CGTalk - The Bone Cathedral

M31

11-12-2008, 01:36 AM

I was inspired by the DSG topic on ConceptArt.org, "Bone Faeries build their homes from bones."
I am now trying to work out the composition. I apologize for the abysmal scribbliness of the sketch. I have never been any good at fast drawing. Maybe a description of what I am going for would help: The building is lofty and cathedralesque (compared to the figures). It is composed of the ribs and spine of some animal. Canine teeth jut down above the entrance. A lower jaw has been divided to form the entryway. There, two figures meet, each wearing the skull of some animal as a mask. I am thinking of going with a somewhat low perspective. I want the overall composition to be still and eerie, a feeling of tension between the two figures.

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/2615/bonefairiescomposition0af5.jpg

I would appreciate your comments, especially on how the composition might be improved! :)

On that note, do you have any advice on improving one's composing abilities in general? I have read and re-read the rules and the standard compositions. I try to find the armature in works that I like. I try to apply these principles to my work, but usually end up relying on what feels right. I suppose this is not bad, if my compositions are good. Does it just come with practice? Or is there something else I should be doing? Thank you!

CybrGfx

11-12-2008, 03:15 AM

Hi!

First of all, that whole "giant cathedral-esque skeleton" thing has truly been done to death. Almost as much as the whole elongated elven ears thing. Truly.

Try thinking more outside the box, brainstorming with the words "Bones," "houses" and "Fairies."
Give each one a separate column, and write down 10 things you can associate with each one. Then look at the 3 lists, and see if you can connect the columns in any way(s). Post your lists here if you have troubles. I don't want to do the work for you with examples.

Okay, in a nutshell on general composition.
1. Have an idea of what you want to draw.
2. Make 3 to 5 thumbnail composition roughs, with your subject (the main focal point), and 1-2 other focal points (can be part of Main FP, like a knight on a fancy horse). Include background shapes. NO details, just shapes and values.
3. Pick the best layout of your idea, and start your image with a Compositional Rough. Block out the shapes and values, keeping in mind flow and unity.
4. Refine the image from back to front, placing each portion on a new layer to make changes easier.

You can check out these tips (http://website.lineone.net/~peter.saw/ctutor/cmpsitn.htm) about Composition. They are important considerations, although it will take a while to learn to keep all of them in mind.

Hope this helps!
~C

M31

11-12-2008, 01:28 PM

First of all, that whole "giant cathedral-esque skeleton" thing has truly been done to death. Almost as much as the whole elongated elven ears thing. Truly.

Really? Bummer. :sad:

Thank you very much for your compositional advice. I will keep it in mind for my future works. That was part of the difficulty with this image -- I didn't know what the focal point was, or even what should be going on really. I just had some motifs and elements in mind and was trying to discover a composition from there. But since those elements are, in fact, cliche, there really is no reason to continue with this piece. Good to find out before I put more time into it.

CybrGfx

11-12-2008, 02:08 PM

Don't get me wrong. You can paint the same subject your entire life, and never paint it the same way twice. But that is not the issue here.

I am sure that with some thought and experimentation, you could create a "new" or different take on the cliché (I keep seeing some scene from a movie in my mind...Dune, perhaps?), but for the energy to create a new perspective on a cliché, you could create in an entirely different direction, is all.

Good luck, don't quit. This is great exercise for your "thinking cap..."

I am in an art competition currently, where we interpret a given theme. The rivalry, while friendly, is nevertheless intense. Brainstorming like this helped me with my final entry, and saved me at least a couple false starts...

~C

CGTalk Moderation

11-12-2008, 02:08 PM

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.