Gauntlet challenge -Submitted Entry

Gauntlet challenge -Submitted entry

Well with time pushing on and alot of work to do I got cracking on the image.  I did make composition changes as I went along.  I did this work over 5 evenings maybe 3 hours each evening and I still didn't finish it. Still lots of detail to be added and rendering for the main light source + some environmental work.  I got it as far as I could. They all look very wooden.  I may go back and finish when I have had more practice. .  .

Gauntlet Challenge -archer study

With 3 characters left I choose to work on the archer next .

Archer Photoshop Study

  I was particularly interested in getting a good image with hands available.  Te reference colour was not ideal but the hands were visible. I had two more characters left but was running out of time as I knew rendering all 4 characters would take time.  So rather than taking time to do last 2 studies I went straight to the final composition . 

Gauntlet Challenge -Thumbnails

Thumbnail sketches

The main aim of the Gauntlet  challenge was to establish a good composition.  I did some thumbnails but locked into a composition early on and then tweaked it as I went along.  I could have been more adventurous but with 4 characters and my poor anatomy skills - this was enough for now. 

Gaunlet Challenge - Female Warrior Study 1

Female Warrior Photoshop Study

I took part in the Crimson Daggers Bloodsports challenge no 3 -Gauntlet.  So the first study I did was of a female warrior.  I found a reference and completed the study.  The main reason I chose this image was because of the costume.  Rendering a lot of textures.  The skin tones were off. 

Lawrie Williamson

 Long Bar Dogs    Lawrie Williamson

Lawrie Williamson is an artist I came upon while randomly searching for something else.  The subject matter for most of the most recent work available is  of flat capped men in pubs and outdoors with dogs and other animals.  The treatment of these subjects is what lends theses images their life.  The medium of oil appears to be applied in washes and the light dances around the image picking out just enough detail.  Check them out.

ARKHIPOV Abram, Ice passed - Masters Study 1

After Arkhipov - The Ice Has Passed Photoshop Study

 This is a Photoshop study I completed of a Arkhipovs Ice passed.

 

Arkhipov -The Ice Has Passed  (1895)

The  reference was downloaded from the site 200 Russian Painters. 

I wanted to do a study to improve my brushwork and have a painterly look.  I used just 2 brushes in this.  I had originally planned to do it all with one.  All the figures were completed with one and when it came to the landscape I reverted to a hard round brush for some areas.  It took me about 8 hours over 3 sessions. 

 I chose this painting as it has great light. I don't get to see very much of this kind of light where I live and especially this time of year.

I really enjoyed doing this and I will definitely return to do some more. 

 

Swamp Elder - Final

Following on from the previous post  I went away and reworked the swamp elder piece. 

I addressed the creature by designing a alligator / human.  I probably should have pushed this design further but anyway.  I put in some light to add some focus.  I added some eggs just to give it more narrative.  So that's it.  That's all I am going to do on this one.  Lessons learned, will move on to the next challenge 'Gauntlet'.  No doubht will learn a whole lot of lessons there too...

Swamp Elder Submission

Swamp Elder

After completing the studies I went ahead and put this image together.  I went for a pool with some ruins and misty background.  As for the elder it was a total cop out.  I did not go further and design a beast of any description but simply rendered out an alligator of sorts. About 6-8 hours work.  

This is what I submitted for the challenge. 

When I looked at it again in the cold light of day I thought not a great result and I should have pushed further.  Sooooo I took this image and reworked it some more. 

Swamp Elder Studies part 2

To get some more studies in for the swamp elder challenge I did a study of a portion of a painting by Frederic Edwin Church titled Heart of the Andes. 

Heart of the Andes  Photoshop study

It was recently  profiled on Charley Parkers Lines and Colours blog.  I would have liked to have worked more on this but time was moving on.  

I had some photos from a swamp I took a tour in, which was outside New Orleans and I did a quick study from one. This I should have definitely spent more time on.

Swamp study

Anyway time had run out and I need to forge ahead and put the image together.  The final part was a very quick set of alligator studies. 

Alligators Study

Time was up.  Had to get an image together. 

Alligator texture study- Swamp Elder

Alligator texture study

I decided to go ahead and try the Crimson Daggers Swamp Elder Challenge.  So I did started putting together some studies that should help.  The studies were what I could complete before the Christmas holidays.  This was a texture study in Photoshop.