The Journey Begins Challenge (2D) Entry: Laura Diehl

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1144801041_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1144801041_large.jpg)

I've had my eye on this challenge now for at least a month. I've finally cleared the way for some work on it. Right now, I think I'm going to go with a scene from my story where Egan and the Testers (on Lioness back flying up in the snowmist, a layer of the atmosphere) are attacked by Cauld. Unable to fight their way free Gwen (old lady Tester) gives Egan a strange magical necklace and has him slide off the edge of the Lioness' back. The idea is that he must continue on to Carver's Keep alone. The necklace is both a device to slow Egan's fall to the ground and a compass, pointing always toward the Keep.

At this point, I would really like feedback on angles. What is the best way to show this scene?

[umbrellasky]

Hi Laura great to see that your entering. Nice lineart :)

I think I like number 2 the best, although I quite like both of them.

I look forward to seeing some more updates :thumbsup:

[thepineman]

hey laura,

i like the number 2 version because you can see clearly the face of the characters and it makes the viewers feel the tension of whats happening better than first one.

[Elrond56]

Beautiful little story and strong concept sketches Laura. . . the child in 2 with the lioness and Gwen from 1, I think, would be much more powerful . . I look forward to seeing this grow *)

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145126925_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145126925_large.jpg)

I've been trying to find the right angle and I am really at a loss which to choose. These are the thumbnails I've been able to come up with so far. The real kicker is that Egan's (the little boy's) face needs to be large enough that his expression is readable. But then I also want the expression of Gwen (the lady on Lioness back) to be visible as well. And I also want a good sense of where they are -namely up in the sky with perhaps a sweeping view of the topography below.

Which of these would you go with? Or what elements of any do you think could be combined to form a working composition?

[walrus]

Lookiong good so far. Tjose are a lot of interesting thumbnails, hard to choose from... especially with the added stipulation of trying to make both characters' faces visible. With that, you can toss the bulk of them away... but for the record, I really like #8: The composition is neatly and elegantly enclosed ont he bottom and wide open upwards - a perfect compositional metaphor for the story you're telling, I think! :) Only thing I'd consider changing on that one is extending kitty-cats neck and head so it's breaking the line fo the planet, not resting on it.

But I also think #4 is a great composition, and liked it even before I read the note about wanting to make both characters' faces visible. #4 achieves that goal and is very interesting too. And again, the characters being far above the planetary sphere shows where there heading in a nice compositional way.

I also have to say that a great many of these have a wonderful curve to the Lioness which is very feline and beautiful, and you've used it well in the compositions. Can't wait to see it more fully renderred.

Good luck!

-mike

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145413455_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145413455_large.jpg)

I have to stop for the night. I know it is still a mess, but I think I want to go with this one. Point out any glaring issues please. I expect to work further on it tomorrow.

[jeromoo]

Great concepts there! I think you need to give some focus to the environment section because in this contest, environments are just as important!

All the best!

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145460320_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145460320_large.jpg)

Not nearly done with the line art, but here is the first of it. There will be much more detail in the bg.

[theone17]

I think your sketches are great and you should think of a scene that has a landscape in it.

[Elrond56]

Ahhhhhh . . . I believe you have worked something out here as this is the strongest showing all 3 characters. The question I have is in what direction does the journey begin? You have a lot of time already in this sketch and since the direction/movement is of the Lioness moving up and forward I would guess the journey (Carver's Keep) and earth is down and to the top right corner . . . if so, how much more powerful would it be to create an even more forshortened perspective of the Lioness, with snarling face coming right up and out of the picture filling more of the lower left and exaggerating the distant earth below??

Love it*) draw on . . .

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145584993_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145584993_large.jpg)

I got a few more hours in on the line art. I guess the next thing to do is figure out how to put a few lines in for the background. I've got a bunch of aerial photos that should help as reference for the land below... And the sky will be something celestial. I guess the question right now is on the perspective and anatomy, especially of the Lioness. Also I'm debating whether or not to crop in or shrink the main figures a little to give more space framing them, so thoughts on that would be appreciated too.

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145758583_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145758583_large.jpg)

Just starting to play with color...

[Squibbit]

puzzling pic

is granny throwing the kid off the saddle cause she got spooked of the blue- glowing popcorn?


.

[walrus]

Good to see you're getting around to color now. Very moody lighting. I find that my eyes get pulled to the lower eighth of the painting and pass right over the cat and woman rider, because all of the contrast is down there and the rest blends into the background much more. I know you're just starting work on the coloring and will refine things more as you go... good luck!

-mike

[LDiehl]

Squibbit: Both you and I know that blue glowing popcorn is a frightfull thing.

walrus: I noticed that too. Hopefully, I can bring the focus back on the boy at some point. I'm also debating whether or not to expand the canvas a bit more and so as to "hint" at the monsters the Lioness is holding off.

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145833972_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1145833972_large.jpg)

A little more mess. Not sure what I'm going for yet.

[AWaqas]

Things are looking lovely.. Keep em coming man!! :beer:

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146588684_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146588684_large.jpg)

Finally through with all of the college stuff that was getting in the way...only thing left to do before graduation is to pick up my oil paintings. =)

This morning I started on some detailing.

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146588903_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146588903_large.jpg)

The tears are supposed to be freezing.

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146605343_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146605343_large.jpg)

I still don't think I have quite enough continuity in the faces. Any idea on how to change this new one for a greater similarity to the Egans of the past? Yes, they are all supposed to be the same person...

[LDiehl]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146605578_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11397/11397_1146605578_large.jpg)

Where the full image is at right now.

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