It’s sad I’m not to much rich to take part of your futur cours…
Ive loved to try to make an realistic body sculpting…
Abduction, Steven Hägg-Ståhlberg (2D)
Lorenzo
#41
RalphDamiani
#42
Another brilliant piece, Mr. Stahlberg.
And I completely agree with you about the use of references. That’s in fact something I learned from your paintover thread as I originally considered them “a copy”, thus diminishing the importance of the artists in the process of portraying a scene. Which is absurd really, all the great artists had real models, landscapes and objects to help them convey reality in the best possible way.
Today I use references for almost everything, and I think that adds alot to the final product, which is what really matters. The important thing is to show the scene as you imagined it, and all tools to make it seem plausible and real are just as worthy as your own imagination.
microspot
#44
The more I look at it the more I like it.
My second post on this thread, but I couldn’t help notice that the girls boob is blured and fading a bit into the background? Did you censore the nipple or something?
I wonder why this isn’t on the front page already.
gave you well deserved 5 stars btw
walrus
#45
Glad to see you had the chance to get back to this image and finish it up, Steven. I think you made the right choice for the Journey Begins challenge, but it’s nice that you managed in the end to get two solid pieces out of it. It looks great! Fun seeing your photoshoot images, too.
-mike
NinjaA55N
#46
wow Steven! u literally blown me away. Im so happy (as many others) to see that magnificent piece finished. I have been wathing guy’s expression for at least 10 minutes and I know I’ll come back to watch it some more… its just so alive and real. And at first I thought its completely 3d, but just now I find out thats under 2d section. I hope to see more of u soon again. Best regards!
Stahlberg
#49
Thanks guys!
About references, well, to some it seems more important to show off visual memory skills, than actually ending up with the best possible image… but I just can’t compromise my vision like that.
Furthermore, as I already mentioned, many many more artists than the general public know, have made extensive use of photographic reference, both on this forum and throughout history. I’m sure if Michelangelo was around today he’d be using a camera too.
Intervain
#50
amen to that!
to those who criticize the use of reference - try copying a photograph just by looking at it - not that easy and adding your own touch to it is even harder!
Reverence
#51
WOAH… Mr. steven… this one was way beyond comprehension, lolz with that quality of crisp work i really can’t sa no 5 STARS!!!
… hehe i’m such a fan of ur work…
the lighting damn blew me away… ehhe the design principles and elements do work harmoniously… damn…
My GOD this is marvelous… the degree of realism(lolz the scene is scifi) of it that not that many can express…
I have to agree of the use of reference… lolz. isnt technology be used to make our work easier…
thx for showing the reference… i have to quote what others say… It’s EVEN very hard to add a touch in photo to make it ur own… wahh GREAT job…
Woah, that is what i call professional… hehe…
Maidith
#52
Your painting technique always blows me away. Incredible skill, Steven. 
As for the image, it’s very interesting. At first, I actually didn’t see that something is abducting her from the hot tub, some extraterrestrial force maybe? The title implied to me that one of these two people was abducting the other, but their shocked expressions didn’t quite fit it. Actually, I thought at first, they were both under water :rolleyes: and at first sight it looked like she was a mermaid abducting the fisherman, like in a poem by Goethe.
Great work! :applause:
Jadetiger
#53
Hah! That’s great!. Awesome job with the water. This wouldn’t happen to be wishful thinking, would it? 
Chupacabra
#54
Hello,
I’m sorry if i started a flame war, that wasn’t my intense. If i wouldn’t respect You, i would never dare to critisize your work. Using reference is a necessity for a perfect anatomy.
Yes, Michelangelo did it and everybody else as well.
But tracing a photo (mostly with color picker) is nothing special. Try doing that with oils or acryl. Or even worse, try doing it with watercolors…
So Steven, no offense here, it’s just my personal opinion.
Let agree to disagree:)
Best regards,
Runecaster
#55
people who use photos for simply a ref do not color pick 
not any artist worth his salt anyway.
5 stars hands down Mr.Stahlberg - lovely use of lighting and subject, totally cracked me up… poor girl!!
BlacKeri
#56
Chupacabra, while I do understand what you are trying to say, I cannot quite agree: what if someone uses photo reference as a REFERENCE? Not for tracing, colour picking, painting over or whatever? Sure, working on a computer gives one such possibilities, but it doesn’t mean everybody uses them.
The problem with even admitting to use references today is that some people identify “photo reference” with a paint over, even when it is not. Sure, references as live studying, or photos, make it easier (that’s what they are for in the first place) and they are, as mentioned, at times truly necessary. And I see no reason of diminishing the worth of one’s work just because they were brave enough to admit they needed help.
And on-topic now:
Steven, that’s some brilliant execution and a great, funny subject (or shall I say tragic, I DO feel sorry for the girl ;p). I love the way you handle colors in all your works and in here it’s especially good - I really like the way you managed to harmonise contrasting shades.
I wonder what happens to the girl, can we count on a part 2? 
WyattHarris
#57
Haha, funny always works in my book. This piece is great both artistically and in concept.
As for using references, I thought that was a given. Seems every well known artist past and present uses them to make their work better and I’m all for that. Looking at the side-by-sides its apparent that the ones that you used reference on came out better. Should the quality of the work be sacrificed for the sake of artistic purity, absolutely not, I’d much rather view the better finished product. I could see a gripe with copying a reference photo too closely but whatever. Do what you gotta do.
The only artist I’ve studied closely that didn’t use references and taught the same was Burne Hogarth. But we can’t all be him.
Great work Steven.
Natt
#60
I don’t have many words to expresive that i really like your draw!
without movement that happening its good draw and all people can understand right the action, the colors de water, the position, and expresions are perfects!
good work! My congratulations!
Natt