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. 

Portrait Practice 2

Back after a Christmas break. 
Before the holiday I took some time out between landscape studies and the next set of studies to do a portrait practice.
 

Portrait practice 2

Happy Christmas

This is a piece I did last Christmas.  Did not manage to create a new one this year. Heading home to family for Christmas. A welcome break after a tough year.  Fortunate to be able to celebrate. 

Desert Landscape 5 Photoshop Study

Oops thought the last on was the last in the series but it was not.  So one more dose of sunshiny deserty goodness, 

Landscape -Utah Desert Photoshop Study 4

Landscape -Colorado Desert Photoshop Study 4

This is the last in this series of landscapes.  Still a lot of work to get done.  Did not manage to get the crispness I wanted - especially in the foreground.  I will be returning to these again.  I had planned to go into some figure drawing after this.  I have been practicing sketching poses and would like to do more detailed studies.  I am still torn between doing this and going for the challenge running on Crimson Daggers- Swamp Elder.  Hmm...

Landscape -Utah Desert Photoshop Study 3

Landscape -Colorado Desert Photoshop Study 3

This is the second to last of this series of studies of desert rocks in photoshop.  Still not nailing the sharp lines and textures. 

Landscape -Utah Desert Photoshop Study 2

Landscape -Utah Desert Photoshop Study 2

Continuing the landscape studies The famous arch in Canyonlands National Park.  I did try and lighten the image - maybe a little too much.