Steampunk Myths and Legends Entry: Aaron Gerber

#1

Aaron Gerber is entered in the “Steampunk Myths and Legends” update: View Challenge Page

Latest Update: Work In Progress: Background Finished? - I doubt it.

#2

When Achilles heard the fate of his friend, he was overcome with self-resentment; his only consolation was the hope of revenge. He would seek out Hector and kill him. Vulcan forged for him a new celestial armor. It contained the great inner workings of the gods, gears within gears turned within the interlocking parts, far to wonderful for a mere mortal to comprehend. As he stood before the great ramp the sound of his Myrmidons frantically surging towards his goal: Sweet Revenge. (The word “myrmidon” carried many of the same connotations that “robot” does today. The name in Classical Greek was interpreted as “ant-people”, from murmekes, “ants” – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrmidons)

Comments welcomed – in fact, begged for.

#3

Colored in the major light sources, then began to dither it with burn and dodge tool.

Comments/Suggestions appreciated

#4

Hi Aaron,

ah, another classical motiv of mythologie - and you’ve picked a nice one:) ! I see a lot of potential in it for an interesting scene, so I’m looking forward to see your interpretation. You’re going to show only the back of your main character? I’m not sure if it is such a good idea, perhaps you can change the concept to put Achilles a little more in the focus…also all the “action” is on the left side of your concept, so you have the right side with just a slope and brick walls.

Happy sketching!:wavey:

-sabrina

#5

Okay, revamped. Positioned Achilles facing camera with hands outstretched looking to heaven as he utters his curse. His friend is laying dead behind him and his killer runs for the gates of troy.

Positioned main action in or on middle 3rd, also have a path of action starting from bottom right towards top right.

Thoughts? Please comment. I like this learning experience, even if it slowly drives me insane. :slight_smile:

#6

Good choice on the theme!

You should check your perspective for the next steps carefully because the actual character don’t fit in the perspective 100%.

I’m looking forward to your next steps.

Best wishes,

Chris

#7

Good seeing you around for another challenge, Aaron. Chris has an excellent point: From this camera angle, we should be looking down on your character, as in your earlier sketches. But in the latest sketch, it looks like a side view, which doesn’t match the high camera angle.
anyhow, good luck with everything! :thumbsup:

#8

I changed the perspective some, tilting him towards the upcoming ramp and shrinking him slightly… not sure if i have the perspective yet… I am just horrible when it comes to perspective, and right after that is composition. I am pretty sure I could use major improvement in all the other areas of art too… but I feel weakest in these. Please let me know if this version’s perspective and composition is good. Thanks!!!

#9

Hi Aaron,

The last sketch looks much better for me now from the point of composition:thumbsup: ! But as the others already said, tricky with the perspective…If you feel so uneasy with composition and perspective, perhaps have a look in the “Art Techniques and Theories” Forum , especially here you can find some quick and good resources about this theme. I hope this can be helpful…

-sabrina

#10

Hey Aaron!

Great to see you in this challenge my friend! :smiley:
Really great idea, very original with great potential :slight_smile:
Agree with Chris and Sabrina. Perhaps you can try with a curved road, only a comment :slight_smile: Good luck and looking forward for more updates on your concept! Cheers!!

#11

I reworked all the char. positions somewhat… am I there yet? I am considering dropping the entire background… and redoing it :confused:

#12

Hey Aaron,

As many have mentionned, I think the problem right now is with perspective. I quickly checked those links that Sabrina sent, and they are an extremely great reference. Especially this one. Everyhing you ever wanted to know about perspective seems to be there! :wink:

I’m far from beeing an expert on this, but I copied your last image in photoshop and tried a few things. A good trick is to draw lines over your image to see the perspective better, the horizon line, the vanishing points, etc. Or there are grids available I believe that can do the same thing. One thing that I see is that there are a couple of different horizon lines (at different angles). And another is that there are two vanishing points very close to one another, you can do multiple vanishing points in an image, but they have to be opposing I believe. Again, I’m sure others might be in better position to help you out. But hopefully this helps out a bit!

Best of luck with the image!

#13

Okay, let’s start this over! I put my old background against a 3d grid and grimaced. Here is a new one. What do we think? Did I finally grasp the dark secrets of perspective, or am I doomed to forever create Egyptian Hieroglyphics? :slight_smile:

#14

I wanted the action closer to the camera and the ants-- much larger since they are steam powered siege engines.

#15

I saw your second to last imagea and I was just about to say, the perspective is much better, but you loose a bit the main focus of your image. But that last one you uploaded is much better! A couple of things could still be fixed, but the perspective and composition is much better than the old one I feel.

A lot of people use 3D applications with boxes and stuff to get the perspective of an image down perfectly and then paint over in Photoshop or Painter.

Anyway, I think your last upload is a great step forward, keep it up!

#16

Thanks for the input! Though now I’m begging you to tell me what little things you think need fixed? :slight_smile: Anyone else out there want to help me out I’d appreciate it.

#17

Oups, looks like I replied to your message and not your post here. But hopefully the advice I gave you will help you out a bit! :slight_smile:

#18

Hi Aaron,

there’s not much to add to Christophers comment, exactly my thoughts, the last update is really way better, I like this new approach and think you can start now with some serious painting!:arteest:

-sabrina

#19

It was suggested that I exaggerate the buildings in the background, and bring Achilles in closer, and I thought it was worth looking at. So here is my final study on perspective unless all scream it looks horrible. :slight_smile: Please comment on it’s awesomeness or lack there of. Thanks!

#20

Hi Aaron,

it looks like your virtual camera is very low now, more the perspective of the ants…and you have the dead body in the way, don’t no if it’s such a good idea to have him in the foreground. It’s now more a matter of personal taste, but I prefer the previous concept:) …

-sabrina