Strange Behavior (Illustration) Entry: Steven Bateman

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183132563_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183132563_large.jpg)

Hi folks i've moved my entry from the animation catagory to the illustration, i'm realy pushed for time atm, but would like to enjoy the challenge without rushing about.
Here's my concept 'Mallards Lament'

[miketche]

Good to hear your still in. I thought the same thing with my entry. All I really could have done was a camera move, so I thought why bother. I can spend most of my time getting the image just the way I want.

Keep at it.

[mdavid]

Cool! I think this will be perfect for you Steve! It would have been brilliant seeing your work moving but now you can focus 100% on how it looks

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183572938_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183572938_large.jpg)

concept 2

Here's another concept i've been toying with ' the red(neck)setter'.
I've never done a real 2d cg illustration before, but this dog want's to learn new tricks.

[shakes]

i really like this doggy handlebar..way cute and nice colours..a bit more of a happy theme!

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183597536_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183597536_large.jpg)

Thanks Shakes, i've decided to go with my first idea, this is the begining of the under painting. I don't have much experience with 2d painting so any advice would be welcome.

Steve 8)

[shakes]

so you're drawing this? i missed that one..should be fun! dunno what to advise, I guess use lots of layers and build it up gradually is what I'd do.

[miketche]

Ah, going the 2D route. I've never been very good at the 2D stuff, so full marks from me on this. In fact I predict the winners of this contest are going to be the 2D works. They always seem to be better done and emit more emotion. So I can't wait to see where you take this.

[handlebar]

Thank's folks

Shakes
I'm a bit lost with the whole 3d thing atm, i don't animate anything, which is what i would realy like to do. I kinda figured that i need another string to my bow, I can draw a bit but have never attempted a full 2d illustration on the computer. So far i'm enjoying it.

Miketche
Yup 2d for this one, i agree that there are some very clever artists in the 2d world. I love painterly images and i don't think i'd be able to get feel i want for this one in 3d. It's also great to work within one software package and not have to worry about system resources and out of memory messages. I'm having fun learning new stuff.

Steve 8)

[Gunilla]

I'm glad you choosed to go with your original concept - it's strange and heartbreaking at the same time. I love it.
It will be interesting to see you do it in 2d too, best of luck with that :thumbsup:

[Quills]

Love the sketch style of the old man. Redneck Setter was cool but the old man has more longevity I think.

Q

[icedeyes]

i like it much more than the alternative too... great start... keep it up

[JurajMolcak]

huh, I was expecting some nonsymetrical 3D party out of this thread. 2D is so natural looking for such a task, agreed. So grab your pencilsharper and make your tablet pen pretty sharp to skretch that smooth surface on your desk :buttrock:Great start already! Good luck!

[mdavid]

It's also great to work within one software package and not have to worry about system resources and out of memory messages.Awwwww.... where's the fun in not getting out-of-memory messages? Hahaha!

This will be great watching you work in 2D Steve. I'm looking forward to it.

Really nice start with the underpainting, by the way :thumbsup:

[handlebar]

Gunnilla Glad you liked the concept, i've always wanted to do an emotionally sad image, but also keep a sence of warmth and love,

Icedeyes Thank's for looking in, you're comment has given me confidence in the subject matter.

RedCapper I totally agree with you about the longevity issue, i usually work toon style so this is a new challenge for me.

Oweron Yeh, my first thoughts was to take my usual aproach but i wanted, and needed, to challenge myself to do something different. So far i'm really enjoying the 2d aproach, it's feels a lot more natural to me than working in 3d.

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183726760_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183726760_large.jpg)

Here's a little update on my progress, still trying to work out rough values.

[gpepper]

Great job, it looks fine !

[Kei-Acedera]

Hehehehe funny Steven! poor ducky! ..your second concept is cute too :)

[shakes]

hey handlebar, i know the good ol light switch and tubing is a 3d favourite, hehheh, but maybe it cuts in to the drawing too much? i love the rest of the composition and style..you're good at this!

