ChoW # 214 :: Koschei the Immortal

[Martheart]

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii293/chowarchive/CHOW_Headerimage/QUEENOFCHOW_logo-1.jpg



ROUND #214:: Koschei the Immortal



DESCRIPTION


Koschei the Immortal


Koschei is a mysterious figure from Slavic mythology. He is very evil and ugly, and his name is probably derived from the word “bones” in Slavic languages, suggesting he looks like a skeleton... Koschei cannot be killed because he has no soul; He hid it separate from his body. Some say he hid it inside an egg, and if someone would break it, Koschei would die.

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


Design the mysterious and evil Koschei!


Keep in mind the following:

- Koschei keeps his soul somewhere outside of his body (not necessarily an egg), show it in your drawing!
- Koschei is evil and looks frightening, make his appearance mysterious and threatening!

Good Luck!

*Thanks to Nadiamoon and Tagtraum for this topic.



PLEASE NOTE THE RULES AND THE DEADLINE TIME

---------------------------------------------------------
DEADLINE:
SUNDAY, September 19th, 2010


Deadline is Sunday, at 9:00 pm (GMT +1).


---------------------------------------------------------
THE RULES
If you do not stick to these 6 simple rules, you will not be added to the poll.
---------------------------------------------------------

:right: 1) FOLLOW THE TOPIC.
It's about designing the character of the topic. The environment or side characters are far less important.

:right:2) SHOW AT LEAST ¾ OF YOUR DESIGN.
This is not an illustration contest, but a design contest. Show your whole design!

:right:3) POST YOUR FINAL IN THE FINALS THREAD.

:right:4) INCLUDE WIPS WITH YOUR FINAL.
Show your work in progress and post (links to) this in the finals thread!

:right:5) SAVE YOUR FILES IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT. Chow##_Nickname
example: "CHOW#100_Oblio.jpg" ;)
No final.jpgs please!


:right:6) 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).



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. Icemoon and Arthemis IX 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!

[Nev87]

sounds like fun :D im going to start this right away so i dont run out of time like some other CHoWs i work on -.-;

[~baxter]

Ooo a lich, very fun! :D Definitely doing this one.

[Jay-Zee]

All I could think of while reading the brief was Lord Voldemort :).

I may have to stop lurking and participate in this one.

[PxelSlayer]

His soul is hidden separate from his body inside a needle, which is in an egg, which is in a duck, which is in a hare, which is in an iron chest (sometimes the chest is crystal and/or gold), which is buried under a green oak tree, which is on the island of Buyan, in the ocean.


O.o

Sounds like a good place to stash your porn as well.
K, back on topic now. ^_^

[Kristoff]

I think I'll do another chow ^_^ He is my favorite in Slavic mythology! he he =)

[Zeitwolf]

yay, drawing old bony men!!

[Nev87]

you make it sound so.....appealing zeitwolf. :P

[Ninsta]

... I just really wish I had internet right now... lol, I'll hop up on campus with a flashie if I have to. Do my best to follow through this time hahah.

[Tristan_Despero]

This is my first real foray into concept art, but I think I'm going to have to give this one a go. I've been interested in this character for a while now, so this aught to be interesting :)

[PxelSlayer]

K, let`s see what we can do with this old creep...Trapped souls - check. Magical compass-check. Bad-ass attitude - check! ^o^

[lkjhgfdsa]

lkjhgfdsa

[shockowaffel]

Undead Lord, Lich, Slavic Ruler and Phylacteries.
Nice topic. I'll try to participate this time again.

[Vaejoun]

My first thought was about Rasputin from Anastasia. ^^
Curious how this will develope.

[shockowaffel]

Are there some more info about what he does or did ?
All I find is the stuff on wiki, which doesnt say anything about what he does or where he came from. Is he a king, a god or a evil spirit or more a lich ?

Does he terrorize humans or is he waiting somewhere ?
Normally mythological creatures are doing something, but this one just seems to be immortal.

One of my first thoughts was about warcrafts lichs or lich king, then again more into Vlad Drakul and even Rasputin.

[silentkitty]

What? Undead AND ducks? I'm totally in :D

[lach-land]

A few scribbly first ideas,- so scribbly there's no construction -
and wonky indications of where patterns ought to be

It'd be nice to do something a bit Mucha like for this.
Thats why I did the shirtless guy with the wrap around thing- a bit mucha inspired- except unlike a mucha male he's all hunched over with a bent spine and arthritic clawed hands/ugly evil..... etc.

[Ephelea]

Nice looking concepts so far. Did you guys look up Slavic clothing/dress at all, or just going off the top of your head?

[Vaejoun]

Lachland:
Sweet sketches as always. But the 3rd in the 1st line strongly resembles Kel'Thuzad from Warcraft 3. ^^

I will try to do some sketches this evening.

[Nonobot]

I read on that wikipedia post that he hid his soul in an egg inside a duck in a hare thats in a chest thats under a tree, so Im going to work the charcter into that setting. As for the guy, im going for skinny, bug eyed. Soo, a self portrait aye?
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_BieqzowHHpY/TI4_LEcfZFI/AAAAAAAAA3U/B9bh0kjv08A/s1600/progressone.jpg
This is what i sketched up so far, I think i need to replace parts of the body and what not. I was considering drawing him naked, but in this pose, I dont think I could look at it for the next week eh?

[Undefeated]

Sheez. Everyone is already light years ahead of me. Those WIPs look great, nothing to offer at the moment.

I went with a rabbit as his hiding place. Seemed old myth-y enough. Around his neck (for now) is the soul's previous lockbox, a fox.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v107/Undefeated/slav.jpg

[Nev87]

wow nice start everyone :D i decided to begin mine a lil earlier and faster than i normally would. btw its not a football. hes carrying the egg and beckoning you over for an breakfast :) hes really a nice guy once you get to know him. oh that look in his eye? he gets that from time to time /shrug

[ArtByManon]

Could we do a female version or does it have to be male?

[Nev87]

got to work on his face :D was rather fun. comments?

[psychosako]

Oh hey, i know this legend, though i know it as "Koschiev the Undying". This is gonna be AWESOME. I have had a crazy hankering to do something really dark the last 12 hours or so.

Lachland: That is actually pretty close to what i imagined Koschiev to look like. I think you're on the right track. :D

[arri-att]

I think i'll give this one a shot.

Here is my lineart. I will go for some creepy clothings like a mix of rubbish, skin strapes, skulls, dirt, blood/

[psychosako]

Could we do a female version or does it have to be male?

The female version is Baba Yaga. With her chicken-legged hut. GREAT legend. Some legends say that Baby Yaga has his soul.

Somehow, my renditions are looking like Lo Pan. hahahahha.

