challenges! Cheers!

hi eric,congratulations!! very nice image, however i cannot make a comparison becouse you're the only 3d pal i've got in this challenge. i dont think i had been any use to your work but its nice to talk to you, hope you win something. at least boxx should give you an apexx

Yeah we have to work on putting together an Appex challenge!! I have quite a few ideas on that! --It was great taking the time (as a break from modeling, rendering, and compositing) to check out the 2D entries -- really shocking humbling quality of artists on this thread. Worldwide. Really the best of the best -- it's incredible to be able to talk with them! Glad you stopped by this 3D thread and enjoy the image! Looking forward to seeing your work in future Challenges! Best of luck!

Hi Oceanbluesky, congrats on finishing and sharing the creative process of this piece. The small posted pict does does it no justice. The picture grows on you and some creative writing too.

Hey Vincent! Thank you so much for your encouraging words! I've got a lot of ideas for tutorials -- maybe a few on working with outlandishly massive Photoshop files too! Very glad you enjoyed the image, extremely pleased! Cheers!

[ramras]

Hey... Nice story telling. You was created beautiful flowers which always feels fresh and becautiful butterflies which feels pleasent clolors. Hope to see you more colorful and beautiful works of you. Keep posting your work and keep in touch. And hope to see you next challenge too. All the best and stay alive...:)

[Scied]

Eric I need to say I am realy glad to see an image like this in this forum:love:! I think its a realy bold, dificult step and realy awesome that you had take the journey theme and end up with an image that is completely poetic and all about interpretation and personal feelings, I think:rolleyes:! realy great to see the basic theme been explored in this direction, I hope I can see more of it in the future! it was realy audacious from your part to do an image like that!
congratulations and good luck!

[oceanbluesky]

file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Desktop/cockpit_closeup.jpg

Closeup of the Cockpit -- notice Boxx logo on Bobbee's thigh pads ; )

--

Finally figured out how to post images without using the Challenge entry pages...(this is my first Challenge)...Firefox requires config file rewriting but Mozilla allows images to be cut and pasted...tried out the beta of IE7 last week, soooo, that is out of the question...(have to remember to never ever beta anything MS). Hope you enjoy! (The gray background is gone...so it is much more cheerful...this is for a kids movie pitch, eventually, as vain as that sounds....)

[oceanbluesky]

Well...that doesn't work!

Anyone know how people are posting closeup shots of their work??

It's a very different image closeup...thanks for your help in advance!

[Lemog]

I was off since few days... but I'm very happy to discover the finished picture today... and especially to read the story...

Original so far... poetic so far...

It's really different but I like that, there's something behing the picture, and it's very important, especially with your concept.

I wish you the most of best things with your continuation... and best of luck with the final judging step...

CONGRATULATIONS Eric :applause:

[oceanbluesky]

http://aycu40.webshots.com/image/159/1961367629300331983_rs.jpg

Closeup of cockpit section...the Beenaut's character at the top has Boxx logos on his thigh pads (which may not bee terribly visible due to the jpg compression)...

[oceanbluesky]

http://aycu10.webshots.com/image/1769/1866955902699901266_rs.jpg

Shot of the march...very, very optimized...down to 19% jpg compression...so the colors are not as saturated and there is quite a bit of artifacting. I'll post this to a Beesa dedicated website soon! : ) Hope you all enjoy -- you certainly created this image as much as I did, it wouldn't exist without the CG Society!

[oceanbluesky]

http://aycu03.webshots.com/image/242/1397616614683451302_rs.jpg

closeup of the ship Hope you enjoy it! (It is yours...thanks for your support!)

[makaron]

those butterflies are so cute in close-up... :) gotta love them and their big eyes...

[CryingHorn]

Hi Eric, very interesting image and very unordinary, it's really interesting how it evolved in your progress. Also I enjoyed reading your description. Very pleasing to my eye to watch your image,

btw, I was very surprised that you thanked everyone in their native language
good luck pal :scream: :beer:

[MT-Cup]

Hey Eric, have you considered doing a wallpaper as some of the others have done. I've collected a few already. Right now at work I have Gunilla's mites and home I have Oweron's dragons. I need something uplifting for my laptop. (broad hint). ;)

I'm sure I"m not the only one who would enjoy gazing at bright pink fluffy butterflies. (or as I like to say, flutterbyes).

