The Journey Begins Challenge (2D) Entry: Frédérique Montouchet

[Squibbit]

hey i started late too , no worries :)



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[May-lea]

Actually I had the piece started for a long time, but I didn't want to enter before I'd be any sure I could finish it. I never managed to finish the previous one in time, and I sort of wanted to make sure I provide more this time :)

I didn't work on it until recently though, since I was taken by my job search. (I am still looking for a job actually, and I'll go back to it as soon as this is finished.)

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148592944_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148592944_large.jpg)

First concept step of this piece fully done from scratch in photoshop. So far it was not a real story, just that picture that "popped" into my mind of a butterfly faery born in a bubble and about to break the barrier protecting her from the real world. Fortunately it did, because when I read the subject the first thing that came to my mind is that epic journeys almost NEVER start on an epic background. Lord of the rings starts in hobbiton, which background isn't very epic. Of all the books I've read most start within a little hut lost in the forest, or in the parent's house in town. I bet on most of the pictures that will be seen in this challenge, either the picture is taken when the journey has begun for a long time, or the background won't be epic. Hopefully I'll be wrong, but yeah that theme's details did puzzle me a lot. Which prevented me from coming up with a decent idea to work on, until that picture popped into my mind.

Very simple start sketch done quite fast, I'll spend more time on the final piece.

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148593069_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148593069_large.jpg)

First concept step of this piece fully done from scratch in photoshop. So far it was not a real story, just that picture that "popped" into my mind of a butterfly faery born in a bubble and about to break the barrier protecting her from the real world. Very simple start sketch done quite fast, I'll spend more time on the final piece

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148595046_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148595046_large.jpg)

Lineart happens to other people. I tend to make a monochrome filled shape corresponding to the object I want to draw instead of drawing the outline and painting in. Unless I want to go for some cartoon style. And to be honest I actually painted the sky even before starting on the element shapes. Since that's more "colouring", I hid it for this lineart pic. The big pink things in the middle are the upcoming butterfly wings. Once painted completely they'll be flattened and put in the right position, on the back of the faery. So as for the faery herself she's made, even at this stage, of quite a few layers that I'll shade separately. In the background, the almighty world tree.

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148597133_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148597133_large.jpg)

Half-way through colouring. The famous sky is finished. The hills are quite advanced, just missing a few trees maybe. The faery is almost finished, I just forgot her antennas. The foreground and the world tree still need colouring though. It's not much I know, but I hope some of you like it so far :)

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148598902_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148598902_large.jpg)

Close up on the bubble and faery. Finally added the antennas. I know I'm posting my entries a bit late, but anyway feel free to comment :). Any suggestions welcome!

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148599434_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148599434_large.jpg)

Here's a complete real size view of the World tree. I took inspiration, for some of the branches, off a picture of a windswept tree I took during a trip in Whales. Some of the branches were a bit twisted, and I thought it'd look cool like that. It's made of a light colour since it's far in the background. I'll put normal trees in front of it I think, so people realize how big it actually is.

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148600294_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148600294_large.jpg)

An updated view, the foreground has been painted on, a tree has been added on the side, and a few more have been put just in front of the world tree to give an idea of the scale. Now I guess I'll try to add more diversity to the foreground and background by adding details like flowers or herbs. I am also considering adding more faeries, as if they all were meant to make the foliage of the world tree. None of them would have reached the tree yet but they'd be flying in its direction. It would allow me to have a more interesting background story :)

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148653266_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148653266_large.jpg)

Updated version, added trees and bushes on the side, and some barely visible herbs in the foreground. Any idea on how to improve that pic anyone?

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148659636_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148659636_large.jpg)

Just a little try for fun... I quite like the concept, but I'm not really happy with how it looks. The flashy colours sort of kill the background and prevent the main character from standing out too much. Any comment on this one by any chance?

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148735637_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148735637_large.jpg)

Ok, here is what I'll consider as being my "final" version unless somebody pokes me to tell me "hey, it'd be better if...". Less butterfly faeries than the previous one, but three more detailed ones, a blue, an orange and a green one. They're all glowing, giving the scene an eerie look. And the little pollen-like balls help, too.
I got some feedback from a friend (thanks again Lancy!), and I reworked the "water" on his advice. under that angle we can see it better :)

I hope you like it, and hold on a little, you'll be granted with a whole story to explain the scene!

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148735905_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148735905_large.jpg)

Here's a close-up on the faeries.

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148737715_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148737715_large.jpg)

That was my final picture until I got some wise advices of my friend Shreya ^^
I moved the story to the final post so it's easier to access.

[May-lea]

http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148747554_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/12/11619/11619_1148747554_large.jpg)

Every hundred years ends an Ae'n cycle, in the vast fields surrounding A'ynn, The World Tree.

An Ae'n cycle is the complete path of a flow of magic to go back to its original point... For Aldenor lives on magic. The flows of magic fill the air periodically, before sinking in the water and finally deep within the earth. All creatures live along the cycles, and inhabit the places where the flows of magic go. 33 years ago the flows of magic had directed them underground, after 33 years of leaving in the water.



Some tablets Ask'anshi, one of the wisest and oldest people, say that this is how the creator made sure Aldenor would have the time to rebuild itself so it'd always have enough resources for people to live on, and that all generations get to see one day an intact and preserved piece of land. For when creatures leave a phase it is damaged and depleted of resources, but always they will find those phases repaired and rich when they or their offspring comes back there along with the Ae'n cycle.



So the ending of an Ae'n cycle is always source of great celebrations for all. It is then, that the rough years of earth end and the blessed years of air begin.



And while all creatures celebrate the joy of leaving again outside after 33 years of underground life, something until then never witnessed happens in the vast untouched windswept fields of A'ynn-eya.



A lot of cultures have wondered how the flows of magic manage to go back to the air. And the flows have never answered the creatures who asked them this question, for the answer could endanger the balance of the planet if it was to be known. For that travel from earth to air takes unexpected shapes that anything could jeopardy.



Now none of the creatures will ever know the truth, for Aldenor's safety. But for you, foreign to this world and that will never set foot on it, I can disclose that long kept secret.



Every 100 years, in the fields around A'ynn, the flows take hold of some of the vegetation and force it into tentacle shapes. On those will sprout bubble-like spheres of concentrated magic, to protect one of Aldenor's wonders, a people that only lives once every Ae'n cycle, beings of pure magic called... The Elenii. Each Elenii has a conscience of its own, whimsical and playful. Their life is short but without them the world wouldn't be.



And from the moment they cancel with the tip of their finger the protective aura they were floating in, an epic journey begins.



Where to? To A'ynn, The World Tree. A shame nobody will ever get to witness the breathtaking event of millions of Elenii fluttering around the World Tree, before becoming the tree's foliage that will breathe the magic back in the air.



Why epic? For such small creatures, it is not so easy to travel such a distance. They could be endangered by the very magic that makes them. For the wind carries along fluffy particles of magic, all that's left of the protective aura of hundreds of newborn Elenii.



Do Elenii know who they are really?

No, I don't think so. All they know deep inside is where to go so one day they can be reborn again. Do they know their fate when they enter the world, I don't know. I think the end of a cycle is also the occasion for the flows to purge themselves, and by becoming Elenii they are reborn pure and innocent. I don't think Elenii have any idea of what their past form went through, but it's for the best.



And about that picture?

Quite a moving moment. That Elenii is about to start the journey of her life.

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