Strange Behavior (Illustration) Entry: Paul

#1

Paul is entered in the “Strange Behavior Challenge” update: View Challenge Page

Latest Update: Line Art or Model: General Update

#2

I just recently found this section and as i have never entered my art in a contest i figured i would try because I liked the theme idea.

Here is a couple thumbnails of an idea that is starting. Without trying to sound to morbid, we just had a death in the family and aging has been on my mind. When the body is strong but the mind wanders you can get some strange behavior that is a bit comical.

I hope i am ontopic with the theme.

#3

I wanted to establish a couple things at this stage to hopefully add strength to the story.

A rich room. Leather chair, fine carpet, expensive moldings and trim around the room.

The old man i wanted to be seen as yelling and ranting, pationate about an idea. I hope he dosent seem to angry. The little animal is just a place holder for something strange the old man is debating with (microfluidic behaviour or something).

The other thing i wanted was a strong line showing the illusionary state the old man is in. The lady opening the door letting the light into the room is quickly changing the scenery and the and it will become a study again, she brings reality back to him.

I think its time to start working on color next. I also need to figure out what that weird thing is that the old man is yelling at.

#4

Hey Vamyen, I really like this idea (the strange behaviour has a real basis) and the thought you have given to portraying it.

One way you might make the idea of dementia more obvious is to give the woman a tray with some medication on it.

As a first thought on what he might be yelling at, I couldn’t help but think of the film How to Get Ahead in Advertising - maybe it could be some diminished, perverted version of himself. When my grandfather, who was a strong willed and minded man, went through dementia he often appeared quite distraught at his plight, as if he knew what was happening to himself but couldn’t change it.

I look forward to seeing how you proceed.

#5

Great idea for this challenge. Painted well, it’d be one of the strongest pieces I believe. I like your sketch too it’s pretty tight, ur on the right track…

i think I’d try to create a similarity between the decoration of the study and the setting of the forest, to create a stronger transition between the two… also, if you can get the man’s expression very passionate, and the creature very absurd and funny/coocky, it’d have a sense of humor at the same time i think. good luck!

#6

Thank you for the comments and the great ideas.

Ordibble you read my mind. My first thought was a nurse outfit with the hat and apron. The tray of medications would be a great touch.

Jeff i like the idea of the decoration in the study transitioning into the forest. Going to think more on how i can do that.

I have come to two options of what i want the man to be speaking too. One would be a circle of animals, badger fox both standing and arguing back with a bear lazily sitting on his bum reclined listening to it all. The other thought was a little devil. Hes small maybe only 3 feet sitting crosslegged infront of the man floating about a foot off the ground, openly mocking him. Other demons can be seen creeping around behind in the scene, one crawling over the back of the chair another in the bushes.

I still havent thought of a way to light the old mans face to show his expression without distroying the rest of the lighting i was trying to go with. I’ll be working on this tonight.

#7

“Where the heck do you get your facts from, that is absurd!”

“How can you expect anyone to take you seriously with twisted ideas like that!.”

“Bear, you need to tell your friend there exactly how stupid he sounds”

Testing out colors and lighting for the scene. I wanted a dark night sky with pale moonlight trees and as you move to the foreground the lamp light would give everything a nice warm feeling. The girl entering the room would bring bright cold reality.

I finally decided on the bear with a sock puppet. I figured it would add the greatest humor to the picture. I need to head to the zoon to get some bear pictures now. Lol of course I have an old wool sock and some big black buttons I can use for reference. Is there any way I can infuse some of the sock smell too the picture to add more realism?

I am still not 100% happy with all the shadows and color transitions. I also think I would like to add about 30% more little knickknack items to the scene. I am also going to experiment with a ghostly image of the wall outline and other things hanging from where the wall would be. Make it extremely faint so there is just a hint.

#8

What a fantastic idea! I love it! Looks like your heading towards a really lush color theme and detail! Actually reminds me of reading “Narnia” or “Where The Wild Things Are” when I was a kid! Again Great Idea!!

#9

I tried to finalize the lamp light source and its area of effect. This update shows the translucent lampshade and the lamp base on the table. Imaginary tree close in the background.

I changed the night sky a bit to make it after sunset with a hint of light still on the horizon which would make great silhouettes of the background trees. You can’t see this from the update.

I updated the floor to have a leafy vine growing into the carpet. Originally I wanted to have the difference between imagination and reality to be a sharp cut off but I am starting to lean more to a gradual transition. You can’t see this from the update

Starting to think about the bear and what it will look like. It’s the only thing I don’t have good pictures of so the wife and I packed the kids up into the car on the weekend and we headed to the zoo. Some of the pictures turned out well but nothing I really liked. I need to think more on how I can make the bear character come to life.

Bed time, work early.

#10

Thank you for the great words Zilla and “Where The Wild Things Are” was one of my favorites.

#11

I haven’t had much time to work on this in the last little bit, Work, kids, life stuff.

I don’t think i will have enough time to finish the picture the way i want to so i have started to jump ahead and detail things without finishing the composition completely. Its going to kill me in the end i’m sure but i’m really enjoying this part.

#12

General update.

I spent some time trying different things to make the transition from real to imagination a little more interesting. I’m still not happy with it.

The back ground is getting closer to how i had imagined. I think the bright low horizon silhouetting the trees worked out well. I still want to add more tree branches up high to the closer trees and create a bunch of silhouetted middle ground trees to make the canopy of the far and near forest come together so there isn’t such big holes. I also think the stars are a bit too bright or maybe too blurry. There still needs to be some closer ground foliage with deep color. These would be at different heights and would cast some great shadows.

I added the book case on the left to try and fill in the empty hole in the room on the left. I was also hoping it would add to the telling of the room transitioning story, with a ghosted out section next to the real section.

I haven’t found the floor for the room that I like yet. Still trying different things.

Took a trip to the zoo a week or so ago and I managed to get a couple bear pictures for fur reference. My wife is part of a photography group on the internet and another local photographer that’s part of the same group, Bob Logie had taken some great bear pictures of grizzlies not more than 30 mins from my house. He sent me some more to use for reference and I think I can finally start on the bear now thanks to him.

#13

Hey man it’s been a while. I see your progress is coming along nicely, basic paint is looking good. One suggestion, and this may probably be better done towards the end: The split between the two worlds should fall softer as it gets away form the door I think, and maybe this was mentioned before… I mean: The split would be a harsh line where it’s closer to the door like it is now, and it’d get blurred as it gets away from the door, which is how the shadow would act normally there… That’s my only suggestion so far… Keep it coming man, this is one of the really strange entries!

#14

Just another general update

Roughed in the book case on the left. At some point I will have to fill it with books, yuck.

Still trying to get a good bear shape that has human character to it but dosent loose its animal wild look and feel.

I cleaned up the floor. I will probably add more wood pattern and as I get closer to the end add a slight reflection to show a polish. It still needs some dust and scratches.

I am still struggling with the room break, imaginary too real. This is another try at it.

Added a dust bunny for funny. I think I will make him more subtle.

There is just not enough time in the day.

#15

Jeff,

Thank you for the suggestion. You motivated me to try a couple different transitions from realistic lighting to something magical looking. I havent been happy with anything i have come up with so far. I think my problem is i dont know what i want that area to look like. I will keep trying.

#16

Love the many aspects of this concept. It reflects the potential of alternative dimensions that only some can see. The philosophic potential that comparing the present to the past, that is how this place looked for thousands of years and is now a room. Though a bear with a sock puppet is a humorous interjection to this stance.

Really look forward to see your progress with this piece.

#17

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.