Chow 175 :: Theme Song

[Aly Fell]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/CHOW-LINES/CHOW-LINES-MEDUSA.jpg

ROUND #175:: THEME SONG

DESCRIPTION

THEME SONG
Two Week Chow

Welcome to Chow 175! Since we have such a pretty nice round number this week, we're going to do a bit of an experiment.

Below, you will find six songs/pieces of music that Daestwen and I have carefully selected. None of them have English lyrics. (If you speak one of the languages sung in a song below, please don't choose that song! It would defeat the purpose of the exercise.)

So, here's how to do it.

Choose two songs (at the least - if you want to do three, four or all five you can give it a try, but please start with two). These two songs will be the theme songs for your two characters. Listen to the songs, try and get a feeling for the kind of personality you picture when listening to them. The songs can be (and probably will be) totally different in feeling and personality, so this is where the hard part comes in.

Design one character per song, trying to reflect the song in the character design. The hard part of this is that all the characters you create should feel like they fit in the same world, but still have their theme songs be different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJqUbb-WuPQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z9aqnmcVhI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9u_CttIV7VY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvPu2PGzcSg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPG9GcykPIY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frDWvFaseHc


---------------------------------------------------------
DEADLINE
MONDAY, October 12th, 2009
Deadline is Monday, at 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (GMT -5).
---------------------------------------------------------
:right: FOLLOW THE TOPIC.

:right: POST YOUR FINAL IN THE FINALS THREAD.

:right: SAVE YOUR FILES IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT. Chow##_Nickname
example: "CHOW#100_Oblio.jpg" ;)

:right: PLACE THE IMAGE IN A FRAME WITH YOUR NAME/TOPIC

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/ChowPics/frame.jpg
(you can add CA logo, etc).


POST YOUR FINALS IN THE FINALS THREAD!
Remember to include your nickname in the file name.

About quality - as general rule: if your shapes and values are not decent - you are out. Watch proportions, perspective etc. we need perfectly readable shapes and coherent, consistent values.

_____________

BE PROFESSIONAL - only finished and good quality entries will be taken to the poll. Daestwen and Poshspice will make the selection.
Please review these helpful reminders if you have not done so already.

:right:ON GETTING TO POLL (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1891823&postcount=15)
-------------------------
:right:NEW ROUND RULE: WIPS PLEASE! (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1910999&postcount=27)
-------------------------
:right:SUBMISSION FORMAT REMINDER (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=1911002&postcount=28)



PLEASE REMEMBER TO WRITE YOUR COPYRIGHT INFORMATION UNDER THE IMAGE IN THE FINAL BURNING THREAD SO I DON'T HAVE TO HUNT YOU DOWN LATER!

[Random Stranger]

Great topic for this weeks CHOW, can't wait to get stuck into it :)

[Troubadour]

omg the 2nd song...yes.

[Mark Tarrisse]

I think it's gonna be an awesome round :)

[gerezon]

You guys never cease to amaze me, very creative and awesome topic :) Thanks!

[DImanic]

That's just so out there, I love it. Time be on my side.

[AsaB]

You guys are amazing, what a creative topic! Really nice selection of songs too, just finished listening to them all. So I really hope I can have the time, it's very intriguing :) I'd love to try my hand at Marco Polo, it's one of my fave Loreena McKennitt songs.

[Nikola Marinkovic]

I had no time to finish Black River Gang... :/
I must try to finish this one... These songs are awesome!!! And the topic is amazingly interesting. :)

[acb]

now thats a creative theme picking :D lets hearem out :D
wow....definitly 1 and 6....some dark chars for sure ^(^ _ ^)^:rocker:

[Gavage]

Really unique idea! Seen a fair bit of art based on music but never actual characters before. This'll be an interesting one. :}

[Revolution77]

this sounds like a great topic! hmmm. so many ideas.

[AhChu]

I'm so in for this one, going to start listening now :) Awesome idea and looking forward to seeing everyones takes on the songs

[Sseal]

This was supposed to be a beautiful woman with flowing scarfs etc.. but then I saw something creepy in the face and "boom" shaman. It was working with the music so I just went with it.
http://www.seanseal.com/gallery/SONG1-1.jpg

[Vari]

Quick question, the two (or three, whatever) characters must be in the same picture, or we must do one picture for every character?

Great topic btw, some characters are already spawning in my head.

[napalm]

That's sound crazy. I'm in!

[daestwen]

Please put all the characters in one image, thanks!

[Hookswords]

very cool topic approach. I was just reminiscing about a C.O.W. that was based off a sound sample. GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!

[Revolution77]

Please put all the characters in one image, thanks!
by same image do you mean both characters in a tangible space together(they could touch each other, for instance)? or can it be the same image divided into seperate sections of sorts (ie. what i posted for the npc design #172 chow)?

for instance the environment or color of an entire image can effect the mood, which might not be suitable for both (or more) songs.

[Sorknes]

I love Dead Can Dance and listen a lot to them while drawing, so that's definitly going to be one of them, heh.

Thinking about Loreena McKennit for the second one, I'm pretty fond of her as well, and the rythms are nice. :)

[bangalore_monkey]

Wow! what a cool topic.

Interesting, i get a strong feeling of a character for all of the songs but "Mack the Knife". I suppose that's because it's the most familiar, not the song itself, but it's use in threepenny opera and the story that it tells.

also the cultural differences of the music translate to my ideas of the characters, that will certainly make it tough to put them all in the same room

[petitemistress]

where do you guys come up with these exercises? I'm loving this, in all the way!
wanted the second song, but unfortunately I speak french so now I'm considering 3 others at once (Marco Polo, Mack the Knife, Waltzing Black?) love the selection on this one, great job coming up with these topics you guys!

[cl0aked]

Really nice theme! I just did a few thumbnails exploring the concept i want for the songs.

[R0oK]

Great topic - I've always how unique images would turn out if you listened to a single piece of music while working on it.

[CavyWolfe]

Love the topic, its so open!

Ack, I like to watch CHOW from a distance, but I might make some sketches; human sketches, my one enemy! I probably won't be able to post anything, but you're getting me motivated!

[Matt_B]

Nice idea. Trying not to watch the video while listening to the songs to keep the idea original. I'll see what I can do

[daestwen]

by same image do you mean both characters in a tangible space together(they could touch each other, for instance)? or can it be the same image divided into seperate sections of sorts (ie. what i posted for the npc design #172 chow)?

for instance the environment or color of an entire image can effect the mood, which might not be suitable for both (or more) songs.

All I mean is in one image so that I can easily put it in the poll, so if you have separate sections between them or whatever, that's fine.

However, both characters *should* fit in the same world, regardless of theme song, they should still look like they belong together, so maybe forcing them to actually be together would be good for you to make sure they work like that?

[Matt_B]

There's a way to alter the URL to make the songs auto repeat. Anyone remember how to do that?

Having the song on loop would help me while drawing :P

[Define.]

I'm trying to understand how in the world you guys came up with such a great array of genres... crazy weird genres in different languages, at that.

[Revolution77]

Alright here goes my first sketch idea. I still have to develop the characters connection and identity, but i have a few things brewing.

[PowleyMan]

Wow that is some crazy stuff D. Im thinking of 3 characters. Delightful Rain and Marco Polo meet to kill Stranglers.

[Matt_B]

while listening to Marco Polo:

[master.mind]

Hi guys my first CHow! I`ll give it a try but *** hard topic this week! but *** awesome!
Good luck to everyone

[PxelSlayer]

*meh* messing around while trying to color calibrate my monitor...>:{

[JaneM]

Waltzinblack - Stranglers

An evil magician. -_- Hopefully I'll make his face match the song's last part a bit more. I'll focus on one character at a time, but I've got the other one in mind already. In any case, my flu is getting better, so hopefully I'll get finished this time!

EDIT: Oh, and I notice I'll have to make the suit's upper half narrower. I made it wide intentionally, but it looks like a flaw. -_-

[grenogs]

yulunga - dead can dance, love this song and an amazing video, the original clip is from baraka, and is 104 minutes long . realy makes me want to just stop everything and just start travelling again. :)

[zimfin]

Ooh, good topic. Some nice music there none of which I have heard before. Still haven't decided yet which to do though I will most likely stick to 2 characters.

[JaneM]

Here's a quick update, where I was messing around with colours until I got the basic look.

[Gavage]

Thinking of somewhere where music clashes in the same way the various styles in these songs do. Public transport. Music leaking from earphones (Marco Polo), being gently forced on you by buskers (Waltzin Black) and radiating from mobile phones (Delightful Rain). Applying the style I hear in each song to a visual level so that the music associated with each figure takes them over and they become a character: Marco Polo is a ghostly and drifting woman with an ethereal manner that trails from somewhere, Waltzin Black is eccentric and almost bawdy, a look defined as funerary circus clown busking for pocket money, and Delightful Rain is an old fashioned cowboy born in the wrong place at the wrong time still making no compromises.

