CGTalk - Abduction, Steven Hägg-Ståhlberg (2D)

Zephyri

12-26-2006, 01:29 AM

I've been waiting for this image. Ever since you posted the first wip of it for the Journey Begins challenge, I'd kept my fingers crossed you'd finish it. Not only was it such a great concept, but your skill has given it an absolute wow factor. Aside from the fairy bride on the swing, this is by far my favourite piece in your gallery. The story telling is just fabulous, their expressions, all the subtle touches of movement. I absolutely love it. Reminds me yet again why you're one of THE guys in this business.

May I ask whether you used any 3d base on the figures? I know you're probably capable of doing that without any 3d model, I'm curious more than anything, the volume in the torso and arm of the man is incredible.

PapaNinja

12-26-2006, 01:51 AM

A very good use of 3D/2D mix ... Great work ! :thumbsup:

shattered-fx

12-26-2006, 01:59 AM

Hi Steven,

Yeeaaahhh:scream:..... I have seen it's early sketches from the past journey challenge.. as usual , another great artwork from you!..I like the retro feeling!.:thumbsup:..five stars!

-raffy

my EON entry

Stahlberg

12-26-2006, 03:17 AM

Thanks! :D
I did use some 3d, but not in the characters, just some of the water-droplets. Here are the various references I used:

http://www.androidblues.com/guyref.jpg

.

http://www.androidblues.com/girlref.jpg

.

http://www.androidblues.com/waterdropstest2.jpg

bao

12-26-2006, 04:01 AM

This is great, hillarious and beautifully executed!

artofsw

12-26-2006, 04:29 AM

Very cool, Great idea.

I luv it, put together very nicely, especially the way at first you wonder whats actually going on, then you realise the ufos in the background and then it hits you.

fantastic work.

danielh68

12-26-2006, 04:43 AM

Aside from the amazing technical execution. This really stands apart for its story and its characters. What a clever twist on the abduction phenomena. Usually, one thinks of such things occurring on a lone highway somewhere in the desert -- not in affluent suburbia. The characters expressions are just priceless too, especially the man. As the viewer, you really get the sense he has no intention of helping his companion. Fantastic work:thumbsup:

Nazirull

12-26-2006, 04:58 AM

O yeah i saw this in ur JB challenge....strange...only after daniel's comment above that i realise the girl is actually being pulled up. I always thought that the girl reaching down towards the guy from above, trying to abduct him.

I think might help abit if the guys' legs are pulled up from the water too...LOL....he looks unaffected by the tractor beam ......just my two cents.

Great technical execution as usual. :thumbsup: And Merry Xmas and happy new year to you!

FRENZIEDmind

12-26-2006, 06:29 AM

Very cool and fantastic work! The back-lit water in the pool looks awesome! Excellent work on the humans.

crit:Just a comment on the skin of the girl, shouldn't she look abit more wet,with water drops running along her juicy isoparms? like the man's chest perhaps? That's what I was thinking too. The girl appears too dry to have just come out of the water. I'm trying to imagine how she would look if she was just pulled out of water...

If that guy were worth his weight in salt he would be jumping up to save her. ;) ;) ;)

mistasam02

12-26-2006, 06:49 AM

haha.. looks as though her top has been abducted too :D

gaianix

12-26-2006, 08:30 AM

nice work and composition:thumbsup::thumbsup:

jramauri

12-26-2006, 09:38 AM

Well, I'm your long time fan, and of course I'm amazed with this new piece. Extremally good. mainly the characters expressions, extremally convincing.

There two things though that bugged me a little:

1. The 3d water. When I looked at this picture for the first time, I realized imediately that this water was 3d. For some reason it doesn't seem to fit perfectly with the water that's on the bathtub. It seems that the water you painted has a more irregular and believable behavior than the 3d part. But I don't know, maybe it could be just me.

2. The little water drops on the scene. They are looking, IMO, as if they were lying over a same plane, the plane of the image. Mainly the ones over the girl's legs. I believe some variation of size would add more depth to them.

Those are just my opinions, and of course you know what you doing much better than me :) Anyway for all the topics I followed from you I know you like to hear crits that help you to go even closer to perfection...

AUMAKUA

12-26-2006, 09:41 AM

Well, FRENZIEDmind, I think we've not thought of how hot this girl is, the poor droplets cannot stay in liquid state :)

flyingP

12-26-2006, 10:05 AM

1. The 3d water. When I looked at this picture for the first time, I realized imediately that this water was 3d. For some reason it doesn't seem to fit perfectly with the water that's on the bathtub. It seems that the water you painted has a more irregular and believable behavior than the 3d part. But I don't know, maybe it could be just me.

yeah doesn't seem to fit "100%" the 3d is perhaps a bit too crisp in comparison to the 2d :shrug:....and 'if' one is going to get picky the lack of wetness on the girl struck me pretty fast too....is a cool image though with a nice sense of fun :D

Stahlberg

12-26-2006, 10:13 AM

Thanks,
jramauri, I agree with your comments, and also with the other comment about the lack of water drops on the girl. A few things for me to polish in the near future.

BGHart

12-26-2006, 11:03 AM

Exiting concept. The facial expressions are fantastic and the water looks most realistic. :applause: Simply a breathtaking work! ***** Britta

SeifoSid

12-26-2006, 11:14 AM

yeah i really like the idea, and you've executed it well, doesn't look too 2-D but i guess it is. :thumbsup:

microspot

12-26-2006, 11:29 AM

WOW. Beautiful picture both in excecution and story wise.
I don't mind the 3d droplets at all, but I do agree that some water on the girl woudn't hurt.
excellent work

rawgon

12-26-2006, 12:28 PM

great ideia & very hot girl! great job on the anatomy & face expressions! the overall looks very volumetric( but yeah some drops in the girl would look even better).
wow, no 3d base for the characters, very impressive!

Intervain

12-26-2006, 12:46 PM

I really like how you did the light and water on his face and chest! Great! The only thing that's bugging me is the emptyness around her.. .somehow feels like there's somehting missing... Then again I couldn't paint anything similar so I'll shut up :D :thumbsup:

elnady

12-26-2006, 12:58 PM

Can't say more than fantastic
5*

unwrap

12-26-2006, 01:23 PM

Can't say more than fantastic
5*

Neither can I.

Chupacabra

12-26-2006, 01:32 PM

Hi Steven,

I'll be harsh to you. But the good way, don't worry:)

The use of reference to do paintovers is actually a very bad thing similar to those "painting by numbers" books. It lacks originality and it limits the range of design.
In these days, there's nothing special about a painting that has been generated over a photo, despite the fact that it does take a certain amount of skills to do it properly.

Using reference for a traditional, "real" painting is something else, since translating proportions and colors to canvas as well as dealing with the REAL paint is a process of artistic surgery.

In this piece, the idea is truly great and it has been executed very well, so don't take me wrong: i love it! I also used tracing or reference for some illustrations of mine (see my CG Portfolio).
But i'm just terribly angry about the fact that paintovers gained so much popularity.

I respect you and your work very much and know, you could do it without any ref as well.
But i think you just got too lazy one day and stopped sweating about it..

I hope you'll take this as a constructional crit and not as offense.

Best regards and big respect,

Stahlberg

12-26-2006, 02:50 PM

you could do it without any ref as well.