[shockowaffel]

After some skribbles this is what looked best.

[Ruri]

Great topic!

"Koschei the Deathless" was a bad guy in the Hellboy story Darkness Calls, where he looked like this
http://i.newsarama.com/images/koschei_02.jpg

and was a badass.

[psychosako]

There are some local artists here that did a comic about a guy was behind on his rent, and his landlord was Koschiev the Undying, so Koschiev would send his minions to collect. It was good stuff, though i can't find anything on the intarwebs about it.

[Dustoff-ex]

Well i thought of going the extreme way and just strip him of all living meat way down to the fossilized bone im still working on it and ill ad some more trinkets and maybe some cloth to him meanwhile this is what i have.

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/Shirouinu/Screenshot2010-09-13at43454PM.png

[Obliviongrin]

Had to at least start this one.....

[Nev87]

leaving it here for today. might work a little bit more tonight. but food is calling me and then i need to clean an office.

still not sure what to do about the clothing. i dont want just a cloak or regal cape thing. furs might be appropriate :) hmmmn something to consider :P

[lach-land]

thanks vaejoun,

Having never played Warcraft 3 , I have no idea who this Kel-what-his-name is that you are talking about
So any similarity is pure chance I guess- well I guess not pure chance but a parallel similarity in decision making- from an overlapping solution set of options.

Heres another very very rough scribble from last night

[Ian Barker]

Sounds cool! I'll definitely start up on this... whether I finish or not is another matter but we'll see how it goes. :)

[ennui2342]

This is my first post and I'm not really up to a full entry, but I thought I'd share my sketch as I found it fun to do. He's far too healthy for the character; I need to practice my none-muscular body types, and I also need to learn to do convincing drapery if I'm ever going to cloth my characters, however, I'm really pleased with the motion he conveys.

Apologies for the poor image - I have no scanner so this is a iPhone snap of my sketchbook.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4125/4988466052_6e4acf34ed_z.jpg

[Nev87]

welcome ennui2342 :) those tiny feet are likely to break if a mass as big as his torso, shoulders and arms are moving around on top of them like that :) I'm also having a little bit of trouble reading the image properly. His right foot isnt in front of his left leg right? it's supposed to be behind?

[Senira]

I'll take tanking badly in the last two CHOWs I've entered as a sign I need to step my game up. Here's the reference I'm working from for this round, sketches to come later...
1062524

And here are some sketches for the head. As I've been sketching him, I've started thinking of the button-eyed Other characters from Coraline.
1062669

[John McKenna]

Reading the Wiki, the thing that popped out at me was the description of Koschei as lecherous.

1062666

[mythril_golem]

I'm not entering this one but I feel like I had to say lach-land is feeling spot on, imo.
I don't see this guy being cool in any way, more like Lo Pan in weheelchair mode

[prepsage]

Thankfully I'm not the only one... I haven't been able to get the image of lo-pan outta my head since i read the wiki page. Well, him and Mumra from thundercats actually.

Which is why i guess he's looking so silly...

1062749

My girlfriend says he looks like he just came back to his car and found a dent in it...

[Amberthyst]

Fantastic concepts from everyone here, this should be another good round!

Okay, so I started sketching this up as soon as the thread was brought up, and I got a bit carried away and forgot to I dunno... post a WIP. So, I stopped myself and here is what I have so far.

I really wanted him to have his chest, so I kind of pictured him going out in the woods to check on it in the middle of the night. And sort of to show how long it's been, I sketched in tree roots sort of reclaiming the chest.

I would love any feedback and suggestions!

[artfulshrapnel]

Just getting into sketches of creepy old men at this point, trying to go for a sort of skeletal emaciated look and rheumy eyes. Posting sketches and ref.

[silentkitty]

Great entries so far! :asspat:

Moving along, I think the shape of his cape is starting to bother me. Trying to decide if I want to add color or just go with the black and white this time around.

[tbaldree]

First post and first CHOW update!

Been lurking for a long time, and it's time to get back into drawing. Here's my day 1 sketch - still getting used to painting with a Stylus ( and painting at all )

Been doing the engineer thing for years and years and haven't completed a piece of art to finish in god knows how long - these forums have been super inspiring.

Hand hurts!


Not really happy w/ feet or the right hand/blade. Probably need to rework both. I think my toes need claws or something. Also, I hate the doodly on the beard and the whole crook and sway of the beard. Need to figure out a good way to paint chainmal for the hood and the sigils on the helmet are pretty gunky. My arm anatomy is still pretty goofy too.

On to day two!

Cheers!

[shockowaffel]

@Silentkitty:
Just rip his cape apart like the lower part of his clothes.
I think the white end of the cape draws a bit too much attention.
Keeping this part rough helps to focus on the head.

[KittyKaida]

first sketches for my very first CHOW :) Trying to figure out a pose etc.. staying loose.. hopefully I'll get some time to work on this.. looks fun!
I need to look up references for emaciated people, I know.. the ribcage looks way funky. 'specially on that first one..

[Vaejoun]

@tebaldree:
Careful, he looks like an orc with this fangs. He at least once was human. But I like the muscular idea in it.

This ones more tricky than I thought.

I want to go for an old leecher, whos only fun in "live" (?) are young women. So every now and then he raids a village and takes one away.
I added a broken skull, which was at first designed like a crown, but that didnt really work so well, but I liked it as a way to show where the soul has left his body. and a lot of old wounds , arrows and such things. He is immortal but no one said that hes invincible as well.
As clothing: I thought of an black fur coat like some nobles wear it, and as contrast reaaaaly long white and thin hair.

Doing the face is fun, but I dont like the layout.

[KittyKaida]

@Vaejoun wow! I love how absolutely insane he looks.. great face

[Crysse]

Hey cool Ruri, Mignola is my master !… Here is an illustration of Fegrado (Mignola
write the story) He's a fantastic illustrator too.

I like this new subject… atmosphere,
russian graphism and typical legend.
great challenge. Thx ;)

[shockowaffel]

@Kittykaida:
Before you think about composition or even the pose, you should work out the charakter.

@Vaejoun:
If I was him I would at least remove the arrows, but if he's shown in one of his raids, he propably just received some and had no time to do so.
It would be even more nasty if he had a boner, but that would maybe look ridiculous.

He reminds me just a little bit of Hagarth from the last unicorn.

[ArtByManon]

The female version is Baba Yaga. With her chicken-legged hut. GREAT legend. Some legends say that Baby Yaga has his soul.

Somehow, my renditions are looking like Lo Pan. hahahahha.

Oooh yes, I know all about baba yaga! I didn't know though that she was connected to this dude!