...Please please please let me know if I'm going in the wrong direction here.

Mess in progress-

[Hideyoshi]

wicked topic idea! :)

[CavyWolfe]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhnVW2V0kNQ
Explains how to get the videos to repeat on IE and Firefox. :3
[Though, for me, the IE way worked on Firefox...]

[missconstruction]

Waltzin' black reminds me of an rpg for some reason :P

[skyline]

my first idea for song no.1. crits would be great . thanks
http://i455.photobucket.com/albums/qq280/skyline92_bucket/themesongchowgirl.jpg

[RB2610]

OMG, I remember hearing Waltzing Black so often as a kid, haven't heard it in years :O I'm tempted to do Yulunga and Marco Polo so I can do 2 contrasting deserty arab type chars.

[SunRoamer]

Just listening to the songs right now, but the third one immediately had me thinking of Quentin Tarantino... can't take that one right now, otherwise I'll be too heavily influenced ;D

[PxelSlayer]

Waltzin' black reminds me of an rpg for some reason :P

Dosen`t it?! :D Which "should" explain why my drawing took a sudden twist of its own, and now I`m shooting for that "circus" theme - "Cirque Noir" or something like that. And here is...Claudette, the trapeze artist.

[Sean McClain]

Awesome concept, love the tracks, cant wait to get to start!

[Lalilulelo]

Blarg I might have to get in on this one. Lets see if I can.

[Sentinel.]

Hell yes... awesome topic. Songs one and four it is. I played them simultaneously and thought they worked beautifully together. I'll try to have some sketches posted later today. :D

[Pixeltuner]

Awesome topic!

Ok, here is the deal. I'll be picking Dead Can Dance and The Stranglers for some kind of Hero/Villain Illustration.

-The Hero (Dead Can Dance) is the solemn, troubled soul. A masked vigilante with a constant inner struggle and longing for salvation and peace.

-The Villain (The Stranglers) is the knife wielding raving madman with no respect for life or anything at all who enjoys killing and tormenting people.

Sounds like Batman and The Joker? Yeah I thought about that as well, but I still wanna see how far I can take this. I want to combine both my figures in one illustration with underlighting for the Villain and a toplight for the Hero, and somehow make them connect while being different as well.

First sketchy thingy. :)

[gunnarsson]

good topic idea! Hey "mack the knife" was awesome! the opening there is fantastical, gotta do sum'n for that song:)

LETS GO DRAWERS GO GO! ZZEEEWOPP KAZAO!!

[Revolution77]

Pixeltuner- I really like the motion in the sketch, keep it up!
Pxel Slayer- what song is this character for? either way looks eerie, great start
Skyline- great start, definitely feel that sketch of the character in the song
Missile- i like the idea of incorporating them in the same setting. keep in mind though, that this is focused mainly on the characters so don't keep them too small. I like to incorporate the environment in the piece as well, as i feel it really adds to the piece. but just be careful that you don't make it the focus, just the cherry on top. keep it coming!
JaneM- great start! his outfit definitely has the feel nailed. if i could suggest anything it would be to maybe add more motion to the character, not quite sure what, but he looks a little static. great work though.
Matt B- looks great! love the movement, look forward to the character's progression
Sseal- great start! keep it coming.

[Keeviin]

What, no conga (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4A50EHwCjY)?

Just kidding, idea & songs are awesome, hope I'll have time for this.

[Keeviin]

What, no conga (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4A50EHwCjY)?

Just kidding, idea & songs are awesome, hope I'll have time for this.

[StompTheGlomp]

I really dig the topic this week! :D Can't wait to get started. I really love all the songs. It's hard to pick two. Hrmm...

[Saleem]

if only my character design lessons had sumthing like this
awesome topic, ill try to get some stuff up although its a busy week at uni

[Matt_B]

An update. I'm trying to combine two very different songs, and since "Stranglers" has to be one of the oddest ones in the bunch - it's in. :P

So the combo is Marco Polo + Stranglers. wish me luck :D

[SArch]

Rough design for the "Marco Polo" song. It's going to take a lot of work to pull off the concept I have in my head (planning on pairing it with the Waltzing Black), but I think I can do it. :]

[dwinbotp]

Here's what I have in mind. Sounded apt to me anyways... in a creepy sorta kinda way:)

[Sorknes]

Can I just jump in again and say how much I absolutely love this thing? <3<3<3

I know German if I read it, and I know the lyrics of Mack the Knife if I think about it, but if I end up doing all characters, can I do something with that one too even if I'm rather familiar with the song and what is said in it?

(Yeah, been sketching to all them, didn' t think about the language thing...)

[Sundance]

Wow... thanks for the imaginative kick in the pants Aly! If this doesnt inspire I don't know what would.

[Slash]

Sounds like a ton of fun! I have a basic understanding of german, which is a shame, since that song kind of sticks out among the bunch, and could be interesting to do.

Anyways, wips in a minute.

[NoShot]

Here is the beginning of my idea for a character based on the "Delightful Rain" song.

[petitemistress]

akh! I am completely addicted to Colombarium! damn you guys! guess I'll sketch all the characters but only finalize 2 other songs? :P

[Slash]

First sketches of some of the characters. I'm planning to do all of them if i have time, excluding mack the knife, since i can understand german.

I didn't write which songs go for which character, hopefully some will be clear.

[Revolution77]

Here's some more progress. "Lazare and Liesel" is what I've got so far, a thieving couple. the swindler and the seducer together making a perfect duet.

[Wiggers]

Cracking idea dwinbotp, very very strong!!

[Asterisks]

thank you for introducing us to some lovely new music!

I absolutely LOVE European folk music.

So i'm definitely gonna give this a try.

Here is are my first sketches to get me started.
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h94/ybkaren/1wip175.jpg
Wooh! I'm totally psyched to do this!

[Sseal]

Wow! Totally freaking fantastic. I'm out on this one. Too much this week. I am going to enjoy the show though.
Peace.

[Muninn]

wow Slash, those are some impressive concepts! I can't wait to see where you'll take them next :D

[Bendragon]

Very interesting idea to use for the brief. Good work guys! You can count me in :D

[Gavage]

Okay, forgetting previous idea. Too weak and small. Please tell me if I'm straying too far from the brief by doing this. I'd like to present each song as a Tarot card. This is mainly so three entirely different characters can be shown in one setting (on a table, basically).

The general idea for each:

Marco Polo is a girl, enchanting, exotic and haunting. She does her thing and captivates while suspended from the ceiling. Mack The Knife has a story to tell and you're going to fucking listen to it whether you like it or not. I think she's had a bit too much to drink. Waltzin Black is pure eccentricity, he wants to entertain but there's something vaguely disturbing about him. They don't let him near the kids anymore.

[roseille]

What if you don't know the language, but you know the song? I know the lyrics to (English) Mack the Knife by heart. The German version is VASTLY different from any other version I've heard, and gives off a completely different tone. I'm guessing that I still can't use it, but I figure that it's worth asking.

[Aly Fell]

What if you don't know the language, but you know the song? I know the lyrics to (English) Mack the Knife by heart. The German version is VASTLY different from any other version I've heard, and gives off a completely different tone. I'm guessing that I still can't use it, but I figure that it's worth asking.
I don't think that's a problem. We can cut some slack on 'Mack the Knife', as it is one of the most recorded songs in history!

Imaginary bonus points if anyone can connect that song to Daniel Craig...

[Sentinel.]

Started my sketch while listening to Marco Polo. I wish my brain could come up with something more original than "harem girl" :/

[Blue Star]

I've always wanted to do something like this. It's an awesome idea. I think I will try it.

[roseille]

I don't think that's a problem. We can cut some slack on 'Mack the Knife', as it is one of the most recorded songs in history!

Imaginary bonus points if anyone can connect that song to Daniel Craig...

Much obliged. My guess for Daniel Craig is that it was in a Bond movie.

[MJ_Alcazar]

Ohhhh, this looks like so much fun! Well, so did the other ones, but I might be able to carve out some time to attempt this one this week. I miss CHOW! ::runs off to scribble:

[Kimbee]

OOPS, missed the deadline for the last one >.>
Definitely looking forward to this round though! Sounds awesome!

[Mark Tarrisse]

Sentinel, you're awesome...

[missconstruction]

For the Marco Polo song:

http://i34.tinypic.com/33jh5dg.jpg

[Aly Fell]

I don't think that's a problem. We can cut some slack on 'Mack the Knife', as it is one of the most recorded songs in history!

