Sijun Forums :: View topic - Four sea monsters [Third update, I'm hopeless]]

Bg · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2002 11:40 am

This is in fact an old image, never got the time to finish it. Today I was bored and spent a couple of hours fixing and refining it, looks many times better now, but the final image is far from what I envisioned, the composition is off (it would have taken too much time to change it) and it's way too dark, character design and pose are too simple, and overall it looks like it is made of layers.. in other words it lacks depth etc.

The final (yeah, right) version:

Second newest version:

Second oldest version:

Old version:

[edit] new pic [edit]
[edit] newer pic [edit]

[ February 24, 2002: Message edited by: Bg ]

[ February 25, 2002: Message edited by: Bg ]

[ March 03, 2002: Message edited by: Bg ]

kaylon · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2002 11:50 am

I love it...think it's wonderful actually

.

Kay.

Lunatique · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2002 9:47 pm

Oh man, that moon is just beautiful....

*howls*

:::nVIDIA::: · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2002 10:42 pm

Timmeh!! What ups? Anyway, I really like the area where you have detailed out the far mountain and where it meets the water. I have no crit as you're still working on it. How's Hensinki? Was there at that museum back in '94. Ed--

Mr. T · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2002 12:02 am

:thumbs up:

klaivu · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2002 12:11 am

This reminds me of the satan pic you posted ..

GYAA BUT THE COMPRESSION KILLS THE DETAILS - could you upload a less compressed version ? thanks.

I think the serpent in overall could be refined a bit more - nothing else to bicker about.

Bg · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2002 6:22 pm

kaylon & Mr. T, Thanks

Klaivu: Uploaded.

Thanks Lunatique!

Hiya Ed! How do you like the finished (yeah, for now

) version, any crits or suggestions?
Actually I was in Helsinki 17 days ago, it was damn foggy, you could only see 300 meters and the rain didn't make the weather any better

And btw. keep your fingers crossed, I'm sending my portfolio to WETA this week..

Flexible Elf · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2002 8:15 pm

Very cool bg, I definitely like the new version better.

-Flexible Elf

:::nVIDIA::: · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2002 8:51 pm

yea...the new version is better...I would watch the edge of the serpent if you ask me, maybe little too sharp. I would say broaden the high-light to give it roundness of it's body and head.....I would also like to see some mist to emphasize and de-emphasize the serpent. Good luck with WETA. Hmmm...maybe you'll like the climate better. Ed-- BTW, how about giving your magic to my Servosuit pic?.....:P

:::nVIDIA::: · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2002 8:55 pm

double post...plz, disregard...Ed--

[ February 24, 2002: Message edited by: :::nVIDIA::: ]

Lunatique · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2002 9:35 pm

Errr. I dunno, Timo. The new one seems to actually lack the sense of scale. I don't feel that the creature is HUGE when I see the newer version, but I feel it more with the older one. I think the older one could've worked if you just figured out some of the lighting/rendering issues with it. BUT, regardless, they are both excellent paintings.

Malachi Maloney · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 12:16 am

sweet.

BooMSticK · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 2:32 am

nice two paintings Timo.
Is this for Don's competition?

Only comment I can think of is that I think the monster is abit to close to the shore. Im not sure it will be able to travel through that small a hight of water so close to the beach... Other that that I think it looks quite nice. Especially the new version!
,Boom

Bg · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 10:42 am

Thankie Flex

Ed, I'm having hard time to _not_ colour the servosuit pic, if you keep your eyes open you might find some colours on its surface next time you see it

I first finish these portfolio pieces and then give it a shot, promise.

Lunatique, I've done too many heads from the 3/4 view and this time I wanted to make the it in harder pose. I had problems keeping the same sense of scale.

Thanks Malachi Maloney!

Boom - This is just for fun, I'm doing Yeti for Don's competition.
The serpent is swimming in bulrushes, there's a couple of meters of water, dunno if it looks like that..

The Magic Pen · member Member # Joined: 05 Dec 2001 Posts: 321

Yep dats good stuff mr. BG

ceenda · member Member # Joined: 27 Jun 2000 Posts: 2030

Bg: Great stuff!

Maybe consider putting in some glimmering highlights on the monster where it would probably be wet and reflecting the moonlight. The texture in the newest one is excellently rendered.

[ February 25, 2002: Message edited by: ceenda ]

Gecko · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 3:35 pm

okay so i made a fast overpaint.
one thing before i forget to mention it: it looks a little funny how close the disappearing and appearing point of the creature's body are to each other, it has to be very flexible/painful to twist itself like that. or maybe not, but that's what it looks like to me. another thing to make it more interesting, take a look at a snake's body, it's not round but has leveled or whatever bottom to better touch ground. sea snakes are more flat than land snakes to better swim in water..
anyway, i tried a few things with this:

-Tepox- · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 4:43 pm

Wonderlful stuff you have here Bg! I don't find anything important to crit. But I like the head of the monster in older version better.