[soapy]

Wow great work Mr. Bluesky! Your final is very poetic and beautifull, I loved the poem. The colour and composition are lovely. Your entry would make a great poster I suspect. Cheers, good luck!

[se7enthcin]

Very interesting piece. So glad you were able to finish and achieve such detail. NICE! :bounce:

[rattlesnake]

wow man..your modeling looks very complex and a bit chaotic, but theres beauty inside the chaos, i think is a good work, lots of detailed and quality models...but to be honest sometimes i got lost in your wip images, i think this is because my bad imagination..lol, this means that u have a really original artwork :thumbsup:

[ravioli_rancher]

oceanbluesky,

Your thread exhibits so much information, it's a threat to become a conscious entity and take control of CGTalk.

Reading through your process, its seems you covet escalating unpredictability and cascading entropy. :argh: Holy tomale. Best way to learn something new, I suppose, is to overload all forms of communication and disregaurd expectations and familiarity. :argh: You're thread is nuts. :applause: And it's contagious. :)

The final resolution of 7980 X 10908 seems peculiar. Is this code of some sort? I don't subscribe to Air & Space, and you haven't provided subscription information, so I can't be sure. :shrug:

I don't understand, of course, how a 500 layer photoshop scene is completely 3d animation compliant. What have you done to your software over the course of this challenge to make such a claim? Your thread reads like a supergenius with the teleketic prowess to not only bend spoons, but reality as well. So perhaps you running software that blink between more advanced or user-freindly dimensions. :bounce:

I've enjoyed reliving your journey, and the encouraging sentiments and quotes you've shared along the way. May your new space agency bend the minds of the judges and land in prosperous new worlds.

See you in the next challenge, Pilot. :applause:

[oceanbluesky]

Hey... Nice story telling. You was created beautiful flowers which always feels fresh and becautiful butterflies which feels pleasent clolors. Hope to see you more colorful and beautiful works of you. Keep posting your work and keep in touch. And hope to see you next challenge too. All the best and stay alive..

Hey Puppala! Sheesh, you can really lift a person's spirits! Thanks for the uplifting note! I hope to create more colorful work in future challenges! These last few months have really been fun! Looking forward to seeing your work in the next one too! Cheers!

Eric I need to say I am realy glad to see an image like this in this forum! I think its a realy bold, dificult step and realy awesome that you had take the journey theme and end up with an image that is completely poetic and all about interpretation and personal feelings, I think! realy great to see the basic theme been explored in this direction, I hope I can see more of it in the future! it was realy audacious from your part to do an image like that!
congratulations and good luck!

Hey Fabio! Man that's really cool to say! Very much appreciate it as being different -- it is 100% about personal feelings! Heck compliments from a Brazilian artist are worth at least twice as much, too -- no kidding. Your culture just seems to celebrate beauty in a way many of us around the world can learn from...hopefully from your work in future challenges and beyond! Cheers!!

It's really different but I like that, there's something behing the picture, and it's very important, especially with your concept.

Hey man, you know what really makes the image?? There's a French flag in it!! (Also Brazilian, Swedish, and Norwegian...) Since you gave the names of localities rhyming with Timbuktu there's a tiny French flag down at the bottom of the march, right above the "h" in the caption text "so the colors" accompanying the second image below!! Thanks so much again! Very glad you were able to take a well deserved break! Cheers Lemog!

those butterflies are so cute in close-up... gotta love them and their big eyes...

Hey Mona! I'm trying to figure out how to license the Maya authoring file to enable the butterflies to be released publicly...glad you like them! (More on that idea later...) What really kills me is how so many women like this image! Sheesh! You bet there will be future variations on this theme!! ; ) Cheers!

I was very surprised that you thanked everyone in their native language

Whoowhoo!! Man more cool to me than this site being about CG is that it is supported by people from all over the world -- from the middle of nowhere and beyond! You're the only person I've ever spoken to from Lithuania Andrius!! This is like a digital melting pot...forcing us to recognize we have more in common as artists and humans than the trivial, historical, transient differences separating us -- hopefully!

Here's the reference page I used: http://www.elite.net/~runner/jennifers/thankyou.htm (http://www.elite.net/%7Erunner/jennifers/thankyou.htm) Hope it is a trend, here in the CG Society and beyond! The world needs us -- cheers!