Imaginary bonus points if anyone can connect that song to Daniel Craig...

Much obliged. My guess for Daniel Craig is that it was in a Bond movie.

Almost... it's very geeky. Lotte Lenya who sings that version of 'Mack the Knife' played Rosa Klebb the nasty SPECTRE agent in From Russia With Love, which is a Bond film, and of course the latest Bond is Daniel Craig! How sad am I?!

[Pixeltuner]

Posh, you are such a nerd. Now go draw some theme-songs and amaze us ;)

Since this is a two-weeker, I've decided let my first idea rest and just do some sketching to spam some ideas and poses. Here's the first of I hope many..

[Jazz]

I'm peeking in, but I was NOT expecting a theme like THIS!! I expected something like "make a theme song and a character and something else). LOL! So when I read the brief...YEAH!!! @_@ AWESOME!!!! I dunno if I can do it, but I can listen to those songs soon and think about what I might do. :heart: :heart:

[Reymus]

Pixeltuner - I hope you stay with your previous idea a bit, the Stranglers knifeman looked really promising.

Matt B - I love the giant, yoou could make him take up a lot of the space and have the second character climbing or riding him.

Dwinbotp - Le Colombarium is my fave. Possibly headless horseman meets boudoir?

Sentinel - I don't think that thinking of anything but a harem girls/ persian princesses while listening to that song is bad. Anything else really stretches the theme.

Here I go, Marco Polo (middle east princess), and her elemental bodyguard Yulunga. Her shoulder has since been fixed to not be so wrong and linebackerish.

[agnostes]

Very rough thumbs, a track-length on each while listening to them. Ignored the ones I had nothing for. No concept, no theme, just very quick doodles.

[Pixeltuner]

Reymus: Thanks, but the illustration as a whole and composition didn't work so doing some doodlydoo's helps getting me some fresh perspective on it while generating some more ideas in the process :)

Your droid thingy looks cool.

[Mark Tarrisse]

Ok here's a start for Waltzin' Black (this song is not healthy, if I listen to it 10 more times I think I wont be able to sleep tonight :D) :

791050

Edit : A small update before bed :)

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/markus_the_barbarian/WaltzinBlack-Stranglers_WIP02.jpg

[Pixeltuner]

Variant on the Walzin' Black knifer :)

[agnostes]

more messing

[dwinbotp]

Looks like everyone's having a ball! :D From the subtle to the sublime,hehehe I'm loving Slash's concepts, also missile's. and Sentinel, man that looks great!! Keep up the good stuff everybody.

No need to rush this one, Thanks for the 2 weeker! new layout...

[The Searle]

Hey folks. This is my first weekly for a few eeks as I've been at work alot (managing against my will) and have also been ill.
But hey I'm back and hopefully getting my first entry into the CHoW weekly.
Heres a bit of a WIP
This first character is based on the beautiful, earthy, mystical Yulunga.
Loving all your stuff so far. The same sexy ladie seems to have shown up in a few folks drawings, anyone else noticed?

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/Searledesign/Yulunga.jpg

[Troubadour]

le colombarium

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d146/Punkerpirate/songchowwip.jpg?t=1254266345

meh this is probably as far as I will get :P

[klortho]

I'm just going to do pencil sketches of each song for my own practice.
Here's one for Yulunga- I envisioned a Persian deity.
791219

[Vampire Ninja]

I'm going with songs "Yulunga" and The "Atlantics". The first made me think of a distant desert landscape, or an arabian adventurer, the second make me think of a mix between a cowboy and indian chase and a bit of a desert feel as well.

So the early results of my WIP are the following!http://www.theklaus.com/PICS/CHOW_175-Theme_Song_WIP01.jpg

much work to do, open to feedback and comments.

[SArch]

I made more progress on my design for "Marco Polo". Originally I kind of thought of an explorer type who pillaged from victorian era people but then my thoughts kind of drifted to this fantasy/belly dancer type character. I don't know why but I've always thought of elves as Turkish or Persian. Whut?

She started off in a more contemporary belly dance outfit, but then I opted for a more gwahazee inspired outfit. I think it fits more. I also have a concept for "Waltzing Black" and how I'm going to pose the two of them together. I need to change the angle or change the posing entirely though or I'm going to totally lose her design. Any crit/advice would help. D:

[ognjen]

Hello everybody, I'm new around here, this is my first post and I will contribute with first my first ever CHoW tryout...

...and for the start this is (work in progress) my vision of character in atmospheric Yulunga.

[Slash]

Some cool ones rolling in, i like yours dwinbot! Nice idea tying them together thematically like that. I have to admit that i like your first lineup better than when you put them together in an action pose tho.



Here's some rough colours, i think its close to what i want, still not sure about the blue on the "marco polo" chick.

[Vampire Ninja]

http://theklaus.com/PICS/CHOW_175-Theme_Song_WIP02.jpg

UPDATE detailing the characters, I'll upload earlier sketches later!

[KWhite]

great topic, must find time for this!

[petitemistress]

here's my first sketch for Waltzing Black!
The song just makes me think of a merry-go-round so much, and the little creature laughs atthe end seemed essential, so I'm going for a chic-horror merry-go-round Octopus girl-demon who catches little merry demons for lunch :) I wanted a dose of humor + horror in this one, probably gonna rework the costume or lack thereof... dont wanna go too much into Goth-loli style.

um I'm babbling! back to work! :D

[Slash]

More renderoodelidoodeli.. gonna do a quick render pass on all of them before i alpha them out and arrange them in a cooler way. Since we're getting some slack on mack the knife i'm also gonna sketch out that one, i have some cool ideas.

Nevermind the crappy background, i know it looks horrible right now, i just frankensteined some stuff together and adjusted to get the right colors, since i needed the color for bounces and stuff.

Petite: Hawt!

[Rushlord]

Left character: yulanga Right Character: Marco Polo

It was really fun to let the lines just flow. I hope to finish this concept in time (I doubt it).

[Mark Tarrisse]

I think I'm going to aim all my chars to a nightmare'ish circus theme. Here's the progress for waltzin black so far.

791526

[no87]

wow some awesome stuff by people here. marks clown is just brilliant. i think i might have ago at this. the yulunga and delightful Rain track are very interesting.
thrown down some ideas for yulunga. dont think ive really capture the key elements of the sound yet tho. :/

[KWhite]

Here's my update ^^

http://www.kawais-domain.com/Arts/themesongWIP.jpg

Left is the 4th song, right is the 1st song

[Aly Fell]

Loving all the middle eastern influences for Yulunga, but another geeky bit of info, Lisa Gerrard form Dead Can Dance actually sings in Glossolalia, which is what used to known as 'speaking in tongues'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossolalia

Edit: Argh... I don't really have time this week but just started doodling these two... If I do the others, there will be a guy!

[Revolution77]

Here's an update on my sketch. any and all critiques are welcome.

[Sentinel.]

Thanks for the info Posh! Looks like I'm falling right in line with everyone else though, haha :P

Here's my start based on Yulunga - an undead zombie king for our pretty harem girl!

791637


And here's a small preview of how they should look together...

791638


Awesome stuff in here! I'll comment for everyone when I have a chance to sit down and type, but I'm really impressed with the ideas you guys are coming up with!

[gerezon]

Wow, that first sketch is awesmoe dwinbotp. I agree with slash that it kinda lost a bit in the new one.

Slash Looking really good.

Started doodling today.

http://gerezon.se/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/themesong1.jpg

[Vampire Ninja]

Sentinel - your piece is ROCKING, looking forward to seeing more on this one!

[missconstruction]

Everyone's pieces are looking awesome! It's pretty cool seeing what variety people can come up with from the same songs

wip - any suggestions are much appreciated! ; )

http://i35.tinypic.com/11jrbdx.jpg

[PxelSlayer]

Sentinel - Very, very, very, VERY nice! Loving it! Now, if these don`t make the rest of us push harder, I don`t know what will...:assspank:

Small update on Claudette, the broken child...and just for the record - I HATE DRAWING HANDS ZOMG Argh (!!!) x_X

[Vorace]

not sure I'll have the time to participate,but just wanted to say this is a very interesting and original CHOW theme :)!!

[Revolution77]

Pxl Slayer- it's looking great. i know it's abviously still in the works, i would suggest defining the shadow that would cast on her head from the umbrella, and i would even say the shadow cast from her tutu should reach farther down closer to her knees. but seriously it's looking superb, and I'm not doubting you would have gotten there anyway, but since we're all here to help each other out, figured I'd mention it.

Sentinel- these sketches are looking superb, don't quite see the undead zombie part in the one, but it's still in the works so i don't doubt you'll head there.