Sure, and this is what it looked like without reference (on the left):

http://www.androidblues.com/Abductguy1.jpg

I don't know about you, but I prefer the one on the right.

i think you just got too lazy one day and stopped sweating about it..
I've always been lazy. I see no honor or intrinsic value in doing drudgery work that does not show up in the final product. All I see is wasted time, time I could have spent thinking up new images or whatever.
But quite apart from that, I don't think I acted particularly lazy in this case.
Here are some different tests I did for the leg, before I settled for the one in the final image. The bent leg was done without photo reference, which you can easily tell by the 'broken ankle' look.

http://www.androidblues.com/legiterate.jpg

Not to mention that I researched and hired a pro photographer and model for this shoot, and directed them (for hours). It was fun but exhausting, and very sweaty.
I hope you'll take this as a constructional crit and not as offense.
I take it as neither. Of course I know you mean well, but it's not constructive because your philosophy is different from mine and I will never agree with you, and so I will never paint the way you suggest. :)

I don't care if people use references, in fact I encourage it among my students. What annoys me is artists who obviously use reference, and don't post their references, perhaps even try to specifically claim they used no refences whatsoever. (And this is more common than you may think.) So I make a point of being upfront about it.

snowkiwi

12-26-2006, 03:10 PM

Really love the girl figure, she has a sexy-beautiful figure. This is my other favorite idea in the Journey Begins. I'm glad you decided to touch this up. Your colors and spirit have leaped forward a great deal.

rblitz7

12-26-2006, 03:27 PM

Oh man! so happy you finished this one, I really loved the idea when you first posted it. It looks great! love the water and the expressions.

MassimoRighi

12-26-2006, 04:15 PM

Outstanding! 5*

snowkiwi

12-26-2006, 04:36 PM

Hey I agree with you about the ref thing. I really figured that it's okay either way. Before I would love to show that I didn't use any ref, but I find out most people can do it to - so it didn't seem too special anymore.

But I was always inspired by Michaelangelo's plain pencil drawings and his firm grasp of anatomy. To me, even though I think he used some ref to research the figure, I think he mostly worked from his imagination. To me he is still one of the top best artists in history. To one day have the taste of being a giant, I think we have to learn from the giants.

I also liked Adolphe William Bouguereau, who mostly used ref, but I think there is a certain creativity and free joy and a better sense of accomplishment when I do paint it completely without ref.

Now I use ref for areas I'm not too certain about, instead of winging, because I found I still have a lot to learn. I was just blown away by how another artist, zhuzhu, who excelled so rapidly. So I do it for the learning experience.

Before I wanted purely the ability to render anatomy close to the way Michaelangelo did. It really tests the artist's knowledge, and how much an artist really knows.
I mean people can draw about 3 times better with ref, than without it. So for the act of judging the ability of another artist, I think that is what the ref thing is all about.

And to me I find almost anybody can draw from a photograph, and to me it doesn't require much skill. Just copy what you see. That also gets quite tedious, and doesn't require much imagination. I think anyone almost can go out and shoot a nice picture, and copy it by hand. So it's like a computer, or a blank sleight. Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important that knowledge," or to create is more important than the fact, or drawing from fact, or drawing from reality.

It really shows the ability, or it really shows skill, when an artist can draw a realistic figure without using a photograph. Or completely imagine and create a final product purely on one's own. When talking about a woman: when one can choose the eyes an artist wants, the hair color, the skin tone, the skin glow, what pose she's in, what atmosphere she's in, the expression on her face, and etc., the imagination is set free and the pure expression of the soul is relayed, without having to be shackled by details.
But in the end, to serve other people and not only yourself, it's also about the final product.

We've all heard it's about the journey and it's not only about the destination. So it's really how satisfied one feels with oneself and the artwork one accomplishes and feels in the process of accomplishing. As well as, the satisfaction it brings to others. One's own satisfaction is usually determined by where one wants to go or be in the end, and whether or not s/he plays through with that plan.
So a greater satisfaction is won when we have the freedom to create purely from our imaginations, and another is given to the other when the final product is presented. It's not just about me, it's about us.
So I think on both counts it's okay, depending on the satisfaction you get from doing it, and the sense of accomplishment when making a good painting . . . as well as how much it serves other people.

Well I don't know about you, but that's my beef. I didn't exactly proofread everything, so I hope it makes sense. Cheers Steven. ( I probably won't be back, so you don't have to comment. You can always email-me if you need to say anything more, zillionwater@yahoo.com. But at this time I don't recommend it.)

Sovica

12-26-2006, 06:24 PM

Woah! This is crazy!

Outstanding work!

Congrats =)

Dupikus

12-26-2006, 08:05 PM

definitely, one of your best works
i really like it
5 stars from me :)

Lorenzo

12-26-2006, 08:58 PM

It's sad I'm not to much rich to take part of your futur cours...
Ive loved to try to make an realistic body sculpting...

RalphDamiani

12-26-2006, 10:00 PM

Another brilliant piece, Mr. Stahlberg.

And I completely agree with you about the use of references. That's in fact something I learned from your paintover thread as I originally considered them "a copy", thus diminishing the importance of the artists in the process of portraying a scene. Which is absurd really, all the great artists had real models, landscapes and objects to help them convey reality in the best possible way.

Today I use references for almost everything, and I think that adds alot to the final product, which is what really matters. The important thing is to show the scene as you imagined it, and all tools to make it seem plausible and real are just as worthy as your own imagination.

RalphDamiani

12-26-2006, 10:03 PM

Oh yes, 5 stars.

microspot

12-26-2006, 10:14 PM

The more I look at it the more I like it.
My second post on this thread, but I couldn't help notice that the girls boob is blured and fading a bit into the background? Did you censore the nipple or something?
I wonder why this isn't on the front page already.
gave you well deserved 5 stars btw

walrus

12-26-2006, 10:31 PM

Glad to see you had the chance to get back to this image and finish it up, Steven. I think you made the right choice for the Journey Begins challenge, but it's nice that you managed in the end to get two solid pieces out of it. It looks great! Fun seeing your photoshoot images, too.

-mike

NinjaA55N

12-26-2006, 10:53 PM

wow Steven! u literally blown me away. Im so happy (as many others) to see that magnificent piece finished. I have been wathing guy's expression for at least 10 minutes and I know I'll come back to watch it some more... its just so alive and real. And at first I thought its completely 3d, but just now I find out thats under 2d section. I hope to see more of u soon again. Best regards!

Spc

12-27-2006, 12:42 AM

Stunning effects and mood.
Awesome masterpiece!
:bowdown:

MichaelZHsee

12-27-2006, 02:02 AM

nice job done steven.
*the one on the right is definitely better:thumbsup:*

Stahlberg

12-27-2006, 03:09 AM

Intervain

12-27-2006, 03:27 AM

I'm sure if Michelangelo was around today he'd be using a camera too.
http://fogonazos.blogspot.com/2006/11/famous-painters-copied-photopraphs_06.html

amen to that!
to those who criticize the use of reference - try copying a photograph just by looking at it - not that easy and adding your own touch to it is even harder!

Reverence

12-27-2006, 10:43 AM

WOAH.. Mr. steven.. this one was way beyond comprehension, lolz with that quality of crisp work i really can't sa no 5 STARS!!!:thumbsup: .. hehe i'm such a fan of ur work..
the lighting damn blew me away.. ehhe the design principles and elements do work harmoniously.. damn..
My GOD this is marvelous.. the degree of realism(lolz the scene is scifi) of it that not that many can express..
I have to agree of the use of reference.. lolz. isnt technology be used to make our work easier..
thx for showing the reference.. i have to quote what others say.. It's EVEN very hard to add a touch in photo to make it ur own.. wahh GREAT job..

