Bone Thug

[McNallyism]

I already posted this in the Pre-Thunderdome thread, but being the self-centered, narcissistic, post that I am, I'm posting it here too. Well actually its more because not very many people go to that other thread these days....

You can read the criteria in the other thread, but it was basically to create a thunderdome competitor from an ancient culture. I chose Neanderthals, which technically is more of a species than a culture, but they are ancient and did cave paintings and stuff, so I think they count as a culture too.

Here it is in Black and white. I'm planning on adding color, but still trying to work out the best way. Done in Photoshop 7 on a scanned drawing (also Pictured). The deadline isn't until Halloween, so I'm totally open to suggestions and criticism.

-Seanhttp://www.chrisjanderson.com/seanforum/neanderthal_02.jpg

http://www.chrisjanderson.com/seanforum/neanderthal_01.jpg

[stewart one]

very nice. lovely detail and cool character too :)

[Joachim]

Oh nice mcnally....As you said to me, I dig your pencil line drawing much more than the painted picture. The linedrawing is really great, reminds me a bit of the drawing style of mark zug.
THe painted version is nice, but personally I feel it has a bit too much contrast detail, would be nice if some larger areas here and there would be more light or dark without too much detailing. it would make the light more consistant too. What do you think ?

[Yaseck]

I prefer the second one. I think the "monohromatic colouring" is not good here. In the second one you've got nice detail, but in the first one this detail disappears.

[dilation]

nice work... i really like how you treated the skull on his left hand

[Chris J. Anderson!]

Hey Sean, really nice work. I'm impressed that you got so much done with this illustration in such a short amount of time. You've gotten much faster with your percision with design, composition and details over the years. I can't wait to see how you handle the final.

-Chris

[Lono]

thats pretty dern schweet man..
you put a cool amount of detail into it.
good job with the lighting on the B&W.

that skull is frickin incredable.

-Lono

[Sedone]

That's nice! You've inspired me to work on something for this lil contest. Keep up the good work.

[MSync]

AWESOME man! REally really nice!

[Chewbacca]

FLESH GETS OUT IN 07!!!!!!!

[Bomba]

I agree with Lono... schweet.

[Loga4]

Cool concept!

[McNallyism]

Hey everyone, thanks for the feedback! Yeah this piece was more of an experiment in finding a faster way to get to the finished product, so I agree that the monochromatic painting at this stage isnt quite doing it, although there are aspects of it I really like. The idea was to see if I could start and finish an illustration in a single evening. After six hours, I didn't quite make it to the coloring stage, but that was more out of an indecision as to how to go about doing it.

Stewart one: thanks! I'm glad you like the character even if he is a dirty monkey man...

Joachim: Thanks for teh great crit. Yeah, When I step back and look at the toned drawing it does seem to become overly busy and hard to read. I really need to restrain myself when it comes to detail. My subconscious rule is "when in doubt, detail it out!" so I've got some rehabilitation ahead of me. When broken down into individual shapes, most of the elements of the painting do appear similar in size and theres a real lack of dominant and subordinate shapes, so some larger expanses with sparse detail could defintely help. Thanks again.

Yaseck: Yeah, I agree, the picture does become a bit "mushy" in the toned version, mostly, I think because of the way the tones were applied. I do think that theres still a substantial level of detailo int eh painting, just maybe not in the right places. Line drawings are inherently more detailed than paintings so a certain amount of detail loss is inevitable and also desirable to a certain degree. But iverall the value study could use some more work. Thanks

Dilation: Thanks! the lion-head gauntlet is actually not supposed to totally be to skull level yet, but more of a mummy-type stae with skin still clinging to the bone. And he's got mutated fangs to boot!

Chris: Hey, thanks, man. Actually when I think back to where I was in my artistic development when I knew you at school, I curl up into a fetal postion and cry. Thankfully, though I ordered one of those art tests off of TV and finally started learning to draw pirates and turtles! Yeah! I'm actually thinking about going back to the line drawing and repainting it again in color, or else go backa nd fix the drawign itself, so you'll never see THIS iteration in color.... Hey are you entering?

Lono: Thank you very much, sir. your kind workds are greatly apprecieated.

Sedone: Now, YOU are the reason this drawing will probably never see the final stages of painting, because now that I know you're entering, I'm going to have to up the ante a bit more! You bastard! hahaha! Well anyway, good luck to you. I'm looking forward to seeing your entry on Halloween...

Chewbacca: are you sure its not 8 or 9?

Bomba: Well, itsch awful schweet of you to schay scho! thanksch!

Loga: thanks for the compliment!


-Sean