[Slash]

Thats cool posh! Your idea for mack the knife is similar to mine, but luckily only in era makeup. I'll post something presentable tomorrow.

[dwinbotp]

Really excellent ideas from everybody! I find it amusing that most of us picture harrowing ghastly outworldly stuff from the songs LOL. Artists...weird :D

Mark Tarrisse, Your clown freaks me out, very cool!
Revolution77, The guy,how about taking the right leg and bending it inwards instead of out, might look more natural. as for the girl, her right arm seems to follow the contour of the bar table, looking rubbery atm. I'd love to see the finished piece, keep at it:)
Sentinel, Whoa man, love them both!:D

Sorry, no update, Thanks for the helpful comments about the earlier and latter sketches gerezon & Slash. I'm already trying to finish up on the latter layout and would push it further. I'm sorta challenging myself to bring them all together instead of being separate pieces. Might be an EPIC fail but i gotta try:)

[Aly Fell]

Thats cool posh! Your idea for mack the knife is similar to mine, but luckily only in era makeup. I'll post something presentable tomorrow.

Ooh Slash, you had me worried for a sec. :) I was thinking 1930's Berlin, and a sort of 'Cabaret' theme.

[Sorknes]

Ooh Slash, you had me worried for a sec. :) I was thinking 1930's Berlin, and a sort of 'Cabaret' theme.

You totally had me there, I was looking around for another picture to see that theme, since for some reason that hat on your Mack the Knife had me in Clockwork Orange theme mood instantly.. lol! I see it now though. :) Was just a bit hilarious that I was so thrown off, and how people not only hears different things in the songs but also see different things in the pictures when having those songs in their head... :bashful:

[Bendragon]

Heres a lil update of what Im doing.
Loreena McKennitt - Marco Polo, for a seductive mistress
Waltzin' Black - Stranglers, for her quirky idiotic servant (yet to start on him)

[bouroune]

yo there, really nice starts for all already, marc tarisse & sentinel particularly!
here are my search at the moment..

http://simonteramed.com/308.jpg

http://simonteramed.com/307.jpg

[Gavage]

Noticed earlier that this is a two-week CHOW and decided to have a bash at a 4th character. All four would probably leave it a bit cluttered, but I'm enjoying this so worst scenario I'll just lose the least favourite. Yulunga - most people seem to be getting a more Eastern vibe from this than I was. I was getting tribal images forming in my head, dancing around fire with body paint and maybe a bit of sacrificing going on. It struck me as the music for a figure in an insular cult, brutal and celebratory.

http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/8722/themesongyulunga.jpg

Sorry for the lack of crits so far, I'll try to come up with something a bit more useful for tomorrow!

[Clochette]

Ok, so you convinced me Posh & Dea (< 3) , i like this topic and i like Dead can dance, soooooo... i'm in! Missed the chow! :)

This is my attempt on Yulunga, it's not finished tho. In my brain storming i can read :
mystical, animal, bird, exotic, invocation, ancestral, hidden, godess, skin, shaman... and all that jazz.

I hope i'm not the only one to feel that :D

I'll try to look closer at the entries and to comment soon! D:

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edit : i noticed after posting that her neck was way too long. Fixed that :D

[Sean McClain]

the one on the left is marco polo, the one on the right is dance of the dead.
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[napalm]

Here is the first sketch after choosing Yulunga (the Mohican warrior on the right) and Marco Polo (the Arab horseman on the left).
These two songs can make a good mix.

Thanks again for this great and motivating topic!

I'll work on a composition with these two characters : a fight or a collaboration (I prefer this way ;) ).

There are many entries and I'll post some comments later (time to sleep, mates ;) )

[fersteger]

Whoo boy, this is a cool topic, great entries so far. Here's what I came up with so far after listening to Marco Polo for an hour.

[NoShot]

Update: Delightful Rain.

I'm going to try to do a group of poker players.

[Revolution77]

here's the latest in my sketch, added some values and changed the composition around.

[Burtzum]

Oh man. What a great idea for a topic/prompt. Some nice song selections too. I'm tempted to do them all.

[dwinbotp]

Loving Clochette's, so simple, yet very effective:D

I thought I would have more time to play with this topic but work is... well, I can't leave this chow & the music, I find myself so easily distracted these days :(

This had the usual rectangular border/layout but I felt trippy and placed them into a snowglobe of sorts LOL. the characters are pretty trippy as well even lame but what the heck I had fun as usual:) Oh well, at least I got introduced to the ecclectic mix of music I'm usually not familiar with and came out loving each one, especially Le Columbarium:)

[yetersiz]

great idea.

[ImaGEEnation]

Nice, very nice topic! :D

man, so many cool entries!!!

Dwintbop- AWESOME!!!

Anyway, here's what I did while listening to 'delightful rain'. Has this song been in any Tarantino's movies? Kinda reminded me of his stuff!

Spent too long on this, I need to work on my speed... C&C?

[Clochette]

Thank you Dwinbotp!

I did more work on it, I'll do the other character now.
Maybe i'll add more bg when i'll get both done, i still don't know. :)

http://img122.imageshack.us/img122/222/yulungafinal.jpg

[agnostes]

Update of my Stranglers image WIP.

[Revolution77]

Dwinbotp- those are looking great, do you know this is a two week chow? you'll have plenty of time to polish it further, if i'm mistaken i'm sorry it sounds like you were wanted to do more, but felt restricted due to time.

[Windsrock]

le colombarium - young tobaco seller

[bluemonika]

hmm i would like to join as well :) but do these two or more characters have to be put together in one drawing? or seperated?

[ognjen]

Really awesome competition here, this is best place on net to test my skills...i have little update for my character also I will bee start doing my other character, for Marko Polo (simmilar style) so I can combine them in same scene...

[Windsrock]

diipadaapa

[Jeremy Hoffman]

Here's my first wip of the "Mack the Knife" song.
I'm gona make 2, the other one wil be "Stranglers".

[Cranberry]

here's the latest in my sketch, added some values and changed the composition around.

I like it, it's just too bad you went with the stereotypes instead of pushing boundaries and coming up with something new. The first thing I thought when I heard "le columbarium" was "some french drunk with a bottle of wine", the connection is so obvious... Same for the femme fatale.

[sketchius]

Here's what I've been working on. I'd like to do all 6 characters if I have time. These still need some work, but I'm fairly happy with how they're turning out.
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[The Searle]

I think that its always ok to go along with stereotypes, as long as you do a damn good job of it.

[Revolution77]

I like it, it's just too bad you went with the stereotypes instead of pushing boundaries and coming up with something new. The first thing I thought when I heard "le columbarium" was "some french drunk with a bottle of wine", the connection is so obvious... Same for the femme fatale.

Isn't that the idea though
"Listen to the songs, try and get a feeling for the kind of personality you picture when listening to them."
I mean to you, you might like to draw up something crazy and weird, I don't. I like to keep my artwork in a realistic world for the most part. That's just me. I appreciate the comment, but it's to each his own though on what you catch out of a song. Maybe when i develop it further, I hope you'll get more of the story I'm trying to display through the piece.

[MEMPER]

Yulunga and Marco Polo

[Cranberry]

Isn't that the idea though
"Listen to the songs, try and get a feeling for the kind of personality you picture when listening to them."
I mean to you, you might like to draw up something crazy and weird, I don't. I like to keep my artwork in a realistic world for the most part. That's just me. I appreciate the comment, but it's to each his own though on what you catch out of a song. Maybe when i develop it further, I hope you'll get more of the story I'm trying to display through the piece.

I've always been told to avoid stereotypes, because, well, they're stereotypes, aka not original... You say "it's to each his own though on what you catch out of a song", but most people will think of a frenchman when hearing that song, it's a general idea that you were brought up with, hence it not being original or creative... I'm not breaking down your piece, I'm just giving you an opinion that has been given to me oh so often when thinking about art...

[Helltroll]

Here's my basic idea for Yulunga

[bouroune]

yo , update:
clo your rock! awesome shaman! it will be hard to do better as you :p

http://simonteramed.com/309.jpg

[trevor]

dwintbot- i think you just won hahahaha great work there

[Mark Tarrisse]

Great work everyone ! just a quick update before I go to bed.
Clo : I had added some leaves on him before I saw yours, but after I saw yours and I must admit that orange touch you used inspired me as I was also on the green tones, but maybe I shouldnt have done that :S I feel a little like a thief :(

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/markus_the_barbarian/WaltzinBlack-Stranglers_WIP04.jpg

[Clochette]

It's ok Mark! Don't worry, it looks great this way :)

[ZeldaKick]

I've always been told to avoid stereotypes, because, well, they're stereotypes, aka not original... You say "it's to each his own though on what you catch out of a song", but most people will think of a frenchman when hearing that song, it's a general idea that you were brought up with, hence it not being original or creative... I'm not breaking down your piece, I'm just giving you an opinion that has been given to me oh so often when thinking about art...

