Strange Behavior (Illustration) Entry: Christelle Vanessa Camprubi

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1187257369_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1187257369_large.jpg)

Hi Everybody,

That’s the first time I subscribe for a CH challenge… I apologize also that I come a bit late. I hope that will be ok, anyway.

I had a quick look on what you are doing, guys, and the level seems to me very high! I don’t know if I will be able to produce something that good, but I enjoy sharing the work in process with you.

Before to add any comment or sketches, I just would like to underline a little detail (but which is really important to me).
When fulfilling my file for the subscription, they asked “my real name”… I put what I have on my official paper, but you have to know that it is not the name that my parents, friends, teachers, are giving to me. Even the administration, university, and so on. I am actually “Christelle” only for customs when I travel, cause it’s written like that on my passport. The fact is that in France, in the time I was born, you couldn’t give the name you want to your children, but pick up on a formal list. My parents wanted to call me “krystal” but they was not allowed to, and so they picked the name which was the closest to it.
So, knowing that, please, please, … call me Krystal !  (by the way, if somebody from the management can update that on my post….I would be grateful !)

Well, now that I’m done with that, let’s begin!
When I subscribed to CGtalk, I first didn’t really pay attention to the challenges. Then, I discovered Dehong Hee and his marvellous painting, thanks to Imagine FX. I started to have a look on the challenges threads…
At the very beginning, I had absolutely no idea about the theme “strange behaviour”. And to be honest, I didn’t even thing about it, because I wasn’t expecting to participate so early.

Then, I remember an strange idea I had once: I used to paint faeries when I started as an illustrator, I though about a strange elfic rodeo on a snail.
For I usually doesn’t paint humoristic stuff, I just kept the idea and first sketches somewhere and forgot about it.
As I remembered this yesterday, I decided to try to challenge with that theme.

The first sketches are done in 5 minutes in my sketch book. At this stage, I didn’t really matter if it was all right or wrong. I see a lot of mistakes but I just wanted to fix the idea and to find the general move in the picture. I made around 5 pictures like this, but here are my two favourite moves. Even if the first one (on the left) is a bit more vivid, I rather like the position of the women on the second one. So I chose this one to go further.


Finding snails is not too difficult, especially when you live in the country side. I just had to go out and pick up some in a little box, for the purpose of the class. I will release them every evening and pick up some new the day after; That way, I can observe their move and details. I have never done something that funny before! So I sketched the first snail to find the tones of the picture. I wanted something discreet enough with the very green background. The big red snails aren’t really the good hue so I chose my colors in making that snail’s study.

Here is a first try with the whole picture. I wanted a lush grass pictured from a very close sight. Then I made some studies about what the face could look like.
I really hesitate between the two styles… The first one has a more “Quaker look” but the other one a more “imp look”…
Anyway, I’m not satisfied with the move of the girl… So I tried this other picture, which looks better to my taste. It is still very loose but I find it more natural. The question remaining is: do I put her a Stetson Hat or not? I think I prefer not to… the hat could hide a part of her face and beside, she will have enough “western” symbolism on her garment….

I am now going to make a couple of studies of her face, in that position, and when I will be satisfied with her face (with hat or not!), I will start to push a bit the picture….

[gpepper]

Nice story about you Krystal ! ;)

Your sketches are great and the "little things" I saw in your portfolio let me say that you can do great things in this challenge !
Keep the faith, now you are in !
Show us your art and welcome !

[Dehghani]

woow.
great story and cketch too.
good luck.

[rbfer2]

Amazing Artwork ! Can´t wait to see more .


Robberto Fernandez
STRANGE BEHAVIOR (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=225&t=510732)

[OKMER]

Yep great story and artwork indeed.Nice sketches!Good luck Kristal!cheers

[Frotze]

Welcome aboad, Krystal. I don't think you have to fear not being able to reach the high quality of this competition, for what I see from your sketches and portfolio shows a lot of promises. You really seem like a dedicated person and quite frankly, it's the first time I hear of someone going outdoor searching for real snails to study them more closely. :) But thats a great example of commitment and it just makes me want to see more of your work. Good luck!

