The Journey Begins Challenge (2D) Entry: Kwokwai Sunny Siu

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146524757_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146524757_large.jpg)

My concept for Journey Begins shows a boy knight going on a perilous journey to slay a host of dragons that plague the land of his Lord.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146524946_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146524946_large.jpg)

Just a quick line sketch

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146525035_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146525035_large.jpg)

A color in progress update.
I've also changed the background element and included a dragon in the image for better narration.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146529682_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146529682_large.jpg)

Just a quick study of the boy knight

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146529793_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146529793_large.jpg)

Just another quick study for the boy knight.
I will go back to work on the one with the dragon.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146535076_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146535076_large.jpg)

Here is a color update. A higher contrast should dramatize the image a little.

[Vader80]

It's looking good! I had initialy liked the monochromatic version but after looking at the newer version it's much easier on the eyes. There is much more depth and the contrast is working much better. Initial I thought the dragon was too stiff but the detail is changing my opinion.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146639087_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146639087_large.jpg)

A quick update. I worked on the rock, the trees to the right and the dragon a little more.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146776890_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146776890_large.jpg)

Another update.
Painted some flowers at the base of the tree on the left. Another more shadow details in some of the other trees to further develop shape and form.

[beelow]

Nice concept sketches dude, good luck!:thumbsup:

[SideAche]

Nice start Sunny. i like the color palette on this one. You made consider dveloping a road that moves in the direction of the dragon. This would give an impression that the dragon is blocking his path. Just a thought.

[oceanbluesky]

Beautiful colors, agree with the others, the latest version is preferable. Good luck!

[SunnySiu]

Thanks guys for your encouragement!
Thanks to all of you : Vader80, Beelow, Sideache and Oceanbluesky.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146972392_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1146972392_large.jpg)

Another update.
I have taken Sideache's advice and implemented a middle ground trail and steps on the mountain to push the mountain and the dragon a little further away. It was also to add the "dragon-blocking-his-way" feel to the narration.
More details were added to both the dragon and the boy knight

[jevinart]

beautiful color and composition -- really like the setting you have in the works here! the only sugg i have would be to make the dragon much larger -- it seems very non-threatening at the scale it is now. by increasing it's size, and maybe even arching its neck and lowering the head so that it appears to strain to make eye contact with the knight, would dramatically increase the sense of foreboding and dread in your piece, as well as further enhance the knight's bravery and nobility....

[SunnySiu]

Thanks Kevin,
That's a great advise. I will play with the size of the dragon a little more.

[SideAche]

Keep it coming. I agree with the dragon comment. Good work!

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147067604_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147067604_large.jpg)

Another update.
I've increased the size of the dragon quite drastically; hopefully this works better for the narration. What do you guys think?

[anzibon]

have you considered introducing some other colors so that the part of the pic with the dragon is more foreboding by constrast. it's addition by subtraction. right now the whole canvas feels threatening and so the dragon doesn't have as much punch as he could.

just my $.02
lookin great.
~B

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147145035_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147145035_large.jpg)

Another update.
I added a small waterfall to the rocks that the dragon stands on.

[slickgreekgeo]

Looking good so far, keep it up!

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147222368_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147222368_large.jpg)

Another update.
I have changed the dragon's pose so it looks a little more dynamic and threatening.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147306275_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147306275_large.jpg)

Another update.
I've changed the horse's head to convey a sense of reaction and defiance between the horse and the dragon. The rider's hair has been shortened too. Now he no longer has his ponytail.

[adonihs]

Wow, really warm feeling tothis one. I think the horse would look a bit more intimidating if you attached some armor to its head? and his kaboose back there seems a TAD big. that dragon is looking kick ass though :) brave concept.

[SunnySiu]

Thanks Daniel,
The horse armor was a good call. I will try that out.
And the horse's back end does seem a tad big, doesn't it? I will look into that too.
Thanks again!

[SideAche]

The pose of the dragon looks better. A couple of posts earlier, he was starting to look like a statue - not anymore.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147499216_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147499216_large.jpg)

Another update.
This time I have lengthened the neck of the dragon a little to match its long extremities.

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147653787_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1147653787_large.jpg)

Here is another update.
I have added a piece of head armor for the horse. Thanks Daniel, that was a good call!
A little more details were added to the horse and the rider. The dragon was toned down a little bit to help pushing it back in space.
A change in the rock formation where the dragon stands also took place; now the dragon stands over a small lake.
I think this is almost done.
What do you think?

[faerLinden]

YOur mark making is looking awsome, so defined, and yet as a whole it dissapears.

[Vader80]

Hey Pal, huge improvements! The dragon looks great but I think the horse is looking really stable. I like how you adjusted the head of the horse to show that he sees the dragon but I think you may need to change up his pose. I know this would be a big change but what if you had the horse pulling up in the front to show that he is threatened by the dragon? With one foot high in the air the other outstretched to the ground with the front of the horse arched high. With the horse acted scared and your character riding firm and keeping control would show the threat of the dragon and the courage in the character. What you think?

[SunnySiu]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1148364812_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10441/10441_1148364812_large.jpg)

Here is my final image.
This image chronicles the journey of a boy knight called Jeremiah whose destiny leads him on a perilous path to subdue a host of dragons that plagues the cherished land of his Lord.
This is the beginning of Jeremiah's story.

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