Personally, I like the artwork. People also have very different mindsets on what "stereotypes" are.

So for everyone that is doing a Arabic theme for "Dead Can Dance" is now part of a cliche form of art, because that's what I thought of when I heard the music, as well (even though it shows a tribe.) Or even for "Delightful Rain", everyone thinks of a western.

Art is like philosophy. There is no right or wrong. There will always be shades of gray which could be interpreted as stereotypical if you chose to govern yourself by thinking in terms of black or white.

I like your style, Revolution77.

[Revolution77]

Personally, I like the artwork. People also have very different mindsets on what "stereotypes" are.

So for everyone that is doing a Arabic theme for "Dead Can Dance" is now part of a cliche form of art, because that's what I thought of when I heard the music, as well (even though it shows a tribe.) Or even for "Delightful Rain", everyone thinks of a western.

Art is like philosophy. There is no right or wrong. There will always be shades of gray which could be interpreted as stereotypical if you chose to govern yourself by thinking in terms of black or white.

I like your style, Revolution77.

thanks... that put's it perfectly. I was just going to mention the arabic theme. if i didn't put a french influence to a french song (even though i have no idea what it's saying) i feel like i wouldn't be following the brief. but whatever, this exercise is for my own personal practice anyway, but i appreciate any comments whether positive or negative. you can't agree with everyone.

[Shogo]

Still has a crap load more work, and just finished roughing in their weapons

[daestwen]

Just to interject my own thoughts here... This particular chow is about capturing the feeling of the song, so it's very likely to embrace stereotypes, because there are reasons we associate certain sounds to certain images. If you try to go too wild for the sake of it, you risk losing the connection to the song.

Plus, I would appreciate if you keep the criticism in chow constructive, rather than 'you're doing it wrong'. Thanks. :)

[Smuze]

Wasn't going to join in at first, but then I got to scribbling. This theme's easy to get sucked into! I went with 'Le Columbarien' and 'Stranglers'. Got some definite circus vibes from both, plus a 'creepy child' thing off stranglers.

[Revolution77]

Here's an HD video I put up showing the process of adding values to my sketch.
Lazare und Liesel: part 1- values (http://vimeo.com/6857302) from Denman Rooke (http://vimeo.com/denman) on Vimeo (http://vimeo.com)

P.S. does anyone know how to embed videos in the post itself... it doesn't seem like these threads like html that much.

[Amber Alexander]

ooo I'm in! I started with Dead can Dance and I started the sketch before looking at anyone elses designs and I didn't watch the video, I just had it playing in the background. I'm going to add in alot more detail and clothing but I wanted to post something for now.

Updated! just about done with the design and will start coloring tomarrow. I'm not sure I'm happy with her shirt though, any suggestions on changes to make would be great!

[DIMAGYAN]

Wonderful theme! really interesting.A lot of great work on this thread.Really like the shot and the mood of the female character Sentinel
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
First try for Yulunga.Im going to do some kind of fantasy characters.This one would be the warrior.Don't know exactly why, but the first impression of this song was a bit of lonliness and sadness, and the image of a lone wolf kind of warrior.The other character i could do would be probably someone who needs the service of "Yulunga"...still not sure really.

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[Gavage]

Couple of comments/crits:

Amber Alexander: Good start, I like the skull helmet and the little bones hanging from the weapon. I don't see any problem with the shirt, although it is kind of flat in comparison to some of the other textures going on in the picture. I wouldn't say change it - maybe just suggest that you give it more of a fur texture when you render it?

Smuze: Enjoying the take on Le Columbarium.

Mark Tarrisse: Skin-crawlingly wonderful expression there, I love how his face looks kind of like it's made out of patchwork.

Clochette: Cool concept so far, you have a great style.

dwinbotp: Some really great designs there, and you've presented them all in a really eye-catching way.

Revolution77: Nice work so far. To put a little more depth into critique though for 'Mack The Knife' - the pose is placing focus on the face and dress, both of which are currently quite plain. Try looking at some dress designs - something flapper girl inspired could work well here. Also the scarf seems to be floating like there's a strong gust of wind, but the cigarette smoke is thick and trailing upwards which generally only happens in very still conditions.

[Pixeltuner]

Just to interject my own thoughts here... This particular chow is about capturing the feeling of the song, so it's very likely to embrace stereotypes, because there are reasons we associate certain sounds to certain images. If you try to go too wild for the sake of it, you risk losing the connection to the song.

Plus, I would appreciate if you keep the criticism in chow constructive, rather than 'you're doing it wrong'. Thanks. :)

But, but, but... "You're doing it wrong" is such a nice internet-meme ;)

All jokes aside though, when I'm listening to the Dead Can Dance song I'm not thinking "ooh Arab' but more in terms of what the song conveys emotionally. Feelings of loneliness, solitude, introspection, spirituality or even 'calm before storm'. These are all character traits which you can put in anyone. Maybe it's harder to express that without the obvious cultural link, but that's the challenge for me I guess. I could even put this song in a slo-mo action sequence in a big Hollywood production in my mind, and draw more of a storyboard :)

It's just my 2cents, but it's a way of avoiding cliche's or stereotypes. Then again, that's what they're there for. To give a clear message. So uh, yeah :)

[Jeremy Hoffman]

Here's another WiP. Not happy with it... So i quit with this one :-(
Maybe i'll start allover with a new one version... but in a different direction...

[Sseal]

Just a general comment. I love the lines and movement in everyones sketches on this one. Proof that sketching to music helps loosen things up. NICE!

[Wiggers]

Some great work going on here!! love dwinbotps great idea beutifully done, you get better with each Chow, and the allways awesome Clochette!!

[Gavage]

Updated WIP with a bit of a mock-up on how I'm thinking of presenting them. Wondering if I should scribble the particular songs on each card or if that would be a bit too blatant. From top left - Marco Polo, Mack the Knife, Waltz in Black, Yulunga.

[The Whistler]

Awesome topic plus I LOVE Loreena! I wasn't online for ages and I'm in college now but maybe I could squeeze out a CHOW :)

I'll be doing Marco Polo + Yulunga

[Revolution77]

Dimagyan- looking fantastic. you capture it magnificently.

Missle- thanks for the critique, i thought a split second about that but now that you bring it up i can't ignore the blatant need for change in the scarf wind blown area. ya I'm not quite sure what to do with her dress... hmmm I'll have to play around with some ideas. thanks

[missconstruction]

Wanting to do some kind of beetle instead of a camel, but not sure whether to do a dung beetle or other kind or desert-based beetle instead. Any suggestions would be appreciated please : )

793365

[The Whistler]

Here's a really really bad photo of a sketch, taken with a cellphone. This one is Yulunga, the idea is a raven shaman, Marco Polo will be the raven-goddess he serves.

Unfortunately I won't be able to color it until next Saturday so fingers crossed that I make it...

EDIT: A slightly better photo, added the raven...

EDIT: Added Marco Polo, her neck is too long, I'll have to fix that when I color her...

EDIT: Basic colors...

EDIT: Final

[Vaghauk]

this is my first try here at chow... - i choosed dead can dance and the atlantics - hope i find enough time to finish this until deadline.
it´s still very very sketchy - don´t know if it´s necessary to make a second image to show them standing to see their full body?
793530

[gerezon]

A super quick paint job, I love to paint like this, not caring about details, keeping it zoomed way out.

http://gerezon.se/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/themesong5_vertical.jpg

[bouroune]

yo

http://simonteramed.com/310.jpg

[Amber Alexander]

Update on the Dead can Dance. I've mainly been working on the skin and I'm happy to say that I think so far this may end up becoming my best work to date. Any suggestions at all are welcome, particularly on making shadows and anatomy accurate and if I can add more texture anywhere.

Note anywhere with just blocked in color I haven't worked on yet.

Thanks.

[fersteger]

Wow Amber that's looking great, I'd say texture up all her armor and clothing and it'll make a nice contrast with her smooth skin.
And Bouroune that's such a cool style, very nice.

And yeah, dwintbopb (that names so confusing haha) looking dope!

Here's my Marco Polo, I'll probably tweak it once I get the other character going but it's just about done I think. I hope this counts as 2/3rds...yeah?

