I’m waiting for my graphics tablet to reach me now…so, soon enough (better sooner than later), I will be able to join in.
Just a bit confused by certain concepts, such as the value study concept…this is all new to me, since as I haven’t done anything like this before.
I understand the idea that we’d be, in a value study, thinking about perspective, atmospheric presence and the positions of the different elements in the distance, and that grey scale is used (20%-100%? Or was it 80%?).
Just…a bit confusing on what we exactly do in the value study. Or unsure, even. Such as, what would lighter shades represent? And so on…
I’ve looked through this thread, but I’d like to hear it again, just to clear anything up I might not understand…I’m nervous, you see. I don’t want to get a step totally wrong.
Thanks
Alright - here is a simple step by step process from value to colour to lighting that can be used week after week after week till everyone is really great.
Kinda like a dance shuffle, its applicable to painting as well
hi kaidonni,
i use the value study so i can see the areas which will be dark (shadow) and light (light source)
it’s also alot easier to change any aspects of the image, composition etc
don’t know if that helps, good luck with your work 
Thanks. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually. Now all there is to do is wait for that tablet.
Still a bit confused, but it’s because I’ve never done it before and I’m just nervous. This workshop really catches my eye because of the creativity involved. I often refer to animation (and the various processes involved in making an animated film) as a thing of beauty, and the work in this thread really catches that essence.
Joining the fray! 
I go ape for environments, and this’ll help me get better at perspectives and architecture in general!
Rune, you are hilarious dude, I love reading your stuff in this thread.
Awesome thread, now it’s time to get some thumbs going!
We’ve reached past the halfway point and will be starting the next theme in two weeks.
If there are any particular topics/or aspects of Enviroment, Transport or Industrial design you would like to improve/practise on. Drop a line ere, and we can collectively chose a new theme.
Of course, if there is no resultant answer (then I do have some spare themes to conjure up)
The one thing I’ve noticed is that for some, the fundamentals of perspective (from laying out a simple gridline) can be a challenge. Perhaps it is something as a group we should adress.
For example, with each theme we search 3-4 reference images and try to lay out the perspective lines in each image. Using this, we subsequently make our value studies/paints.
You guys research and layout perspective now, or is that something you think we should do?
With regard to conceptualization
Its all about how comfortable/good your methodology is
1/ Use of reference is a useful tool. You can choose to use/not use it. Ultimately, it will help improve how realistic and expand your understanding of how your surroundings should look like, once that is obtain, painting from your head utilizes that database of knowledge of your studies from reference and your surrounding. Thats how the pros get so good
2/ Composition and perspective. Another pro secret. Because of the ease of drawing perspective grids, it is always useful to check your perspective constantly at any one time.
Even the most beautiful rendered painting is meaningless if your perspective is not on because it will become uncorrectable and appear “wrong”
Sometimes,
you really need to get your perspective right.
This is probably as complicated as it will get (for in space, there is no horizon line)
grin
For analysis sake,
I started with a simple radial perspective (one point perspective) on the far right
For a dramatic angle, I made a artificial horizon line angling at 48 degrees from the left to the middle top centre
I then split the canvas into areas
1/ Golden ratio (divide the canvas into three parts equally). Areas where the lines cross, are areas of interest. there should be 4 areas of focal interest
2/ Golden triangle (with smaller intersecting squares/approximating the radial spiral of Pi), it helps develop lines of interest as well
Finally,
each object placed has its own unique perspective point.
Wow, that is complex! I think I’m going to start with 1 point, and keep adding points until I try something like that. Reminds me of EVE Online
hi koshime… sorry for the long reply… i have tried and tried with this picture and i seem to stuck now… i used dodge and burn to make it look somewhat realistic… i was going more in that direction. i improved this image by blocking in the colours with fuller values… and i just aint sure why im stuck 
Dude,
I keep telling ya your horizon line is currently in the air…literally ( you have painted your horizon line too generously low). Try drawing some perspective lines…and see where they lead to. where the lines all meet is where one end of your horizon line starts
In addition, the composition feels static.
As if the way its built on the hill side feels not quite right.
Grab some reference material,
and modify it accordingly *hence all design changes should ideally occur at the design B&W stage)
i’ve included a PO with your image and its perspective lines which are all over the place at the moment. Once you stick some decent simple lines in it will hopefully look better compositionally
here is a quick 10 min PO.
To amend this,
make the bold decision to go back to values and eliminate colour
[ol]
[li]I added perspective first. Your composition was too cramped, so i added more space.[/li][li]Followed by dividing the composition into three. [/li]Where the lines cross, they form focal points of interest
[li]I painted a higher sea according to the new horizon line[/li][li]Objects held up to light are dark (try holding a pencil case to a spotlight)[/li][/ol]hope that helps
Kosh
yo…im back
i couldn’t do drawin past 2 weeks cause of my thesis work but it doesnt mean i wasnt checkin here or studing bout environments.i came to know that my entry sucked big time as it neither had a flow nor had a centre of interest an i shouldnt mention anythin bout perspective.so i restarted and made this.its simple but i hope its better then the last one.i can continue easily here now since my thesis work is done and im free 
c&C…
hmmm.
could i see a similar picture with the perspective lines drawn on an overlay please?
Hi folks,
As the month ends, I hope this current theme has been of some use.
We’ll start doing final crits and proceed onto perhaps simpler basics, and refreher foundation course to eneable everyone to have a good solid dialog in design
In April, I was thinking of perhaps exploring semi abstract enviroment painting (using the righ side of the brain) whilst elaborating on the fundamentals of composition and perspective. I think without a good fundamental grasp of this, ones paintings no matter how detail or eleborate will not have that dynamism of a good composition, even in a simple picture with a boat and a boy in it.
In addition, the generation of small thumbanils (300x400) will be included into to this.
The idea is to allow you to generate rapid and numerous ideas. A painting is as strong as its fundamental core idea of what the artist wants to portray. In analogy, the same scene will be invariably intepreted by various artist in no two similar methods and techniques.
I will hopefully be able to generate a set of thumbnails and different compositions, as a PSD file, allowing everyone to work from the same page, to generate their own unique enviroment.
i think its a great idea considering the fact that i am weak in environments so start from fundamentals suits me.will look forward to what you have for us in the next month 
