The Journey Begins Challenge (2D) Entry: Miguel F. De Angel

[FrozZT]

Hellö! Welcome to the challenge! Good luck and have fun! :)

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142032470_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142032470_large.jpg)

I want to try and tackle this challenge from the perspective of a small child who's recently lost his/her parents and is now confronted with facing the world alone.

Generelly I want to kep the left side of the image to convey the history -the character's past-, and the right to convey that which is to come. I also love making up creatures, so the scene will probably take place in a fantasy setting.

In this sketch I've used the creature to help add dimension to the small child. It is about the 6th iteration of my first short session.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033033_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033033_large.jpg)

Here I'm exploring the "past" imagry and the relationship with the creature.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033101_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033101_large.jpg)

Here I'm exploring the "past" imagry and the relationship with the creature.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033489_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033489_large.jpg)

Exploring the creature.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033598_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142033598_large.jpg)

The child.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142035921_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142035921_large.jpg)

Exploring the history/background imagry

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142037869_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142037869_large.jpg)

Tighter drawing of the creature.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142038181_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142038181_large.jpg)

Here I've included the tighter concept sketches into the original color sketch.

The kid doesn't look as small and vulnerable as before, he's bigger in proportion to the creature. The creature is the same size as before.

Comments welcome.

[Selina42]

Lovely! Moody and atmospheric and ever so sad -i think this is wonderfully evocative and really touches me, both as a concept and also through the style and palette of the image. Great stuff!

[werepumpkin]

FrozZT - Thank you. These are my first posts here though I've been a lurker and fan for a while. It's also my first challege so I certainly plan to have fun with it. I hope you do the same.

Selina42 - Thank you for the compliments. It's nice to know that what's in my head can also be appreciated by others. I already have a handfull more concepts that I hope build on the overall image. I look forward to more feedback when I post those up as well.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142102874_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142102874_large.jpg)

I'm trying to think here about the journey that's ahead. So far I'm trying to interpret "vast landscapes". I'd like to give it an epic feel without taking away from the deeply emotional and personal moment that is the center of the image.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142103059_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142103059_large.jpg)

Exploring the ladscape I did this tree I really lilke. I'm not sure if I'll be able to work it into the scene, but I'd like to if it aids me in the storytelling.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142103272_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142103272_large.jpg)

Here are some props that may help convey the characters past. I think the cart will also help convey that this is expected to be a long journey.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142103425_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142103425_large.jpg)

A variation on the scene overall. Seems less intimate, but much clearer that the character is on a journey, as opposed to just sharing an intimate moment with the creature.

I already have ideas for adding these few sketches together to build onto the scene. That'll be the next step.

[cLos71]

Cool creature! I like the concept, it will be tricky to visualize the whole dead parents storyline, hence what makes it a challenge. I like the detail of the kid looking back on the house, makes you look. I'll keep my eyes on this as well.

To all those not familiar with puertorican culture - Wepa is an expression used in Puerto Rico, like a friendly holler. It's correct pronounciation is whe-pah!

[boredomsketch]

hello there! first of all good luck on your journey.
In my opinion your color sketch (12:49)where the creature has his head down and the kid looking back is the best one that describes your concept. The creature seems to be really the pet of the child that is there to help him.
good luck!

[werepumpkin]

Carlos & joaoCaetano - Thanks for the feedback. I agree with both your comments. Overall I'm glad the image communicates so far. It'll certainly be tricky to convey the dead parent's background, but it seems you both agree that the kid looking back definitely helps bring attention to the grave sites, the house - the background story.

[boredomsketch]

yes the kid's looking back give's you the idea that he's leaving something behind.
And it brings attention to the background.
But i guess the graves dont get much attention. :/

[werepumpkin]

I'll have to work on that.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142116295_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1142116295_large.jpg)

I've incorporated development sketches into the scene. I've moved the graves to the foreground to make them more prominent. I've also added a vague figure calling the child onto his journey. A distant relative or some kind of foster care authority?

The landscape on the right still needs some sorting out, but I think I'm going in the right direction. The charactrs and grave will also require tighter designs.

[IronCalf]

Gnah, i worked on nearly the same Idea (Children, dead Parents - only more dragons), and planned to enter the Challenge tomorrow...

OK, i will do something different.

Good Luck

River Dragon

[werepumpkin]

Hi River_Dragon. THanks for your post. Don't let yourself be discouraged because our ideas are similar. I'm sure you'll have your own twist and individual perpective on the concept. I'd be cusrious to see what you come up with. Let me know what your theard's URL is and I'll check it out.

[SalamanderCoral]

hey miguel, i like your concept very much! especially this horse-dino-creature is pretty cool!
i'm curious, what colors you'll choose, to convey the mood of your story...
good luck mate!!!:D

so long
Salamander

[Chupacabra]

Hi,

Very promising. I like your drawing style.

Best regards and big respect

Khan alias Chupacabra

My Journey Begins (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=323929&page=1&pp=15)

CG Portfolio (http://chupacabra.cgsociety.org/gallery/)

[werepumpkin]

Salamander - Thanks for the compliments! I'm big into creating creatures. I'm glad you like it as well. Color-wise, I want to keep it pretty dark and with low saturation. I think it won't be too far from the sketch so far, except for maybe the right side to help suggest the epic aspect of the future journey.

Chupacabra - Thank you much as well. I was very pleased to receive your compliments, but after seeing your own work, I am honored to receive such praise from someone so gifted. Your own Journey Begins piece is just extraordinary. Thanks again.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143503374_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143503374_large.jpg)

I've hardly had any time in front of my computer to work on this, but I've still been able to do a bit ot pencil and paper polishing of the composition. Here's the line art with some of the composition guides that I used.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143503606_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143503606_large.jpg)

Painted version of the above composition.