[Chrysale]

Thank you so much guys, for your nice appreciations! That makes me more confident...

I justed submit a new entry for an enlightenment's study... but I don't see it in the thread... For it is my first time in such a challenge, I'm not sure to understand well how the attachments are working... If I don't see any updates in the next minutes, I will try to fix that ! See you very soon...

[dondixon]

Great concept! I look forward to seeing this completed! Maybe your farie and my worm can go on rodeo adventures togther! Yours by land and mine by sea! :)

D.

[MrFreeman]

:thumbsup: Great start Krystal!!

Love the sketches and good to see you are getting the snail reference from life

I really like the concept and the character expressions really make it work. Glad you have joined the world of the CG Talk challenges and best of luck :bounce:

[BloodTaster]

Great Sketch Kristal! I will stay tuned on this thread!!

[guero]

Hi Krystal, great concept this is going to look sweet on a poster.

Can't wait for an update.

[MDN67]

Good sktech, i like the face of the woman, and the movement of the scene is great good job

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1187429389_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1187429389_large.jpg)

Well… Last time, I change the position of the girl. So the studies for the face had to be updated as well… After some tries, I felt OK with the “physic aspect” of the girl. But the enlightenment was very casual and not so interesting. So I made those two studies with different light. The third one is probably the most real in that context. But I can help preferring the second one, which is more dramatic…

[Chrysale]

Greeeaat ! This time, I managed to updated ! (yesterday I couldn't... :-| ). So I let a new work to thanks everybody for the kind posts ! I must switch of my computer (a meeting right now) but I'm going to go and see your thread, guys... The story of the worm (I didn't see yet) makes me very curious, though...

[MDN67]

I prefer the second face

[Ferx]

Hey Krystal, really nice sketches and cool idea !! :thumbsup: (and nice story too ;) ).
I like a lot your snail texture. About the fairy face, I think you can experiment with light a bit, if the girl is a fairy you can use an evocative lighting for magic or fantasy and not a real light by the sun, and think the teeth of the fairy are out of phase in relation to the plane of the face and nose, only a comment. Ahhhh... and i love the freckles of the first fairy (its a nice innocent sexy touch :D ) Again great work!! and best of luck and have a lot of fun with this challenge!! :) . and looking forward for more updates.

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1187787106_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1187787106_large.jpg)

First of all, thanks everybody for the comments and critics.
Ferx, thank you a lot for your critic about the teeth. You are totally right ! I need to adjust that. For the moment, I won’t work on the face before I get all the picture on a certain level. I’m still looking at my snail’s herd  I keep on sketching them and refining my brain picture of them. Only problem, they move all the time –slowly but all the time!
Difficult to analyse the light on them and so on… I made a couple of pictures with my camera. They are not very precise, but still a good ground to work. Of course, I will keep on doing the picture with the snails alive…

At this stage, I made a break on the picture and try to find some references to push the image further.
I googled to find some rodeo pictures. They are all funny it themselves… Almost no need to put a faery on a snail to make it funny….

More seriously, those pictures made me think on a point or two:
Especially, about the garments : I need to make some adjustments. To find the typical western shirt, to add a nice belt and buckle, maybe gloves and for sure, chaps and spurs… They ALL have chaps, when I didn’t make it to my cow girl. And why not having a leaves instead of chaps? I will make a sketch or two to find out the good garment…
I will probably go and search on website dedicated to cow boy’s outfits.
I also remember the beautiful Nancy, in Sin City. The very dramatic light is almost like the one I choose. That won’t help me a lot because it’s maybe so sensual but as I want to make her a naked belly and a bit rascal style, she could be a good reference as well.

See you a bit later for the update of my picture !

Cheers,

[walrus]

It's looking nice so far, Krysat. I too like the second face: The sharp hilights on the left are really strong, a much bolder choice than the other two. I like your new references also - lots of energy in them. Looking forward to seeing how you incorporate those poses and that kind of action into your image.