[lunipard]

My first Chow!
Had to post cause I wanted to participate in the previous one, but didn't have time.
Not sure about his legs and how I will dress him. I plan to have him not wearing alot. Maybe a cape or so. A tunic, at most.

[conceptbloke]

Vaejon: Nice studies, love the age in his face
tbaldree I'd take a look at his rear arms. The rear arm is very straight and it help to show the hand a little. Also with the positioning of the weapons they are both on the same plane. Might help to give them some angle or foreshortening.
Silent Kitty The glowy eyed rabbit gives me the creeps.
Artfulshrapnel Looks very guru like. Would be nice to see some body wips.
Amberthyst I would concentrate on the figure rather than adding the background at this stage. I find the his dress/cloth from his lower half very confusing and can not distinguish the form of his body at this point. Is he kneeling? Try planting his bum more firmly on the chest and placing the feet down next, then workout where his leg joints would go.
Presage the rabbit rocks
John MC erm?
Senira I would choose one of your heads you have now and get a body sorted out. Try and think of the design as whole rather than separate parts. I do like the head to the far left, like the dynamics of the hair.
lachland nice images
Nev87 try and think what is under the cloak. The hands look odd because they seem not to be attached to anything.
obliviongrin nice drawing, only thing I would watch is how you have the feet planted, his lower legs look twisted.
ruri That's a nice style you have there.

[ArtByManon]

Couple of ideas - wanted him to be letching on some poor beautiful young Russian princess or something...
Not figured out what I'm going to do with the soul yet...

[ArtByManon]

Can I just say - a rabbit and a hare are two different things...
(i'm just pointing this out as the hare is my namesake).

[shockowaffel]

@Artbymanon:
Right now he looks more like some kind of spirit or ghost.
Dont loose the human point.

[ArtByManon]

@Artbymanon:
Right now he looks more like some kind of spirit or ghost.
Dont loose the human point.

I see what you mean - but he is immortal, and skeletal, so he's obviously defying 'humanity' as it were - i was trying to stay away from just depicting him as an old man. I guess he's a little on the large side too - maybe if i make him a little smaller he will look less ghost like?

[shockowaffel]

I see what you mean - but he is immortal, and skeletal, so he's obviously defying 'humanity' as it were - i was trying to stay away from just depicting him as an old man. I guess he's a little on the large side too - maybe if i make him a little smaller he will look less ghost like?

For an old man hes really big and maybe if we could just see his feet it would make him less ghost-like, because I think it is because of is body completely disappearing into his cloak.


...some sketches of mine.
I'll stay closer to the human aspect and make him look like some horrible warrior.

[ArtByManon]

Thank you Shockowaffel - Love your thumbs, my favourite is the one sitting on the throne far left

[UCT]

vaejoun - HAHA! you have to finish this, i have only just realised im looking at a peach! Brilliant.

[Autumn_Elder]

EEEEWWWWW! As Koschei has aged his skin has sagged, fluids have built up (various biles and puss) and he is now far from the beauty of yestercentury.
You think thats gross? You should see what happens when his duck pecks one of those puss bags? KAASHBLOCKEM! EEWWWWWW. ^.^

[Autumn_Elder]

Yeah the genius that is me forgot to add the pic with my prior post. Now it should make sense >.<!

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zl5m5vZKMns/TI9xDJ68wUI/AAAAAAAAAC0/FYYJMTla8d8/s1600/Koschei_Bloated.jpg

[shockowaffel]

@AutumnElder:
If the fatbags are too regular he will just look fat instead of abominable.

I coloured one of my sketches, just as a first try.
Im not sure if Ill go with this one though.
It looks too calm. I'd like it to be more dynamic.

[arri-att]

Going into some face details and basic overall colors
Кощей восстает из мертвых

[Angel Intheuk]

Some really cool starts,

John McKenna I got that vibe too, I like it, funny! Makes me think of the old perv from Family Guy...<shudder>

Artbymanon I was going to do something with a young russian girl too but don't think I'll have time to finish the main dude. I really like your design so far, the top one seems to work better, maybe solidify him a bit more, but the proportions look cool.

lunipard I like the composition, a simple tunic would look good I reckon, there are some interesting shapes and symbols I found randomly on google.

Vaejoun that's ace! I like his expression too, such glee whilst being evil! :D




I don't know if I'll have time to participate fully, but here's a sketch of my idea so far...haha Devotchka has just come on my mp3 player...very fitting! :D

[Saleem]

wow nice stuff. heres my wip.
im thinking of having a grav yard in the back......... or KFC

[ArtByManon]

Some really cool starts,

John McKenna I got that vibe too, I like it, funny! Makes me think of the old perv from Family Guy...<shudder>

Artbymanon I was going to do something with a young russian girl too but don't think I'll have time to finish the main dude. I really like your design so far, the top one seems to work better, maybe solidify him a bit more, but the proportions look cool.

lunipard I like the composition, a simple tunic would look good I reckon, there are some interesting shapes and symbols I found randomly on google.

Vaejoun that's ace! I like his expression too, such glee whilst being evil! :D




I don't know if I'll have time to participate fully, but here's a sketch of my idea so far...haha Devotchka has just come on my mp3 player...very fitting! :D


Ooh, yours is creepy...

And damn, I preferred my second sketch to the first one!! Maybe I should make the billowing coat on the second one?

[Quinn Simoes]

Really cool designs from everyone so far!

Here's my work in progress...

[Angel Intheuk]

Ooh, yours is creepy...

And damn, I preferred my second sketch to the first one!! Maybe I should make the billowing coat on the second one?

Yes that's it, the face is much better in the 2nd sketch I just couldn't see it as well. The billowing coat looks much more dynamic.

[UCT]

Quinn you mofo. again!

[k_z]

Hmmm.. he is immortal with soul outside his body.... so why bother to carry heavy internal organs... life can be so easy without them .o)

nice work everyone...

[Gadbury]

Good work so far everyone. Here's mine so far.

[ArtByManon]

Mr. Gadbury thats lush.

[shockowaffel]

Is lush good or bad?


Another drawing of mine.
I dont think the finished one will e very far away from this design.

[ArtByManon]

Lush is GOOD. From 'luscious' - its also used to describe something being gorgeous or fantastic - you'll hear it said alot in Bristol (england) and wales!

"Oh.My.God. thats like, totally LUSH"

Its a good thing.

[Gadbury]

You're from Bristol? So am I, well, near enough :)

[Angel Intheuk]

Me and my boyfriend were just talking about moving to Wales...it's a sign!! (jk)

[Ruri]

Crysse: Hell yeah Mignola is a king of comics.
conceptbloke: I wish, that image was drawn by Duncan Fergrado, I posted it for inspiration/reference.

artfulshrapnel: Those faces are great.