[miketche]

Now that I look at it, I agree with Shakes. That verticle line seems to cut up the piece to much.

[M477]

Nice work, the second sketch kind of reminds me of the reeeally old doctor who :) Good luck getting the values right, I know it's not easy!

:thumbsup:

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183858903_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183858903_large.jpg)

This is the last of the low rez work, from here i'll resample and start the details. I've tried to make him look very fragile apposed to overly sad.

Steve 8)

[imagineCG]

spectacular!!! I love this concept

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183890326_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1183890326_large.jpg)

I looked at the image with fresh eyes thismornig, after a late night doodling,
and adjusted a few things. I'm much happier with the character now.

Steve 8)

[pseudonympending]

Love it! As far as concepts go this has to be one of the strongest. And a great start too.

Did I read you were once planning to animate this? How would that've worked, it's 2d right?

[handlebar]

mdavid lol when i refered to out of memory messages i was refering to me noggin, it takes a while for the old grey matter to kick in these days. Thanks for the encouragement, i'm realy enjoying your thread.

gpepper Thanks my friend, i realy admire your zbrush skills.

Kei-Acedera Glad you like the concept.

shakes Cheers buddy, old 3d habbits die hard. Took your advice and removed the switch and tubing, i'm still not sure what to do with the background, if anything.

miketche Thanks for the conformation, i respect your oppinion. I'm loving your dino thread.

M477 I think the doctor you were refering to was William Hartnell, the first doctor if i recall, or maybe it was John Pertwee. Thanks for looking in,

parol.a Glad you like the concept, and thanks for the encouragement.

[handlebar]

pseudonympending Thanks for the kind words. When i started the challenge the plan was to make it in 3d, but i've always wanted to learn digital 2d painting so i switched. For me it's kind of a challenge within the challenge, to learn something new.

Steve 8)

[pseudonympending]

Probably a good decision now that 2d and 3d compete under the same category - a whole less dimension to worry about :-) I think my entry might well move in the opposite direction and end up as an animation.

Good luck with it.
Dave

[miketche]

As for the background, I'm not sure. I think your piece should have a simple, elegant background with some nice tones. It probably shouldn't be too busy and focus most of the detail in the main character.

Maybe a curtain of some sort.

[CyborgJA]

Great character great concept and I love the palette. Bravissimo !

[MartinNielsen]

Great idea, mood and colors. A bit too blurry for me, even for a concept drawing.

[flyingP]

cool and interesting idea, with a lot of potential to be a really strong piece IMO :cool:

[Cartesius]

Very strong piece already! And the fact that you're doing it in 2D is really cool, especially since I can't draw to save my life :)

/Anders

[icedeyes]

the last one is great... feels like things i see when i get drunk....lol... no kidding now, the values and color theme look great... keep it up

[halvarado]

As soon as I saw your first post I chuckled out loud! I love it! Great concept - I enjoy the looseness and the soft finish. For a sketch it is perfect.

[mdavid]

There's a lovely warmth in this image. Excellent stuff, Steve. It sure is interesting seeing how you work too

[Gunilla]

Lovely - it has a beautiful mood already and I really like the softness in it.
About the background - I agree with Mike, keep it really simple, something in the lines where you are now. Just a wall with some lights casted on.
It's inpiring to see you do this in 2d, makes me want to try some digital painting myself.

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184238223_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184238223_large.jpg)

Started the first pass painting now. The reason for the blurred underpainting is that i find it easier to work from and saves a lot of eye squinting to see values, something i do a lot when i paint traditionally.

[nandlaskar]

hmm.different story to tell.Best of luck for the challenge.:thumbsup:

[handlebar]

Thanks for the encouragement folks.

pseudonympending Your skill are just mindblowing, and animation of work would be awesome.