[Mark Tarrisse]

Morninggg !
Quick comments :
Fersteger : Man I really like it !
Amber : Nice char and nice rendering :)
Bouroune : MAN je kiffe ! :P
Gerezon : Nice speedpaints, although be carefull with proportions ;)
Vaghauk : Seems like it's going to be funny ^^ hope you'll finish it.
The whistler : I like the sketch, I hope you'll have time to finish it, and I think you could add plenty of details.
Missconstruction : Hehe cute ^^
Missile : Really nice presentation, I hope you'll work a little more one them ;)
Jeremy Hoffman : Like it a lot ! just be carefull with the lights on the materials, I'm not sure his hat could be so shinny.
DIMAGYAN : I seriously love your sketchs :) I'm waiting for the colors :)

Sorry for the others, Got to go !

[yongs]

fersteger- yours is looking awesome!

Here's my sketch for Le columbarium, and really nice entries every1 have! really cool to see so many variants coming from a single song.
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[rinjii]

here's mine so far- i couldn't get past the whole arab thing for both yulunga and marco polo, but i tried to think of a suitable relationship between the two songs. what i ended up doing was borrowing from the power struggle of catherine of aragorn and anne boelyn: both beautiful women- one queenly in thought and deed, beloved by her people and once by her husband [for yulunga] and the other lively and beguiling, seductive and lusted after by those who see her [for marco polo].

marco polo's color scheme is a lot warmer i think- an olive skin tone and sheer pinks and golds, and she's not wearing much [haha] so my direction with her's like a harem lady serving the sultana. for the sultana herself [my interpretation of yulunga] i have her paler and more moderately dressed [to a point]. her expression is supposed to be of importance and mild disdain. i'm struggling with how dark i want her clothes to be though.

anyway, suggestions/critiques are more than appreciated.

[Amber Alexander]

Rinjii I love belly dancers, the one on the left looks like she's falling over. For her center of balance, make sure that her head is inline with the foot of her supporting leg. I actually just read that in class today :)

Btw the "textbook" for this class i'm in is Drawing People: How to portray the clothed figure by Barbara Bradley, so far its been very useful!

[Bendragon]

Wow! Loads of top notch work so far. Damn this is going to be epic!
Heres one of my characters... will work on the other soon!

[NoShot]

Update: Changed the cowboy so he is shooting cards from one hand to the other. Added another poker player based on Marco Polo. He is supposed to be flipping a poker chip across his knuckles. I think I will have to add some more visual cues to him to suggest the whole poker theme. There is a ton of rendering left to do on these two and I plan on adding a female character too.

[SArch]

I've been drowning in schoolwork this week so I didn't make as much progress on my final work for this as I wanted to, but I have the Waltzing Black's final pose picked out and sketched and I've started filling in colors for Marco Polo's final pose, so it's not all bad. :)

If anyone could comment and critique me on my shading please. I see all of this tight color work on here and it drives me bonkers because I work so loosely anyway. If I could get a couple of pointers on tightening things up that'd help--I even have an earlier WIP of Marco too so that you can see what I did (wrong?).

[Amber Alexander]

I've been drowning in schoolwork this week so I didn't make as much progress on my final work for this as I wanted to, but I have the Waltzing Black's final pose picked out and sketched and I've started filling in colors for Marco Polo's final pose, so it's not all bad. :)

If anyone could comment and critique me on my shading please. I see all of this tight color work on here and it drives me bonkers because I work so loosely anyway. If I could get a couple of pointers on tightening things up that'd help--I even have an earlier WIP of Marco too so that you can see what I did (wrong?).

I'd check out this tutorial, it was really helpful for me when I first started painting digitally: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107217

I don't know what the actual size of you images are but if those posted are the actual size, I'd start off by working larger. Getting to the really detailed fine coloring is the last step, get the shape of the figures accurate first, then color, then detials are last. Oh another thing that I do, if you want to experiment and worry you'll mess up your image, make a duplicate layer first. That way if you try something and it doesn't look good just delete it and start again with the origional.

[Vampire Ninja]

http://theklaus.com/PICS/CHOW_175-Theme_Song_WIP03.jpg

The music is a great way to get the creative painting flowing! Love doing this piece, its a growing process, please send feedback and input

thanks guys!

[Amber Alexander]

http://theklaus.com/PICS/CHOW_175-Theme_Song_WIP03.jpg

The music is a great way to get the creative painting flowing! Love doing this piece, its a growing process, please send feedback and input

thanks guys!


I agree, I just listen to the music over and over, really makes it flow. I really like that the colors you went with especially the bright blue for the thing he's throwing. Is the image tilted because they are running downhilll? if so then the clounds in the background shoudn't also be tilted. The lion the cowboy is riding seems too small for him. You should also decide on several spots of the illustration that you want to be the focus, the areas that aren't the focus need to have the contrast toned down a bit, don't make everything neon or it will be overwhealming. I really like that you got the feeling movement down, that can be hard to do. Keep at it!

[Amber Alexander]

Here's an update on mine. I tried several different ways to make her shirt with the leopard print to look real and I couldn't get it to work so I went with plain leather, I'll prob add some detaiting onto it later to match her wristband and I still need to do her left leg chin guard. Any crits welcome, tear it apart!

Edit: I wanted to ask, are we allowed to post these in the Critique forum while we work on them?

[3vil]

@Amber Alexander

That's really a respect!
Just don't force the folds...I really like the way it's going,but just try not to frag up the chest-part...Btw,I'd recommend using some colder hues of brown in shading.

And...that part where the thigh passes into buttocks...Smt's missing...
But :yayca:

[Amber Alexander]

Thanks I think lol, I don't know what "really a respect" means :) I've never heard that before lol. I think I need to make the shadows under her thigh darker. I used a porn picture as reference for the post and I wanted her to just barely be covered but maybe I need to cover her a bit more?

[timothee]

Great entries all, looks to be an epic round. I've been out of the loop for a good while, so I decided to jump back in this week( i need my CHOW fix). Anyways, I wanted to come up with a burlesque-circus type style for the characters. This WIP is for the Mack Knife song, she's supposed to be the ring master of sorts.
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r146/timdeplace/circus2.jpg

[Smuze]

More work on Columbarium, moved her around quite a lot. Her lower parts don't really work anatomically but I'm overlooking that for now and calling it a learning experience.

However, her head seems really off and I've been looking at this too long to really pinpoint why. Any tips welcome!

[NickyBeats]

woooooooooow. . . soo many good entries in these contests. im sort of hesitant to even try. ive never entered into one of these before, but i might give it a shot, just to see if i am even able to pump out a 'finished' character in a weeks time. im really slow at rendering. but seriously i have a huge amount of respect for everyone who does these, its a big inspiration. alright i guess ill stop typing and start listening to those songs to see what comes out of it.

ps. pxelslayer- whats up homie?! i was wondering where you snuck off to on ifx. i see you headed in the right direction. this place rocks!

[Vampire Ninja]

I agree, I just listen to the music over and over, really makes it flow. I really like that the colors you went with especially the bright blue for the thing he's throwing. Is the image tilted because they are running downhilll? if so then the clounds in the background shoudn't also be tilted. The lion the cowboy is riding seems too small for him. You should also decide on several spots of the illustration that you want to be the focus, the areas that aren't the focus need to have the contrast toned down a bit, don't make everything neon or it will be overwhealming. I really like that you got the feeling movement down, that can be hard to do. Keep at it!

THANKS! All the feedback was great, it's awesome when a few small comments can really help improve an image. I kept the cowboy's lion small, he is supposed to be super quick (it might be too small but I can live with it.) Here is the change from your comments, I appreciate it!
http://theklaus.com/PICS/CHOW_175-Theme_Song.jpg

[Amber Alexander]

Update, I'm still working on the back ground and the spear and still need to extend the headdress. Her left foot toes will be in grass so i'm not going to bother with those. But any crits are welcome!

[lake7less]

Smuze, it could be her right shoulder. not sure. still love it by the way

[dashinvaine]

The Atlabtics Bombora sounds a bit like Ghost Riders in the Sky, and evokes something speedy and edgy in a Western setting. Started drawing this character...

[no87]

so much awesome stuff! Smuze looks real nice. the hands feel alittle small at the momment still :)

some more. need to mess with the rain song character abit more. kinda hard trying to get them into the same world. :/
i also started messing with the Yulunga painting.

[Heartwood]

First of all, fersteger: I simply love your take on the song and that character design. Great colours and everything.

Also Amber Alexander, your picture is coming along really nice, the colouring is really realistic and the background that you have started is complementing the character in an outstanding way, great job!

There are a lot of awesome looking designs here and it will certainly be a great round.

I started out a bit later but since we have another week I think I can make it to the deadline. This is my sketchwork for Yulanga and like so many others I fell into a kind of desert and middle-eastern theme.

[Revolution77]

Smuze- I think if you tilt her head to the right (her left) a little it might help. I'm thinking it's where her head meets her neck the makes it look a little off. also try working out that left arm of her's a little as well. but it's looking great, so keep it up!

