The Journey Begins Challenge (2D) Entry: Kevin Soderlund

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1142115054_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1142115054_large.jpg)

the date is december 11, 1969, and a young soldier, fresh out of training, has just stepped down from a chopper and into his first glimpse of war.

the journey begins as his boots crunch the moist soil of a foreign land -- everything safe and familiar is suddenly behind him. in the split-second of disorientation and throat-clenching fear that takes hold -- mixed with the realization that every decision he makes from this moment forward could mean the difference between life or death -- the young boy becomes a man. a long road of horror and bloodshed lay before him, masked by the dangerous undergrowth and tropical foliage of vietnam....

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1142116716_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1142116716_large.jpg)

the concept sketch and line art are one in the same -- created in a single sitting (this is how i work).... next step is to add a color wash.

[norvman]

Nice line work ....

good perspective....

Good emotion on the face of the Character...

Looks like the start of a winner too me...

:thumbsup:

[FlaminGlow]

excelent and done very well.

[jevinart]

many thanks! your comments are greatly appreciated!

[erilaz]

The facial expression is wonderful. That tense uncertainty, combined with a soldier-like stoicism. Beautiful.

[jevinart]

many thanks! I was particularly struck by the expression on this young soldier (am using real vietnam war footage, composited together, for my reference material) -- he had such a powerful aura about him; his face told the story i was looking for....

am in the color phase now (was a very long day yesterday, but got a lot accomplished!). The final will have a very overcast, bleak look to it, with muted muddy colors and a hazy atmosphere...

[Nigio]

I agree, the soldier expression is great, and the drawing is nice. I like the theme. I'll be looking forward for the colour work.

[jevinart]

appreciate it! the color work is underway, and i should be posting an update soon. thanks for the excellent comment!

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1142310725_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1142310725_large.jpg)

this is a color WIP of the soldier's face (close-up detail).

[slickgreekgeo]

It's good to see something different, but fits into the challenge perfectly. Good work so far, your concept is great.

[am7]

Wow, very cool coloring you got there. I love how you've included alot of colors in his skin. Keep it up! :thumbsup:

[jevinart]

thanks, peeps! i wanted to really think outside the box on this one, and go back in time to a real, pivotal moment in someone's life at the beginning of their own personal journey....

as far as the colors go -- just gettin' started. really appreciate the feedback!

[Neubius]

full metal sketchbook.

love the expression, will be watching :)

[jevinart]

like that!

[ppook]

Hi mate,That 's interesting story and the face 's muscle of your character is perfect. Good job :))))

[jevinart]

thanks, man! appreciate the great words.... here's the color progress as it stands today (still have a lot to add, but will give a general idea of the scheme and mood...)

http://www.jevin.com/graphics/Forum/Color_WIP_Screenshot1.jpg

[beelow]

Looking good, man! Maybe add some destruction, like way in the background, give a more dramatic feel to it! Just a suggestion though, I like the anatomy of the face of the character!:thumbsup:

[jevinart]

thanks for the great comment, and the sugg -- will definitely keep that in mind (maybe some smoke -- way distant in the jungle -- trailing into the sky from a burning village?).....

[Neubius]

sounds cool, maybe even a napalm strike in the far distance .. ?

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1143088454_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1143088454_large.jpg)

Here's another WIP close-up detail of the soldier's face with helmet. I'm including the Painter interface to show my working environment as I paint.... The next step is to define the soldier's torso with straps of bullets...

[beelow]

prolly should go ahead and lay ur solids down for the guys in foreground! Save the detailing for last! That is usually how I work and I got amazing results doing that and it speeds up the process! But, it seems to be coming together. Nice to meet another Painter fanatic!:thumbsup:

[jevinart]

yeah -- i normally work that way too. on this particular piece, tho, i found the soldier's face to be extremely challenging -- probably the most difficult face i've painted (as i never shy away from a challenge, i took this one head-on -- literally). i really wanted to get this area's detail in place to set the mood, and set the stage for the level of detail to follow. also, i really enjoy this character; sometimes when i'm having a real good time with my art, i throw conventional methods and processes aside and just go with the pleasure of it all (my art is purely a labor of love)!

all of the color will be blocked in shortly (completing the final color milestone), then the rest of the painting will pull the detail together in its entirety. the main character will, however, be the most detailed, pulling the viewer's attention to him as the primary focus, with the enviornment behind as a secondary and supportive element....

i also immerse myself in reference material for the work at hand as well -- i've purchased several movies and CD's relating to this era, and am creating a time capsule dating back to 1969 in my head while i take on this challenge. been a long time since i've watched "woodstock" and listened to jimmy hendrix & jefferson airplane!!!