Vaejoun: The shattered head is a fantastic idea, wish I'd thought of that.

Autumn_Elder: Koschei is a Left 4 Dead Boomer? :P I think you need to find a way to make him look ancient, not just puss filled.

Quinn Simoes: Awesome EVERY TIME! How do you do it!?

Mr. Gadbury: I think you need to put some more obviously Slavic elements into his design/clothing, at the minute he looks like a typical Nosferatu style vampire.

Here's my very rough beginning. Crits appreciated.

[Dustoff-ex]

Well im done with the bony structure i was going for a extremely aged body of an immortal being has in trapped somewhere under the soil till all flesh is gone still not too sure about adding a lot of fabric any opinions?

http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt157/Shirouinu/Screenshot2010-09-14at75239PM.png

[malisa]

awesome entries everyone!! cant wait for the process :)
so here is my first wip! its really something new to me and so much fun *_*

[DerMonkey]

hello, first time ever i enter the chow, so i hope i'm doing this right...
i started yesterday with a sketch in pchat and took it further. quite a different approach and still a long way to go... :)



http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/5273/steps01.jpg

[Darsy]

Dustoff : it's not easy to draw the ribcage bones correctly but you're doing it right, all the bones seem well drawn to me. So far so good.

DerMonkey : That's a wonderful WIP, you're really hardworking XD. Although I liked him better with he long hair as you did first, the skeleton fits better with Koschei's description. I don't like to be rigid about the ChoW's description but, in my opinion, maybe later if you want to, you can still give him a bit more of his human remains? ; )

I don't usually draw this kind of charachters but I'll try this time, so here's mine for now. I thought that if he was that evil he would also be smart enough to have a place like a cellar or a barn to bring his victims and to hide many eggs, so that no one would ever find the one which kept his soul:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v291/Darsy/k1.jpg

[Vaejoun]

Ouu ! A Sci fi lich. thats new.
I like the thums #3. They have an elegant unusual feel to it.
Maybe try to implement some old slavic emblems or items to move him to that topic again.

@Dustoff-ex: Man, thats some sweet skeleton !

@Ruri: Thanks, thats encouraging me.

Man there is so much great stuff going on ^^
After all the good feedback (which kinda surprised me) I stayed with the sketch and took it further and I am quite happy where this is going. Still some trouble with the pose and overall layout. Next time I need to do thumbs to improve that.

[corspufo]

I didn't even come come close to finishing the last Chow, maybe I'll finish this one. Here's where I'm at so far. What do you think?

[ArtByManon]

Mr.Gadbury - well, I was born in bristol and will be moving there soon. Am only just over an hour away as it is!

Angel Intheuk - haha... wales is SO beautiful. The south particularly (although the northern welsh will say otherwise).

[ArtByManon]

Wippage

[meeatu]

Awesome sketches so far guys. I'ma take a bite on this one too.

[JJacksonB]

Loving this topic, I haven't had the time to participate in any of these as of yet so this'll be a first for me. I'll post some WIP's soon.

Judging from everyone else's so far, I think I'll have to step up my game.

[JJacksonB]

Here is some quick sketches to get the basic shapes I'll use.

[BANDD]

corspufo - i'd say the second row first.. half teeth showig with holes in the cheeks... nice heads :)

my work sketch... i'll prob change it. i'm trying to get a creepy more than violent.... crits?
http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x148/bpdeakin/27508096.jpg

[Nightblue]

Mr. Gadbury: Love the lighting. The elongated shapes are also very creepy. Can't wait to see it finished.

malisa: Really dig the glowing ribcage. Cool progress!

corspufo: Great facial studies. Love the personality coming through.

arri-att: Very creepy color palette choice, and the tranquil expression on his face is coming out nicely.

silentkitty: The vibe feels really nice, can almost feel the night breeze. Nice shapes in the beards and the face.

tbaldree: Cool helmet! The character kind of has a prince of Persia vibe.

[toastergargletop]

I so want to get in on this CHOW, it would be my first; unfortunately i have a heap of work to do and not so much time to spend on painting.

Just one thing i found out though and i thought i would share it; Koschei's weapon of choice was an iron club.

hope that helps, even a little! with any luck i will have some actual art to post in a few days, but it sure is intimidating seeing the quality of some of the roughs!

[John McKenna]

It would seem that I'm actually painting this. It's like I'm compelled... I can't stop.....

1063369


(..He's looking at me right now...)

[tbaldree]

Day 2!
Tried to take some crits into account - more old-man, less orc. Redid back-right arm and went for an egg-on-a-chain thing - want to make it more ornate. Fiddled with dagger orientation and a touch of foreshortening. Took a stab at coloring and discovered I suck at it. Thank god it's on an overlay layer.

Onward and upward!

[Smolin]

Wow, there is a lot of talent on display here. I read up on Koschei a bit and was inspired by the idea that he is wildly temperamental. According to folklore, when he flies into a rage, he tears off his clothes and streaks across the countryside followed by crows and storms. Freaky-deaky. Trying to hit some of that energy in this first rough.

[lkjhgfdsa]

lkjhgfdsa

[shockowaffel]

@lkjhgfdsa:
Didnt your Veteran character look very similar with sight on the armor ?

[MasterTroglodyte]

Ehhh.. He even creeps ME out...

[JJacksonB]

All the other pieces are so good I feel kinda embarrassed to post mine, but I shall anyway as I've had so much fun doing it.

Here's what I have so far, any crit or advice welcome. I need it :P

[shockowaffel]

@JJacksonB:
Reference is the keyword.
If you dont know how to draw something or it somehow looks messed up, check out an image where it's done right.

In your case skeletons or horses.
Horse legs are not C-shaped. Look em up to get it right.
The same goes for the bone structure of the human body and of course proportions. How big is a horse ? for example.
There's nothing wrong with using references.

[Vaejoun]

Color.
Iam not quite happy with the overall lightning. Its not as convincing as it need to be... Somethings not right. Andy ideas ?

[ArtByManon]

Wow, there is a lot of talent on display here. I read up on Koschei a bit and was inspired by the idea that he is wildly temperamental. According to folklore, when he flies into a rage, he tears off his clothes and streaks across the countryside followed by crows and storms. Freaky-deaky. Trying to hit some of that energy in this first rough.

These are cool facts!!! I may well shred the cape on my dude a little - i was actually going to have his skirts blowing up too to show his dingle dangle :bashful:

[ArtByManon]

Color.
Iam not quite happy with the overall lightning. Its not as convincing as it need to be... Somethings not right. Andy ideas ?

I'm not sure actually as the first reaction I had to your piece was 'ooOOOoooh' - its gorgeous. I love it! I love the washed out desaturated colours - really really effective. The face is fantastic. I"ll be voting for this one.

