The Journey Begins Challenge (2D) Entry: Henjo Mey

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141759267_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141759267_large.jpg)

Well here's the concept. I'm going to try and create an image to convey the trail of tears.
The composition consists of an American Indian mother and her baby in the foreground staring towards the land they're leaving, and a background depicting the land their entering.

Crits about compisition and everything else are welcome!

I think I'm actually going to finish my entry this time...

[mutedOracle]

I'm such a n00b,
quick question...what's the difference between the concept sketch and line art?

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141835189_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141835189_large.jpg)

k so here's the line art, just a few more details filled in. If it's hard to see stuff hopefully it will clear up when I do coloring.

[Ravena]

Hi Henjo,

I really like your sketch, the horse is wonderful and I love the kind like you explained the wind, particularly at the left woman.

I wish you much luck and fun to this challenge.

Ciao,
Ravena

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141836544_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141836544_large.jpg)

thx for stopping by ravena!

let there be light!

playing around with color. I want there to be a stark contrast between the home they're leaving and the land their being relocated to. So I'm trying to get the idea that the sun is setting behind the viewer and casting some orange/pink light on a few spots, and everything else is shifted to dark royal blue.
Also to help with the whole contrast thing, I'm going to try and paint some really dark, heavy clouds in the background especially behind the mother.

anyhow, enough talking more painting...

[Nyrak]

The lighting really brought this to life for me. Very nice mood, and I really like the idea. :)

[JTD]

Yeah, the lighting is awesome! Just a few bits of color and suddenly the piece has come alive!

[walrus]

Really nice colors you're working with so far. Nice concept, too. There's one thing that I really liked in your rough b/w sketch that isn't captured in the coler version: In the earlier version, one leg is up and she looks like she's walking: Appropriate for the start of a journey. Now she's standing still, and it halts the movement of the peice (literally & figuratively.) I hope you'll consider bringing that movement back in...
Good luck!

-mike

[Slav]

hmm i think of all the voyage concepts this one i like best thus far. keep at it. good work.

[umbrellasky]

Great composition! Beautiful horse. Really nice work!

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141859912_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141859912_large.jpg)

started doing the background...bloching in the very basic colors and textures...I'll finetune the look later.

I'm not sure, i'm having trouble finding good refs, but does snow only reflect one base color and no specularity? I don't know, right now it looks like torn up pieces of paper...i'll figure it out.

ok, back to the canvas...

[mutedOracle]

tnx for all the comments guys!

walrus: In retrospect, I think I agree that the image feels a little less dynamic without the mother moving. Although I did do it intentionally at first, because I sorta wanted her to seem like she was stopping to give one final 'farewell' before going over the hill and never seeing her home again. At least that was the intention, but right now it feels like the image is focusing too much on her home instead of the journey...
anyway I'll definitely take your suggestion into account. I think I'll finish most of the background before I work on her so I have time to decide :P

[otre]

I really like the composition of this one. :)
One thing. In the first drawing i get the sense the woman is looking more past the camera(probably because i feel it would be most natural). In the later drawings she's looking to the right. I think this doesnt work that well. I don't get the sense that she's looking back where she came from.

Also, and this is just an opinion based on how i like to work, I think maybe you're abit quick with adding textures to the scenery. From my experience it's better to clearly define the scenery first, where grass/rock/trees/bushes etc is placed, and how it defines the shapes of those mountains/hills for instance. Really define the shapes, add atmosphere haze etc, and then polish it with textures. I find that going in too soon with textures distracts me, but that's just my experience. You may have a different method that works for you.

Will follow this one, keep up the good work.

[mutedOracle]

otre: thx, ya I'm really new at this, all the past challenges i entered the 3d arena, but i never finish because i don't have the time, so i'm trying 2d this time. I haven't really done any full compositions before (at least not that i finished), so this is a real learning experience.:blush:

i'll look around to get a better idea for proper workflow...

thanks for the feedback!

[kevinhyshen]

very, very, very cool. It's different. and it's got very nice line quality with the woman. Cool setting. Migration?

[bandro]

looks good i wish it would seems with a more cold environment so it ressembles the nostalgic pose of the woman

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141911858_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141911858_large.jpg)

took otre's advice and started to paint the basic colors before i did the texture.
i ended up pretty much hiding all the work i did on the furthest mountain because of the fog. definitely not texturing so early on from now on! thx otre! :thumbsup:

anyway, right now i'm not sure about the color scheme. i'm don't know whether the greenish clouds seem too out of place because the green is not repeated anywhere. and at the same time i feel like i'm using too few colors...?

[Squibbit]

cool sketch, vvery nice feel to it :thumbsup:

edit: excellent fel to it, just looked at the lighting more

.

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141920952_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141920952_large.jpg)

took out the green and made the sky more dramatic.

one thing though, my images are a lot darker once i convert them to jpg. is there a setting in photoshop that i can change?

[Cyberone]

im really liking this recent update...very nive colours and lighting...

[MikeTheHunter]

Man, it's gonnna be a great piece!

About the conversion.... You might check, if you're working in RGB, cause it may convert from CMYK to RGB automatically for some reason while saving... also you could check the options in the saving dialog, you could have some option checked there, too... it also might alter the picture, if you're seindign it too compressed or something. But really - I haven't seen it happen. The values and colour shifts when converted to CMYK and backwards, but other than that... don't know. It looks good, though :)

[slickgreekgeo]

I'm really impressed with the lightning, very good work. Chill out with the textures, it's too early for that (meanwhile I'm doing the same thing, so I shouldn't be talkin, eh? :cool: )

Looking forward to this, you're off to a very good start.