Hey Eric, have you considered doing a wallpaper as some of the others have done. I'm sure I"m not the only one who would enjoy gazing at bright pink fluffy butterflies. (or as I like to say, flutterbyes).

Hey Adrienne! Oh the flutterbytes are definitely social butterflies! They insist upon being released as soon as possible through a Photoshop file in which their individual shots have been collected (also the entire scene's 500+ MB Photoshop .psd file...along with the .ma ASCI authoring file with the butterfly animation). Just have to figure out public licensing (Copyleft?) so they can be modified (and improved!) by others -- but won't end up doing anything 400 year old Talmudic scholars whose native language is Sanskrit wouldn't want to do. (More on their background soon, too!) That way you'll be able to create your own personalized custom scene with your own cool creatures eventually and if you want add a Wild Wise Butterfly to it!! That would be fun to see! Heck there are so many cool characters created for this Challenge to which I would like to add to scenes I may make....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyleft
http://www.libresociety.org/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creative_Commons
http://artlibre.org/licence/lal/en/

Wow great work Mr. Bluesky! Your final is very poetic and beautifull, I loved the poem. The colour and composition are lovely. Your entry would make a great poster I suspect. Cheers, good luck!

Hey Genius! Glad you like it! If anyone has suggested improvements for the poem they would be greatly appreciated -- it's the first one I attempted since high school, and definitely in need of a touch of Genius! (Oh I may have written a few for some ex-girlfriends but they evidently didn't work!)

Very interesting piece. So glad you were able to finish and achieve such detail. NICE!

Thanks Andrew! And thanks also for your early encouragement in the beginning of this challenge -- really, really appreciated it man. Made a difference! Thanks!

wow man..your modeling looks very complex and a bit chaotic, but theres beauty inside the chaos, i think is a good work, lots of detailed and quality models...but to be honest sometimes i got lost in your wip images, i think this is because my bad imagination..lol, this means that u have a really original artwork

Hey glad you like it Jorge! The modeling is totally out of control...really not meant for a single shot...I kept wishing this scene could be animated, because it is more like an extended march, with so much movement and noise and music, chanting and such...so they only way I could think of to pull it together was to blow the whole image up into a massive "still pan." The WIP's are meant to show most images are works in process, and very rarely exact reproductions of what may have been our original intentions as "artists"...it would be interesting to read more about the creative processes of truly gifted artists such as Picasso, but, my guess is their must have been quite a lot of changes from their original idea to their final finished work. Anyhow, the WIPs are meant to suggest that... Very glad you like the final result! Cheers!

The final resolution of 7980 X 10908 seems peculiar. Is this code of some sort?

I don't understand, of course, how a 500 layer photoshop scene is completely 3d animation compliant.

I've enjoyed reliving your journey, and the encouraging sentiments and quotes you've shared along the way. May your new space agency bend the minds of the judges and land in prosperous new worlds.

See you in the next challenge, Pilot.

Hey man, thanks for such a thought provoking post! Really enjoyed reading it! The high res is to enable the original image of the march to remain in the final image -- while making the whole scene more poster ready. Just became gradually more comfortable working in high res, which is I guess part of the intention of Balistic sponsorship too! It worked...wasn't easy, but finally figured out a few Photoshop work arounds for truly MASSIVE file sizes. --Would make a good Photoshop tutorial someday too, especially for these challenges.

Yeah it would definitely take a small army to animate the march. I'm hoping with the further integration of Photoshop, After Effects, and Flash it will be easier to not only animate each object within Maya but animate each layer as they are composited in post, through an After Effects/Photoshop translation using this scene as a guide. Kind of an interesting pro-Adobe workflow...since Photoshop allows single shots to be set up fairly easily...they could serve as guides to comping motion in After Effects. Anyhow, that is the hope...mid-term to render out Flash .swfs of the scene optimized for a BEESA website. : ) Whoowhoo (super-vain hope)!

Great reading your post...really appreciate the engaging commentary. Cheers!


Thanks to everyone in the Challenge! You all really raise my spirits!! Thanks so much for stopping by -- glad you like the image! Cheers!