[JTD]

This is a great update. I really identify with the character's face—so emotional. No harm in the way you're working because Michelangelo and Rodin worked details before laying out the total composition. Rodin's sculptures are renowned for their purposely unfinishednessment (I just made up a word).

[jevinart]

hey, JTD -- thanks for the cool comment! i'm actually in full agreement here; i prefer not to be a slave to procedure when i work... sometimes when i get truly inspired (as in this piece) i just go with the flow and see where it takes me...

[SalamanderCoral]

great work, kevin:thumbsup: you're really talented in painting faces, it's wonderful!
i also like your idea, to show some smoke in the distant jungle.
can't wait to see an update!

best regards & good luck, mate
Salamander

[jevinart]

thanks, salamander! really appreciate the kind words.... can't wait to dive in and get a lot more done on this puppy over the weekend...!

[beelow]

Haha! that's all good dude. Go ahead and do what u feel that is best dude. I was just merely saying that this painting will appear to be finished with some color on the guys jacket, as opposed to the white canvas, as u have other eyes looking at this as well as I! But, this entry is really looking good, and it is really nice to see that ur referencing heavily to get the idea accross of the era and feeling of the time! Do what u do though, as I can clearly see your ability in what u are capable of!:thumbsup:

[jevinart]

i'm pretty much an anarchist when it comes to my art (hell, in life all 'round, i guess...). don't really adhere to the rulez all the time (will probably cost me in this challenge in the end, but that's o.k. -- just here 'cause i luv what i do). art for me is a pleasure and not a labor -- don't really worry about the end product -- or the process that taks me there. unless the end product is crap. well, then i worry.....

[beelow]

We'll sometimes it is good not to follow the rulez that is givin to us, well I would call them guidelines that we tend to follow. Don't get me wrong though, that I am not having fun with this. Actually, I am kinda glad that I am getting the response that I am getting, in this contest and I have grown a lot! I don't think art should ever be labor, especially for a contest! But, I am glad to see the product that u are producing dude, just keep it up! I'll be lurking!:thumbsup:

[jevinart]

you're too cool, man! will be watchin' your extremely excellent work develop in this challenge as well....

[ramy badie]

I feel that the face is so visually interesting here because of the variation in skin tone and saturation, I really love your work so far. I just love how it is progressing overall and can't wait to see the next few updates to see where you go with it. Good luck with the rest of the image :)

[jevinart]

hey, thanks ramy!! appreciate the cool comment...

[anzibon]

you'll have a lot of work to do to make this gritty and dirty. crank up that credence clearwater revival. It ain't me!! I ain't no military son!!


no crits so far.
~B

PS - if you haven't seen it, rent hamburger hill

[jevinart]

thanks, anzibon -- will check out hamberger hill, haven't seen that one. good sugg. as far as the grit and grime on my main character, he's just stepping off the chopper for his first glimpse of vietnam, so he'd be relatively clean compared to the muddy landing field around him. don't want him to look like he'd already been in the trenches or the jungles, since his journey is just beginning....

the soldier's uniform and hat are worn, tho, 'cause he's wearing the gear from a former soldier handed down in the army.

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144539226_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144539226_large.jpg)

here is the latest update on my challenge entry, "journey into war" -- color WIP 3....

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144548902_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144548902_large.jpg)

Adding a dash of shadows.... (the shadows here are a base application)

[adonihs]

looking good man, i loved how u captured his expression, great job !

[jevinart]

thanks, pal!

[Elrond56]

Kevin . . . excellent choice, powerful stuff . . . you're nailing the emotions in this young mans face . . . only thought I had was, if it wasn't too late, you could add injured being loaded on the copter . . . it would amplify the emotion and add realism.

can't wait to see this one be realized . . .

a VietNam Vet *

[jevinart]

hey, elrond -- thanks for the sugg. i didn't take into account that ALL resources must be utilized in a time of war -- that a chopper wouldn't just drop off the new soldiers, but also act as an evac vehicle to remove the wounded as well.... wow -- you gave me some food for thought. and since you've actually "taken this journey" yourself, well, thank you (not only for givin' me a powerful direction, but for fighting over there and making it back!)....