Miketche Thanks for the feedback Mike, i think i'll just go for wooden floorboards and damp, dirty walls. One thing i want to avoid is something that looks staged, i want a real environment.

CyborgJA Glad you like the colours, i thing the subject matter leans towards an old masters type pallet.

MartinNielsen Thanks, the blurring just helps me understand the image better, it's just a personal thing. I'm too new to 2d illustration to have formed a workflow yet so i'm drawing off my traditional painting workflow. Glad you like the colours and mood.

flyingP Glad you seel the potential in the concept, i just hope i can pull it off.

Cartesius Thanks for dropping by Anders, you should give the whole 2d thing a try someday, its great fun and there's always ctrl z if you mess things up.

icedeyes Strange what beer can do to people, thanks for the encouragement

halvarado Glad you like the concept, the final image will be a lot tighter, but i still want to keep a painterly feel to it.

mdavid Glad you see the warmth in the image, i still haven't found a 2d workflow yet so i'm just posting my fumbling as i go. I think this is the way of the future for me, i enjoy the 3d stuff but drawing is closer to my heart and is what i'm realy passionate about.

Gunilla I appreciate your feedback and will keep things simple. Thanks for dropping by.

CUBISIS Thanks for the encouragement, i'm a big fan of your work.

[icedeyes]

the face looks trully great right now... And your technique trully intrigues me... one remark i have to make is that the eyes look a little hollow... maybe thats what you are aiming at...

keep it up..

[gpepper]

People who paint as you do makes me angry and jealous ! :cry:

Great work Steven ! this is going to be so good !

[shakes]

looking beautiful, handlebar. I really love the colours you've chosen. great seeing the different stages, too.

[Art2]

This is going to look mighty fine.

Thanks for explaining the blurred underpainting technique, going to try that.

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184364977_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184364977_large.jpg)

I'm slowly getting to where i want with this image, if i compare this underpainting with the one earlier in the thread i've made a big improvement, which is my main aim for this challenge, so i'm happy. I'm slowly getting used drawing with a tablet, but i find my old graphire surface a bit slippery. Does anyone know if the intuos has a better surface for drawing? I'd like to know before i invest. Thanks

[Art2]

I use both Graphire3 and Intuos3, and I must say that the surface of the Intuos is feeling more natural, less slippery. The pen is feeling nicer too.

[nwiz25]

astounding details dude! :eek: a thin line between practical art and emotional heartbreak! love this piece! especially the earlier colour palette .. warm .. soft feel to it .. i hope it doesnt change .. :eek:

looking forward to the next update! :bounce:

good luck my friend! :thumbsup:

have fun!

[handlebar]

icedeyes Thanks for looking in, i think the eyes are going to be the hardest part of this character to get right, atm i'm just working roughly. I still haven't found my workflow yet but am getting more comfortable with working in 2d as the days go by. Hopefully things will improve a lot by the end of the challenge.

gpepper Thanks, i'm used to painting traditionally, but digital painting is a whole new ballgame, so far i'm enjoying the learning process, which is why my thread is a hotchpotch of experiments.

shakes Thanks Shakes, i think by the end of this challenge i won't be afraid of digital painting anymore, i'm learning loads by doing this. In the future i want to do a combo of 3d and paintovers, i hate texturing and unwrapping things so i really want to take that out of the equasion. I think i can be more expressive that way.

Art2 I've found that the blurring tecnique works well if you just use it as a reference image on the side, what i've found is that it can realy screw up proportions if you paint directly over the top of things. I'm useing Bobby Chiu's tecnique now of creating a new window in ps under window / document / new window.
Having one small and one large, side by side. You probably already know this but i'm new to this stuff so it was a revelation for me. Thanks for the advice on the wacom, i think i'll go for the intuos.

nwiz25 Thanks the colour palette will return i just want to get the whole image done tonally first. I keep chopping and changenig and posting my doodlings as i try to find a workflow for myself. I think it's good to think in public and the best way to learn stuff and cement ideas.