[Reymus]

So far on Yulunga and Marco Polo.

Amber - The eagle headdress (I assume it's eagle) looks odd, an eagle's or predator's beak is curved and more blunt, though I think it you can get a greater effect by making it more of a tropical bird, a cockatoo or parrot as well. Awesome render however.

Smuze - Flip the canvas back and forth and to me at first look, it seems it's not centered on her neck, craning toward the right a bit.

[zimfin]

I am way behind here but should have time as I think I'm doing 2 characters. Here is wip1.
I wanted to try robotic or alien characters here. My first one is for Yulunga, which puts me in mind of a tracker on the hunt in a desert environment. His feet are bigger on purpose as they are supposed to support him in the loose sand too.

[NickyBeats]

ok. here it goes. im just gonna do two characters, and it looks like the "marco polo", and "dead can dance" ones are gonna be pretty popular. i picked them because they seem like simialar songs, but one seems dark, and the other seems more upbeat or cheery. so heres some quick sketches i did in my sketchbook of what i think they might end up looking like. also made some notes on the characters themselves, sort of opposites to eachother. so here we go...

[SunRoamer]

My progress for the Marco Polo character so far... maybe about 1% done ;D (critique's welcome anyway^^)

[Amber Alexander]

Reymus-don't forget to give her a belly button :)

SunRoamer- I know you're just starting but her arms should be longer, the tips of her fingers should go to mid thigh and her elbows should be mid waist.

[SArch]

I'd check out this tutorial, it was really helpful for me when I first started painting digitally: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=107217

I don't know what the actual size of you images are but if those posted are the actual size, I'd start off by working larger. Getting to the really detailed fine coloring is the last step, get the shape of the figures accurate first, then color, then detials are last. Oh another thing that I do, if you want to experiment and worry you'll mess up your image, make a duplicate layer first. That way if you try something and it doesn't look good just delete it and start again with the origional.

Thank you so much for the link and the pointers (and to answer your question about the size, I am really working more at the equivalent of 8X10). They really helped me out. :)

Also to anyone who will look, I have another WIP of Marco Polo. Gonna start shading my Waltzing Black once I get out of dance practice tonight. I think Marco is coming along well. She's probably 60-70% done I guess. I realize there could be more contrast between the shades of red and I'm gonna fix that later. Also not totally sure about the bg--I decided to keep it simple so that I can focus on getting Waltzing looking good, but I'm not so sure about the color I think I might need to make a cooler colored background so that she pops out more. :X

[zimfin]

Filled in the basic silhouette after cleaning up the sketch. Not focusing on the BG at all yet.

[fersteger]

This is probably my final version. Word, I think these competitions make better artists out of us. :yayca:

[Elzora]

Wow, great round so far!!! Its so fun to be part of this.

I really like yours, Fersteger, I wish I could have your imagination! Smuze, she is gorgeous! Especially her eyes! Heartwood, our brains connected, LOL! We almost had the same vision when listening to Yulunga. I’m looking forward to see your final. Reymus, your color treatment is beautiful!! Amber, just wow!!! Everyone else, great starts, cant wait to see your next step!!!!

This is where I am right now. It’s a really great exercise. I always listen to music when drawing but it’s the first time I’m drawing FOR the music. For Marco Polo, I’ve seen a dancer in my mind, a charming sorceress. For Yulunga, a lone man, walking on a hard road of sorrow and pain.
Critique welcome of course.

[NickyBeats]

Elzora- nice work so far. im really digging those colors, they compliment eachother well.

Fersteger- i second what elzora said! great imagination! i really love the dude on the left, cant wait to see the other guys face.

heres some more quick stuff. moving into painter...

[NickyBeats]

heres the basic values for the second guy.

[Wiggers]

@Fersteger that's awesome mate!!

[Sseal]

fersteger That is looking like something someone will walk into an art museum 100 years from now and it will be on the wall. Your technique is amazing and your imagination isn't too shabby either. Due (creature) on left is perfect. Lighting exposure. I agree a little with the guy on the right. Maybe defining the face a bit and and toning down the intensity on that backlight, but your not done with him yet. Cant wait to see it finished.

Amber I know you will get to it eventually and they will totally rock....but....it's really bothering me that your 90% done and haven't given her toes :)

[The Whistler]

Added a Marco Polo sketch here (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2458562&postcount=168), screwed up her neck a bit but I'll fix that...

[dwinbotp]

Cool cool stuff from everyone and this thread is just growing!

no updates, just wanted to drop a few lines, if I seem to babble(diss me) if it helps, well...good:D

Amber Alexander cool work, i have a weakness for life-like paintings! nice designs on her.

zimfin hehehe, being behind never stopped you from finishing so i'll look forward to your final design:)

fersteger awesome-sauce! yeah! and my pen name sucks, people think i'm a robot because of it>_<

Revolution77 Better layout! more man!:)

dashinvaine Ghost rider in the sky...what's not to like? great idea!

Elzora nice work! looking forward to more progress!

Vampire ninja nice stuff! I would suggest you sharpen the character's outlines a bit more to bring them out and apart from your bg. right now they look a bit melded together, just my 2 cents.:)

Reymus Cool stuff man, keep it up!:)

Wiggers where's yours?:)

[ENNEX]

It's been FAR too long since I've done tablet work... XD Getting rusty.

Here's my sketch for Marco Polo. Was getting a tribal/indian/gypsy vibe (if you can throw all those together).

[Wiggers]

Had no time up to now dwinbo had a deadline to hit plus househunting might get something done before the end of the week,have to say your piece is awesome mate!!

[zimfin]

zimfin hehehe, being behind never stopped you from finishing so i'll look forward to your final design:)

fersteger awesome-sauce! yeah! and my pen name sucks, people think i'm a robot because of it>_<


Cheers mate.:) C'mon, we want updates from you!
I'm growing more concerned with my character work and the lack of "life" in them. There are folk here who just have to produce a sketch and I think, "Wow, that is full of life and energy!" but after spending ages fine tuning and polishing up a pic, I don't see that in my stuff. Hope it is something you pick up along the way!

No harm in people thinking you are a robot either!

[Mark Tarrisse]

Well, dont think I'll be able to do a second char, got a lot of things to do this week :S
But here's a very small update for the first char I did :
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y192/markus_the_barbarian/WaltzinBlack-Stranglers_WIP05.jpg

[Amber Alexander]

Awesome work from everyone so far with still a week to go, can't wait to see how they all turn out! My Dead can dance is finished and I expect to be starting the sketch for Marco Polo later today.

[Smuze]

@ Mark - Love that textured background. Out of curiosity, are you using stock brushes or some of your own?

Done with Columbarium I think, and working on Stranglers. Definitely learning a few things about umbrellas doing these!

[Mark Tarrisse]

@ Mark - Love that textured background. Out of curiosity, are you using stock brushes or some of your own?

Some are from some pros, and the rest are custom brushes, but to be honest I usually use classic round brushes, and some others that are some traditional looking brush (I use dual brush a lot).
But for this work I just added 2 texture as layers.

[Heartwood]

Wow Mark Tarrisse yours is looking really good!

Here's an update of mine:

[ognjen]

New update, didn't have much time over the weekend but i hope I will finish other character before deadline, btw this one here need little more polishing... as for others, one word, awesome...

[gunnarsson]

tryin to do some crits, hope i'm not harsh or to lecturing:bashful:

mark tarisse - cools! i think the mouth looks excellent, i cant make out if those are black teeth or gaps, but if they are infact teeth I think the rendering looks great, maybe a miniscule amount of sharp highlights cold bring'm out. anyways, lookin solid:)

smuze - i like the rendering style alot, the colors are warm and nicely murky. i think you should push the rendering a little bit more in a few places.. like the arm holding the umbrella and the dress perhaps. somehow it doesn't look quite finished. but not far from it, its looking swell!:) digging the stockings alot.

heartwood - about the rendering, my 2cents would be to try and highten the contrast a bit, especially lighter, it looks like the whole character covered by a shadow kinda. especially in a desert setting i'd be expecting harsher sunlight. the anatomy and all is purdy good there mang, just a little thought..

ognjen - i am a little bothered by the background. partly from the unfinishedness/flatness and the fading between ground and wall, but also the yellow light. the color intensity is to strong for that small a shange in value. i'm bad at explaining, but it need to either be lighter or less intense, the way it is now it looks more solid then light-y. haha that makes sense kinda, right? anywho! it looks good man, good luck!


got two a wip here yea! first is for 'bombora' and the second is 'mack the knife'.

