Strange Behavior (Illustration) Entry: Sean Counley

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Well peeps I am finally in - yey.

Having struggled to come up with a comedic theme have decided to fall back on a more emotive piece as that is the primary factor for judging.

So I am trying to start all my work nowadays in greyscale to get all of the balance and tonal hurdles jumped before dealing with colour. In terms of lighting the depths of hell of course will be a fiery glow so there will be a lot of underlighting and rim lighting. The dead angel will be just about losing his/her holy aura and the cluster of angels/saints stood on the precipice will be giving off a low ambient illumination which should add some interesting contrasts of lighting on the rising demon.... I hope that explains it.

Anyhoo, any and all crits are very much appreciated, I learned so much during Eon and I really hope that this challenge teaches me as much again.

Be coming to look at yours soon!
Sean

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Devlopment of tone and value and defining a few more features... the position of the angels wings is causing me the most concern at the moment. not sure yet how to address it but am sure I shall get there.

Any comments good or bad will be most appreciated.

[SteevieWoo]

OH now i see!:eek:

Sorry i didn't post before, even reading the text i was a little lost on this one, but now i get it, and you're aiming high i think, Good I'll be checking your updates!

See you around!

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Ha ha! here is the next update... sorry if my concept had been a little vague but here goes....

Zadkiel was the Archangel Micheals' standard bearer (along with Zophiel). He entered the war between heaven and hell with Micheal, he is an angel of mercy and forgiveness, he was responsible for the moral development of humankind. This scene is an idea that considers what might happen should a demon slay Zadkiel upon the killing fields of Hell. Here Zadkiels forgivenes of the demons grevious act has caused the demon to give pause for thought and in a completely uncharacteristic act of passion, returns the fallen Zadkiel to the waiting Archangels stood at the edge of heaven!

Hope that cleans that up :)

This post is more compositional development and fleshing out shape - also primitives have been positioned for anatomy and posture.

Please feel free to crit to your hearts content
Cheers
Sean

[UldFerr]

Very cool Sean,
I like it. It’s very dramatic and dynamic.

[SteevieWoo]

Oh man, Your scene is so touching... more than i catched previously, this just takes away my imagination for a ride... Thanks for that!

See ya!

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Well I think I am finally there on form and composition... time to res up and let the imagination start running riot :)

please crit before I make some terrible error!

[SteevieWoo]

Hi Sean! Thanks For the comment, you'll see that most of your suggestions will be in the coming ones, good eye!

Sorry this is your thread....:D Well, so glad to see you're ready to go with the good one! if there's something i'd change it would be Zadkiel's (Man... what a cool name, how come people don't name their kids that instead of Cleveland) umh... what? Ah yes his wings!! I think they look a little too thin, Even a fallen angel should keep the majestic look, and if you compare those wings to the ones surrounding the scene, they shrink even more.
Just an idea, see if it helps.

See you around!!

[abscnth]

Yeah.. I think its a pretty darned fine name too! Yep those wings have been my biggest concern, they need to be hanging down over the angel gate, so they will appear considerably smaller than the archangel Micheal's wings, you are right though they don't seem to have any majesty in them, I shall make that my next task... cheers buddy

[RockstarKate]

I think it's a great concept and composition. I like your sketches a lot.
However, I'm not sure how this image fits the "Strange Behavior" theme?

[Layer01]

what a cool concept, i love the sigils floating around. you shoul have a look at work by Wayne D. Barlow esp Barlow's inferno. might give you some cool ideas for your work.
I'm keeing my eye on this one :)

[abscnth]

Hey guys thanks for commenting... RockstarKate, the focus of the image is that of the demon who is returning the dead angel Zadkiel, the angel of compassion and forgiveness, whom the demon has slain on the battlefield back to the Archangel Micheal! Demons feeling sympathy for the angel they just killed and wanting to return them back to their comrades is quite a strange behaviour I thought, glad you enjoy the image though and hope you can now see the strangeness :)

Layer01, thanks for that I shall definately check out Wayne's work

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Hi folks, not had much chance on this over the last couple of weeks but managed a couple of hours over the weekend!