[Art2]

Yeah, that extra little window is very useful, I use it a lot too. What I also frequently do is flip my canvas vertically and horizontally to check proportions and composition.

Intuos is worth the investment. I disabled those darn scroll touch pads though when working in Pshop, they drive me crazy :D

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184439440_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184439440_large.jpg)

Here's a little update with the Mallard included.

Steve 8)

[halvarado]

Looking beautiful!!

[mdavid]

This is coming along really well Steve. I guess the only thing I'm wondering about is seeing what he's sitting on - he sort of looks like he's defying gravity a bit at the moment, but I guess you've got it all planned in how to reveal that when you get to it. The man's face is looking excellent - his stoic expression makes a fine contrast to his loopy behavior :thumbsup:

[icedeyes]

looking great Steve though in this sketch it looks like the backbone bones of the bird are visible... creepy... will you keep that or is it just a placeholder for the feathers? I think that bones would be a little too much and would ruin the serenity of this image... just some thoughts... keep it up

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184674567_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184674567_large.jpg)

Hi folks started painting the background and setting the mood for the piece

Steve 8)

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184683471_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184683471_large.jpg)

Still not shure what to have him sitting on yet but here's an update, trying to capture the mood

Steve 8)

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184703782_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184703782_large.jpg)

slowly cleaning things up.

[sgw]

I love this concept!

[shakes]

wow, great job on the background, nice and moody- coming along superbly, handlebar!

[Nemesix]

I think your last election is the best one. The color and tone looks good :) Good Luck!

[Slav]

i hope he isnt cutting the duck's head off with that.

best of luck.

[Jujuba]

Beautiful image, poor duck... love the light, a little sad, but poetic scene....

[Layer01]

Fantastic! I laughed out loud when i saw this (a real life "lol" :P )
I love the simplicity and the "normality" of this painting, its classic!

The absurdity of what's going on with the seriousness with which its being handled is a great contrast.

However i'm a bit iffy about the legs, the knees look a bit strange in relation to each other, not sure i can quite put my finger on whats wrong..if there is something wrong hehehe
perhaps its the composition of the figure? Maybe you could crop it in closer to him, so you dont even see his legs?
just an idea.
keep it up. looks fantastic!


PS:
Just a quick OT question. I'm trying to enter my concept imgs so they show up as an icon on my thread, is that done through the milestone submissions area? It doesn't limit you to one img per category right (IE: only one concept sketch etc)?
Or is it done some other way? thanks

[kiankash]

Great work man, even if you don’t win it you’ll put a smile on many a face. Only criticism I have is that the legs seem slightly disproportionate the upper body, that and he currently has no chair.

cant w8 to see the final project

[handlebar]

Layer01

You have to enter your progress throught the 'submit entry' function. First you have to login on the submit entry page, choose your milestone and you're done. You can post as many concepts as you like.

Steve 8)

[JurajMolcak]

hey buddy, not sure this was mentioned already, but his left arm holding the bow could be more poetic. It looks kinda stiff now to me. But overall you are doing great with your 2D. Keep progressing.

[handlebar]

Art2 Thanks for the great advice, got my intuos ordered, should arrive in a couple of days.

Mdavid Glad you like the expression, i'm still not sure about what to sit him on, i'm torn between a chesterfield, a tea crate or a simple chair.

icedeyes It's just a rough guide for feathers that you are seeing, will look better when i tighten things up.

Dissipation Glad you like the concept.

shakes Thank's for looking in Shakes, it's quite a tough job to get the ballance of the image right, but i'm enjoying the 2d process, start with scribble and slowly refine.

Nemesix Thanks for the encouragement, i like to post all my progress from the very rough exploratory sketches to the more refined. My first idea for the background was old decaying plaster and damp walls but so i did a quick sketch to see what it would look like, but decided to keep things more fefined in the end.