[paperclip]

I like this, has me wondering what's going on in the guy's head. It has an almost bittersweet atmosphere- like he's leaving and excited, but scared for the journey ahead...?

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144640321_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144640321_large.jpg)

here is the color WIP, 6th image. i've adjustd my original image composition to include a suggestion made about adding evacuating wounded. this was a very good mention, as this new addition adds tremendously to the drama and tension of the piece, as well as takes into account the multi-use of the presence of the chopper -- not only to bring new soldiers to the jungles to fight, but also to remove those who have fallen at the hands of the enemy...

thanks for the suggestion, pal!

[anzibon]

i keep looking at that sky and feeling like, "doesn't seam that bad there, really" this is more of a thematic suggestion, and one that's probably way overused, but maybe if you had some bad weather on the horizon. a little allusion to things to come. and perhaps a ouple more birds just to show the traffic that's flowing in and out of there. he is, after all, one of many.

lookin good, mate.
~B

[penartist26]

nice job jevinart' uh that soldier need some medical,:scream: :thumbsup:

[warpy]

nice style. next time you post please do it without the photoshop gui it ruins the scene.

[jevinart]

thanks for the suggs and the comments!

anizibon: still debating on some smoke rising from the jungle in the backdrop -- but would be subtle. the environment around the characters will be very muddy and dreary, giving a sense of bleakness. haven't really started tweaking the sky yet; will definitely be darkening the clouds a bit for dramatic effect, but not so much as to turn the whole scene dark and gray...

nards: thanks, pal! medic!

warpy: appreciate the compliment! i've been showing the gui because the scene is not yet completed, and i felt that part of the purpose of this whole excercise is to open up to the viewers how we work; the painter gui is just kinda like my uncompleted canvas on the easle with my paints spread around, like you'd see in an artist's open studio for a work in progress. the artist wouldn't hide all the paints when someone comes in -- hell, that area would be a mess, as that's just part of the process. also shows the tools i'm using and my set-up. as the piece hits the final coloring phase, will drop the gui and focus solely on the image itself....

[johnvencer]

The facial expression is excellent, and captures the emotion well. I am assuming he is getting off at firebase. My question is if he is new, why would he have that look on his face? Is he viewing the carnage around him? IMO the picture with the 2 soldiers helping the man out conveyed that carnage more effectively rather then just the soldier running away. Maybe a guy in the foreground carrying a wounded soldier bumping into him? Also being that close to a chopper would create backwash on the ground and would affect him at least blow his chin strap if not make him squint and huddle from the dust and flying debris.

[jevinart]

hey, johnvencer -- many thanks for the deep insight and excellent comments into my WIP....

------------------

my vision on what's goin' on in this dude's melon:

he's just stepped off the chopper into vietnam, and is getting his first glimpse of the reality of where he's at, and what's in store for him. he doesn't see any combat on the landing field, but sees some soldiers awaiting evac, bandaged -- and some dead covered with blankets. in an instant, the harsh realization hits him -- he's far away from everything he's known all his life, and heading into a situation that most likely will leave him dead or god knows what. his youth is gone and replaced with manhood; he's both disgusted and where he's at, yet stoic in his will to survive this journey. terror twists his gut into a knot, as he hesitates, pulling at the bravery that's been ingrained into him through months of boot camp. my goal is to capture a split-second in time in this young man's face, when he's torn from all sides mentally -- in just a few moments, bravery and determined courage will win the struggle, and he will fight with honor and dignity to the end -- wherever the end of this journey takes him.

------------------

i also wanted to address the chopper blade issue as well -- they're not going to be painted in full spin (with a motion blur effect); instead, the blades are very near the end of their rotation, as the chopper sits idle and awaits the loading of its passengers before re-starting and making the dangeroud journey back to safety.....

again, pal -- great comments. really appreciate your pickin' my brain...