[BAMU]

Hi Eric, what can I say :), wonderful and fresh image who stands appart from all other work in this challange, a very good job, congrats mate!:thumbsup:
BAM

[hhssuu]

Congrats man! I like you very brave and arty composition and also unique subject. Very nice and strong colours. I also liked your little notepad sketch, looks very sincere :) best of luck with judging!:thumbsup:

[MattGyver]

Hey. Sorry I didn't keep up with your progress. It's simple, yet complex and very different from anything else in the challenge. I like it. :thumbsup:

[oceanbluesky]

wonderful and fresh image who stands appart from all other work in this challange
Hey Diaconu! Thanks! That means quite a lot! I really identify with what you say about your entry piece, Olga's Choice: "it's not my best work, It's my only work." This is also my first and only completed 3D work...hope you are happy about your fantastically imaginative work! Early on I saved images from your thread for inspiration. Looking forward to seeing more (your second work?) in a future challenge! Cheers!

Congrats man! I like you very brave and arty composition and also unique subject. Very nice and strong colours. I also liked your little notepad sketch, looks very sincere
Hey Chih-han! Really appreciate such comments since those are the elements of my work I also most enjoy. Thank you very much. Looking forward to seeing more of your work in a future Challenge, too! Cheers!

It's simple, yet complex and very different from anything else in the challenge.
Thanks Matt! I tried to make it different...the competition here is just breathtaking. --And what makes participating in such a challenge so worthwhile. Looking forward to seeing more of your work in the future! Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

Had intended to create a few Wikipedia pages associated with "BEESA" and the Wild Wise Butterflies, but the url beesa.com was taken shortly after the start of this Challenge, so, while thinking of a new name for the entire project tried to make a few others:

The first Wikipedia page for the CGSociety (whoowhoo!):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CGSociety

Updated the page for CGTalk (added a few links and the CGSociety Manifesto):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cgtalk

The first Boxxtech page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boxx_Technologies

Updated Autodesk to include and highlight Maya as part of their product-line (and noted their sponsorship of these Challenges...whoowhoo!):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk_Media_and_Entertainment
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autodesk

These are the first pages I've ever created on Wikipedia and they are very, very much open to public contribution of course, so, hopefully they can only improve....

: ) Back to real work

[MT-Cup]

I, too, thank your multi-lingual thanks was perfect. Fit your scene so well. I would just die to see this animated. I can just imagine this mass of pink chaos flying through the air at sunset, lit by lucky turtle lamps. So pink, so cute.

I look forward to you working out the public licensing. I look forward to coming up with something for those cute little guys. ;)

Did you see that wiki marked the cgsociety entry as needing a rewrite for being too much of an advertisement? :scream: Thought that was a hoot.

[Selina42]

Hey Eric!

Just got back from a few days away doing absolutely nothing -even rediscovered whats its like to have a social life! I hope youve been having a simliarly relaxing time since the challenge! I absolutely love your final image! I wasnt expecting the new format and bg -but i really think it works and was a very bold move on your part which totally paid off! I sooo hope this work gets placed for its ingenuity -and being conceptually so strong -and just looking very lovely! Theres nothing quite like it! Good luck my friend and i cant wait to see you next challenge around!

[oceanbluesky]

Hey you two! You're the best! Gosh if you were the only persons visiting this thread I would still be thrilled -- it's been cool to hangout with such encouraging tasteful artists!

Hopefully the idea of publicly licensing Maya authoring files doesn't sound too strange or uptight. I just hope over time we could create a genre of quality work which would be shared among artists with similar aesthetics while still retaining some of the responsibilities of ownership. The idea first came to me when Lee posted shots of his Warpig (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=330409). I thought it was so cool I wanted to make a 2D logo of it for use on the back of Bob's protective padding, or the side of his helmet, or I was even going to make a black biker's jacket for him to especially show of such a cool image. The idea would be to both advertise Lee's cool work while allowing Bob to pick up some additional coolness (Barb is way cooler than Bob...I think she's on the verge of dumping him but that is a long story). Unfortunately I don't know Lee at all (and given that Warpig is exceptionally cool he may be concerned about overexposure), so, I didn't follow through on this idea....