The face reminds me of the bit in Alladdin where he's stuck in the jail with that old man who turns out to be the evil dude. Same kind of crazy eyes and teeth and smile! Its ace!

[Vaejoun]

ArtByManon:
Thanks you and yes, Jafar in his "old man costume" was somwhat in my mind when I drew the first sketch. ^^ He is just so damn ugly.
And a lot of thinking about russian impressions, dracula and a little bit of king haggarth from "the last unicorn" went into this one.

Nice to know about that facts. I saw some pictures of him where he is nude, butt when I let him raid villages, I think he would take one or two other nice things with him. XD
The crows.. well thast a coincidence. I put it as a soulbox in and I thought: Man hes rotting, he must stink like hell, which would attract crows. ^^

[ArtByManon]

JAFAR!! thats it... forgot the name. And yeah, king haggarth.. wow he was scary (when i was a girl!), and i can see you've taken inspiration there too. Its really fantastic. I can't wait to see it finished.

Do you use photoshop or painter? I just checked out your website - lovely.

[silentkitty]

Vaejoun: The lighting actually doesn't bother me at all, I think it's pretty damn creepy the way it is. Really digging the face.

Got a little farther on mine, just starting to work on the background mainly. Changed up the cape a little.

[shockowaffel]

@Vaejoun:
I think he lost a bit of the happy face he had in the first sketch.
Just as a thought, maybe pointing out his other arm, holding the girl would be good.

[Vaejoun]

@ArtByManon: Thanks again.
I started with a pencil sketch, scanned and colored it in PS. But I should do that first step in painter, its way better for the first colorshemes and blends better.

@silentkitty:
The eye is always drawn to the point with the highest contrast. At them moment that would be the lowest part of his cape, where the light grey cape makes a hard edge to the almost black cloud.
Mabe you didnt work on that part yet, but keep it in mind. I imagine a moonlight coming through the trees just hitting his upper body.

[ArtByManon]

I wish i could use painter - but my mac just won't let it work fast enough for some reason, and i have a ridiculous amount of ram. I know that at some poitn i'm going to have to get a new computer!! ARGH!!
so for now photoshop is my friend.

[Vaejoun]

@ArtByManon:
Ever tried Artrage ? Its a cheap alternative to painter with a lot of options as well.

[ArtByManon]

Yeah, i have but I found it really difficult to work in for some reason - the way they set out the screen just was tricky. I might try it again though - but for the time being i am happy with photoshop. I only have CS4, but i've got some cool pretend oil effect brushes on there which are good, but to be honest - i think its pretty hard to tell the difference between the two visually unless one uses impasto brushes or the watercolour ones.

[(lark]

hey everybody!

never done a chow before, but i was up late with insomnia and decided to give this a shot and whipped up this sketch. not sure if I'll finish or not. but I'd like to. its a pretty neat round.

1063465

[shockowaffel]

I kinda worked on the sketch a bit.
But Im quiet sure I'll start all over again, because the pose or composition is nonexistant, but at least I got the focus point good this time.

[Monsieur]

Color.
Iam not quite happy with the overall lightning. Its not as convincing as it need to be... Somethings not right. Andy ideas ?

Hey, Vaejoun, I am by no means an expert in the matter, but as your initial sketch struck me as brilliant (by far the most iconic of the contributions so far) I will try to adress the issue you're having.

I would try to flesh out the character a little more. You could definitely tell a little bit more story if you showed some armor and background and whatnot. Also, even if the character theoretically lurks in the shadows, I'm not sure it really meets the 3/4 rule of the chow challenge since you cannot really see him.

As for the lighting I feel it's too dark, and the face reads poorly because of too much contrast – you should try to ease up the values in the cracks of the face. Try to figure out the shadow pattern a little better. As this is a horror piece find some references of underlighting to accentuate the creepyness.

Also, I would work a little more on the composition of the whole piece. Make some thumbs to figure out how to best present your character.

Good luck!

[lach-land]

Spent an hour on two sketches tonight-so far.
Ones got a ratty old furry bit on his tunic-and one of those medieval daggers that look like a cock(but I pushed it further still) so he could compensate for his age related inadequacy(still an old perv though).

The other is demonstrating his deathless ability.


Hey vaejoun - I like how yours is like vlad the impaler(particularly in the moustache) gone old and crazy....and with an exploded head.


a bit later 30 min+coffee
- added a Koschei in a moment of 'weakness'- .......or pervyness

[ArtByManon]

Lach i love the skirts on the one on the right - really great. And cock-like dagger? How could a young russian princess resist?

[ArtByManon]

I'm HATING mine right now - don't relaly know what to do. Thinking i might ditch the chick and stick with Mr K.

[lach-land]

I love your ideas,- not just on this chow either,
I like the ideas in your Koschei so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

oh and those daggers are called 'bollock knives'

[ArtByManon]

I love your ideas,- not just on this chow either,
I like the ideas in your Koschei so don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.

oh and those daggers are called 'bollock knives'

I actually literally laughed out now at 'bollock knives' - hahaha!!! so brilliant!!

I'm glad you like my ideas - I have lost alot of confidence wiht my fantasy stuff as i've spent SO much time doing traditional! I used to do creepy stuff ALLLL the time as a kid/teen and i lost it somewhere in the ether, and now i'm just super critical of myself and want to get the same finish i get with my traditional and so when i can't - i just go AAAAARGH!!!

Thank you for the slap - I shall continue and try to get it pulling together!

[Ephelea]

Color.
Iam not quite happy with the overall lightning. Its not as convincing as it need to be... Somethings not right. Andy ideas ?

Back lighting. :)

[JJacksonB]

@JJacksonB:
Reference is the keyword.
If you dont know how to draw something or it somehow looks messed up, check out an image where it's done right.

In your case skeletons or horses.
Horse legs are not C-shaped. Look em up to get it right.
The same goes for the bone structure of the human body and of course proportions. How big is a horse ? for example.
There's nothing wrong with using references.

Thanks for the feedback, I did actually use reference as a starting block but I did veer away from it once I'd gotten the basic shapes.

I'll re-do the horse as I suppose it does look silly, I wanted my character to appear larger than the usual human but it clearly didn't work haha. I'll see what I can do with the skeleton to equal the proportions.

This is only the 5th or so time I've drawn using my graphics tablet so I'm still really learning, I guess you always are, but I do appreciate the advice. Thank you.

[lach-land]

Heres a last freaky idea for the night

[Saleem]

update on mine. now time for sum foooooooooood

[ArtByManon]

Lach... yikes - mega freaky!!! like a spider... like it...

Saleem... I like it, not sure about the lips stuck together straining look though? Or is it long teeth? Its not reading well that part...