Well have re-sized the canvas to get a little more depth and done some development work on the background elements and composition.

All C&C's very welcome

[abscnth]

Oh yeah forgot to mention Layer01, I checked out Barlow's work - very impressive, gave me a few cool solutions to ideas I had wanted to try out!

Cheers Buddy

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Well folks here is the next update. Have played around with some textures and foto's to get some interesting shapes in the background that will form the basis of the burning cities of hell!

Most of the rest of the work has been on the demon who is now known to be Belial - the first demon, the father of Satan.

I have very loosely sketched in some scribbles that will be the angels attire but not sure wether to go traditional and simple biblical look or more of a pumped up heroic look - am favouring heroic at the moment.

[element5]

Hi Sean, came over to have a look see at what u r up to.....great stuff.

I like ur compostition and the awesome view of looking down on what is happening.

One to watch
Cheers
Mark

[SteevieWoo]

Wow, lots of new detail! as for the heroic angels just let me get all grumpy here and bother you about :wise:not going as far as getting them 'comic book-cheesy':wise: :D Y'know.....


He he... Naaah you wouldn't. Great work by the way:thumbsup:

[fruela]

You have chosen a great subject for your work. The view of the camera is very good. Your work has quality and it looks like some of Dali's works. Very good sketch. I hope to see the progress.

[guero]

Hi Sean, great concept a demon showing pity for a slain angel. Nice.

Ok comments.

You have really nice composition the second I saw it I thought of Fibonacci spiral that would be nice incorporation of traditional theory into digital medium. I assume that the point of view is top down, make sure to include different layers for contrast and story telling.

Background - burned hell with a battle still on going.

Middle ground - floating disappointed demons. I don't think other demons will be happy with Belial helping or even showing any pity for the slain angel.

Foreground - well you got plenty of that. Angels are neither male nor female so that should give a clue on how to draw them. Giving them golden hair and fair features would do the trick.

I'm not sure if dead angel still holding on to his sword will do the trick :) . Now having all those angels all cramped up in one corner seems right and weird at the same time plus the platform that they are standing on feels to me like an elevator. Dunno. Have some of the angels look up with pain and sadness on their faces while the other reaching down towards the slain angel.
This is it for now, can't wait for the final image since this is one of my favorite topics also i think you will do it justice. Keep it up.

[kdmatheson]

I really like this piece. It is so nice and detailed. This is definately something that I would be interested in.

Very well done so far, I can't wait to see the finished product.

Best,

Ken David Matheson
RAPTURE My Strange Behavior Final Image (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=225&t=525225
)

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Hello everyone! Well its all starting to look very well advanced here now and I am starting to feel that I am lagging behind a little... perhaps it is because I am so used to working in colour from the start. I am however really enjoying working just in greyscale at this point, though I think I have lost some of my values here so I shall be focusing on pulling that back together soon.

This post has seen some work done on the angels, just trying to get a feel for the armour design. I am settling somewhere between classical look and the dynamic comic book look, Image Comics Dave Finch is the current inspiration as I am reading my old copies of Ascension.

All hard C&C and general comments are very much appreciated... see you all soon

[SteevieWoo]

Well if you need some cool looking angels there's nothing like Finch's work, that's a great source!

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Hello everyone, I see that you have all been very busy with your entries, such high standards are making this quite the challenge, I reckon we are all having quite the enjoyable ride!

Well here is my latest offering on my strangely behaving demon Belial. Nothing been done to him this time around, I have mainly concentrated on the angels costumes, the compositional placements and the perspective... all of which I think I am happy with now, though any fresh eyes spotting something amiss can always yell at me :).

I have attempted to pull all the values back in to order (I think) but this is the aspect of my skills that I am trying to improve upon with this competition so if there are any of you with more seasoned skills than I in this area please do crit.

