First post from another n00b!

[Elf Blizzard]

Hello everyone! I'm another LOOOOONG time lurker that has finally found the courage to post some of my work. So I'm not going to bore you with much words here, except some explaination about the first piece. Yes, it's batman and yes he is fighting a shark with a lightsaber. This piece was done for my then 3 year old friend. His favorite things in the world were (and probably still are) Batman, sharks, and Star Wars (especially lightsabers!). So I was somewhat challenged by my friends and his Mom to combine those elements into one piece. So there it is! Enjoy!

[waranghira]

on the batman:
his arms are too long and how he holds the blade is awkward.
his legs are too short or failed at foreshortening.

still, you've got decent skill

[Elf Blizzard]

Thanks for the crit waranghira! I see what you mean about the leg. It is an awkward angle, and at this point I'm not sure how I'd fix it. If anyone has any thoughts/ideas/paintovers it would be very welcome! I actually think the awkwardness of the leg makes the arms look a little off, making them look a little out of proportion in comparison. Thanks again.

Comments and critiques welcome on all the others as well! I'm here to learn and get better!!!

[ArtZealot]

all i see is batman's crazy leg. maybe bend it inward against the shark.

[Fourth Nail]

Any painting with Zacks in them are awesome.

Time to whip out the lobos.


~Z~

[Frogisis]

Haha, I'm glad you had a three year old around to tell you to draw that, because most of us think we know better than to draw something that awesome. Yeah, the anatomy might be a little weird, and the cape breaks up the composition in such a way that it looks more like rocks or something in the background, but this is a picture that'll make you laugh and stick in your mind for a while. It says a lot of good things that you're willing to be a little silly and come up with fun ideas.

I love the details on all the zombies, but there's something a little flat and simple about the way their portrayed. Maybe some heavier shadows in between the barrels would help give it more depth.

[Interceptor]

Looks like you're having fun with this stuff, that's awesome :)
-L

[brentos8]

Nice work man, I especially like the design of the Shark and the Batman. The trashcans are cool looking in the zombie one. The legs don't bother me so much. :lounge:

[Robert.B]

Batman+lightSaber=%$^&%^?

[Angroc]

batman + lightsaber + fighting a shark = win!

[Elf Blizzard]

Thanks for the comments/compliments everyone!

ArtZealot: Yeah, maybe bending the leg in a little would have been better. I tried a lot of different poses with the leg, but nothing seemed right. I mean, how DO you ride a shark anyway? I've never done it! :) If there are any shark riding experts out there, I'd be very interested to know.

Fourth Nail: I'm not sure what you're referring to when you say "Zacks," but speaking of lobos, I've been wanting to do a painting of the comic book character Lobo for some time. That's on the list!

Frogisis: If you knew this particular 3 year old, you would FEAR AND OBEY him!!! He rules with an iron fist and what he says goes! But he's awesome, so his friends don't mind. One note about the zombies in the barrells, it was supposed to look a little flatter actually. It was done for a friend's band as a CD cover and it was originally supposed to be more comic book like, but I got carried away with the details. I always do that! Sometimes it's not good. Oh well. He's happy with it.

Interceptor: I ALWAYS try to have fun!!! I'm very serious about my art, but I still try to have fun with it. The most important thing is that I'm entertaining myself, first and foremost.

Brentos8: Thank you very much sir!

Robert.B: I know it's absurd, but could you refrain from swearing on my post. Hahaha, just kidding, thanks man!

Angroc: Thank you!!!

[Number_6]

On the Batman anatomy issue: I didn't see anyone saying that his rear arm looks a bit big. Since it's further away from the viewer, shouldn't it be smaller than the closer arm (unless he's only been working out on one side, but why would Batman do that)?

That said, I love it. It's a realistically rendered Batman fighting a shark with a lightsaber. It's the most awesome thing I've seen all year.

[nimbusnacho]

I'm sure batman's pretty limber but the thing with his legs is that they are spread way too far apart, I'm not even sure what's happening with his backlegs. Try spreading your legs apart like that, it'll be more of a v shape rather than being perpendicular to the abdomen. The one in the front should look more like it's coming right at the viewer because of the three quartersish view. Like you said though, its just an awkward situation, is that even how one would ride a shark? Great images nonetheless.

[GriNGo]

great stuff.. i specially like the corpses in a barrel one, just astounding.. i imagining it as a next Cannibal Corpse album art! great work!

[Howlinghound]

The thing that stuck out to me was your use of the bubbles. BUBBLES!! I thought that was a great bit of detail there. The rest of your work was nice but the one with the zombies in the cans, very nostalgic. It reminds of the old movie poster from the 50's to the 80's such as "It Came From Mars" to "Nuke'Em High". No complaints here. Loved that style.

[Elf Blizzard]

GriNGo: you're not too far off from the Cannibal Corpse reference. It was done for an album cover for a four-way split, and one of those bands is led by one of my best friends. They are called Defleshuary (www.myspace.com/defleshuary), great name huh? Anyway, thanks for the compliments!

Howlinghound: I'm glad you thought of it as nostalgic, because the original idea was to have it look like an old Tales from the Crypt comic cover, but as I mentioned, I got a little carried away with the details. I'm going to be doing the design, and am going to be parodying that typography and design. That's why the format of the artwork is rectangle, but going to be used for a square CD cover. The top third or so will be used for the design. Oh, and the bubbles were the most enjoyable detail to paint in the Batman piece! :)

Thanks a lot again, everyone!!!

[El Jeremie]

Batman vs shark is.....
Well it makes me speechless, but i like

[Elf Blizzard]

So it seems my Batman Vs. Shark piece has been making the internet rounds this weekend, being posted on just about any blog that has to do with comics/video games/film/Batman etc.

Just a friendly reminder to everyone that when you post on public forums, it is a good idea to watermark your work. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only way to prevent image thievery.

[Elf Blizzard]

So it seems my Batman Vs. Shark piece has been making the internet rounds this weekend, being posted on just about any blog that has to do with comics/video games/film/Batman etc.

Just a friendly reminder to everyone that when you post on public forums, it is a good idea to watermark your work. Unfortunately, that seems to be the only way to prevent image thievery.

[tariqart]

Man, you made one of the best pieces I have seen for awhile. Usually i comment on anatomy or composition, blah, blah. But this piece made me smile. You have made a beautiful fun piece of art. People are so serious about what they paint. Kudos on a great job. You have given a three year old his most prized possession.
T

[Elf Blizzard]

Hey tariqart,

I really appreciate the compliment! As this piece is nearly 5 years old now, the mistakes are the only things I can see when I look at it. I know the leg is funky. I know the arms are a bit out of proportion. But despite all of that, this is still the one piece that invokes the most response from anyone who views my work.

And being the first digital painting I've ever done, I have to say that the amount I learned while doing this one is worth more than the sum of its parts.

[tariqart]

I agree whole heartedly. My first piece of digital art was worked and re-worked for about 4 years, before I finally let it go. I know exactly what you mean about seeing only the mistakes in paintings you have done in the past, but i think these are the ones that teach us to strive and improve where we are headed. Thank you for sharing my friend.
T

[hippl5]

Well the damage has been done. You can already google batman shark lightsaber and get tons of hits without the watermark.

http://www.boingboing.net/2010/03/16/batman-lightsaber-sh.html

Do they even credit you??? They credit slashfilm and some other guy (that's not you, is it?)

[Dizon]

Saw this on i09 LOL

Congrats, dude!

[Klaw]

OK, all crit aside. Batman vs Shark with Lightsaber: AWESOME. Rock On my friend.