Not to mention that I researched and hired a pro photographer and model for this shoot, and directed them (for hours).

Woah, that is what i call professional.. hehe..

Maidith

12-27-2006, 11:33 AM

Your painting technique always blows me away. Incredible skill, Steven. :)

As for the image, it's very interesting. At first, I actually didn't see that something is abducting her from the hot tub, some extraterrestrial force maybe? The title implied to me that one of these two people was abducting the other, but their shocked expressions didn't quite fit it. Actually, I thought at first, they were both under water :rolleyes: and at first sight it looked like she was a mermaid abducting the fisherman, like in a poem by Goethe.

Great work! :applause:

Jadetiger

12-27-2006, 11:44 AM

Hah! That's great!. Awesome job with the water. This wouldn't happen to be wishful thinking, would it? :D

Chupacabra

12-27-2006, 11:46 AM

Runecaster

12-27-2006, 02:56 PM

people who use photos for simply a ref do not color pick :/

not any artist worth his salt anyway.

5 stars hands down Mr.Stahlberg - lovely use of lighting and subject, totally cracked me up... poor girl!!

BlacKeri

12-27-2006, 03:58 PM

Chupacabra, while I do understand what you are trying to say, I cannot quite agree: what if someone uses photo reference as a REFERENCE? Not for tracing, colour picking, painting over or whatever? Sure, working on a computer gives one such possibilities, but it doesn't mean everybody uses them.
The problem with even admitting to use references today is that some people identify "photo reference" with a paint over, even when it is not. Sure, references as live studying, or photos, make it easier (that's what they are for in the first place) and they are, as mentioned, at times truly necessary. And I see no reason of diminishing the worth of one's work just because they were brave enough to admit they needed help. :)

And on-topic now:
Steven, that's some brilliant execution and a great, funny subject (or shall I say tragic, I DO feel sorry for the girl ;p). I love the way you handle colors in all your works and in here it's especially good - I really like the way you managed to harmonise contrasting shades.
I wonder what happens to the girl, can we count on a part 2? ;P

WyattHarris

12-27-2006, 06:47 PM

Haha, funny always works in my book. This piece is great both artistically and in concept.

As for using references, I thought that was a given. Seems every well known artist past and present uses them to make their work better and I'm all for that. Looking at the side-by-sides its apparent that the ones that you used reference on came out better. Should the quality of the work be sacrificed for the sake of artistic purity, absolutely not, I'd much rather view the better finished product. I could see a gripe with copying a reference photo too closely but whatever. Do what you gotta do.

The only artist I've studied closely that didn't use references and taught the same was Burne Hogarth. But we can't all be him. :D

Great work Steven.

Rybbb

12-27-2006, 07:15 PM

always pro, man
5 shiny objects:)

Nickillus

12-27-2006, 07:58 PM

Youur imagery is never less than dazzling Steven.
Another gem.

Cheer,
Nick

Natt

12-27-2006, 11:06 PM

I don't have many words to expresive that i really like your draw!
without movement that happening its good draw and all people can understand right the action, the colors de water, the position, and expresions are perfects!

good work! My congratulations!

Natt

MrPositive

12-28-2006, 07:37 AM

Thanks guys!
About references, well, to some it seems more important to show off visual memory skills, than actually ending up with the best possible image... but I just can't compromise my vision like that.

Furthermore, as I already mentioned, many many more artists than the general public know, have made extensive use of photographic reference, both on this forum and throughout history. I'm sure if Michelangelo was around today he'd be using a camera too.
http://fogonazos.blogspot.com/2006/11/famous-painters-copied-photopraphs_06.html

Geesh dude, where were you with this bit of information when I was fighting for my cajones in the 3D human realism thread? Regardless, you are a one man churn factory of great work. I do find it kind of funny that you used yourself as reference though. :)

HoangQuan

12-28-2006, 11:05 AM

Great job as usual, I really love the way you create water around her, fantastic^^
Five stars from me!

Lunatique

12-28-2006, 11:12 AM

Hello,

I'm sorry if i started a flame war, that wasn't my intense. If i wouldn't respect You, i would never dare to critisize your work. Using reference is a necessity for a perfect anatomy.
Yes, Michelangelo did it and everybody else as well.
But tracing a photo (mostly with color picker) is nothing special. Try doing that with oils or acryl. Or even worse, try doing it with watercolors...

So Steven, no offense here, it's just my personal opinion.

Let agree to disagree:)

Best regards,

I don't think you understand the difference between using reference and merely copying the reference. Do you understand that they are two very different things? Why do you think that painting over a photo, copying a photo by tracing/color-picking, and using photos are references are the same thing? Can you explain that?

lehmi

12-28-2006, 11:38 AM

i love it...

the thing with the reference is a good lesson too...

graphiouz

12-28-2006, 11:40 AM

Reference or not reference!

Look at all the fancy illustrator vector based art that is in the hype right now, all being Live Traced with modifications. I think it looks great! One of my favorite artist Anders Zorn used photos as reference.
Its not the matter of tracing its a matter of creating a unique style of painting with reference.
Strokes and colour!
You need to be a great artist and have a sense of seeing the shapes even though you are using a reference or tracing a photo.

Very nice work, I have always loved your work Steven.

Raul-Reznek

12-28-2006, 11:50 AM

she's awfully dry after all that jacuzzy time :), hmmmm makes you wonder j\k

great work, no doubt :)

edit* only now did i start to read the thread, alos i had the same sensation as maidith at first glance. good thing, bad thing? i dont know, :)

Lman

12-28-2006, 12:15 PM

Bravo bravo. thanks for the simle! lovely light. Amazing work as per usual !

Many Many Many stars well 5 to be exact.

regards
Liam

Squibbit

12-28-2006, 12:21 PM

hey dude nice to see u finish this, good piece!

she's awfully dry after all that jacuzzy time :), hmmmm makes you wonder j\k

yea maybe they're just putting her there, with a wobbly tractor beam that tends to
toss things around a bit, sayin like "Hey buddy, here's one for you too, Merry Christmas!"

---

ps. why does the dude in the pool look more like snowkiwi than the dude in your ref?

.

frameboX

12-28-2006, 12:30 PM

absolutely amazing! Such a combination of visual power, humor, erotic and storytelling is just perfect...

Raul-Reznek

12-28-2006, 12:47 PM

lol dude! she;s being abducted not... donated hahaha

Squibbit

12-28-2006, 01:11 PM

lol dude! she;s being abducted not... donated hahaha

o yea.. well then it's prolly just one of those older beams with the side effect of
blowing hot air downwards

.

Katachi

12-28-2006, 01:20 PM

But tracing a photo (mostly with color picker) is nothing special. Try doing that with oils or acryl. Or even worse, try doing it with watercolors...

You have something to crit on the severity of this piece, that´s your absolute right, but I don´t believe it´s "nothing special", so, your time to prove what you say wholeheartedly.

I want *YOU* to do it. Take references, trace the photo mostly with a color picker and show it to us. Let´s then compare your image to this. And don´t tell me "I never said I could do it...". When it´s nothing special everyone should be able to do it.