Also, hope you don't mind, but I just wanted to comment on something you said in someone else's thread, about not feeling qualified to add a crit because the person was working in 3D, not 2D. True, you might not be the best person to give advice on the technical aspects of a 3D application, but ALL of us here, whether working in 2D or 3D, are in the end creating a single illustration. The same rules of composition, readibility, emotion, expression, pose, and form all still apply. Just treat any image as a 2D painting - forget about how it was created - and feel free to comment away on anything that might or might not work as an illustration... and people will aprreciate it, too! :)

Anyhow, good luck with your piece!

[skekTek]

I love it! I agree with MDN67 about the second face. Other than that I can't wait to see the final.

If you are going to include a cowboy (er...cowgirl) hat I have a suggestion. In hard and fast riding and breaking horses, sometimes the hat falls off towards the back. It's held on by the chin strap (more like a string) loosely around the neck. This could add more movement and drama to the piece. Just a thought.

:thumbsup:

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192533947_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192533947_large.jpg)

I am so sorry, guys, I let you without any news during such long time! Well, the contest closes in 14 days and I didn't work since last time on my project; in fact, I caught Don Seegmiller’s class and in the same time, I got an important contract for a book… so that the time was really short-short (it is still yet…!)
I’m pretty sure I won’t have the time to finish my image properly… But I think It was already impolite enough not having gave you any feedback on your images, it would be more impolite to vanish in nowhere without a word, though. So here I am and I’ll try to do something with that image, even if I don’t finish it… I really wish I had more time for that project and hope next time I’ll do a better schedule.
Anyway: here are a couple of studies I made for the girl outfit…

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192551356_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192551356_large.jpg)

It is time to post the painting !
I’m done for today but I think I should add a couple of inches on the right size. The snail needs a bit more space, to my opinion...

[Chrysale]

Oh, I forgot... skekTek, thank you for the idea of the hat! I'm gonna try this in a separate layer when the image is more established but I think it could be a good idea to give some move!

[jeroentje]

Wow, very nice concept and great rendering. I'll go and check out your website now.

btw, I wouldn't mind some more space next to the head of the snail for better composition.
Looking forward to your updates.

Cheers, Jeroen

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192633816_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192633816_large.jpg)

Thank you Jeroentje, for your nice comment and advice.
I finally painted more space on the right size. I think it looks better.
I also add some details on the grass behind and I'm gonna keep rendering those strands before making some blured areas by blending some of them...
So much work to do still !

[Korendo]

Krystal,

Ride em! Looks great! Agree with adding a cowboy like hat (snail girl hat?). Also maybe a saddle?

[guterrez]

I`m a big fan of good painted Pin-ups, your picture seems to fall into that category
the details and the redering is looking great, but the main characters don`t pop out enough against the background
one reason is the colorscheme; more warm tones for the snail and the cowgirl would help alot
another reason is that the bg is a bit busy; even I like the detailed grass and plants alot I think you should blur them more so that only the blades dirctly behind the chars are sharp ( like a macro shot with a camera), I guess this would also strenghten the feeling of the size

good luck on the challenge, I`m sure you`ll deliver a great picture

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192704316_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192704316_large.jpg)

Hi guys,

And first, thank you Guterrez : I totally agree with you about too busy background. My goal was first to give detail and then blurred : I think the "blurred" image is not exactly the same when the detail was there before, and when you can still feel it behind the "fog" of the focus. It is exactly the same difference between not making the point (with a camera) or making the point but having a broken lens - like Hamilton, for example. I like that kind of feeling....
Well, I'm going to follow your advice and work on the space feeling in blurring.
I also think your advice about adding some red is totally right. Beside, It is time to work on that little elfic cowgirl! Hope the result will be fine...
See you soon

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192713579_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1192713579_large.jpg)

I should have done that at the beginning...
Yes, I realize that the whole picture is quite too green and need more orange and red hue somewhere... This is the new color scheme, with the orange and reg in addition.