[anzibon]

i like the graves in the fg. maybe some fresh flowers on one for his mom to show that he's been visiting them. right now the position of the character in the middle is a little wierd. maybe if the character were on the right of the canvas and the graves on the left, in the fg, we'd get a sense of him leaving the graves, rather than just passing by. conviently enough, there's already a shadow on the ground for the characters to stand on. :thumbsup:


love your work,
~B

PS - is this going to remain a B&W image? i think it's working so far. or maybe a twilight color scheme that just barely suggests colors.

[cLos71]

Nice progress! I havent't been able to put a finger on mine :( , I have been working on the website. Hopefully I'll get to dabble this weekend a little bit. Keep it up!

[werepumpkin]

anzibon - First, thank you for the compliments.

I have thought of the fresh flowers, but have been absorbed in resolving the composition. Centering the character is really what's hurting the image, but I wanted to have the space for the epic background ahead of the journey. Maybe I should not worry about having the landscape to his right, but behind him.

I do plan to let some color "seep" in, but for the most part the color scheme will remain very similar, as I want this to be a very muted image. Maybe even gloomy, as the subject matter would suggest.

Thanks so much for stopping by! I appreciate the feedback. In fact, I am sure you'll see some chhanges as a result of it.:)

[werepumpkin]

cLos! Good to see you around again.

You're being a tease, man! I'm eager to see progress on your illo!

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143590789_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143590789_large.jpg)

Composition tweaks as mentioned above.

[Zeitwolf]

The last update looks very promising! I like the story concept you chose.

[werepumpkin]

Zeitwolf - Thanks for your feedback. I'm pretty satisfied with it at this stage. Now I just have to find some time to really render it all. It should be fun!

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143911176_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1143911176_large.jpg)

Some development of the background.

[RedSquirrel]

Nice work, you have nice atmosphere to this piece, the only thing I can crit at this stage is the lack in the variety of colour, but I guess its still early stages yet. I did however like the your concept sketch with character riding on top of the creature. :thumbsup:

[werepumpkin]

RedSquirrel - Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate the feedback. I have started to infuse some more color into the scene as I work on details now. I'll post that as soon as I can. The trick will be to do that judiciosuly so as to maintiain the mood and atmosphere it has now. I wouldn't want to lose the mood.

[Nigio]

Hi, I like the mood in your image, the landscape is great. I´d suggest that the tree in foreground could have more foliage and branches, maybe making it bigger and less "straight" would help to add interest at the main zone of your image.
Keep it up :thumbsup:

[webwings]

This POV tells the story much better.....I can sense a bit of the sadness of the character and his animal friend!

[werepumpkin]

Nigio - I agree with you about the FG tree. I think I need to get a few more reference pics. It's a bit stale right now.

webwings - Thanks! I'm finally satisfied with the overall composition, and if I can maintain the sadness of the character and his companion in the final image I'll be very happy.

[Slav]

very strong image man. :wip:

[cLos71]

Que piensas hacer con el fondo? Are you keeping the more or less the same mountains & clouds? I's be a good chance to inject some nice intense colors or are you going to keep it muted?

[MrFreeman]

Great work Miquel..

There's a lot of emotion and feeling in this.... really something

Good Luck .. :)

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1148444427_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1148444427_large.jpg)

I had not had a chance to post an update for over a month. This is where I left off somewhere in mid-April. I mostly worked on the kid.

[werepumpkin]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1148444669_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10874/10874_1148444669_large.jpg)

The recent rush of activity on the challenge pages with the final days getting closer has prompted me to take some time to make progress on my entry.

Here I have added some fog to enhance the mood and add/exagerate the atmospheric perspective in the hopes that it will help develop the sense of eerie loneliness that has forced this journey onto the main characters.

[werepumpkin]

Slav - Thank you.

Carlos - Intense colors in the background would make for a more exciting image, but I don't think that excitement is appropriate for the mood of this scene. I think muted is the way to go.

...Not that I expect to have time to finish this.

MrFreeman - Thank you. I think I often try to have the viewer "experience" the scene as much as see it. I would say most of the time lighting and colors create the moods in my work, but this piece seems to really tug at the heart strings. I think probably more from the universal human experience of loosing a loved one that from my particular rendition of the scene.

I wish I wasn't so busy these days and had time to finish it in time. I'll have to satisfy myself with finishing at some point past the deadline.

Angain, thank you all. I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and comment. The feedback is much appreciated.

[OZOZOZ]

hi! i like your image, the mood and the theme reminds me the folk stories and legends of my nation. in your image added on March, 10 i'm impressed with your tonal pallete, the ground is painted very expressively; it contrasts with the sky perfectly and this all brings some severe feeling to the composition according to your general idea.
i wish you to be in time with this challenge! good luck!:)

[werepumpkin]

Ozozoz - Thank you for stopping by. I am glad you mentioned the early versions of my image, as they most closely reflect the technical style I preffer.

Unfortunately other commitments got in the way of being able to spend enough time on this challenge. None the less, I am glad I participated. My creative juices are really going, and my desire to finish this painting as well as tackle the next project is great. If/when I finish I will look to show it to those of you who were so kind and supportive with your feedback. I wish you the best of luck with your own entry. It really tuned out to be a wonderful piece.

[OZOZOZ]

i'm really glad you are going to continue your work with this painting! i hope you will post it on wip critique to have a possibility to communicate during your working process (in this case you will finish it for sure :) )! good luck! do not leave this for a long time!:)

[werepumpkin]

Andrew - Thank you for the feedback and support. I will definitely keep working on this image. I look forward to posting it again and hearing from you again.

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