[shockowaffel]

I actually literally laughed out now at 'bollock knives' - hahaha!!! so brilliant!!

I'm glad you like my ideas - I have lost alot of confidence wiht my fantasy stuff as i've spent SO much time doing traditional! I used to do creepy stuff ALLLL the time as a kid/teen and i lost it somewhere in the ether, and now i'm just super critical of myself and want to get the same finish i get with my traditional and so when i can't - i just go AAAAARGH!!!

Thank you for the slap - I shall continue and try to get it pulling together!

Dont give up, Im not happy with my stuff, either, but we just have to go on, to at least improve. I know it sucks. ^^°


@JJacksonB:
If he is supposed to look big, but him in comparison to a normal human, is what I would suggest, but if you put a really big guy onto a horse, the horse will just look like a pony.

[Smolin]

Lach-land, I have a lot of trouble with your sketches....they're all so damn good, I don't know which one I like best. That last one with the long limbs is so creepy and mythic, but the pervy one where he's fondling the girl is also creepy for different reasons! The earlier "kingly" looking ones are awesome, too.

Vaejoun: His face is truly excellent, and has a lot of personality, but the figure could use more light to pop it out from the background.

Manon: keep on it. I think it's looking really great so far. I'd suggest you think about reframing it a bit, though. Right now the top and right are dead spaces that weigh down the composition. It might help to simply rotate the image 10 or 15 degrees widdershins (that's counter-clockwise :P ) and crop a bit. That will make Koschei look more like he's bearing down on his victim and create more tension from the image edges.

[ArtByManon]

Lach-land, I have a lot of trouble with your sketches....they're all so damn good, I don't know which one I like best. That last one with the long limbs is so creepy and mythic, but the pervy one where he's fondling the girl is also creepy for different reasons! The earlier "kingly" looking ones are awesome, too.

Vaejoun: His face is truly excellent, and has a lot of personality, but the figure could use more light to pop it out from the background.

Manon: keep on it. I think it's looking really great so far. I'd suggest you think about reframing it a bit, though. Right now the top and right are dead spaces that weigh down the composition. It might help to simply rotate the image 10 or 15 degrees widdershins (that's counter-clockwise :P ) and crop a bit. That will make Koschei look more like he's bearing down on his victim and create more tension from the image edges.

Ooooh thank you - good tip, i will try it! and thank you.

This site is awesome, and i'm SO determined to get real good. I am really good at portraiture and equine art - but my imagination is SOOOO rusty!!! its just getting past that 'argh, i hate it' phase without quitting!

[shockowaffel]

I'd really like to work more in colour planes and forms instead of lines, but for now I cannot get away from it, so I totally gave in to it and tried something more cartoon like. It's really refreshing. ^^

Which one do you like ?

ps: I know the shattered head is Vaejouns idea, i just wanted to try it. ;)

[JJacksonB]

@JJacksonB:
If he is supposed to look big, but him in comparison to a normal human, is what I would suggest, but if you put a really big guy onto a horse, the horse will just look like a pony.

Yeah haha. I increased the size of the horse and its already looking a lot better now, thanks once again.

[ArtByManon]

Shockowaffel - I like the bottom left one the best...

I've fiddled with the degree's here, so far... Just realised he's freakishly big still - but i quite like that illustratively to make him more imposing...

[UCT]

Artbymoon -

I like the colour pallet and the girl is looking perfect.

Ive done a quick paint over. I think your guys legs are too long. Even though it happens a fair bit I think it looks unnatural when figures back bend alot without any bending in the waistline. I have bent his legs so that his centre of gravity isn't off.

anyway, I stuck a raised area in the forest to help the figure and give more option with the freaky uplighting.

Just a thought...

[NecrotoX]

Hello, this is my WIP so far:

[UCT]

I like the amount of smut potential here. I have been looking at alot of gustav Dore's work recently and remember a book where his work was published alongside some other artist who drew fairly pedestrian porn, without being overly crude, circa 1800-ish. I remeber one of his works was called girl and cuni linguss (sp?) Anyway, I just looked for some of his work to influence possible poses for this smut fiend and using a cuni linguss search returned some nsfw images. Thats not the stupid thing about this rant, I was just so surprised at how surprised I was when I saw the results. Im not 14, its just the internet makes me look stupid.

[Quinn Simoes]

ArtByManon You have a really beautiful painting so far!

One thing I noticed is your focal point is heavy on the screen left side. I think it would be even stronger if you centered the the characters heads more.

I did a quick paintover to show you what I mean, hope you don't mind.

Keep going!

Cheers,
Quinn

[sone_one]

loads of great works so far, looking forward to the finished pics.

heres my wip.. input is highly appreciated :)

http://soneone.com/sketches/sketch_10-09-14-01-1.jpg

[artfulshrapnel]

A bit too busy I think, so this won't be the finished piece, but it's feeling good to me as a sketch to work from.

[CrookedHorn]

ooooo late start on this but im in :rocker:

crits to come later tonight!!!

[shockowaffel]

@SoneOne:
You dont need the limbs on the lower part.

@Artfulshrapnel:
The decorative stuff makes him look like an inka, imo, but I like the chains.

@UCT:
That looks fun.
I'm looking forward for more.

@Necrotox: Eyegor. ^^


Another round of head sketches.

[Thujon]

So heres what I got so far....

Koschei si also referred as death, since I am from Poland I know the story a bit and its a real pleasure to illustrate it...

Since this is CHOW, I also worked some more on the BG to give the character a bit more backstory... Ill add a foreground element on the left bottom, I guess then Ill be able to start coloring it....

C&C is welcome!

Great works so far,!

Artbymanon, keep it going really great piece!

[JJacksonB]

Worked on the horse a little today, from the advice given.

Made it larger because the proportions to Koschei were all wrong. I also changed the legs, tried making them a little more horselike.

Any more feedback welcome, so please do :)

[Smolin]

Sone One: I have no advice for you. That just looks awesome.

Here's my latest. Not much progress -- been poking at it for 10 minutes at a time here and there. I resized the canvas to increase some of the figure's momentum, and added a tattered cloak because tattered cloaks are awesome. Oh, and a duck. Of course.

I need to start bringing in more color and add a little bit of costumery. But any suggestions/crits would really be welcome.

(Seriously, the duck is part of the story I read. Koschei hides his soul in a pin in an egg in a duck in a chest on an island in the sea.)

[Vaejoun]

@Son_one:
Man, great job on the skin so far.

I have reached a point where I get it for not making a good layout in the first. I totally have problems with this dark, grim light and dont know what I am doing wrong, just splatting layer over layer in hope that something happens. --°
I always end up this way and I hate it.