Thanks for looking

[Nemesix]

Wow! The movement, perspective and details are superb! Best luck!

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well its been a bit of time since I was able to work on this and now with only 12 days left Im very worried that I will not get to the finish line!

Just going through detailing and laying down some textures prior to shifting to the full colouring - any C&C is most welcome

Thanks for viewing

[olipaf]

now that's one insane picture! worthy of figuring next to a text of "paradise lost"!
so much to look at....much curious to follow its evolution...great job!

[Paul-M]

wow :scream: cant wait for more details :)

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Well for better of for worse I have finally submitted and begun initial colour trials - the intention is to have a significant contrast between the elements of heaven and hell - the light from either being unable to affect the light from the other, the only place this will change will be the contact point between Belial and Zadkiel.

Thanks for looking - all C&C welcome

[SteevieWoo]

Too good you started with color already, I was going to suggest you to do so a couple days ago!

The contrast of the two colors is perfect, just make sure you leave clear the great depth of your composition.
It's going to look amazing........ :thumbsup:

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Hey Gabriel good to hear from you... yes I have become more concerned with losing the depth of field as time has passed so have turned my attention to it now by giving some preliminary definition to the architecture - not sure where its going just yet! Have also played around with the colour a little more, I want something sick inducing and the colouring of hell now has a more lurid feel I think.

Thanks for viewing, all C&C most welcome

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concept in progress for the geography of hell

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still playing around with the colour and getting a feel for the layer of hell and how it works in the composition - still need to extend some architecture in there and get some fire effects on the go!

Thanks for looking, all C&C especially welcome now in these last few days!!!

[Nemesix]

This is gettting more and more interesting. I'm curious about the final color scales and of course the final result :) Go on this way! And good luck!

[walrus]

This is looking really nice with the colors added and all of the figures stating to get painted over and details. Nice work so far!

One area that keeps grabbing my eye is that outstretched hand - the pose feels very stiff and unnatural: Your 3D model really shows through there. I hope you'll have time to overpaint it a bit and make the finger positions feel a bit more natural. Do you paint with your right hand? If so, you can paint and pose your left hand at the same time as reference! :) (And if you're a left, you can flip the canvas and do the same thing, only backwards.) Good luck!

[SteevieWoo]

Wow Sean this is coming up so nice!

I't still looks coloryzed, but I guess you're on that, I just wish the slain angel's face would be more clear,,, but is going great!

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Bit of an update for colour which I think I am finally happy with - although the dead/dying Zadkiel still requires some colour correction. Also pretty happy now with the hell hole from which Belial has ascended.

Back to crazy detailing again... all crits welcome and thanks again for looking.

[abscnth]

Hey Gabriel, thanks for coming to take a look again! Yep the Slain angel (Zadkiel) will have some work done - hopefully!! - to bring out some details.

Heya Walrus, nice to see you mate, the outstretched hand has not had any work done to it yet, the main reason is that there will be a whole bunch of protective sigils around that area that will be a ward against the approaching demon, the hand will be in sillhouette I think and I have not settled on its actual pose as yet, I plan for it to be one of the last things I do along with a few other special effects.

Next post about 5 hours from now - the pressures on but I hope to get an hour over the weekend to drop by all the entries I have had my eye on too - in the meantime good luck everyone

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Good lord, have jst completed a 24 hour straight run on this to get it finished for this morning - well nearly. Will do the last couple of tweaks later today (need sleep!) before posting.

Any last and final crits would be most welcome

[SteevieWoo]

is going great buddy.. but we have lots of time now ( hope you recieved the mail)


lets have some good sleep for a night :)

[abscnth]

Hmm, well thats all a little odd! But I am happy, it means I can address a few concerns I have but first off I would like some comments from the good people found meandering through this forum...