Slav No this duck's not for the pot, lol.

Jujuba Thanks for the kind words, glad the mood of the piece is coming accross the way i wanted.

Layer01 Glad you like the piece, some people find it funny, some find it sad, which is just what i was hoping for.

[handlebar]

Oweron Thanks for the observation Oweron. I want to keep the body language very withdrawn on this which is why i've hunched the pose. It's gonna be a tough one to get right and strike the right ballence, too much epression with the bow and the image becomes overly comical, to little and he begins to look wooden.

[JurajMolcak]

yeah, it is understandable, but it may be the distances between fingers what I am thinking about. Not necessary comical expresion but just subtile motion in his fingers. But it may be just me. Much respect for your art and feel. Keep it up :thumbsup:

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184796497_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1184796497_large.jpg)

Here's the composition lines for my character.

[MartinNielsen]

Interesting composition lines there. Personally I just begin drawing. :)

[miketche]

I've never really understood composition lines. I understand how things should line up when doing Graphic Design, but with art, if I think it looks good that's the way I arrange it.

[Slav]

he still looks really uncomfortable, maybe he needs to go to the bathroom?

[icedeyes]

the composition is great... I personally haven't really used this kind of composition but it works very nicelly for this piece... keep it up...

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185020098_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185020098_large.jpg)

sorry for the double post, got an error message when submitting.

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185020665_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185020665_large.jpg)

I finally got round to the seat, plumped for an old chesterfield.
This is just a rough guide to eye movenet flow around the image. based on a triangle i invsage the viewer scans from the head of the duck upto the violinists face, back down to the spiral of the chesterfield arm which guides you back to the ducks head.
I feel the composition is quit ballanced now so i'm going to begin to paint over the whole image and tighten things up.

steve 8)

[nwiz25]

splendid work my friend! :applause: the colour palette is back and warm as ever! :love: simply outstanding mate! looking forward to more! .. cheers dude! :beer:

[Sarker]

this is a very interesting work, i like a lot the way you paint it, but stll i think that something is wrong with the legs (maybe the proportions).

is a great work :applause:.

[icedeyes]

hey Steve,

this is progressing very nicely... Only comment is that my eye personally doesn't follow your composition lines but moves in the composition in a spiral way even if there is no detail there to guide it in that motion...

My attention is drawn to the face first (being the dominant piece of the image) and then its drawn (for some wierd reason) to the empty space on the right (a little lower than where he is looking) then the chair, arm that holds the bird, hand that holds the stick and then the bird itself...


keep it up,
George

[Donglu-LittleFish]

I really like the chiaroscuro lighting you gave to your piece which remains me lot of classic Italian oil paintings, keep the good work up!

[Gunilla]

Nice comp and I lke the way the light shines in on his face. Great progress!

[mdavid]

I agree with Gunilla. The lighting is beautiful and suits the mood perfectly. It's amazing watching you work Steve

[DaddyMack]

This is shaping up to be a most memorable piece mate he's got loads of personality and charm... Congrats on the 2d success 2...:applause:

[miketche]

My eye pretty much follows your triangle, but it starts at his face and ends on the duck's head.
Looking really good.

[shakes]

it's looking beautiful handlebar, the colours are perfect!

[Gord-MacDonald]

wow - what a beautiful entry! great work so far. I love your drawing.

Gord

[DaddyMack]

Hi Steve, silly yah... I was jus gazing into this piece and noticed that his Right leg sets his proportion out a little because of his body twist. His torso appears twisted from his butt up and his leg doesn't appear to conform to such butt positioning... ie stick out a little further than his left... Hope that makes at least half sense:shrug:

[handlebar]

Thanks for your comments folks

nwiz25 Thanks for the encouragement, your photoshop skills simply amaze me, so i'm honered by your comments.

Sarker Thanks for the pointer about the legs, will definately try to fix them.

