CGTalk - engkanto encounter, John Barry Ballaran (2D)

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ahbeejieh

04-14-2009, 07:16 PM

http://features.cgsociety.org/newgallerycrits/g59/183059/183059_1242982704_medium.jpg (http://features.cgsociety.org/newgallerycrits/g59/183059/183059_1242982704_large.jpg)

Title: engkanto encounter
Name: John Barry Ballaran
Country: Philippines
Software: Photoshop

My entry for CGhub's Natives of the Lifeless Forest Challenge.

Engkantos are forest spirits in Philippine Mythology. They have the ability to appear in human form if they wish to mingle and mess around with humans. Some of them are evil and they sometimes confuse people in the path they are taking around the forest and lead them to fall off cliffs (They can appear as someone you know). Some of them are simply mischievous and will usually misplace your things around to make fun of you and confuse you.

In the case of the challenge, the forest they live in is dead. They have lost their powers and have no choice but to appear in their true form to confront the father who is camping and resting in his journey with his sons... I've always imagined the true form of these "Engkantos" as glowing monkeys coz of stories of their mischievous behavior ever since I was a child.

CnC welcome.

mozen

04-15-2009, 12:00 AM

cool, interesting take on the engkantos.

-mozen

www.terryibele.com (http://www.terryibele.com/)

ahbeejieh

04-15-2009, 06:32 AM

TNx mozen!

04-15-2009, 10:46 AM

Interesting atmosphere, good on concept..hmmm i wonder what would happen to the father and his children, Just curious though as to why the heads of the Engkantos is been marked with a circle(any reason behind it),..very nice take on it though, completely love it..:)

linainverse23

04-15-2009, 09:43 PM

I love the back story to this piece. It adds a whole new realm of understanding and emotion to it. It's like when you have a really good recipe for something like a cake, and you have a backstory for (like it has special meaning to a grandparent or something) so the recipe just seems that much better. The little creatures look interesting, and I like your interpretation on that mythology. It personalizes the painting. When I first saw them, it was reminsicent of the kodama from "Princess Mononoke", even if they aren't the same thing (except as forest spirits).

I like how they sort of enclose around the men, it makes you wonder what's going to happen next, and heightens your expectation. I like the one that's coming out of the tree the most. I think the man was a little plain-looking, with so much brown color and furry texture, but the boys (probably due to their poses) seem more dynamic and interesting. I like how the warmth of their campfire seems to get almost cold at the approach of this surrounding nimbus of cool, glowing blue-green light from the spirits. It's also a nice contrast and focal point for this one section of warm color to be surrounded by cooler, darker colors. Overal, this is very nice. Well done.

ahbeejieh

04-17-2009, 10:35 AM

@PC : I was looking at a lightbulb before the concept for the head hit me ;D Tnx PC!

@linainverse23 : Yes, the old guy probably needed some more work. I'm glad you like the backstory as well as how the piece turned out though. I thank you for an extensive review of the work :)

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