[anzibon]

this may be a question for Elrond56, but do they stop the rotors on the helicopter in those situations? i'm just thinking from watching mash and war movies and stuff. but it might be worth looking into. remember, your helping to document history by creating this. something that's been on my mind with my piece as well.

besides, then you can get really cool dust swirls. :)

cheeers,
~B

[jevinart]

very good question, anzibon. the ground i'm creating in this scene -- based on the reference material i've collected for this project -- is muddy and cruddy tho, not the fodder for dustswirls even in the best of circumstances. but for accuracy's sake, am willing to adjust my chopper rotar strategy for realism....

Here are a couple of my reference shots:

The first is my environment and chopper reference (note the muddly, sloppy jungle clearing)

http://www.jevin.com/graphics/Forum/veitnam.jpg

The second is one of my reference shots for loading evacuees

http://www.jevin.com/graphics/Forum/wounded3.jpg

[Stahlberg]

This looks cool so far, but I don't really like the sky, I think you can do a lot more with dramatic clouds... too much blue in the sky, IMO that color doesn't go well with the green etc... the clouds also seem very unrealistic, especially compared to how real looking you managed to get the face and body on the first pass. Check some references for skies and jungle backgrounds.

About the face, I kind of feel he's too much the lean mean action hero there, I'd make him younger looking and fresh faced, innocent, you know? A lot of those guys were only 18, if his journey is just beginning he should probably be around the same age. Also, it would probably bring your point across better if his gear wasn't worn at all, even if it would be less historically accurate.

Also, instead of a lightly wounded guy in the background (cause he's still conscious and able to sit up right?), maybe our poor greenhorn could find himself surrounded by full body bags, waiting to be shipped back home.

[jevinart]

thanks for the comment, stahlberg!

not in full agreement here, tho. haven't had a chance to fully develop the sky yet -- the clouds will be a bit darker, like the clearing sky after a brief tropical rainshower, but blue sky will prevail. i've actually spent lots of time in the coastal jungles of mexico, and am tapping into some of that experience in creating my mood (mexico's a far cry from asia, but there are some similarities in jungle habitats).

i don't want to get too into heavy shock value, with body bags and lots of death. i want the expression of my character to realy a feeling that encompasses this possibility. the wounded soldier being carried to the chopper is my representation of the physical trauma of war, as well as the anguish on the faces of his rescuers.

i am, as we speak, adding dark grey smoke rising from a burned village in the far-off jungle, however. this effect is helping to darken the mood even further, by creating a sense of heaviness and destruction emanating from the distance...

[beelow]

I think that Stahlberg brings up a point with making the character a lot more younger, body bags could highten the feelings well. Never hurts to try though, its up to u though, I think it is pretty nice though, I will have to see the next step to judge the sky though, because that will help with the overall mood of this as well! Keep at it mate!:thumbsup:

[jevinart]

thanks, beelow!

actually, part of the message i'm trying to convey with this particular piece is the sudden transition from youth (i'd say the guy was about 18 or 19) to instantaneuous maturity; at this very moment, my character's youth is gone entirely, replaced by the horrific reality of war and his predicament in the middle of it. he's just grown up big-time, and has become somewhat hardened with his first glimpse of the casualties of war.....

do not like the idea of body bags -- as i mentioned, not going for literal death representations here. dead bodies are not needed in a piece to make an impact on the horror of war; my character's expression and that on those around him are designed to relay this effect. i'm hoping to make two impact points here: to leave it up to the viewer to see through this young soldier's eyes via his emotion and to interpret what he sees (enhanced by the men in the background and their situation); to also create a sense of hope that maybe, as this young man being carried away by his buddies, my character might actually make it out alive... i must admit that the second point came to light after the suggestion to add in wounded -- that changed my goals a bit.

appreciate the suggestion, tho....

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144930410_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144930410_large.jpg)

here is the latest evolution of my piece "journey into war". i've made a couple of significant changes, thanks to the comments i've received. i've brought in a tropical storm moving across the sky, and dropped the idea of smoke coming from the jungle (would've been too much in combination with the textural cloudscape...).

the next step is to add puddles of water in the mud around my characters, furthering to reinforce the damp, muddy and miserable conditions of tropical vietnam.

really appreciate the suggs i've received about the clouds -- this did truly enhance the drama of the piece, and adds a sense of foreboding that wasn't there before....

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144984044_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1144984044_large.jpg)

establishing more of the environment in this update: cloud / background rain tweaking, addition of base color for ground puddles, jungle definition with ground mist, and foliage....

still a long way to go, but the image is beginning to take shape.

