work-up for imc 2009

[thejeff]

Added a more dramatic atmosphere with some digital glazes and tweeked the composition a bit:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/thejefflee/warriordudeandfriends.jpg

[vicmonty]

Not sure how detailed you plan to get with the companion, but I will work on him a bit more. Give him the same respect you gave the warrior in a sense. He's in the background, but still close enough that he's part of the picture. Not sure if it's just me, but check the torso on the warrior. It might be a bit off, or it could just be me. I love the colors.

[thejeff]

Thanks vicmonty, I will make sure to recheck the torso on the big guy and nail the details on the little chap.

[thejeff]

Otay, sat with a good friend who is a Pratt alum in design and picked the composition apart. Greatly reduced the saturation to create a more palpable atmosphere, and went back into everything to integrate it all and heighten the drama. Still a work in progress, but much, much closer to my original intent. Happy to get feedback!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/thejefflee/iceicebaby.jpg

[Michael-Williamson]

Hello,

Personally I really liked the palette of the first painting... bright and epic! (but maybe a bit old fashioned... it reminds me of the golden age of epic fantasy: harryhousen films like jason and the argonauts or the sinbad films....)

the "digital glazed one" was a bit too rich and this final version is a bit too dull...

This de-saturated look has been done to death in recent years... fashionable, but could do with some aspects higher saturation to really punch through and bring it to life... (maybe the heroe's armour... or hammer?)

On the composition I still think it needs a lot of work... it lacks movement somehow...

I think that the "dutching" of the camera makes the bear appear static and upright... when actually cpmpared to the horizon the bear is leaping forward quite aggresively....... no wait, I see now that they're just fighting on a slope and the horizon is level.... ah well, I still think it feels like I just described!

Also, now that the composition is flipped this makes the leap of the bear "slow down"... we read from left to right so any movement in that direction looks fast and decisive, any opposing that flow is less dynamic and slows....

the viking with the hammer has quite a weak silhouette... that may be your intention... if this was part of a series this would imply our protaganists are done for and the bear will certainly win.... ready for the payoff in the next shot with the hammer guy doing something surprising...


If however you want to give the hammer guy more of a chance visually I'd suggest a more "open stance"... If his right arm was swung back with the hammer above his head you'd get a better "anticipation" of an offensive swing of the hammer, the silhoette would be stronger and you might be able to get the hammer head to read better in silhouette too...

..maybe the left arm could stay holding the hammer in this new pose and therfore add to the "tension" of the movement or it could keep the pose open by being held palm facing the creature.... a defensive "warding off"...

The secondary character has a much better pose in this new set...

So, a mixed bag from me that you'll probably feel is sending you backwards rather than forwards!

Take care!

Mike

[fionabus]

I like the changes you've made, I think it's looking good! The perspective is a little wonky still though. I agree with Michael, I would change the guy's stance, make him stonger and more grounded. The bear also not looking strong enough. Maybe face his back to the camera a wee bit more and give him a bit wider of a stance. More dynamic posing would take this picture up quite a bit!!!

[thejeff]

Ya, I am agreeing with both of you and have already started a revision.

[CircusRobot]

I did a real quick sketch moving the elements around. The two things that I think bother me the most is the boat and 2nd guy being behind the bear causing the focus to be split and the giant iceburg in the center of the image which is too static. Hope this is useful to you.

http://features.cgsociety.org/newgallerycrits/g93/377693/377693_1244167037_medium.jpg

[thejeff]

I see what you are saying. I will give that a lot of thought. Thanks for taking the time to do a work-up, because it is now clear to me that is a problem, and it has to be addressed somehow.

[CircusRobot]

No problem! I like the image and in fact I had to stop myself from getting too carried away and spending more time on it:D !

[thejeff]

Otay, with a night to sleep on the excellent observations you all made, I ripped into the composition with no mercy. I think most of the issues have been addressed, though it is still a rough. Lemme know what your impressions are!

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y283/thejefflee/bc5.jpg

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