[Mark Tarrisse]

Been a long time since I last participated to CHOW...
Here's something I had started, but as usual I really don't know if I'll finish it :/
1063765

[Ruri]

Progress?

[ArtByManon]

Quinn Simoes and UCT - thank you both so much. Yes, his legs are too long!! I can totally see it now (and i've been away from the drawing for a few hours which always helps too).

And Quinn, thank you - yes, I always try to avoid mega centred stuff as i love assymetry, but i can see how its much improved... huzzah!! thanks fella's...

UCT, reckon i'm going to make larger more interesting roots and things and a bank type effect to do the raised ground.

[Fernando Soares]

Here is second sketch of the Immortal.
I wanted to do some kind of Red Army freak, inspired by the wolfenstein series.
he keeps his soul inside a Russian Doll (I don't know the exact name of them) with many layers of protection.
C&C always welcome

[Gadbury]

Ruri - Yeah I agree with you, it does look a bit standard vampire as it is - thanks for critting. I think I need to see yours at a further stage before I can crit anything worthwhile.

Well, done a bit more on mine, started adding some armour, not really sure what I'm going to end up with but here it is again so far.

[Gadbury]

Manon - The creepy lankiness of him is a great idea and its looking great so far, keep going with it.

[meeatu]

Progress

[ArtByManon]

Progress

WOW, now this is creepy. LOVE the lopsided grin. Really really disturbing expression!

[ArtByManon]

Mr. Gadbury - There is a real tragic quality to your creepy guy, he looks full of regret...

[ArtByManon]

Right, my shoulder is nearly seized up, so its time for me to turn in.

Really feel i've pushed past a crappy bit - thank you everyone who has supported me through it... i can't tell you how much it means to me in my current situation in life!!

Still not finished - but will have him stepping up on to the roots of the tree.. want to get a swing on the lamp perhaps too - bugs flying round it lit up by the light etc... and maybe a duck. Or a hare.

[KittyKaida]

Do you like my original concept that my 1 year old helped me with? lol

trying to get out what's in my brain... not easy!! I'm still not sure how to put his legs.. He's going to be in a big fancy chair of some sort.. at least I managed to get a little bit done today! :D back to real life now.. . :(

does it look to sexy guys? she's sposed' to be passed out on his lap.. and yes, he's groping her. he is a perv ya know.

I don't know if this is coming out the way I want it to.. any pointers/opinions wanted please ^^

I love everyone's submissions so far! You guys blow my mind!

[Obliviongrin]

ArtbyManon-Really enjoy seeing your piece progress-looks great!

Had time to push this one further- might even finish it before the dead line

[psychosako]

Holy amazing! What a great round! I won't even bother to round robin pinpoint everyone... i love every post on here for different reasons.

Hopefully tomorrow i'll be able to get at a scanner and start painting.

[Helltroll]

Gouache preliminary color study. I'd like to give it a slight sci-fi leaning, if thats all right... hence the exposed brain

I'll have to add some more to him.

[CrookedHorn]

some face studies

[BANDD]

Do you like my original concept that my 1 year old helped me with? lol

i thought for a sec your kid had drawn it... :er: i was getting jealous and worried, new generation is gonna kick some @$$.. LOL

great stuff everyone!!!

[Smolin]

Loving those heads, CrookedHorn.

Manon, that's a big improvement on the overall composition.

I spent some time adding colors & tightening up some focal points, and adjusted the layout, too.

[Thujon]

Update from my side:

Ill be working on the arm and hand in the foreground... was trying hard to give it a creepy and dark mood, but dont like it that much... grrrr

Gave it some blues to give it more a swamp sea thing look, since his heart is supposed to be on an island...

SMOLIN:

Looks neat, when will you start rendering it out? Im really looking forward to it ;-)

Helltroll:

Sci fi is good, I like! :rocker:

Meeatu:

ROCKER!!!! Please keep on going!

[RBeek]

i started off with some character design.. i dont have the time to compile a whole image with surroundings and all.. sorry!

There is still some stuff to do.. and i figured the duck was just fun XD

[Crysse]

Mr. Gadbury, your work is simply amazing.
A wonderful Koschei (strong and intense)…
and mainly a fantastic atmosphere. I'm totally fan !

[humboldt squid]

Spent an hour on two sketches tonight-so far.
Ones got a ratty old furry bit on his tunic-and one of those medieval daggers that look like a cock(but I pushed it further still) so he could compensate for his age related inadequacy(still an old perv though).

The other is demonstrating his deathless ability.


Hey vaejoun - I like how yours is like vlad the impaler(particularly in the moustache) gone old and crazy....and with an exploded head.


a bit later 30 min+coffee
- added a Koschei in a moment of 'weakness'- .......or pervyness

I think that the bottom one is the best, and not just because of all the T&A! It's got the most character of the all the sketches and really tells a story, and the contrast between the young maiden and the shriveled up old Koschei really works.

[Saleem]

@ artbymanon- thanks. i think i should change it to some crazy teeth or sumthing. like ur piece. looking forward to seeing it finished.

@Mr Gadbury- awesome work fully sic

@sone one- wow love the rendering. his right bicep is a lil straight but its probably sumthin u havent gotten around to yet. lighting on the face is cool

[k_z]

A little progress...

[ArtByManon]

Obliviongrin and crookedhorn - really like your pieces.

Crooked - those faces are SOOO haunted i love it and oblivion, he looks like a right pervert...

[shockowaffel]

A next sketch I made after working all the faces I posted earlier.
I got another good idea while working on this one....chains.
It is not clear yet in which way I'm gonna work them in but right now I really like the idea of chains...either as weapons or as him beeing chained to something...his soul for instance.
Well, Im gonna work on the chain thing after meal.


@kz:
Anatomy is important, use references.

@RBeek:
The duck looks so random. ^^

@Thujon:
I thin his shadow is a bit too sharp for such a dense light.

@Smolin: I like it, keep it up.

@Crookedhorn:
Middle Left looks best.

[Saleem]

quick update changed the mouth. bad breath rotten teeth. i dont know what else to work on.

[Sarmati]

This time I'll go a bit more romantic. Long story short. I based my drawing on Sienkiewicz's story of "With Fire and Sword" where a cossack fell sickly in love with Polish noblewoman although she preferred another guy, as it often happens. I take a twist on this story and make so mentioned cossack give her his heart... literally. This fact kills his freedom and spirit of which cossacks are well known. The girl comes to be a bi*ch and enslaves him, who becomes a koschiei.
Here's a song about that threesome with english subs the cossack is the black haired guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie8Och3Ch60

[Vaejoun]

@Artbymanon:
There is an edit button ^^ You dont have to make 3 posts in a row.