[OliveBeard]

Fantastic expression. I love the contrasting whether patterns in the background as well.

I particularly like the in-the-process screenshot; mind if I use that?

Excellent work man. Can't wait.

[jevinart]

hey, olivebeard --

thanks for the cool comment -- really appreciate it! i personally would love to see your screenshots; for me, that's one of the coolest ways to see how artists work, what tools they use, and to learn from their style and tricks....

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1145080441_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1145080441_large.jpg)

more work done on the foreground & foliage, as well as some subtle smoothing of the background stormclouds...

[makaron]

I like this one... like the contrast between the blue "happy" sky and the dark clouds... really like his thoughtful face expression... to me it says, war is not "funny"... and you don´t use a lot of big gestures to show it...

[Elrond56]

Hey Kevin,

Got lost in some other battles and haven't been able to follow up in awhile . . . you're nailing this . . . I don't like to 'go there' but seeing the additions you've poured into this gives me goose bumps! I almost did a variation on the war theme but decided to take a different approach to this challenge . . . I'm very satisfied to see someone with your talent going into the trenches and doing it justice *)

creatively,
Elrond

[jevinart]

makaron: many thanks, pal. appreciate the cool words -- your take on this is exactly what i was trying to achieve....


elrond56: don't even need an award for this piece -- your words alone have made this challenge worthwhile & a success for me. thanks so much for the feedback -- i'm humbled.

[Elrond56]

I figure you've been doing your homework, but just in case, thought I'ld pass these 4 links along.
http://www.dustoff.org/

http://www.vhpamuseum.org/defaultmenu.shtml

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/

http://www.busternus.com/rvn/page_03.htm

You'll notice that often there would be colored(purple) smoke used to single the incoming (link 3) "It was a smoke war. Historians speak of the "fog of war." Well we carried it in little cans and we had as many colors as Jamba Juice has flavors. We had cranberry red, lime green, sunflower yellow, and purple passion. This was my favorite, marvelous magenta.

When you wanted to go home you threw out a can and asked the pilot what color they saw. If there was a match, you got your ride. If Charlie also popped smoke and it didn't match he got his ass handed to him on a platter. If there were two smokes of the same color then there was a problem.

You could also throw it to mark your position and tell the gunship drivers and fast movers to kill every living thing more than x meters from your position. And for photographers, we just hoped that it went well with the background." R. B. Hawkins

. . . of couse you've got such a strong composition going I couldn't suggest adding anything. It's all just for reference *)

paint on!

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1145682277_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1145682277_large.jpg)

all of the color in this piece has been blocked out. now for the tweaking, smoothing and detailing to pull the image into finality...

[jevinart]

elrond -- you are truly amazing, pal!! thanks for the excellent links -- i bookmarked all of them for reference -- not only for this project, but for other military-themed paintings in the future. what a wealth of information!

really appreciate your input on the smoke, too. to be honest, i didn't really know the whole meaning behind the colored smoke, other than it was a signal method. i think i'd like to add a smoke signal in my piece for added realism, blending it subtly with the background. really didn't think of that till you brought it to my attention. definitely food for thought here....

i can't begin to tell you how much respect i have for you, your service & experience, and for your willingness to share your knowledge and expertise with me. thanks again, man -- you totally made my day.

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1145767923_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1145767923_large.jpg)

here's an update to my final color comp incorporating a key element suggested by elrond56 -- color-coded smoke signals used in the vietnam war by military personnel. even though my image is created using my own "stylized realism" approach to documenting this young man's journey, important facts actualized by history and military strategy only serve to enhance this image's accuracy. hats off to elrond for this wonderful suggestion -- your input is greatly valued and appreciated!

Many thanks, pal....

for anyone who's interested, here's a WIP screenshot of the painting in production using Painter:

http://www.jevin.com/graphics/Forum/JourneyIntoWar_FinalColor_Screenshot.jpg

(i normally dont like revealing my reference material while a painting is in progress, but feel that during this excersize, "baring my soul" as it relates to the production of my work is all part of the game...) this screenshot gives an idea of my original reference piece, in comparison to the changes i've incorporated thanks to the wonderful suggestions of cgtalk artists. i think my work is all the stronger because of your input...