Hmm... But one thing freaks me out a lot IS that are my monitors calibrated probeply 'cause the pics showed to me so dark. :/ (My monitors SHOULD be calibrated right)

perkules.

Lunatique · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 10:19 pm

Gecko- That's a really good overpaint! Adds so much to the overall immediacy to the scene.

thor64 · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2002 11:10 pm

Great atmosphere.
Too bad it reminds of the crap movie I saw a few days ago - Anaconda.

Lunatique · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2002 12:10 am

Timo- I hate to say it, but the new one--the body--upon first glance looked like two different sized tires. I'm sorry.

I know you spent a lot of time fixing.

I think the problem could be that you are limiting how much light is shone on the creature's body. From that angle, I think the light might hit more than just a thin outline on the body?

Gecko · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2002 12:35 am

hey bg! that rocks. even though i almost like the first version better.. at least would've done less changes to it.
as luna mentioned, the moon looks pretty, but what i often find lacking in your pics are hard edges: both between light/shade or two colors and edges of objects/things.
with little work the silhouette of the monster could look much more effective and the overall mushyness makes it less solid and more cartoony.

these might also be random babbling, just string of things that i thought when i saw your pic.
i remember you having that matte painting thread, and one thing that i can think of with most of your pics is that your colors are often very saturated, which might in some cases clash with your strive for realism.

paint & post more, please :]

jesusclone · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2002 12:54 am

Actually I think I like the 2nd pic the best. That third hump you added in the newest revision doesn't have the same level of detail IMO. Still a VERY sweet picture though

be proud.

--------------------

http://www.twigpeople.com/dmo

Bg · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2002 2:39 am

Thanks Jesusclone & Magic Pen

Ceenda, my renderer doesn't support glimmering effects yet

Glad you like it!

Lunatique: Yeah, I spent a lot of time on this, I could have made ultra detailed _new_ image in the same time as each update took, but you can't always win, the last version makes it vey clear to me and Gecko's repaint shows how much I would need to change the image to get it look nice.. One thing is for sure: I won't be "finishing" sketches made in hurry in the future

Original sketch:

Gecko: I agree with your crits. I avoid using hard edges, because I'm afraid of getting too much contrast or highlights in the image.
And thanks a bunch for the cool repaint, it illustrates your point very well!

Tepox, I have two Samsung Syncmaster 19' (Mikrobitin testivoittaja) monitors and there's no places burnt to black = details are visible in the darkest areas. Both monitors have darkest possible settings (contrast 100).

Thor64: When has a movie starring Jennifer Lopez entertained someone by its goodness?-)

Edit - Wrong Url

[ February 27, 2002: Message edited by: Bg ]

lookitsfrank · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2002 2:57 pm

gah! beautiful! I was going to enter seegmiller's contest, but not after this! heh. the newest one is my favorite (in the original post) but I think the overpaint is a good idea. Good luck with WETA! that's my dream job..

Frank

Lunatique · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2002 8:51 pm

Timo- DUDE! The original sketch was AWESOME! It accomplished exactly what you wanted it to, and then you diluted it with the finishing touches

It had the sense of scale, mystery, simplicity in forms..etc. I say just work the original a tiny bit, but don't change it much. I think you might need to limit yourself as to how far you should take a piece from now on.

Kari Christensen · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2002 8:59 pm

I like the first one the best. I think there's a definite progression.

Man, I hate working on something so much I wonder if I finished it several versions ago. My experience when that happens is I could've stopped earlier but there are always little improvements every version. You've got a great feeling for painting environment and mood. Keep up the great work!

jesusclone · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2002 10:58 pm

quote

Quote:

Ceenda, my renderer doesn't support glimmering effects yet Glad you like it!

So you mean to tell me that's a 3d rendering!?! AMAZING!

Bg · Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2002 4:07 pm

Thanks Frank!

Lunatique - It seems that I'm completely hopeless when it comes to leaving a painting alone.. finished the damn thing for the third time Hahaha!

Thanks a lot Kari Christensen!

Jesusclone, I wish it would be a 3d model, tweaking would be so much easier

Lunatique · Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2002 9:27 pm

Timo- It's working! You've finally pulled this piece together!

One tiny comment-- I would push the sense of depth on your creature by varing the value even more. Have darker/more contrast where it's closer, and lighter/lower contrast as his body is further away. You've already done it, but push it more. That'll make the sense of scale even more prominent.

Also, I don't know why you are rendering the highlights on its body inconsistently. You have strong highlights some places, and then in other places where the highlight should be just as strong, you faded it out. It makes the lighting look less convincing. The areas you think won't be lit by the moon acutally are. Remember, the moon is REALLY high up in the sky, and just about any creature in the world would be positioned waaaay below it, so no parts of the creature would really be high enough to not be affected by the moonlight.