Icedeyes Thanks Icedeyes, there is no right or wrong way to view an image, these guides are just for my own thinking process, trying to pin down the composition.

Donglu-LittleFish Thanks, i wanted to give the image the feel of an old master type painting, so i'm encouraged by your words.

Gunilla Thanks Gunilla, always nice to here from you.

mdavid Glad you like my progress Mark, this 2d lark is great fun, i'm still trying to find some sort of workflow, favorite brushes, pallets to work from etc. It was always going to be a bit of a muddled thread as i experiment with different things.

DaddyMack Thanks for looking in buddy, your suggestion about the legs was much appreciated. I think the legs are going to be the part of the image that gives me most grief, funny how sometimes it's the simple things that trip you up, i always have a block like this with every image i do.

miketche Glad you like the progress Mike, you're entry is turning out to be a classic.

shakes. Thanks for dropping by John, glad you like my efforts thus far, hope you can find time to start your entry, i love the concept you came up with.

Gord-MacDonald Thanks for dropping by and the encouragement.

[W-I-L]

certainly different from the rest.. shaping up very nciely indeed.

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185733092_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185733092_large.jpg)

I've made a few adjustments getting ready to tidy things up again. I managed to find a ref of a man sitting in almost the same pose so i think the legs are looking better now. I will adjust them slightly in the final paintover.

[UldFerr]

Hello there,
I like your colors, idea and style. I just have a little trouble with his left hand. I think if he holds the bird a little more like one would hold a violin, with his thumb behind the bird’s neck, could be better. By the way, why is he holding the bird with his left hand? Is it intentional?

[icedeyes]

looking really good... i guess you haven't started working on the hand because it looks very soft like that of a young man... other than that great.. keep it up

[Neubius]

love your painting style man, really clasical.


can't help but wonder what kind of music it's making ...

:)

[targus]

Yes, cool colours and psychedelic composition.
Very strange and charismatic idea, keep on !

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185842532_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1185842532_large.jpg)

I've started to add the details, i haven't used reference for his face as i like to keep things caricaturised and not photographic. I'm building up the detail with hatching as i like the noizy surface you get with it, trying to keep things illustrative looking.

[miketche]

The details are looking nice. I don't know if you've stated this earlier, but what program are you doing this in?

[mdavid]

Whoah! We get to see some close-up details at last! It's looking brilliant, Steve! :thumbsup: I notice that the skin texture on the balding part of his head / upper forehead looks unnaturally geometric and even, but I guess that's because you're not finished yet, right? This is really cool work mate. I love those wrinkles around the eyes too

[Layer01]

This has come along so nicely :)
The legs look so much better and the seat is now looing fantastic, it really fills out the frame and gives it balance.

[handlebar]

thanks for your comments folk.

UldFerr Yes the hand is intentionall posed like that, i want to have delicate supporting caress of the duck's body.

icedeyes Thank's for looking in, yup the hand's and head will be suitably wrinkled up when the detail pass is added.

Neubius Glad you like the style, it will have more of an illustrative feel with the next pass.

targus Great to here you like the comp and colours, thanks for the encouragement.

miketche Thanks Mike, I'm useing good ol' photoshop for this, but could be done in any paint prog. For the initial colour pass ( the image before this one) i used a standard, large soft edged brush to sort out the colour and lighting. For the hatching i'm useing a hard edged brush for the light areas and a soft edged brush, and slightly larger, for the shadow areas. Both brushes are on 30% opacity. There will be one more pass after this one, mainly in the highlight areas where i will increase the opacity. Still very much trial and error in my workflow, but i've found the control i need now, i always like to keep things simple.

mdavid Thanks for the kind words Mark. I haven't realy worked on the top of the head much yet, just layed down the initial colour and values, there will be lots of subtle lumps and bumps when he's done, suitably wrinkled up and ready for his greatest musical masterpiece.

[handlebar]

Thanks Layer01, i'm happy with the comp now, so it's a big push to get the image painted properly now. Cheers for stopping by.