*** the original reference piece is a composite created with photoshop and after effects; reality -- as i have been fortunately enlightened by a participant in this conflict, and cg challenge -- has had me embrace compositional changes to reflect historical facts and strategies.

[cok3]

I like the way you arranged this image. the injured soldier's, and smoke on one side, and the helicopters and clear skies on the other side. Quite an emotional piece. Lots o things goin on, on this guys head. lookin forward to more updates man, good luck!

[jevinart]

hey, thanks, cok3 -- appreciate the kind wordz. i kinda thought while i was working and incorporating the suggs from my peeps, that i would have the casualties of war on the dark side, and rescue / relief being framed by blue skies and "hope". you're the first to pick up on that compositional element. as this is a wip in the truest sense, your comments are greatly valued. my goal with this painting is to portray the emotional side of a soldier entering into his own personal journey of warfare; i've been fortunate enough to have the guidance and expertise of an actual soldier involved in this conflict to steer me in the right direction (elrond56 -- plase check out his own entry at: http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?t=345978 ).

thanks again, dude, for leavin' your mark on my progress....

[Elrond56]

Hey Kevin . . . I'm getting goose bumps man!!! I'm glad your still at it and I had no idea if, or how you would use the smoke but you pulled off a nice way to seperate foreground and mid ground and cleverly frame the new recruit with a veil of color . . . you are a master *)

So glad to be along for this one! Ciao 4 now . . .

[notpill]

yo kevin, your piece it's coming up great.
I like also the new smoke. Impressive.

[jevinart]

hey, elrond & notpill -- thanks so much for the cool words!!!

[anzibon]

hey,
been gone for a while, super busy at work. i'm lovin these updates.
keep up the good work.

~B

[jevinart]

thanks, anizibon! i've got a pretty busy work scene too -- put in a little art on the side whenever i can catch some time at night.... apreciate you checkin' in and throwing a comment my way.

[man-to]

I like the idea, also the characters are nice, maybe more depth perspective would make it look even better!

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1146541603_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1146541603_large.jpg)

getting into some detailing of the chopper in this update....

[oceanbluesky]

Hey Kevin, very nice image...looking forward to seeing where this takes you...elrond56's concept work is very interesting too. Best of luck on your journey!

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1146925732_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1146925732_large.jpg)

adding detail... will be completed soon.

[Anarki3000]

The propeller turned out great. The overall mood of this pic is really good, as it would give sound, noise, explosions, gunfire.. vietnam-like...

What I like is the main character's face and expression.. Typical american hero fighting for his country...Yeah, like in the movies

Good luck man

[jevinart]

thanks for the cool comment, pal! appreciate it.....

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1146976160_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1146976160_large.jpg)

Detail, detail, detail.... focusing on the main soldier's uniform.

[ramy badie]

Wow it's been a few weeks since I checked this, and it's looking great! My only suggestion is to maybe desaturate the three people at the back very slightly, other than that this is looking really great :D

[jevinart]

haven't gotten to the detail on them yet -- will definitely keep that in mind! great sugg, ramy -- thanks a bunch! when i get to the final work-up on them , i welcome your input to make sure my execution is on track....

[taste]

hi.. i was looking at the picture and it looked like the soldiers in the background are smiling and laughing. was that intended? not to be critical but i just felt it looked more like the war had ended rather than it was just beginning especially for the new soldier. hope you take that into consideration:)

[MrFreeman]

:) Great work jevinart

I really love the expression on the soldiers face. You really get a sense of what they must be going through.

If you add a bit more dust blown up by the chopper, then this might add to the chaos of the situation

Great work!!

[adonihs]

looking really good man! i still love his expression :) great job

[notpill]

Really sweet piece Kevin, Im looking at your progress from the early days and it's an amazing brush work. Just two lil tips:
Check the anathomy of the guys with glasses, his shoulder it's seems to be too large and maybe the neck it's too long.
Maybe you can try to render the sky a little more dramatic with a bit dark blue/grey.
Anyway, i love this one :thumbsup:.

Good luck.

[dzygn]

wooohooo !!! you're deadly great maan!!! the lighting better brighter on centre character, make back ground character darker or in haze or rain, a litle to clean i guess hihihi but all is amazing! I really wish youre win !!!

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1147234552_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1147234552_large.jpg)

finishing up the soldier (final touches on the bullets and uniform)... next step is to finish the wounded soldier & rescue team, then add the final touches to the environment. almost there...

