Jesse Speak is entered in the “Steampunk Myths and Legends” update: View Challenge Page
Latest Update: Work In Progress: Hercules vs Stymphalian Birds
Steampunk Myths and Legends Entry: Jesse Speak
Speaky
#2
Hi!
I’ve been thinking about my entry for a week or so now, and found a bit of free time this Sunday to do a sketch 
After some reading around, I found I liked the Stymphalian birds legend, one of the twelve labours of Hercules, in which he has to destroy a flock of brass-winged killer birds belonging to the the God of War, Ares. He also gets helped by the Goddess Athena.
It’s going to be really hard to work the Steampunk concept into the content of a myth or legend, rather than just the stylistic interpretation.
I see some familiar names in this competition, I’ll pop by your threads soon and see what you’re doing
ace4016
#4
Welcome to the challenge. I like that myth; that entire journey has quite a bit of nice myths. Hope to see more updates soon.
Ferx
#5
Hey Jesse,
Your idea sounds really cool and your first sketch on it looks nice! Good luck and looking forward for more updates. Cheers!! 
Speaky
#6
Update! I’m working on Hercules and his pose. I’m pretty sure I want him to remain completely human in this pic, as it is a defining factor in the legend.
The Gods and their minions are where the Steampunk is going to happen, which works well with the idea that they were different - stronger and longer-lived than humans.
I reckon I should update Hercules’ garb a bit. It needs to look look more like a Victorian adventurer. His hair and beard are a bit too ‘classic’ for the theme!
Rupy
#8
Hey jesse,
I live the concepts so far, will be interesting to see what you come up with, I like the second concept you created, although the most recent one looks good too, have fun, cheers
Rupy
mrpeace
#9
Hercules!!! Wow what could be more mightier? gr8 story thier, This image truly relies on the way you present it. I suggest repositioning the characters (Herc and the Woman) and of course the birds to make the image more dynamic.
You know some action poses, like ones of Legolas from Lord of the Rings 3 in the final battle.
Refer some comic book poses, (Marvel would be good). Iron Man, Cap America…
those guys have some nice poses.
Good luck!
Speaky
#10
A sketch of Ares, the God of War towering over the foreground. I’ve taken the sketches of Hercules and Athena and overlaid them into a rough composition. The whole thing needs colour balancing, but that’s not going to happen just yet.
I’m still unsure quite how to do Hercules. I’m thinking he should be carrying a sword in one hand and a repeating crossbow in the other. Maybe a shield instead of the sword.
I’ll have to do some studies of attacking birds of prey before I place in any of the birds. A mechanical cross between an eagle and a vulture is what I have in mind…
Speaky
#12
I’ve extended the canvas twice since the last update, opening out the composition slightly. It was tricky to find a place to put a bird in the foreground action, and I wanted it to have just taken an arrow from Hercules.
I’ve added a detail window on Hercules, who I’ve overpainted slightly to add garb more suitable to the challenge.
I like Ares’ stance, towering over the foreground. It’s like he’s felt the arrow hit the bird, or like he’s casting forth his winged minions!
Speaky
#13
I’ve extended the canvas further and think I’ve reached a point where the subjects aren’t too crowded in the frame. Though I reserve the right to change my mind and extend further 
I’ve flipped the image to see the composition afresh. It’s surprising how different it looks at first. Might be something to do with the mind favouring one type of angle or arrangement?
I’ve also repainted Hercules. I’m happier with this pose, and I think he’s looking much more like a reinterpretation now. I was thinking too literally at first
authentic
#14
Are the pose definitive ? I find it too much side view for your archer. Where does he target ?
I find hte pose of the gril better but that his weapon is too long or she have to take it more at the middle to have a better balance.
Nice work on the big character
Speaky
#16
Flip!
Working over some of the background elements around the edges to soften ‘exit lines’ which might let the eye wander off the canvas. Things are appearing in the foreground like the big stone torus. No idea what it is, or if it’s going to stay, but it appeared after a few brushstrokes so I painted it in.
Speaky
#17
Thanks for the comments by the way! 
Authentic: Hercules will stay the way he is for now, I think. He’s just fired an arrow and hit the main bird in the chest, so his bow has lowered a bit and his right hand has been thrown back. It may or may not work, but I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt for now.
Cheers!
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