Steve 8)

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1186044924_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1186044924_large.jpg)

Here's a look at the surface texture, i want to keep and old painterly look and also want to make the surface as lively as possible. Thanks for looking

[walrus]

Really nice work so far. Great lighting and texturing. I also like the recent changes you made with the proportions of the hands.

Personally, I don't think the hands need to be all that wrinkled. My father-in-law spent his entire life as a professional violist, and now he's retired from the San Francisco Symphony... his hands are incredibly smooth and wrinkle-free! Maybe that's just good genes, or maybe it comes from playing a stringed instrument, I don't know! Or maybe it's just good hand cream and you should make this guys hands more wrinkly to match his face. :/ I don't have a preference, never mind me... :)

I do agree with UldFerr's suggestion of holding his right hand (screen-left) more like one would actually hold a violin/viola. Not absolutely necessary, but it would bring the theme together more.

Good luck!

[handlebar]

Thank's for looking in walrus, i respect and apreciate your feedback. I'm happy with the hand pose as is, i explored the neck gripping pose when i did my first sketches but thought it a little too comic for the mood i was trying to portray. Interesting to here about your father-in-law and how his hands never aged that much. I will slightly age this characters hands but not go over the top, just make the skin a bit looser and not so plump to reveal a little more of the underlying bone structure. Maybe add some enlarged veins, that come with age and liver spots too.

Steve 8)

[Jeffparadox]

I like your idea, and the mood of the piece is coming along very nicely too. I wish I could make some critique, though I don't have any now, looks like you're very clear with the direction you're going. I'm also curious how will the cracks texture end up in the final image, I think this is a good place to use it, though, I guess I'd try to avoid having it everywhere uniformly. You could even peel the paint off at some part of the canvas and show the actual fabric of the canvas through : ) just another idea..

nice work!

[mdavid]

You never fail to amaze me, Steve. After admiring your 3D work for so long I'm finding your 2D work to be full of cool stuff. Keep up the great work buddy

[DaddyMack]

You never fail to amaze me, Steve. After admiring your 3D work for so long I'm finding your 2D work to be full of cool stuff. Keep up the great work buddy

What he said /\
l

Just :applause: no crit

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1186320983_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1186320983_large.jpg)

Here's a little update, i've made his right hand pose a little less obvious, suporting the bird with his thumb, just got to age the left one now. Thanks for looking.

[handlebar]

Jeffparadox Thanks for looking in, you're right about the texture not being uniform over the whole image, i shall place it mainly in the light areas where the psudo paint would be thickest.

mdavid Thanks for the support Mark, i respect your opinion and feel encouraged by your comments. It's always hard to step out of what you know, but am having fun experimenting.

DaddyMack Glad you like it Robert, always nice to here from you, feel free to crit at any time, the advice you gave me on the legs realy helped.

[macling]

Hi there Steven,
nice to see you again...you're joining the 2d illustration category this time!
Your entry looks very good...I really like this silent approach of strange behaviour.
The lighting is going to be very nice and the expression in the old mans face is fitting very good imho.
Keep it up...this is going to be a great still!
All the best!

[RumorHazard]

Thats some awsome strange behavoiur!!

love the way he doesn't even notice hes playing a duck and just looks on.

[shattered-fx]

Hi Steven,

So far so Good man!:thumbsup:..Your painting is coming together really great!!! ..I expect this will make a fine piece of art when finished. :)

-raffy

MY STRANGE BEHAVIOR ENTRY (ILLUSTRATION)

[TwinSnakes]

Wow man, the colors look soooo sweet. Almost like a dark room with a fireplace or something coming from the right.

But, the concept, I dont really get it. An old man playing a duck like'a violin? Strange...Yes, Obvious...No

Where are going with this one? The duck embodies his sadness, and he's using his hand and a bow to play that sadness like'a violin?

Help me along here please...