[W-I-L]

really liking this one... colouring going well.. keep going like this and this will lookom really good

[Feimi]

It's looking beautiful so far. I never would have thought of something like this, but I'm still brainstorming. heheh. I really love the composition and what you've done with it all so far. I'm looking forward to seeing the rest.

[Katea]

I like the mood a lot, great lightning, I fell the sadness...

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141959130_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1141959130_large.jpg)

not much of an update i know, i've been struggling all afternoon trying to figure out what i want to paint on the ground. i don't want to it feel to "busy." for now i'm sticking with soft grass and only a few rocks.

[caumes]

so nice.
everything is here te movement the composition one more effort for the color and it will be fantastic.
some people are gifted !
congrats

[asbassie]

Absolutely beautiful - :cry: - i have no critique...Good luck and keep going

[otre]

It looks so cold and windy there. Really well done, and I take back what I said about the woman looking more past the camera. I notice now, with the adjusted lighting, that she's looking towards the sun, which I think has a real strong emotional effect. :thumbsup:

[Selina42]

Fantastic! Love your colours, your composition, the concept and your style. Subscribed and watching your progress avidly!

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1142223870_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1142223870_large.jpg)

tnx for all the comments!!!

my image has been at a stand still for a few days (post-spring-break-syndrome).
but i'm actually going to finish my entry this time! ...eventually...

ok, well i've started on the horse's coloring. (I know the head is really messed up, i'll fix that). the spots are giving me the greatest trouble, mostly because i can't find the perfect reference. I keep finding white horses with huge brown patches. But i only want small spots. suggestions welcome!

[vader]

gooood image man! excellent climate with the light of the sun. :bounce:

[domclubb]

the low light here is very effective. Gives a nice sense of horizon and hope to an otherwise cold, bleak scene. I like the way the girl is gazing into the sun. Like she has hope for the journey ahead. Very nice.

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1142565996_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1142565996_large.jpg)

A little more work on the horse, especially the head.

[beelow]

I was going to do something a little similar to this but with Native Americans, or Cowboys or something! But this is looking pretty darn good, I will be watching ur progress as well!:cool:

[MichaelZHsee]

seems like i have missed quite alot here~nice going with all the elements,composition and especially the moods.the horse rendering is crazy:thumbsup:keep it coming mate.looking forward and anticipating for more

[MichaelZHsee]

sorry bout the double post~server's lagging:scream:

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1142624037_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1142624037_large.jpg)

Still working on the horse's lighting...

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1143944195_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1143944195_large.jpg)

been a while, but i'm not going to abandon this one. the color scheme isn't working very well, and i'm having a lot of trouble with the lighting.

anyway here's the latest update, some preliminary work on the mother's face.

[webwings]

I like the expression you have captured on the mother's face...nice tilt of head adds to the sadness of the moment.

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1144029611_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1144029611_large.jpg)

an update on the baby

[anzibon]

i'm a little late here. just found this thread.
ok here goes...
i can't believe i'm doing this...

i disagree with walrus.
there. i said it. :D


i love the fact that she's standing and contemplating. there is obviously a journey going on. but if everyone, including here, is walking than the journey becomes very literal. however if she is not in motion it internalizes her journey. and gives us a chance to realize that this isn't as much the beginning of her journey as it is her childs. he/she's the real star.

there's a great quote, "never mistake motion for action" i think it was mark twain. (just looked it up. it was hemingway) i think that this piece really captures that. watching the sun come out from behind a cloud is important to her. the journey can wait. at least for a minute.



hope that made sense.
LOVE YOUR WORK, btw.
~B

PS - walrus. i still think your da man.

[CaveatScoti]

As a serious n00b myself, welcome to the challenge- I love this piece, the subject matter has a biblical feel to it, though it also reminds me of some of the more 'romantic' episides of 'Savage Sword of Conan'.

[TheFightingGoddess]

I miss this thread until now!! Unbelieveble!! :eek:
You're work leaves me kinda breathless! :love:
Great job on that details! Keep it up this way! I'll follow

[mutedOracle]

wow guys thanx!

anzibon: its so cool when other people read into a piece, it lets the story take it's own course.

caveatScoti: it's good to know i'm not alone.

FightingCalliope: well, thank you!

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148306275_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148306275_large.jpg)

OK, so i haven't done anything in months, and just decided that i can't abandon this one too. So, here's my frantic effort to try and fix the face. I've been trying to get very distinct shadows on the face of the mother and ended up redoing it entirely. I'm not sure it's much of an improvement.

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148393460_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148393460_large.jpg)

The mother's face is really anoying me. There's somthing very wrong with it but i can't figure out what. For the moment i've just left it the way it is. I'll come back to it after i've finished everything else.

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148608728_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148608728_large.jpg)

A little more work...the end is getting really close and i'm getting really messy in an attempt to get this finished by the deadline. I've painted a slightly more dramatic skyline. And added some other characters...

[MichaelZHsee]

amazing clouds:eek:i hope u finish this one

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148700721_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148700721_large.jpg)

OK, so another day's slaving to produce a meager result. Here's it is none the less. I'm just going to fix her hair and clean everything up...then I'm done! I've gotten so sick of looking at this thing.

This has been a great learning experience, but i can't wait to just delete this entire project from my hardrive...i need closure.

OK...i'll go finish this...

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148738215_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148738215_large.jpg)

Ok I'm done. Thank you to everyone who dropped by. I've really learned a lot from you all! Good luck with the judging!

[mutedOracle]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148743172_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10386/10386_1148743172_large.jpg)

Her son will never know the splendor of this landscape. They have been forced to relocate, and coerced to enter a cold and alien land. The journey will be bitter and arduous, so she offers her son the only piece of this place she can … one final glimpse.

[MichaelZHsee]

welldone,glad u have made it:)i really like the clouds:thumbsup:good luck again

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