There are a myriad of potential drawbacks to "copyleft" artwork: use of important brand characters in low quality works, overexposure, incorporation into politically offensive or trivial works, and so on. But the plus is reenforcing those artists and cultural trends we appreciate. For example, if Dr. Suess released the hat of the Cat-in-the-Hat then ideally other characters could wear it while perhaps discussing their favorite Suessian friends...building a larger meta-world of cool positive works and in effect creating a critical dialogue between the philosophical perspectives informing important cultural icons. If the aesthetic look of the released material were strong enough it might also serve to foster a "farm-team" of artists familiar with and capable of creating such material in a formal studio production team. Anyhow, this is just a thought. I'll post huge .psd and .tiff wallpaper files ASAP...it just takes 30 minutes to open the file and I'm 100% off coffee now so naps and a mind-crushing lethargy have begun interfering with my ability to accomplish a single useful thing, especially within the time frame of thirty minutes. As a matter of fact, it is possibly time for an emergency nap now.

Thanks MT Cup and Selina for your always encouraging good faith and words! Hope you are enjoying downtime between Challenges -- MT Cup we'll see something from you in the next one, right? Glad you were able to get away for a while Selina -- I'm planning an escape a few weeks from now but at the moment caffeine-free naps are sheer heaven.

(Notice you both have Portfolios now so I just added you two as favorites! Whoowhoo!)

Cheers!

[cbernardo]

Wow!! I love the cockpit detail!! Really great image!! A lot of fun characters! :applause:

[]s
carlos

[vladskol]

Thought provoking. Interesting thread. Good luck. :bounce::bounce:

[MT-Cup]

MT Cup we'll see something from you in the next one, right?

I'll make the attempt. If not 3d, then maybe at least 2d. We'll see how confident I am in my modeling skills by then. ;)

[oceanbluesky]

I'll make the attempt. If not 3d, then maybe at least 2d. We'll see how confident I am in my modeling skills by then. ;)

Whoowhoo! 2D would be great! There are so many talented artists in the 2D Challenges...it would be fun getting to know them better if you were also there (to check out the competition). And, a 2D Challenge entry can always be turned into a future 3D work for yourself or clients...sort of like a 2 for 1 deal. (They also seem a heck of a lot faster to complete than 3D...I was shocked to notice so many 2D artists thought nothing of reworking their entire concepts several times over...in fact, that seems to be the norm?)

What are you working on now? I really don't know my way around these forums very well yet (focused almost exclusively on these Challenge pages virtually right after having discovered CGSociety).

(The full res .tiff and Maya authoring files will be up soon...I've just been super busy and cringed when thinking of opening Maya after having spent 3 months in front of it...needed a week off.)

Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

Wow!! I love the cockpit detail!! Really great image!! A lot of fun characters! :applause:

Thanks Carlos! Very glad you like it. Enjoyed corresponding this Challenge, see you at the next!
Thought provoking. Interesting thread. Good luck. :bounce::bounce:

Thanks vladskol! Hope it was worthwhile reading. Certainly was a lot of fun writing!

Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

Hi, here's the final full res (massive) image as submitted in .tif format...along with both the Maya ASCI authoring file used to create various butterfly poses, and, the extracted poses collected in separate layers within a .psd file.

The legal authority of 'Copyleft' is still unclear, so, this material is still copyrighted. It would be great to encourage sharing of authoring files for Challenge and even Gallery submissions as a fantastic learning opportunity available through this community.

Also, we could also reenforce over time a Copyleft genre of works which would allow cameo appearances of characters for independent workflows and promotion. For instance, if Blur Studios were to release a rigged Max file of their Aunt Luisa character they could encourage students to learn Max while animating with their rig setup, and, they could benifit from free additional promotion of such a cool well-developed character through the independent works created by persons who need an "old crazy grandma character" for a quick cameo appearance.

Anyhow, that's just the basic idea right now...more thought needs to be given to the development of such a cameo copyright. Hope these files are marginally interesting or worthwhile to someone. --Wish the Maya file were Aunt Luisa but it is just a butterfly (oh, but the bump map for its wings is extremely effective...really got lucky with it...if you need a finely textured butterfly wing it would work well). Enjoy!

http://s5.quicksharing.com/v/4202178/0_butterfly_images_in_separate_layers_photoshop_file.zip.html
http://s5.quicksharing.com/v/9006882/0_butterfly_animated_for_journey_shots_maya_file.zip.html
http://s14.quicksharing.com/v/4093019/0_full_res_journey_final_tif.zip.html

Please don't abuse Rumi (all of the butterflies insist upon being called 'Rumi' since none are willing to ceed to any of the others the name "Rumi"...adopted out of affection for their friend the 13th century Persian poet, jurist, theologian and teacher of Sufism Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmi. Generally they would prefer not to do anything a Talmudic scholar whose native language is Sanskrit would not be caught doing -- unless it is outrageous and fun!!