I am happy with the three angels at the foot of the steps of heaven though I think a little more work on the angel that is sitting wouldnt be out of place - the bit that I am really not happy with is the protective ward that the Archangel Micheal is holding out - I can see it perfectly in my head and it looks very cool, but here in the image it just doesn't seem to do it, anyone with suggestions for making something of this idea would be really great.

The other major problem I figure is one of lighting! The idea was that the light from hell should not interact with the light from heaven, in the image this works between the lower landscape that is Hell and the foot of Heaven where the trio of angels await - where it doesn't work at all is on the slain angel Zadkiel, I think I need to discard the idea and allow the light of all the hellish flames surrounding Belial to illuminate Zadkiel. The danger here is that Zadkiel may, on the smaller image posting, be lost in the background!

I am also considering adding some depth of field by blurring the angel trio to add strength to the focal point which is Belial, does this sound like a good idea.. I may just post a version with the blurring to see what comment it draws.

Well thanks for looking and reading my comments, any and all C&C is very welcome, dunno why but I am feeling a little deflated with it at the moment as if something is lacking!.

Cheers

[abscnth]

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A friend mentioned that she couldnt really make out any detail on her low spec pc monitor, so I am have played around with the optimisation to get the biggest picture I can within the 150kb limit - hope this works!

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Hi everyone, well am now quite glad of the extension and can address some of my concerns. I have played around with the ward that the Archangel Micheal is summoning and I am much happier with the design - still needs a little tweaking colour wise aith a little more special effects in there tho. I have also done some serious colour correction on the fallen Zadkiel so he looks more fully part of the scene as opposed to being pasted in! Amazingly I spotted a major error tho and that is that I had completely missed out doing the fatal wound he had sustained... ooops!, well its there now.

Thanks for dropping by - please feel free to crit

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Not really an update but a cropped close-up of the angel Zadkiel and the demon Belial.

I think the fire may look too powderry so I am gonna spend some time fixing it

Any crits please feel free to post!

[abscnth]

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Not really an update but a cropped close-up of the trio of angels, Micheal, Gabriel and Raphael.

I think everything looks done but wouldnt mind opinions so any crits please feel free to post!

Thanks for looking

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Not really an update but a cropped close-up of the trio of angels, Micheal, Gabriel and Raphael.

I think everything looks done but wouldnt mind opinions so any crits please feel free to post!

Thanks for looking

[abscnth]

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Not really an update but a cropped close-up of the trio of angels at the foot of heavens steps

I reckon they are finished but opinions are much needed so any crits please feel free to post!

Thanks for looking

[SteevieWoo]

Wow, still amazes me how much detail you're handling here, I would sugget you to use some of the yellow/green light from the demon ahd splash it here and there on the angels, that would help you define their contours a bit. on the foreheads for an example, the little wee part of the noses visible, the chest, also the flowing robes could use some of that light..... this all would set all the main characters in the same enviroment too, so the color composition doesn't split the image in two too roughly.

I think the only missing part is that touch of definition for each figure, you are doing great!! I look forward the finished one ... oh boy!!:thumbsup:

[abscnth]

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Well I have finally cracked the fire effects I think and with it the lighting has had to be adjusted. In the end I have decided to forget the idea that the light from hell can't interact with the light from heaven - I think it looks a whole lot better now but please yell at me with your crits if you see something I should know about!

ever grateful
sean

[SteevieWoo]

Yeah I'm here to yell at you......:curious:

YYYYYEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWW!! !! FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIREE!! !! !! !!

you hit the jackpot Sean! that's light exchange was all it was missing and now it rocks so much more!! the angel wings look great!! really engulfing! and the new orange fire hue is wild! I love it!

You got it pal, you did the right move at the right time!
Some highligths on the slain angel would help, since the demon is so big he could obscure him, you could also use some more of the cooler color he has on the wings to tell him apart a bit more from the flames...


Cheers!! :thumbsup::applause::buttrock:

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Woooooooh Hoooooooooo!! I think this is it, the last and final - well OK maybe there are just a couple more brush strokes to throw in yet.