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u256/pettergunnarsson/gunnarssonchow175bomborawip.jpg

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u256/pettergunnarsson/gunnarssonchow175mackwip.jpg

[Pixeltuner]

Lovely stuff people :) My Walzin' Black is finally going somewhere. I really don't know if I got time to do my Dead Can Dance one this week, but let's hope so :yayca:

[dirkvandulmen]

here's my sketches 4 the dancing rattle snake witch doctor, based on the 1st song Yulunga - Dead Can Dance and the dancing hypnotizing boa constrictor lady, based on Loreena McKenitt - Marco Polo. Maybe color in a few days...

[gunnarsson]

just a little render show off:D this is fun!

http://i170.photobucket.com/albums/u256/pettergunnarsson/gunnarssonchow175mackwip2.jpg

[Kitten Poker]

So this is very basic, no shading or proper lighting or colour or anything. There is something not quite right with Sad Clowns legs, also the other two wine bottles he is juggling are not there yet.
Sad clown: Le Colombarium; Aerial Dancer: Dead Can Dance; Midget Dancer on a Ball: Waltzin Black.
795751

I was trying not to look at stuff untill I had my ideas down, there is so much good stuff going on here.

Mark Tarrisse: That is a truly freaky clown (don't like clowns at the best of times, clowns and dolls.... all very freaky) ^_^ very good ^_^

Revolution77: the second version definatey works better ^_^

Dwinbop: that little girl really captures waltzin black, properly creepy ^_^

Amber Alexander: that rendering is ace ^_^

Missile: the deck of cards idea is great ^_^

NoShot: I can't wait to see the next one of this set ^_^

Dirkvandulmen: These are funny ^_^ can't wait for the progress ^_^


If anyone has any comments they would be appreciated, If I don't know something is wrong can't fix it ^_^

[Shogo]

Updated shot

[Niva.]

You know guys, I've been looking at this thread since this topic started and there's NOTHING that seems to tie these images together. I haven't even listened to the song but I feel like based on what I'm seeing in the WIPs anyone could enter with anything.

Sorry but the topic may not be working out according to the original design. I guess I'll listen to the song before I vote though, I promise! :)

[ImaGEEnation]

You know guys, I've been looking at this thread since this topic started and there's NOTHING that seems to tie these images together. I haven't even listened to the song but I feel like based on what I'm seeing in the WIPs anyone could enter with anything.

Sorry but the topic may not be working out according to the original design. I guess I'll listen to the song before I vote though, I promise! :)

Yeps, you should listen to the songs first. 'Cos it's not that easy to put them together...so, to me most of you guys are actually doing a great job! Dwintbop- dude... I love you..! :p hahah!

[Adre3es]

I haven't been to this site in ages >.< but I saw a link to the contest series and it really got me interested as creating characters is one of my favorite things to do. I just hope I can finish on time XD
The first song I listened to was Bombora and what sounded like hoof beats really drew me in and the image of a centaur came up as well as gun fights and general toughness. I haven't drawn a centaur in years so I had a lot of fun with her. Last night I chose my other song 'Waltzin' Black' and after a few times listening and starting to sketch the character I started to think of Unicorns being to normal centaurs what fey-folk are to humans. So my little Waltz is magical and delicate but also crazy dangerous.
This is my rough outline and flat colour after this I'll up the resolution and size of the files I'm working with and get in some detail and shading. Both of these were done mainly in Paint Tool Sai

[Matt_B]

glad this is a two weeker :) Last week was hell.

and update: I realize it's still quite rough (hands, especially, are no where near done) but any comments would be welcome.

[Wiggers]

@gunnarsson, love your work love your style, no idea whats going on but i love it!!

@Mark Tarrisse, looking great! very creepy!!

[Jeremy Hoffman]

Hi, here my new version of the song... destroyed the last version ;-)

[rodriguez]

Hey everybody been a long time since i've done a Chow but this one's too good to pass up

Meant to post these a few days ago
bottom three are the ones that i'm going with maybe redo my French guy if i have time

796091

[Nutter]

going with marco polo for the first one.

kind of a sci-fi mix with traditional costume, dunno if it's going to work.

[Windsrock]

waltzin' black

[Cranberry]

thanks... that put's it perfectly. I was just going to mention the arabic theme. if i didn't put a french influence to a french song (even though i have no idea what it's saying) i feel like i wouldn't be following the brief. but whatever, this exercise is for my own personal practice anyway, but i appreciate any comments whether positive or negative. you can't agree with everyone.

This forum is for critique, and I gave mine... I thought of it as a stereotype, it might sound negative, but in order to improve you should take note of the negatives more than the positives, all the positives will do is make you feel great about your artwork, thats why almost every great artist has the skill to break down his own work, because that makes him improve himself.

When you say "dead can dance" is a stereotype as well, that depends on how you approach it... You could go with the typically recognizable character, or you could create one that has resemblances, is still recognizable, but is not a stereotype, same for the french song. Nutter's last post for example.

I'm just trying to help.

[LuckyDevil]

Not sure about the deadline on this thing but i will give it a shot, heres a sketch from the song marco polo. Its an arabic dude realizing something is going to happen/looking into the future in the sands of time.

just a sketch on paper will redo him completely digital

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=796184&d=1254836448

[Rafal Dorsz]

Great work, people! I wish I could comment on everyone's art, but I just don't have time right now. I'll do my best later. I just finished looking through the entire thread, and the quality and diversity of work here is just amazing! :)

Meanwhile here's what I have so far.
This is my first Chow (well, actually I started once before but forgot and didn't finish). I figured it's time to force myself out of my comfort zone.
I chose Dead Can Dance - this one made me think of a lone traveller/warrior/monk.. I noticed some people here had similar thoughts about this song.
And the second one is the Delightful Rain - While listening to this I imagined some kind of an adventurer, always on the move, playful, young, but also dangerous, so he's smiling, being casual and playing with a knife at the same time.
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[jamesbiddulph]

This is my first attempt at CHOW, so I hope it goes okay!
I dont have much done so far, but hopefully Ill get it done on time. This character is based on Dead can dance, and there other character will be her protector and helper, who will be based on Waltz in Black.
Any advice on rendering material will be appreciated!

[Kitten Poker]

going with marco polo for the first one.

kind of a sci-fi mix with traditional costume, dunno if it's going to work.

I think it work, looks cool ^_^

[Matt_B]

an update so you can see what I'm going for (sorry for spam)

[Keeviin]

Adre3es - To cheesy for me, but I appreciate the clean line work

dirkvandulmen - that's wicked stylization man! And they really look like they're about to move. Hope to see it finished

Amber Alexander - Wow.

Missile - Great work, but I agree that the presentation of four characters is difficult. Instead of songs you could maybe play on the whole card idea, like a card game?

I'm still searching for colors, lines, shapes, well, everything. Posted it anyways.
796435

[Pixeltuner]

update, now with DCD as well. Bought some new books today which were inspiring :)

[Heartwood]

heartwood - about the rendering, my 2cents would be to try and highten the contrast a bit, especially lighter, it looks like the whole character covered by a shadow kinda. especially in a desert setting i'd be expecting harsher sunlight. the anatomy and all is purdy good there mang, just a little thought..

Thanks for the tips! I gave it a shot to actually make the light much harder and warmer to suggest he is in a desert. This is how it looks now and I think I don't have mcuh left, will probably start the next picture and come back to this one afterwards.

[R3u5]

796606

Last time I didn't know the rule about posting wip on the final Thread so i took some screen

796602

Texture by Princess of Shadows (http://princess-of-shadows.deviantart.com/)
I think this is the first time i actually used a texture

[ognjen]

Another WIP from me, this is a bit different rendering stlye and lightning because i decided to post this character separatly from the first one...This girl is inspired by Marco Polo....thx for advice Gunnarsson, I will look in to it later

[jamesbiddulph]

Ive done a bit more work to the clothing, still need to tackle to foot though, Im not sure whether to leave it bare or make a shoe. The dreamcatcher backpiece might have a banner along the top of it, letting two ribbons fall from either side.
Critics please!

[Shogo]

Not a huge upgrade from my last post but here it is!

Comments/feedback much appreciated!

[Vampire Ninja]

Vampire ninja nice stuff! I would suggest you sharpen the character's outlines a bit more to bring them out and apart from your bg. right now they look a bit melded together, just my 2 cents.:)


Thanks, I revisted the piece, those comments REALLY help me clear parts of it up. If anyone else has feedback I'd really appreciate it. Thanks to the Conceptart community!

http://www.theklaus.com/PICS/CHOW_175-Theme_Song_02.jpg

[StompTheGlomp]

So this is what I have going so far for Le Colombarium. I totally envision this girl going to like a french marketplace and buying flowers or something. I relaly like her. Here are some basic colors and rough figure shenangins.