[mdavid]

I've just noticed that flash of blue feathers on the duck's head, and really like the way it stands out against the mainly warm reddish-browns of the rest of the composition. That's an elegant touch :thumbsup:

TwinSnakes, it doesn't bother me that, at first glance, the scene might have no normal logic or easily-seen reasoning behind it. To me, that's what makes it so delightfully strange. In my opinion some of the best things have no explanation! However I can also understand your intrigue too. This scene was originally intended to be an animation and to quote from Steve's introduction there:


From being a world renound violin soloist Edward C Mallard now lives in a run down apartment.

The fame and fortune are gone and for the past six years his only companion has been a duck, that he rescued from a park as a fledgeling.

Sadly, during the night, his trusty friend passed away. In a confused expression of grief he
manifests a 'strange behaviour', clinging the ducks limp body to his chest, he picks up his
violin bow and gently strokes it back and forth along the soft downy feathers of the duck.
It will be the last song he will ever play..........

[icedeyes]

his hand is looking very good now as does the overall image... i think that his eyes, the duck and his other hand could use more work but i am sure you will manage...keep it up

[handlebar]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1187896534_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13070/13070_1187896534_large.jpg)

Here's my final image 'Mallards Lament' Thanks for all the support and good luck to everyone.

[icedeyes]

good luck with the challenge mate... i really loved watching you evolve this:thumbsup:... no comments since this is your final entry...

[Cartesius]

Excellent, Steve! I'm really very impressed!

/Anders

[SteevieWoo]

Hey Steve! I'm really sorry I haven't post before,:blush: I've seen you updates and the final one. well... this is a real melancholic subject, but the colors just make you feel all cozy inside somehow. Boy! that is great!

Best Luck !! !! !

[Art2]

Congratulations with your final image!
Really impressive work there Steve.
Best of luck to you.

[mdavid]

Excellent, Steve! I'm really very impressed!

/Anders
Me too. It's a beautiful image and definitely 'strange behavior'. Congratulations to you and good luck

[DaddyMack]

Wow! As always Steven, your work leaves me a bit gobsmacked... I feel the atmosphere and bizarre sorrow you've chiselled into these pixels... Congrats on nailing this one mate:applause:

[Jeffparadox]

Great work Steve.. amazing mood you captured in this piece, good luck!

[Gunilla]

Hey - you've finished :thumbsup:
Congrats for a beautiful final - I've loved the concept right from the start. Also really impressed on how you pulled off this in 2d. Wonderful work, Steve :)

[medunecer]

Cool! Warm and strange! I like it. Good job!

[miketche]

Very nicely done. A wonderfully strange warm feeling in your final piece.

[nerdyninja]

Beautiful! Lighting is wonderful and I love the title of the piece! And you say you arent good at 2d work....Phf..please! You did a wonderful job! :buttrock:

[soapy]

Damn, that duck must be a hell of a thing to keep in tune...

Really nice work H! I love how the character developed over the course of the work. He came together very well. Congrats on a fine finish!

[authentic]

Funny concept. I didn't saw it before. Nice execution. :)

[nwiz25]

congratulations my friend! :scream::bounce::applause::D a damn good finish indeed! i've always loved your concept right from the start :love: and it still captures my attention!
everything looks brilliant! .. the lighting .. mood .. colour shades .. the emotion ..
wishing you the very best of luck! :thumbsup: cheers dude! :beer:

[ashiataka]

Hi Steven, Congratulations! Nice color and lighting. Good luck!

[Jeffparadox]

:D Last days of the challenge buddy, this needs to be seen some more!

[MartinNielsen]

Congrats, ace :bounce: Superb finish :thumbsup:

[gpepper]

Love it Steven ! You did a great job. I really like the atmosphere of this scene.

[Korendo]

Very fine work, style and lighting really fits the concept. :thumbsup:

I have found when playing a duck it takes more rosin to keep the c note from going quack.

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