Otherwise, see the CGTalk advice: Think before you post. ;)

Now, back on topic: Hell of a piece! Great style (I instantly knew it was a Stahlberg), great detail and perfect composition. I was also first wondering what the exact situation is, within water or what´s the deal? :)

Anyway, my crit would definetly be the anatomy of the woman. The back is simply too long. That caught my eye in the very first look and it distracts me from the rest of the piece.

Best
Samir

Squibbit

12-28-2006, 02:00 PM

Anyway, my crit would definetly be the anatomy of the woman. The back is simply too long. That caught my eye in the very first look and it distracts me from the rest of the piece.

you did check the ref pic?

if u overlay em two pics the backs are prettymuch same length

culd be my eyez tho :surprised

.

urgaffel

12-28-2006, 02:01 PM

I remember seeing this in your JB thread and I liked it then and I like it even more as a finished piece :) Great work Steven. I really appreciate that you posted the reference too, it shows people how it should be done. I wish more artists would do that... Anyway, awesome work as always!

Btw (and this totally OT), is it just me or have you changed your name under your avatar? I don't remember the good old swedish characters being there before :D

12-28-2006, 02:04 PM

Great pic again, Steven :) I really like the idea and composition. Great colors too, this blue highlight on skin tones is becoming your signature it seems :)

About the ref "debate" .. woaw.... people here give too much importance to "brushing technique" or "hand-eye coordination", feels like they don't give any credit to idea, composition and the overall illustrative construction - which is 95% of the piece in my opinion.

A lot of people can mindlessly copy almost perfectly a photo - but very very few can make interesting images beyond the technical aspect, using refs or not (or hell even tracing if it goes faster and makes you get to your goal).

(actually I think that at a certain level of quality that you want to achieve, NOT shooting/finding refs is more lazyness than anything else....personally, I wish I used more refs, but I just prefer to draw from my mind because it's quicker...but the quality is not on par with what I could do with carefully chosen refs )

Self-Designer

12-28-2006, 02:27 PM

It took me a lot of time to understand the's taken off from him and not falling from skies. Though, taking the time to understand it, shows that the picture is really good and interesting.

1st I didn't understand how's there are bubbles in the air. And I started to think that you made an unexplainable picture, where water and air are flipped, and I don't need to find the logic behind it (some kind of David Linch attitude :p).

Also, she has an angry expression, and I thought she's his ex-girlfriend he killed that now comes back to take revenge, buaa :twisted:

So, only when dragging the picture to photoshop, and brightenning it a bit, I found out the UFOs in the background pulling other people and understood what's going on in the picture.

And all that because her position and hair isn't going to the right way. Now I can see that she's like being pulled through her legs, but then I'd expect her hair to leave behind (infront of her face).

Another way, is to pull her from the middle of her body, and both her legs, hands and hair will toward him...

And I won't take a "reverse gravity on her only" as an excuse because she doesn't feel like falling backward... but being pulled from her legs, because they're the 1st to that direction.

Also I'd change her expression to something more suprised, like he has.

I wonder if you'd take such changes in consideration. I know that when I decide I finished something, it's hard to make me fix anything, even if it's really important for the perfection of the image. Being lazy? Understanding that what I learned is what important to me and not the image itself? I don't know :p

Katachi

12-28-2006, 02:29 PM

you did check the ref pic?

if u overlay em two pics the backs are prettymuch same length

Hi,

yep, I´ve seen the ref pic. :) But overlaying them wouldn´t help as it´s a different pose, the ref pic has a way more straight back than the actual image. Her back is way more bended.

Anyway, to me the back is too long (it´s minimal but it´s imo definetly noticable). Also if I check the proportional length of the legs to the back of the ref pic, the proportions of the image are off.

Is it me or does anybody else see this? :argh:

iman121

12-28-2006, 02:29 PM

Wow wow
Amazing as usual.
Wow 6 stars.....

Stahlberg

12-28-2006, 03:33 PM

Thanks guys! Yes you may be right, the back could be an inch too long now... I'm probably subconsciously elongating figures that are supposed to be attractive, as many others do. I know I purposely made the legs a touch longer, the butt bigger and the head smaller than the reference. I'll look into it.

As for how the tractor beam works, well I was kind of thinking there's two layers to it, one wider area where everything small and light starts to float a bit, and another narrower area in the center which seems more purposeful, pulling on her legs. I wanted her reaching out to him for help, and not getting it. That's why she's angry. Just a few seconds ago he was like: "Hey baby, you know I'd do anything for you..." now she's yelling to him:
"Frank! FRANK! YOU BAST-"
:)

edit:
Yes, I added those dots etc on my name, just recently, as I was working on my cgjobs profile

Squibbit

12-28-2006, 03:59 PM

..."Frank! FRANK! YOU BAST-"

:D :thumbsup:

maybe put him grinning, like he'd arranged that? :)

.

dickma

12-28-2006, 04:39 PM

If she didn't wear the bra, why she still have her panties on? :)

Testament

12-28-2006, 04:57 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by Stahlberg
..."Frank! FRANK! YOU BAST-"

:D :thumbsup:

maybe put him grinning, like he'd arranged that? :)

That would be a completely different image then.

Awesome work Steven, I gotta say that you achieved exacly what you intended because as you described it: ( "I wanted her reaching out to him for help, and not getting it. That's why she's angry. Just a few seconds ago he was like: "Hey baby, you know I'd do anything for you..." now she's yelling to him:
"Frank! FRANK! YOU BAST-" is exacly what i interpreted the image when I saw it, love it! Great work.

As for the reference thing, what's wrong with reference? Everyone does it, how can you expect to draw something you're not sure exacly what it looks like without having a looksie at it. I think it was awesome that he actually hired people to get good reference for this piece. If a pro as Steven is showing you guys the way he does his work, showing that he uses reference, even though he's still an amazing artist without it, I think that should be an inspiration to all of us.

Again, lovely work, story well told, beautiful work!

Gord-MacDonald

12-28-2006, 05:25 PM

Thanks guys! Yes you may be right, the back could be an inch too long now... I'm probably subconsciously elongating figures that are supposed to be attractive, as many others do.

your in good company...

http://cg2020.com/GeneralDiscussion/ingres-odalisque-louvre.jpg

Great piece of work - no matter how you got there.

For thoses interested in the issue of optical references by (great) artists, check out David Hockneys "Secret Knowledge - rediscovering the lost techniques of the old masters" - a book which generated its share of controversy.

Gord

AAAron

12-28-2006, 05:27 PM

edit:
Yes, I added those dots etc on my name, just recently, as I was working on my cgjobs profile

That gave me a suspicion that the legendary Stahlberg actually was a swede.

Stahlberg låter holländsk eller kanske tyskt :)
Fantastisk bild!

maNtodEa

12-28-2006, 05:34 PM

I think that maybe, girl's nipples should be seen in that position. But I might be wrong. Anyway, great work.

cat33

12-28-2006, 06:30 PM

This is a wonderful image, I love the mood, the subject matter, the style and execution. It's all brilliant!! Great motivational piece for me :) :D

Happy New year!

-cat

chlywly

12-28-2006, 06:49 PM

This is now one of my favorite CG images :) I absolutely love the mood, the expression, the lighting and color... I really enjoy your CG paintings, great work friend! You inspire me.

P.S -> NOT using references means NOT producing the top echelon of quality of work one can produce, period end of story. We all draw life and from life, even our "imagined" creatures are all based on forms we have come to understand through life itself, through images imbued within our optical nerves... Using references only makes sense... Some people have a better memory than others, it makes no difference to me.