There are a couple of close ups below so any last and final crits would be well recieved.

Thank you all and everyone who has taken the time to watch this thread - and I am indebted to all who critiqued, especially you Gabriel, your enthusiasm has been a pure driving force... thank you my friends.

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Belial carries Zadkiel

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The waiting trio of archangels

[Nemesix]

Wow! Amazing, the color election works great and the details are very imaginative, very well done! Good Luck!

[SteevieWoo]

Tank YOU for the treat Sean! this was amazing as it developed! and the result is really strong! that concept of the demon's pity was what got me hooked from the start, and you delivered fully!!

I love the wings, I love the fire, the really complicate perspective choice, and the Belial design is neat!

Good you posted some close-ups, the level of detail well deserves it!

Great my friend!! I think you did just great!:applause:

[abscnth]

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BELIAL'S LAMENT

And so the war between Heaven and Hell rages for an eternity, spanning but a fraction of the time this war shall consume. Heroes of light and dark fall upon one another in the name of justice and of hatred.

The Order of Shinanim, in a bid to end this infernal affair, journey to even where angels should not dare to tread. Zadkiel, the angel of mercy and right hand commander to the Archangel Michael leads this treacherous quest - A last passage that is to result in the death of Zadkiel. But Zadkiel is the angel of mercy and forgiveness, benevolent and just, and so upon his death the most strangest of behaviours was to come over his slayer...

Belial, the father of Satan and the first demon of Hell fought savagely against this formidable angel he had happened upon in the fire scorched shadows of the cities of Hell. And though the angel was a tenacious warrior, Belial foresaw a weakness, the angel did not want to kill and afforded the lord of demons every opportunity to denounce the evil of his ways. With a glint in his eye of pure boiling malice, Belial struck Zadkiel a mortal blow to the chest, bringing an end to the pure lifespark within.
In that moment, as the blood swelled from the wound, the hatred and the sin were washed clean and for the first time in a long distant memory, Belial was shamed by his acts. Though it strained against every fibre of his natural behaviour the emotion was too strong, with remorse and compassion he gently lifted the slain angel into his arms, and as the salt of his tears stung his eyes, he ascended from the depths of Hell to the Steps of Heaven and the waiting Celestial Host.

-------

Well that is the basic idea of the story, perhaps not overwhelming in its originality but certainly a passion of the last few months. How would we deal with a moment of such clarity, to see all that we had done in our pasts and to truly know the consequences as far reaching as they are, regret, sadness and a desire to restore the balance, I think would be the action you would take. But ultimately we are who we are, and soon enough we would once again revert to our natural habits and leave behind this strange behaviour.

-------

I took a different approach to this piece than my normal process, a strange behaviour in itself!. Working entirely in greyscale trying to capture the right tone and value is at once liberating and confounding. You are free to investigate form and detail, but without a lot more practice it is at times difficult to perceive how it will look come the time to colour. I did quite a bit of work on the Hell environment using concept art and custom brush techniques just to see where the shapes took me - I am very pleased with the results its just a great shame much of it is obscured by the other elements. Maybe expect to see another work using this environment giving more of a centre stage to it. The angels anatomy was figured out using Poser and then were painted over to be rid of that 'Poser' look, I think I may stop using Poser this way and return to working from scratch, figures and characters seem to have more vigour when developed from those first few brushmarks. I think I will keep using Poser but as a style in its own right. Belial however was developed just through playing with the brushes and seeing what shapes came out and this was a most enjoyable experience - except the flames, man painting fire from an overhead viewpoint is an absolute b****.

Well that is quite the ramble, thank you one and all for the inspiration your work and your dedication. Thank you so much to the critiques you have spent the time to give... especially to you Gabriel, I value it very much.

Good Luck!

[kdmatheson]

Really stunning work! I love this piece. You must have worked very hard to achieve it. It is totally awesome.

I wish you the best of luck.

Ken David Matheson

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