[jevinart]

tast, mr freeman, adonhis, notpill & dzygn -- many thanks for the cool comments, observations and support! your words are greatly appreciated!!

[Vitreous]

This is a brilliantly executed piece, i love the expression on the lead characters face, he really looks pretty shell shocked and pained by the experiences he is going through(or about to go through) well done kevin(having viewed your website gallery i would say this is the best 2d piece you've done)

[jevinart]

vitreous --

thanks so much for the great comment, pal -- really appreciate your take on my piece, and for checkin' out my other stuff... you're too cool, man.

[jevinart]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1147372651_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/10907/10907_1147372651_large.jpg)

The date is December 11, 1969. A young soldier, fresh out of boot camp, takes his first steps down from a chopper and into the jungles of Vietnam. At that very moment, the innocence of youth is stripped away forever, replaced with the life-and-death struggle of instantaneous manhood. Amid the magenta-colored fog of war, our hero assesses his new predicament, and the dangerous journey ahead of him. He pauses for a moment as the true realization hits him with brutal force – and everything familiar he has known throughout his life disappears on the wind; fading like the whir of rotors from the departing choppers, leaving with their cargo of wounded and fallen comrades…

[akahraman]

Hey,nice illustration...

First i want to tell what i like, grass ground is really succesful and the soldier has a good mood effect on face...Uh..mood is not good of course,,,process of mood is good:p.

and some critics...i think there is so much light on the face which is unnecessary to me and hard to show plans well...They are bitty spots...but this may be your stile,i dunno...Also the propeller behind the head is looking so close...It is as stick to the head of that soldier...MAybe you could reflect the distance one way...it's disturbing the eye, i think...thats...

( )

[jevinart]

hey, empty --

thanks for taking the time to view and crit my work -- really appreciate the comment! as the painting is a final uploaded version of my entry, i won't be making any more changes. but, it's always geat to know what viewers may think are strong and weak points. your words are taken to heart, and again, are greatly appreciated.

thanks again for your ideas! wish you the very best on your (very cool and creative!) entry...

kevin

[akahraman]

Sorry Kevin,i was so careless i couldn't recognise it is the Final image... I don't want to make you doubtful about your work cause of my post... Your work is really successful... Best wishes to you too...:thumbsup:

( )

[ErichSchreiner]

looks very cool, i especially like the expression on your character's face.

thumbs up!.

[jevinart]

el chief -- thanks, pal! i took this from a photograph of a young vietman soldier who was brand new to the war zone; his expression hit me hard -- i really wanted to try and recapture the emotions that this young man was going through...

empty -- no problem! your opinion is important to me.

[jeromoo]

Hi there Kevin, sorry to come here and see you have finished it already. I want to compliment you on a job well done! It reminds me of classic book covers. BTW, from a distance, that guy with specs carrying the wounded soldier looks like he is laughing. Must be because of that laughing gas (purple smoke) behind the main guy. LOL :D No wonder the main guy looks annoyed like "What are you laughing for, idiot?" Just kidding!

Really wicked job on the helicopter!

All the best to you, jevinart!

[jevinart]

thanks for the comment, jeromoo -- really appreciate it! Unfortunately, due the size constraint for the posting of images (150K & under), you can't really see all the detail in the soldiers faces -- his expression is more of anguish and anticipation, rather than laughing. when the full 300dpi version is viewed (at 12" x 9"), the emotion is more evident.

again -- thanks for taking the time to check out my final piece and offer your support! best of luck to you as well in this challenge!!

[beelow]

Congrats,Good luck with your image dude, Peace and see you around next contest buddy, hope to see you stick around, cgtalk too! :thumbsup:

[jevinart]

thanks beelow -- right back at ya! your entry in this challenge is amazing (i'm just a pebble in your shadow...). hope ya come out on top -- you deserve it. best to you...

[Elrond56]

Awesome work Kevin!!! This is a very powerful piece of relevant storytelling . . . it's great the way you balanced the hard cold facts of war with the tender thoughts that must be going through that young mans mind . . . innocent to the battle as his uniform is clean and even though he's trying to look fierce with a 'round' wrapped about his shoulders, his eyes look ready to burst into tears . . . there's no turning back!
***************
Thanks for stopping by a checking out my piece . . . I know there are thousands of people here but I was lucky to connect with at least one 'quality' artist and human being . . . and that was worth the whole journey *)

I started attending AnimationMentor (an animation school mentored by the wizards from Pixar, Dreamworks, ILM etc. ) in the middle of this challenge and it has been consuming whatever time I had to work on the challenge(and mingle) . . . but it has been exciting and hopefully I can get more involved here as time goes on.