JDMedia

12-28-2006, 06:54 PM

OMG, again Beautiful Work!

Best wishes from Holland!

:thumbsup:

andreasrocha

12-28-2006, 07:10 PM

Wonderful job! The crispness of the body rendering is really great. Really well done, and you shouldn't be explaining yourself to people who blatantly criticize other people's work.

+5

heavyness

12-28-2006, 08:03 PM

the water looks awesome [as does the whole piece] and i like how you have some "making of" posts in there.

nice work!

Chupacabra

12-28-2006, 08:25 PM

MasterZap

12-28-2006, 09:17 PM

So.... this means.... Stahlberg is MARRIED? :scream: :thumbsup: :eek:

/Z

beelow

12-28-2006, 09:28 PM

Hehe! You finished this one! Sweet image and really nice color choices, I enjoyed in JOurney contest and I enjoy it now!:thumbsup:

Hell I use reference myself. I think the importance is idea and composition of an illustration or concept art. People seem to get more play for coming up with something unique as this image illustrates. The idea is great and if Stahlberg traces some of his photo refs oh well. It well executed and nicely polished piece. I wish I can use photos to that degree! Whatever works to get it done use it! Stahlberg taught me to do that! Thanx again for another inspirational image!

shtl

12-28-2006, 09:32 PM

Just passed by to thanks this image and its author, it's a great atmosphere, 80's oldschool lighting movies style in my mind. Strongly feel it. Freshness of night, warmness, stupefaction... I founded it trippy! Felt like I was there, like it's from my own experience, memory... This is a kind of image I'd like to be able to render and share with others within one image.
This can only (?) be done with à masterness of lightning technicity (above all) me think.

So thanks for sharing this peace with us.

(and sorry for my awefull english ^^)

Lunatique

12-28-2006, 09:44 PM

So, i DID start a flame war. Always happens when talking about ref...

Lunatique: Hi Robert! Did you read what i wrote at all?

Designer: And did you check my CG Portfolio FIRST before saying something like that? Yes, i did all of that, with AND without the computer.

M@: True what you say. It's about the idea. Just as i said that i love this piece because of the idea..

So folks, don't hate me for "insulting" your favourite artist. But it can't be all about ass patting, right? I'm outta here...

I read every word.

I don't see any difference in the way you use references and how Steven uses references. So why does it seem like you are criticizing the way he uses references? I'm not being confrontational, I'm just curious, because the way you expressed your thoughts leads me to believe you are confused about a few different aspects of how different people use references.

As far as doing everything without the computer--that really doesn't mean anything in this day and age in the entertainment industry. This is a CG forum, and its members are CG artists. We all work in industries that REQUIRE us to do work on the computer. Some of us can draw/paint without the computer just fine (have you seen Steven's oil paintings? They are very good), and have been doing art without the computer for many years before we even touched a computer.

Once again, I guess I'm just not understanding your position in the points you bring up--they don't seem to make sense when applied to the work being discussed.

Lunatique

12-28-2006, 09:46 PM

So.... this means.... Stahlberg is MARRIED? :scream: :thumbsup: :eek:

/Z

Where have you been? His oldest son is a teenager now. :eek:

Raul-Reznek

12-28-2006, 10:32 PM

no way squibbit(you finland ppl are crazy, in the good way haha ), mr. S did it the best way. What he said is perfectly visible. I mean, u can see the guy is a coward or that he is that type that takes advantage of women. Something in his face reminds me of Gattaka and Ethan H, just the facial features and not the expression.

and about the tracing stuff, come on! the moment max kor posted his elf, everyone started asking all sorts of stupid questions. i just saw a dude say dalli is a retard, so it means that there are a lot of stupid ppl on these boards... i just cant wait for the day someone says i am copying something lol

FabioMSilva

12-28-2006, 11:27 PM

great work steven. Great images require great references(in most cases) and lots of time.

you seem to do great when using references. I'd like to ask you a question. Normally do you stick with a single reference for a model/image?(such as a single model) or you can pick a little of bit of this one , and a bit of that(from several different models)? I'm curious about your methodology.

Really great work.:thumbsup:

MrPositive

12-28-2006, 11:46 PM

nightpoet

12-29-2006, 01:46 AM

awsome....amazing works.! 4stars from me!

Geta-Ve

12-29-2006, 01:56 AM

Good stuff, my only crit/s were A) the guy isn't looking at the girls eyes, or at least it doesn't seem like that, and if I were him and my girlfriend or woman friend were getting sucked away I would be looking in to her eyes..

and B) it wasn't very evident what was happening the first time I saw this picture, I think she was coming DOWN from heaven or something haha. There was no water on her or anything.

Anyways, good stuff though.

Stahlberg

12-29-2006, 02:06 AM

Sorry Chupacabra, I don't think it's a flame war... Don't take it too seriously. I know what you mean, and I understand and respect your viewpoint, even though I don't quite share it. I don't think Lunatique is flaming you, I think he's just having an argument with you.
And I agree with mr. Positive about your work... your anatomy knowledge alone is impressive.

Stahlberg is MARRIED
LOL Lunatique I think Zapmaster is making a joke referring to my hyphenated 'name change'...

edit:
if I were him and my girlfriend or woman friend were getting sucked away I would be looking in to her eyes..
Yeah, but my thought was, he's looking up at the flying saucer, up at the open porthole where the beam is coming from... he's kind of forgotten all about the girl, the freakin coward... showing how he's just after a one-night stand, and doesn't really care. :)

Gabe

12-29-2006, 03:24 AM

haha, that's crazy.

Great work!

Parts of the water look too good and gave me the suspicion of being 3D.

Doesn't quite fool the eye, but it looks great never the less. :thumbsup:

Gotta save this to my inspiration folder.

vrf

12-29-2006, 03:57 AM

seriously thought it was all 3d till I read the technique. Nice work, and beauti (http://www.vancefry.com/)ful light on the characters.

:thumbsup: :thumbsup: (http://www.vancefry.com/)

webhead

12-29-2006, 05:23 AM

I like the concept and the final image. Your women are always alluring - even when they're being pulled up into the sky by a tractor beam.

Ancient-Pig

12-29-2006, 05:46 AM

LOL!

Sweet image - very creative

MasterZap

12-29-2006, 05:50 AM

LOL Lunatique I think Zapmaster is making a joke referring to my hyphenated 'name change'...

Exactemundo. Pray tell, what brings this about, one ponders inquisitively, if not a change in the matrimonal status? A random uncontrollable desire to suddenly modify ones nom-de-plume, perchance?

/Z

anakinbrego

12-29-2006, 06:19 AM

haha.. looks as though her top has been abducted too :D
Haha, I was thinking the same thing.

Gabe

12-29-2006, 07:13 AM

lol

Just noticed the little guy in the background being pulled up by the tractor beam.