[DougFerreira]

Very nice! I really like her face and torso anatomy!Keep up the good work!You said your pallete has to much green,take a look at mine!Best wishes and good luck,I will follow your thread!

[scala]

I love the idea Krystal . Good Luck

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193142641_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193142641_large.jpg)

Time is runing... and of course, things always happens when you need the the least : Some problems with my computers 6 days before the end !... I spend the whole week end initializating my computer and refinding here and there the many files I saved regularly...
Happily, I didn't lost my concept for the contest. It is just two days lost... It could have been worst....

Then, I spent some time detailing the snail. Not easy, to tell the truth : My alive snail has started his hibernation ! I doesn't want to come out his shell anymore ! So I can still use the shell as reference, but as far as the animal is concerned.... no way !

I hope I can fixe the last things before the dead line. I am still far from being satisfied with that piece. The background is ok or almost, for me. But I still have a bad time with the little cow girl, especially the saddle... Where to put her hand ? The real way to catch a saddle isn't very beautiful nor graceful and I want something nice....
I don't know....
Another question : I thought about adding some bubbles here and there, around the snail. But I am not sure it change the image for the better... What do you think, guys ?

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193173551_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193173551_large.jpg)

After having tried a couple of different hand position, I end up with that one but I had to refine the saddle to make it believable. I changed the shape a little bit, to allow her to grab the saddle, but I also had the forearms protections, which break the line (the arms was like a too long piece of flesh against the belly). I really do prefer that way...
Well, about the snail, I chose to do the Bubbles, but not as I tried first : 4 or 5 little bubbles are not significant in the whole image. We just would wonder what for I did them. I had to do real big bubbles to make them interesting !
In the current image, I didn't put the foreground layer with the first strands of grass, to show a bit better the bubbles, but at last, they will be partly hidden...

[Korendo]

Your image is really shaping up! The saddle and bubbles look great. Sorry to hear of the computer problems. Even at a snails pace you are doing great. I have a few computer and network issues myself. You are so close. Best of luck.

[gpepper]

Great work Krystal ! You really show us your painting skills and they are amazing !

[artozi]

She looks like... slippery. It's a great idea! It's clear you can paint;) Although, it seems to me the snail isn't acutally sitting on the grass - they're kinda different perspective IMO. It looks like almost no grass in front of da snail and the bush right after. I hope you finish it because you got one of the coolest ideas! Those bubbles resemeble snail's farts to me:P

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193232030_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193232030_large.jpg)

You wont see a lot of changes... But believe me, it took me a while with morning to make some adjustments.
My goal now : blurring here and there, add some feeling of move, or detailing some part "in the focus". Difficult to make the right choises. I erased a couple of time the work done, especially for the oak leave : I wondered if the yellow was disturbing or not in that green-orange mood. At last, I found that spice a little bit the picture. Ans afterall, it is right the color of oak leaves in Autumn, when the sun in gazing in them....
The snail gave me a bad time, once again. I realize I was far from the real pattern of the skin. And as I said before, my alive snail is no help anymore, for he is hibernating. I wasted my eyes in trying to look at many references, and I think I am now closer...

By the way, I'd like to thank everyone for the nice comments and advices !
I just regret I was not here earlier...

Tomorrow, I keep on adjusting, but I think I am almost done... Perhaps I'm gonna try to blured the background a bit mor - just a try...

[Korendo]

I like the shoulder on the afternoon version. Love your detail work. Just kidding about the snails pace, I have trouble holding my puns. :thumbsup:

[badoero]

Reallllly cute ! My vote is for afternoon version :). Also, I think a very interesting story could start with Thaldir's commando faeries :D

[scala]

It's getting better and better Christelle.
I guess the only stuff to work could be if you want , details and may be more difference of contrast beetwen the different plan the girl and the snail a little more contrast than the grass behind .
I guess you got the sad news about our friend JJK. I'm gonna post the final before lunch saturday or tonight , have a look...

