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...