Stahlberg

12-29-2006, 07:54 AM

what brings this about, one ponders inquisitively, if not a change in the matrimonal status? A random uncontrollable desire to suddenly modify ones nom-de-plume, perchance?
Ok, the long explanation:
I wanted to change my last name from Hägg, which is Swedish for a certain type of tree (birdcherry), but when living abroad receives pronounciations like hag, hog, or the Hague...
then I had the idea, when I got married (1991) and had to see the census-agency anyway, why not add my mother's maiden name? If I didn't, the name would have no more living descendants, which I thought was a pity (dad's name had plenty of others to carry it on). So, Hägg-Ståhlberg. I just normally use Stahlberg cause it's easier outside of Sweden, especially with english keyboards. :)

OKMER

12-29-2006, 08:10 AM

nice name and absolutly marvelous picture.
Simply love it!!!

cbernardo

12-29-2006, 09:01 AM

Now that you show the technique is really amazing!! At the begining I think the models are 3D (like many of your work) and the water 2D! And you really show your idea in a very well executed way! :applause:

Chupacabra: So we cannt use photo reference for our 3D models too?? Will be very difficult modelling without use references in the viewports, and I bet the final result will be very bad. Michellangelo dont have viewport images when he "modelling" David and Leonardo DaVinci dont have photoshop, but I bet if they live nowadays, they will use this new technologies, and maybe they arts dont take 2 or more years to be done.

[]s
carlos

send2raj

12-29-2006, 09:04 AM

:thumbsup: Very Nice render....I liked the lighting :)

grootvriend

12-29-2006, 09:32 AM

he's kind of forgotten all about the girl, the freakin coward... showing how he's just after a one-night stand, and doesn't really care

Do I sense some self reflection. I mean you used your own photo as reference for the guy so...... nah just teasing:D
Good work. I love the water.

paultheplumber

12-29-2006, 09:36 AM

If the guy isn't willing to put his drink down to save her, she's better off with the aliens anyway. Good for her. Top notch work!

coochaki

12-29-2006, 09:42 AM

wow...really nice work!

loocas

12-29-2006, 10:08 AM

Awesome work, as always Steven! :thumbsup:

I love the sense of motion and dynamics created by the girl and the water, the colors and lighting is also very nice! At first, I thought this was full 3D, since you tend to touch your 3d renders in this way they look half painted, so I was a bit surprised this was a 90% 2D work! Great painting, really! :applause:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/images/rating/rating_5.gif from me!

CGmonkey

12-29-2006, 10:41 AM

As always you have that unique "stahlberg" style to the image, but you always push your own limits. That is perhaps what makes you unique :) Great depth, great artwork.

Hehe Stahlberg is an iconic name, it's daring adding stuff to that now ;)

irananimator

12-29-2006, 11:21 AM

Really Great work.
I like it.:scream:

Hamed katebi

DDS

12-29-2006, 11:57 AM

very nice man, i like the reference thing, and I also think chupacabra is an amazing artist too :)

4*

Lovas

12-29-2006, 12:14 PM

Excellent work - great atmosphere excellent and well weighted composition, nice choice of colours... The story has a long beard, though, but in spite of that is presented in an extremely original way - I really like it!

FabioMSilva

12-29-2006, 12:25 PM

steven :scream:u forgot my question!

Stahlberg

12-29-2006, 02:27 PM

FabioMSilva:
Normally do you stick with a single reference for a model/image?(such as a single model) or you can pick a little of bit of this one , and a bit of that(from several different models)? I'm curious about your methodology.
If I'm out Googling for reference, normally I collect many different bits and pieces. Of course it depends on how hard you want to search, and how common a certain reference is, but usually you'll never find the perfect reference, but several pictures that have one or more of the elements, and you're simply forced to pick and merge and synthetize.
If I'm shooting my own reference (which is always best), then I also often take bits and pieces from different shots, because again it's unlikely that I'll get that one perfect shot.

FabioMSilva

12-29-2006, 02:52 PM

thank you :)

ExKArt

12-29-2006, 06:20 PM

Sorry Chupacabra, I don't think it's a flame war... Don't take it too seriously. I know what you mean, and I understand and respect your viewpoint, even though I don't quite share it. I don't think Lunatique is flaming you, I think he's just having an argument with you.
And I agree with mr. Positive about your work... your anatomy knowledge alone is impressive.

LOL Lunatique I think Zapmaster is making a joke referring to my hyphenated 'name change'...

edit:

Yeah, but my thought was, he's looking up at the flying saucer, up at the open porthole where the beam is coming from... he's kind of forgotten all about the girl, the freakin coward... showing how he's just after a one-night stand, and doesn't really care. :)

that's what I was thinking when i first saw this picture, the guy is not even paying attention to the girl, the aliens are doing her a favor.

(if they are aliens)

Nathellion

12-29-2006, 06:49 PM

that IS cool

paultheplumber

12-29-2006, 07:54 PM

So this is what they mean when they talk about a "Chick Magnet."

Juzz

12-29-2006, 08:53 PM

Hehehe! That is such a nice image. At first glance it was not too clear what it happening, but then when you look into the image you see all the small details and the story of the painting opens.

ashakarc

12-30-2006, 01:22 AM

Stunning work, the look on the dude's face is priceless, a careless awe. Just sorry for the dudette, bad timing, if the beam was there 20 minutes ago, he wouldn't let her go ;)

One comment: the laws of physics will be more inclined to let the hair hang down rather than up, even though gravity if opposed by another force. Moment of Inertia

GreenShellFactor

12-30-2006, 02:23 AM

Excellent composition, colors, sense of motion etc. but that's not what did it for me. It's the attention to tiny detail that really puts this work above and beyond (the tiny umbrella in the male character's glass? Brilliant.). Keep up the fine work.

~m

ikuru

12-30-2006, 03:59 AM

Man! your so Talented it´s stupid!
WELL DONE! How long did you work on this sort off?
/Danny

Zeoyn

12-30-2006, 11:07 AM

Hi Steven,

Congratulations on this piece.
In my opinion, I would have liked that this was your final entry for the "Journey begins" challenge, since the concept is original, humorous and right on target!

Regards,
Zeoyn

Fiasko

12-30-2006, 11:28 AM

As always amazing work :applause:

Atwooki

12-30-2006, 12:58 PM

I think this is a superb illustration, Steven; well done :)

I get the feeling from the swell of the water in the pool that an 'updraught' would be in evidence under the circumstances, hence making the gravity of the girls hair plausible.

It seems also that the play of caustics from the water is well understated, which I appreciate.

As for the reference debate, only an artist sufficiently well-versed in anatomy could 'redesign' and light believably particular body-parts to his liking (hands, legs, and his arm - in particular his shoulder & upper arm muscles and lighting)

As a footnote, Rubens was also compositionally keen on the mans 'shoulder-leaning' motif , as is evident in these images:

http://faculty.acu.edu/~mxb01e/Images/1_Drawings/rubens_study_foot.jpg (http://faculty.acu.edu/%7Emxb01e/Images/1_Drawings/rubens_study_foot.jpg)
http://www.artunframed.com/images/artmis61/rubens44.jpg

Great work again Steven, and thanks for sharing your insight !!

Chris

ikuru

12-30-2006, 02:02 PM

so you wehre born in sweden then?
How did u end up in asia to start with?
Your life sounds so cool man!
I wanne be in asia too!
the weather here in Malmö is friking depressing!

hitch

12-30-2006, 07:46 PM

WOW! That's unbelievable. I can't stop looking at it.

hitch

12-30-2006, 07:51 PM

On the second thought, her hair shouldn't be flowing like that - it should be stretched opposite to her movement up. This way, her hair looks as if she is jumping from top.

hermine

12-30-2006, 08:06 PM

This way, her hair looks as if she is jumping from top.
her hair like her body is attracted by the levitation force :)

maniek1st

12-30-2006, 08:22 PM

I has never seened such beautifull thing , awsome !:applause:

ashakarc

12-30-2006, 08:24 PM

her hair like her body is attracted by the levitation force :)
I disagree on that. Regardless if the force is supernatural or not, the physical behaviour would have to follow the phenomenal; i.e. Newtonian laws of physics.