[Chrysale]

Thank you so much, guys, for your kind comments and tips !
Eric : I think you are totally right about the different layers (background and foreground). I'm gonna work on this... Gosh, only two days left... I hope I'll manage to add the many thinks I want to !

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193573047_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193573047_large.jpg)

In that session, I came into details, but only on some importants spots. I tried to keep the rest of the picture in a blured atmosphere, also slightly changed the general curves (in moving along my picture, it became darker and darker, and not contrasty engough, so I ligthned up a bit). I also add some "noise" in texturing the background... but always blured. Then, detailed only one or two strands of grass, at the same level than the snail....
Well, I think I am pretty close now. I was about to post the final picture but at the next minute, I thought about trying to tilt the image a couple of degrees... not very much, but enough to give some more dynamism to the picture... But now, I nedd to repaint the "empty" edges ! Gosh... never ends...
I think I will post the final picture during the afternoon, but now - time for eating !

[Chrysale]

http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193595656_medium.jpg (http://assets.cgsociety.org/challenge/entries/19/13844/13844_1193595656_large.jpg)

THE STORY:

In the far far West of the garden, along the Death valley (the strange area where don't grow any carrotts or cabbages) life is really hard. The proof of it is visible everywhere: some snail's shells, empty and dried, are lost along the roads. Sometimes even, the poor elf, lost in the desert without his bow, can be killed by the evil house cat, big as a mountain.
In the "green areas" -in the far West not that far- life is not easier at all! Sometimes, some strange machines, surely come from the sky or the future, cut all the strands of grass like a tornado. Removed by an unbelievable power, every years at the same time, a kind of huge being crosses the field; the carrotts are propulsed toward the sky, leaving some bomb's gaps into the ground...

The most famous of the west elfic gent, is called Jess; It is said she is so brave that she doesn't know what "fear" means. She is especialy expert in breacking the snails, bubbling for anger.
Does that is a strange behavior? Not at all in fact : It looks only strange to silly big folks like you and me, because we all believe that the snail is a very weak and slow animal. Nothing is more wrong! Little fellows like elfs and faeries do certainly know that snails are really strong and wild. A cattle of them can make a desaster in a farm. Breacking them isn't a low task but a real art, according to a few people. And Jess is the best at this! Her reputation went already to the neighbouring garden!
If you look carrefully at your feet, now, maybe you will be lucky enough to see that kind of scene, like I did, before fixing it for you in that painting...

Technically, the picture was made with photoshop and painter, and some good old country music - necessery to stay in the mood of that elfic rodeo.
To experience the work in process shared with other competitors was really amasing and great and I trully thank all the people who were kind enough to help me by there advices and critics.

[Hiun]

I can't believe I missed this :cry: Funny thing is that I saw your work in the early stages before I even joined the competition. I found it very amusing and I am sad I didn't get to be along for the ride :sad: (no pun intended) :D This is beautiful Krystal! I wish you all the best in everything!:bounce:

[kikomunar]

WOW! Your work is breathtaking! I really love the realism and the details...it looks almost 3D. Congratulations and goodluck!

[BloodTaster]

Great piece! I love the details of pic, fantastic job..congratultations!

[gpepper]

Alors moi je dis "madame".

We can call you "lady" !

[Art2]

Excellent work! The snail is done very well and you gotta love the girls outfit.

[DougFerreira]

very nice final image Chrysale! I am glad to have followed your thread!Good luck on the finals!

[scala]

Gilles is right "Madame" Chapeau bas et félicitations.

[artozi]

insanely awesome! wonderful job with those details... and little strange action:p great!

[scala]

That's it . I can see finish you did a wonderful work and i love the idea of the far far far far west of the garden .Good luck Dear Krystal .

[Chrysale]

Thank you so much, guys, for your nice comments and support !
I reworked a bit the last two weeks on the elfic rodeo, but the details are so tiny that it didn't worth to reload an image, for nothing different was visible at the forum's size.
At least, I had a lot of fun painting this image, and seing your work in process... Good luck everyone !

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