: )

http://creativecommons.org/images/public/somerights20.png

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License:

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/legalcode

[cbernardo]

I'm downloading!

It's a really beutiful graphic design art! :applause:

Ps.: wainting for more works of you, Eric. :thumbsup:

[]s
carlos

[oceanbluesky]

Oi Carlos! Obrigado! Thanks for stopping by...hope you like the high res image. (It is meant to be printed at about 25% of full resolution. As always there are numerous flaws which I hope to correct soon.)

Really like your website -- especially the new logo!

Looking forward to hanging out again in the next challenge!

Cheers!

[MT-Cup]

Downloaded. Now the fun starts. http://www.cosgan.de/images/more/bigs/e022.gif

[MattGyver]

I'm not familliar with "copyleft" but from what I've heard, it sounds a lot like Creative Commons where the creator retains the copyright and can use it for any commercial use he/she wants, but anybody else can use it for non-commercial projects.

[oceanbluesky]

Downloaded. Now the fun starts. http://www.cosgan.de/images/more/bigs/e022.gif


Clever icon Adrienne...different than the defaults available, so, I went to the source you used and saw this, another funny one:

http://www.cosgan.de/images/smilie/figuren/a035.gif

"Looking forward" to seeing your work in the next 2D Challenge too! (Actually can't think of better hands in which to entrust the Wild Wise ones.) --Have to use that telescope eyball trick in an animation sometime. Hope you like the download...there are a lot of things I'd like to improve in the image of course...and the Maya file is far cry from a sophisticated extended animation...hope it doesn't disapoint too much.

Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

I'm not familliar with "copyleft" but from what I've heard, it sounds a lot like Creative Commons where the creator retains the copyright and can use it for any commercial use he/she wants, but anybody else can use it for non-commercial projects.

Hey Matt! Yes!!! Creative Commons does the trick! Perfect! I re-edited the post to include a copyright for Creative Commons. I'm really not uptight about these images, or whatever, but my hope is to over time encourage CGSociety members to post elements of their pieces for others in the community to learn from and use. It would be a postive development (in my opinion) if this community were known as a place from which tutorial authoring files could be obtained, particularly throughout the course of a Challenge (not just at the end) and as a special download link accompanying portfolio images. Protected, perhaps, under a Creative Commons license, or even a licensing program which could evolve over time through participation of commercial artists and studios in this community -- here at CGSociety. It would be great if articles covering the latest Pixar film, or profiling a new artist, were to include authoring files for interesting elements within a scene. Say, for example, rigs used for Mr. Incredible, texturing files for Nemo, or expansive sets of the desert scenes from Cars. That would not only be a cool nod to the creative community from which such studios draw moral support and inspiration -- it would introduce numerous artists to workflows and techniques actually used in real studio pipelines. Kind of a hip way to create a farm team. --And, all the work would be licensed, so, the studios could not only hire an artist who had improved upon a scene or character -- they could immediately use the improved next-generation of their files.

Mini-Challenges could be built around scenes taken directly from movies...and then, after the contest, the modified files could actually be reused in future movies. I'm new to this community, but, it seems as if many of the Mini-Challenges involve persons downloading a generic file which everyone then competes with one another to animate, illuminate, or modify in some manner. Rather than a generic file, an artist or a studio could submit an actual professionally contructed set of files used in a full feature animation. At the end of the contest, under a Creative Commons license (from what I understand), the studio or artist which created the original files could then freely use the modified files in a sequel or future endeavor. Perhaps further modification of a Creative Commons license may be necessary to ensure original authors do not need permission to use future iterations of their work, but, that could be ironed out in the process of encouraging such a system of file sharing.

Just an idea. Thanks for pointing out Creative Commons -- they seem infinitely more sophisticated than the Copyleft bunch.

Cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

Hey All, it's cool many entrants develop long-term projects over the course of several challenges. If time is available it would be great to create more material which could be rolled into a longer-term animation project. So, there will be a Beesa related site at this url which will hopefully develop over the course of several more challenges:

http://www.whoohoou.com/

Beesa.com was already taken; likewise for derivatives. So, the (vain) idea now is
to create a website associated with BEESA but, literally, named Whoohoo University...which sounds fruity but will be a fun site for children, serving as a clearning house for all things BEESA. Whoohoo University will teach life-skills and coping techniques for dealing with such things as peer pressure, life's ups and downs, and other uplifting stuff. At least that's the working idea.

More interesting is the generic template for the Flash website used by FactualFiction.com and Whoohoou.com. Neither site is finished but the generic template is live on WhoohooU. In case anyone would like to work with (and hopefully) improve this generic Flash template it is available for download under a Creative Commons license here:

http://s13.quicksharing.com/v/9305207/generic_factual_fiction_site_template.zip.html

Hopefully a group of Flash artists could contribute to the development of a Maya-like Hotbox web interface (as used on both FactualFiction.com and Whoohoou.com). In two or three weeks I'll post more about this idea (and better documentation) but I'm going on vacation now...could be cool though to reenforce the use and acceptance of a menu interface many of us have come to appreciate daily.

Also, the Wikipedia links above aren't working because Wikipedia administrators thought the entries I made for the CGSociety read too much like advertisements (they were unfamiliar with this community and the impact it has had upon computer arts). Such an undertaking will require a concerted effort by members of the Society, although it is probably not very important in the scheme of things. Perhaps we could do this over the course of the next Challenge. The most important improvement which should be made to the pages I tried to post would probably be internal Wikipedia links to other entries associated with animation, cg artists who have matured in the community, and other such supportive references. This was my first attempt at writing Wikipedia pages. The good news is links to the CG Society's Challenge Intro page have remained intact on the Wikipedia entries for Autdesk and Maya. A humble start....

Anyhow, off to feed mosquitoes for two weeks in Alaska....cheers!

[oceanbluesky]

Hey, if anyone is attending Siggraph and would like to volunteer for Autodesk in exchange for free entry to the Maya and Max Masters Classes send me an email at ericmachmer@factualfiction.com

For each class you work (by taking tickets at the door) you would be able to sit in on another class for free. (If you are taking tickets at the door of a classroom you are typically able to step inside the doors at the start of a class so not much is missed either way.) If you work extra classes and help with the Autodesk User Group Meeting/Party you will be given a few Learning Tools DVDs.

Hope (a few) people are interested. --I'm on vacation for a few weeks so if you don't receive a response after a few days don't worry...but send another email if a week or two pass without a reply, just to ensure your email hasn't been lost.

If you are a student generally the formal papers and panels at Siggraph are virtually useless, given their typically sophisitcated technical nature and such. Much more useful to first time Siggraph attendees would be orientation to the 3D world by just exploring the applicaitons and hardware on display in the Expo area -- and then, perhaps, attending a few Masters Classes. (In this case for free.) --Just my 2 cents on the "value of Siggraph" conversation started earlier.

If you are volunteering for Siggraph itself volunteering for Autodesk would be a separate responsibility but would not interfere with your Siggraph time schedule.

Finally -- please include a list of the Masters Classes for which you would most like to work/attend. The current list of classes can be found on Autodesk.com

Cheers!

[ikmo]

When I first met you I never realized you were a genius Eric! :D;)

I am so happy that you sent me the link to this Challenge thread, because I would not have found it otherwise. I have been away from the CGSociety for quite some time and totally forgot about it - even though I was part of the very first challenge. It's great to see how it had evolved.

Quickly flying through the many wonderful posts on your thread, it's evident that you have generated a following. Include me in the list of fans! The final image is stunning and the backstory is brilliant. I finally get to read some of your writing! I am so glad that you entered this challenge - your creativity, talents and positivity are beyond fantastic!

Although SIGGRAPH 2006 will be beyond my reach, 2007 may be a possibility.

All the best...
Hank

[oceanbluesky]

Whoohoo!! Great to see your post here Hank -- what a surprise! Shezz, I didn't know you were already a member! (Should have guessed.) Hope in the meantime to "see you around" during the next challenge, if possible. Would be great to see your talents up in either 2D or 3D!

Looking forward to catching up at Siggraph 2007 then...if not during the next Challenge...prizes have become much more worhwhile now. : )

Cheers man, best to George and Jen!

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