The piece is absolutely great, and facinating. There is a lot of energy in it. The drama in correct hair behaviour would be much greater, just imagine that.
No word from Steven yet!

Testament

12-30-2006, 09:38 PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by hermine
her hair like her body is attracted by the levitation force :)

I disagree on that. Regardless if the force is supernatural or not, the physical behaviour would have to follow the phenomenal; i.e. Newtonian laws of physics.

The piece is absolutely great, and facinating. There is a lot of energy in it. The drama in correct hair behaviour would be much greater, just imagine that.
No word from Steven yet!

Yeah, dude. It's a frikin space beam man!

I belive she's not being pulled with force, she's floating, being pulled slowly, can't you tell by the rest of the objects on the scene? The hair is the way it should be.

And anyways, It's a frikin space beam! Who know how our bodies reacts on it!

EDIT: Think of the hair inside the beam like it reacts in water.

ktxed

12-30-2006, 10:38 PM

I disagree on that. Regardless if the force is supernatural or not, the physical behaviour would have to follow the phenomenal; i.e. Newtonian laws of physics.

so what? Newton's laws are like yesterday in physics... Don't make art too technical, okay?

Great one, Mr. S! :thumbsup:

paultheplumber

12-31-2006, 01:09 AM

The hair behavior seems fine to me. That's the way the hair was flying in the girl-being-abducted-by-a-space-beam reference photo... ;)

Stahlberg

12-31-2006, 03:05 AM

No word from Steven yet!
oh, waiting for my comment? ok...
I guess I'm thinking it's a slow lift, to give her and Frank time to react to each other, and that lighter objects like waterdrops and hair are being lifted more easily than heavier objects like her body and the main mass of pool water. At the same time there is turbulence in the lifting force, as you can see on the curling action on the water and hair)...
I also like the hair going more in that direction, because compositionally it sort of helps to 'point' to Frank, reinforcing the line of her body and arms and outline of the pool etc.

.

Generalvivi

12-31-2006, 04:41 AM

what a fantastic piece ^_^ just love the water and the expressions used .

ashakarc

12-31-2006, 04:53 AM

oh, waiting for my comment? ok...
I guess I'm thinking it's a slow lift, to give her and Frank time to react to each other, and that lighter objects like waterdrops and hair are being lifted more easily than heavier objects like her body and the main mass of pool water. At the same time there is turbulence in the lifting force, as you can see on the curling action on the water and hair)...
I also like the hair going more in that direction, because compositionally it sort of helps to 'point' to Frank, reinforcing the line of her body and arms and outline of the pool etc.

.

Thanks Steven.
You are the author and certainly entitled to explain it that way. I don't mean to pick on your work, on the contrary, this is probably my favourite piece of all your past work, a real gem. But I also remember that you are scientifically inclined artist, which made me wonder if it is a slow lift, the head and shoulders would be on a higher point. But, I perfectly see your point of composition and drama.

As an architect, I cannot separate aesthetics from gravity, but may be the dude above although rude, is right, I shouldn't be too technical.

Keep it up, and looking forward to see more gems.

Best,

Larrikin

12-31-2006, 05:54 AM

Great concept, excellent colors and mood.
I'm not 100% sold on the composition. The top right quarter is dark and empty sky while the opposite quarter (bottom left) is light and busy with the water. Maybe if that background UFO was bigger and higher with a few lights on it.

mijaba

01-01-2007, 12:07 AM

DAMN! homey was about to get SOO LUCKY!!! you have a wicked sense of humor, Master Stahlberg. Another remarkable illustration! Thanks for the continued inspiration!

pascal_blanche

01-01-2007, 05:30 PM

i would have put even more enphasis on the aspiration effect with some leaves in the foreground following the water too, and some stranded hairs from the guy too.. girl could be a litle more wet, as she was in the bath a minute ago .. but these are just little tiny details ;)

Really nice image Steven, remind me of some Alex Ross's works, especially the way you work lighting on bodies ;)

give us some more!

bests.

RocketR

01-01-2007, 10:24 PM

This looks great. The water is amazing!!

vrf

01-02-2007, 01:38 AM

Great integration of the 3D water!

:thumbsup: (http://www.vancefry.com/projects/red-neo)

oddball3d

01-02-2007, 04:27 PM

S T A H L B E R G ....... :thumbsup:

Simply Awesome..... The h2o is brilliant..... Your composition is amazing.... Tht's all don't have much to say but to jus sit & admire ..... The Art... you ROCK :buttrock: .

Wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR.
TakeCare.

Wilson-3d

01-02-2007, 04:50 PM

Really nice work. A great original take.

claudiasutton

01-02-2007, 09:54 PM

Steven,

This piece is so much fun. It is one of my favorites.

pablov

01-03-2007, 06:44 AM

wow, realy nice, Steven!!

beutiful lighting!!:thumbsup:

aoliwei

01-03-2007, 07:20 AM

Excellent as usual!!! Nothing much to say, I 'll try keep on modeling and learn from this!! :)
Congratulation :thumbsup:

angel

01-03-2007, 01:31 PM

Love it. This is probably my favorite piece you've done. Also no fairies! j/k :twisted:

ipdesigner

01-03-2007, 01:32 PM

*ive been following most of your works..this is one of my favorites!:thumbsup:

rawwad

01-03-2007, 07:44 PM

Awesome job again!
How you do it? Incredibly :D
I like stykle as always, but that characters are briliant, especialy he, hollywood film boss, hehe :)
Congratz 5stars

Amrit-Derhgawen

01-03-2007, 11:19 PM

Awesome!!:eek: I really love your work Steven!! I just don't have words.........WOW!!

-A

AugieBenDoggie

01-04-2007, 03:21 AM

Fantastic Job as always !:thumbsup: In addition, for some reason that pic reminds me of Michael Turners "Fathom", but thats probably because because of the water effects. Steven, why don't you model the Fathom girl with all her aquatic powers? Would be something to see your take on.

Alexandria

01-04-2007, 05:55 AM

There is such humor in this piece!

Naturally, aliens would only abduct beautiful topless women.

Amazing waterdroplets and emotion in this piece. Kudos to you.

Moebius

01-04-2007, 06:17 AM

Nothing to add here except five more stars... absolutely brilliant work. You are an inspiration to us all. :)

Cheers! — Möe

michael-olszak

01-04-2007, 08:39 AM

Nice one Steven. Love the mood of the piece

nolxev

01-05-2007, 02:47 PM

Excellent composition :thumbsup:

ChrisPoole

01-05-2007, 08:30 PM

Awesome concept and awesome execution, a fantastic work of pure creativity and stunning visually. 5 alive.

DuncanLong

01-06-2007, 06:14 PM

Really amazing -- definitely 5-star work.

DuncanLong

01-06-2007, 06:19 PM

Really amazing -- definitely 5-star work.

nightwoodwolf

01-07-2007, 12:20 AM

incredibly creative, 5 stars ... you deserve it.

stoopdapoop

01-07-2007, 10:33 AM

Wow, I cannot believe that I clicked on this image because from the thumbnail I thought to myself "Hey, that reminds me of Andriod Blue's work."