Keep up the amazing work U do!!! and I'll see ya around.

cheers,
Scott

[SideAche]

Good Luck Kevin, well done.

[makaron]

you got yourself a good story to your excellent picture... well done Kevin... :applause:

[jevinart]

hey, scott -- it's funny, i said the exact same thing about connecting with you in this challenge. your comments and recommendations made a huge difference, and actually helped transform what would have been a mediocre piece into one that has the emotional impact and situational realism i was hoping to achieve. thanks, pal! you're the coolest....

--------------

sideache -- thanks for the great wishes, man! appreciate the great words (and good luck to you too!)....

--------------

makaron -- well done on your piece, too! you handled the challenge incredibley well -- with enormous talent and excellent showmanship in sharing your works' progress and techniques. very impressive!! fantastic work...

[iamawizard]

nice concept man

its a practically difficult journey that u have tried to capture

regards and goodluck
Sivaprasad Velayudhan

[jevinart]

thanks, wizard! this was the most difficult painting i've ever done -- it was successful mainly due to the wonderful comments and feedback from the cgtalk community....

[makaron]

BTW, thanks for that nice comment :)

[jevinart]

my pleeasure. you did good...

[Neubius]

hey man, just realised- i hadn't dropped by to wish you good luck! great piece, good luck with the judging.

see you in the next one yeah ?


A

[jevinart]

thanks, neubius -- appreciate the kind words and the best wishes! enjoyed this challenge -- hope you come out on top, pal -- you deserve it! your entry is amazing -- best to you as well. and definitely in on the next one -- lookin' forward to it...

[Anarki3000]

dude.. your story makes me constantly think of forrest gump.. weird, guess he felt that way too. And you made it sound like it was your own experience... have you ever been in that situation? it's kinda deep... good luck from now on.. it's almost over

[jevinart]

hey, anarki -- thanks for the cool comment! to be honest, i've never seen forrest gump (guess that's one i'll have to put on my dvd list...). i've also never been in the military, so i've not faced that type of firsthand war situation. a lot of the emotion i put in my character comes from my own distaste of the iraq war, and my deep conviction that war -- in all its forms -- is wrong in every sense of the word. when my country decided to invade iraq a few years ago, i was devastated (i designed a tattoo that i had done at the base of my neck between the shoulders the eve we began this conflict, as my own protest to the war and desire for peace).

in my character here, i tried to emphasize the helplessness of being cast into a role in life that one has no control over, and to show his distaste for the situation, as well as the determination to make it through this journey alive and a stronger person because of it. as i've grown in many ways inside during the past few years, i translated my growth into this young man's evolution from innocence to adulthood in one split second -- the instant his eyes captured the brutality of war first hand. my character here is beginning a journey that will reveal the true nature of armed conflict in all its horror -- not unlike my feelings that have stirred in me with each grotesque revelation that has unveiled itself through the news and reports in iraq, as well as what history has unfolded in the vietnam war, world war II, the civil war and all the way back to the crusades...

anyway, that's what was going on in my melon when i drummed up this idea.... thanks again so much for taking the time to share your comment with me -- is truly appreciated!!

[Anarki3000]

Goddamn war.. I'm from Romania, small european country, and the government sent some troops there in iraq.. the youngs were so enthusiast about fighting, but already some got killed , and some are missing in action... that's why I was interested in your work in the first place(and maybe because your avatar is so cool, i dunno, i just like it..lol ).

Looking forward to meet you in the next one, really. Cheers

[jevinart]

i'm in total agreement, pal. we've lost over 2,500 troops... and counting. i'm also afraid that the casulaty rate (injury, traumatic stress disorders, permanent disability, loss of limbs, etc.) will push the total casualty rate closer to 10,000+ before all this is over. not to mention the civilian casualties in iraq...

you'd think an advanced and evolved society could think of a better way to work out their differences.... we aren't as evolved as we think, me fears....

really appreciate your cool words -- worth their weight in gold!

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