I love all your work, this is my second post here and it's to congradulate you :)

Spc

01-08-2007, 06:33 PM

amen to that!
to those who criticize the use of reference - try copying a photograph just by looking at it - not that easy and adding your own touch to it is even harder!
I totally agree.

Book

01-10-2007, 03:59 PM

Steven, this is great, not just from an artistic standpoint, but the fact that there's a great story and humor (for me) in that image. At first when I saw it I thought "what's going on?", then when my eye went to the other UFOs I was cracking up. It's a really great story. Great work.

Also, thanks for the thread on the photo reference in classical artists. Even through my BA in Fine Art that issue wasn't brought up - I would imagine it's almost taboo in the world of "classsical artists". Imagine, using photo reference?! :)

CABRAMACHO

01-11-2007, 12:41 AM

I am brazilian FAN you :applause:

HOMEPAGE
http://www.freelancenow.com.br/freelancer.php?freelancerId=1179

Novan Leon

01-11-2007, 09:33 PM

Mabye it's just me but, it appears that the girl is missing her top. Mabye it's just me but, her breast area seems blurred to me, like it was originally drawn with a swimsuit top in mind and then removed. The top needs to be either re-added or some detail needs to be added into this area. Otherwise, create job!

And no, my mind is not in the gutter. :rolleyes:

todd4cgi

01-13-2007, 03:04 AM

Absolutely, without a doubt, an amazing scene. Beautiful work in every way. Thanks for sharing.

Hittin

01-13-2007, 11:58 AM

Great job on it mate. :)

VersusBlack

01-15-2007, 07:20 AM

Wonderful Scene....Wonderful Charracter..lighting..every bit is amazing...congratulation

CABRAMACHO

01-16-2007, 12:57 AM

a doubt, its strong point to start to make an image is, shape in 3d later finishing, going to look for in references photographic in books or reviewed or to make a photo on of the desired subject? of that principle you have left in its work?

chaoticreality

01-16-2007, 08:14 AM

Lovely work Master Ståhlberg. :thumbsup: I have learned a lot from you and continue to do so.

Whats your next piece going to be?

frostblade

01-19-2007, 12:22 PM

I like the blue on the skin :)
Very nice.

arizaboy

01-20-2007, 12:21 AM

wow; mérci..

conceptx

01-20-2007, 07:39 AM

You are superb with lighting...
the tone is great as well....
it really a nice piece.

radiance2

01-21-2007, 08:40 AM

very well!!! but i think there`s a problem on legs ... it could be better if it was smoother!!! good work.. uve worked on the faces and the hands very well!NICE.

graphmax

01-21-2007, 09:03 AM

amazing work...
i think that is 5 star too

gureiduson

01-22-2007, 08:46 PM

OMG! Great, the situation, expressions, colors, everything, but that water, WOW, no words!

renderomat

01-24-2007, 10:31 AM

simply a pleasure for eyes! one of a kind!

cgsamurai

01-25-2007, 10:56 AM

wow excellent work:bounce:

lwjacob

01-27-2007, 10:41 AM

I'm simply speachless here...
:eek:

lramos

02-01-2007, 04:15 PM

Excellent work, as always.
I heard that you'll make a Gnomon dvd, true? (I hope so :))

Loulu79

02-02-2007, 01:00 PM

Wow...oh man what a journey this is taking me to...

What a storyline...I mean...in your work I'm seeing.
I agree with you to use the other one for your Journey Theme. This one tells me another possible theme, like Alien Abduction or The Rescue.

You inspire me to continue using refs. Thanks a million. ;)

Edit: I have to say that this work shouldn't be under 2D...but 3D. Most of this work is done in the 3D...and the finishing parts were done in Photoshop.

I just want to pinpoint that out to you because I really do think that's inaccurate. :wise:

铮铮轩辕

02-06-2007, 04:59 AM

water is so cool!

WeiC

02-07-2007, 10:41 AM

So outstanding Especially water Really envy your strength

wiserender

02-08-2007, 12:50 AM

Simply amazing, from concept to execution this is a supirb piece!

digikris

02-09-2007, 05:28 PM

Hi Steve,

I can't see your reference pictures.

I remember meeting you last december in LA at Gnomon School.

Nice work.

v2vishal

02-12-2007, 04:52 AM

A stunnng piece of art indeed. I just love the detail and colors used.
Lighting is also cool.

ekah

02-12-2007, 02:08 PM

Yeah, but my thought was, he's looking up at the flying saucer, up at the open porthole where the beam is coming from...

I didn't understand the image at first and went through the thread for more description. I think the beam coming from the top is a bit too subtle right now. There is a slot of stuff happening below that it almost seemed out of place that the guy was looking up and not at the girl. I think this image would make more sense as a sequence than as a snapshot.

Your photo shoot images are very clever. Looks like a lot of effort went into getting the right reference images. :)

lucioparrillo

02-16-2007, 03:28 PM

Amazing! :-)

Tracy-CG

02-20-2007, 04:45 AM

:thumbsup: Woooow! It's very good! water is very cool! Nice work.:bounce:

Indirectly

02-20-2007, 08:42 AM

From the thumbnail I had the presupposition that she was in water herself. I clicked on the large view and it was amazing. She was not swimming down but being pulled up! Her anger and shock at her companion's indifference; his fascination with the source of the beam, disbelief, and lack of thought for the woman - it's all brilliant.

I thought perhaps the beam was pulling her up at random point (in her case, her feet, in the shadowy form in the distance it seems one leg is the focal point of the beam's power) and I can see her muscles straining and fighting against it. Showing muscles straining against an intangible obstacle is not easy. I thought the beam was also disturbing lightweight things around her, causing drops of water to rise off the skin and into the air, causing her hair to be pulled back, the man's necklace, the glasses - the tiny umbrellas! - and the disruption in the water really showed this. I particularly like the lighting and greenish transparent look of the water in the pool.

In fact, the lighting and the colour in general is spot on. The details are just right to add character and individuality to the scene without being overwhelming. The red in the plants by the pool, his necklace, the cigarette, the sky... - perfect.

It is a wonderful painting. Thank you for posting the photographic references. It really showed that it takes a lot of imagination and skill to turn simple references into a dynamic painting.

I would post any crit if I had one, but I'd have to make up anything negative and that's just silly. 5 stars from me.

karthik

03-04-2007, 08:54 AM

great work sirrrrrrrrrr........:thumbsup:

funarty

03-12-2007, 03:57 AM

:thumbsup: :bounce: :D Great concept fantastic work keep it up

Boombaclack

07-20-2007, 04:31 PM

This is extremely superb work man. This piece i'd definatly love to have in my living room. The whole atmosphere in this piece is just insanely mad drawn.

n0d3

07-30-2007, 02:58 PM

hmmm

he is not looking at the girl, because of the intense light coming from top.
he is also shocked by the strange sounds coming from the UFO. otherwise it would be stupid to look at the girl and not trying to reach her. it would be like "The great reaching each other" - banal soap opera story.
i really like it this way. more like "WTF?!?!?"....and looking right into the source, forgetting about his chick, loosing his mind etc. .. :p

its some kind of (bullet time) effect.
while the girl is flyin with the speed of light, he stood still like a stone. in the area near the beam the time has almost stopped. just to prevent the outsiders from helping the victims :applause:

just a brilliant piece :D
love it