@Saleem
Nice flair, I like it, but you could get a problem with the 3/4 rule.

[xLouisax]

This is a really cool topic, i might try something even if i dont get to finish it.

and yeah, it reminded me of Voldemort aswell :p

[Saleem]

updaaaaaaaate. it looks less detailed n blurred when i upload.

@ Vaejoun- thanks dude. this is the full image i shud be ok with 3/4 rule..... i think

[shockowaffel]

@Saleem:
Shouldnt he have 4 non thumb bones in his hand ?

[Saleem]

@Shockowaffel- ahaaa yes ur right about that. will go sort out now
cheers dude

[Nonobot]

Hay guys, awesome stuff coming along. NEEDS MORE DUCKS!
Qweck.

Heres where I'm at, its a little cleaner, working on uglying this dude up a bit more, sort out the background a bit more. And make the egg more obvious, I may remove the red glow spell thing from his finger, what you think?

[Vaejoun]

Hmm.. the red beam is not really necessary, except when you want to make him a sorcerer... now that I think of it, he really needs to be some kind of wizard, to split his soul from his body. ^^°

I went back to the start and made a new design for him. This one came to me last night, while trying to sleep. ^^
The idea of his head ripped open is nice, but a little too less for removing something as important as a soul. Now he looks really ripped, which transport the undying better as well. But its not funny anymore.

Any thoughts?

[JanJager]

Thujon
Good character and storytelling. Perhaps move the objects more in a line from the viewer and crop the figure on the sides to show more characher and less environment.
Smolin
Nice face and expression.
Mr. Gadbury
Great.
lark
I like it.
Quinn Simoes
Looking forward to another awesome entire.
DerMonkey
Rely nice. Looking forward to a bit more rendering and colours.
corspufo
Awesome faces
malisa
Nice ghostly feeling.
ArtByManon
Great scene.
Obliviongrin
I like him. He looks real mean.

[UCT]

Hmm.. the red beam is not really necessary, except when you want to make him a sorcerer... now that I think of it, he really needs to be some kind of wizard, to split his soul from his body. ^^°

I went back to the start and made a new design for him. This one came to me last night, while trying to sleep. ^^
The idea of his head ripped open is nice, but a little too less for removing something as important as a soul. Now he looks really ripped, which transport the undying better as well. But its not funny anymore.

Any thoughts?

Dude, personally, I'd stick with the orignal drawing you had. It rocked. The composition was great and completely nailed the character down, I would just colour in the original 'wip' drawing, leave the two heads there aswell.

EDIT: looking through your sketch book, I always visioned it rendered like image 102 in your SB, Lots of texture and not such dramatic tonal range.

[NecrotoX]

Second WIP:

[Saleem]

update i think its close to finish
can someone please tell me how i can ipload the image without losing detail. it looks blurred when i upload it. thanks

[KittyKaida]

Started painting it in this morning in painter 11

.. I hope my little boy sleeps in today ;)

I think I'd like to incorporate some hanging flesh.. not sure how to, I've never really drawn something like this. . :)

[Crysse]

JanJager can't wait to see your creation completed !!!... Quick please ;)


http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4132/4989463667_41f615d9cf_b.jpg

[tbaldree]

Dreamed of a different setup last night, trying a totally different approach both to painting and concepting ( and hopefully finishing ). Here's a 10 minute morning scribble before I forget. Pretty different from my previous attempt. Trying paint-blocking first instead of refined lines and then a paintover. Much more cossack.

[ArtByManon]

@Artbymanon:
There is an edit button ^^ You dont have to make 3 posts in a row.

@Saleem
Nice flair, I like it, but you could get a problem with the 3/4 rule.

I know, sorry - was not with it yesterday!!!

[UCT]

Dreamed of a different setup last night, trying a totally different approach both to painting and concepting ( and hopefully finishing ). Here's a 10 minute morning scribble before I forget. Pretty different from my previous attempt. Trying paint-blocking first instead of refined lines and then a paintover. Much more cossack.

I think that already looks more intriguing and less conceited. Your previous image looked over designed, it didn't allow me to interprit the character. Thats not a criticism of you or your work, its an observation I find keeps occuring in concept design.

I find it incredibly hard to strike the balance between showing a character in a clear and readable fashion whilst also creating other dynamics and dimensions for the viewer to interprit and understand.

Heres where Im at now, a perfect example of what I was just discussing with tbaldtree. I am finding the composition hard to complete without being too obvious and destroying any scent of subtlety in the character.

Im hoping to get the time to finish, I am aiming render this in a hindi/japanese aestetic and need to work on comp and colour.

[Vaejoun]

@UCT:
Nice lineart, will the "furballs"(?) have the same color as the duck ? Would be a nice connection. Maybe give him something more, that shows his immortality.

Well, its getting... somewhere. Thanks for all the encouraging.
Its between realistic white/blue light and some comic like flair. Just looked at some of craig mullins art... I want to be able to do that too T_T. Man hes a god. I need to do waaaay more pics.

Maybe I can manage to get some kind of colored background.

[Thujon]

JanJager: Thanks alot for the kind words, made a lot of impact on me, you were right, I cropped it, and liked it!
Great work from you too,, really looking forwar to it!

I wanted to incorporate a hand ini the piece. In the brief and on wiki it is siad that this Koschei has magical powers, so of course, hes a necromancer...heh... reviving the dead from their graves.... funny the guy reminds me of the Iron mayden covers....

hope you like some... C&C are very welcome!

[lunipard]

JanJager: Thanks alot for the kind words, made a lot of impact on me, you were right, I cropped it, and liked it!
Great work from you too,, really looking forwar to it!

I wanted to incorporate a hand ini the piece. In the brief and on wiki it is siad that this Koschei has magical powers, so of course, hes a necromancer...heh... reviving the dead from their graves.... funny the guy reminds me of the Iron mayden covers....

hope you like some... C&C are very welcome!

I think it really improved when you cropped.
Also I think that the ghost hand in the ground is alot better and more subtle than the foreground hand earlier.

On my own wip I changed his idle hand and gave him a duck instead. Still haven't given him any clothes yet, a cloak and a ragged tunic is what I had in mind.

I would love to get some C&C on it since I still feel like I've got a lot to learn. Some really nice posts here this round.

[Thujon]

Lunipard:

Thx for the comment, I think your piece is going into a good direction, try to incorporate the background to underline your character ( hope u get the meaning ) and the composition of the whole piece... every part in the picture should be thought trough and oriented as to maximize the meaning of what you are trying to say/show.... thats part of the storytelling... it is something crucial and hard to do...needs practice and patience... the rendering itself should be done at the end, when everything else is already established...

Hope this advice is usefull to you.. if you have any question, just ask...

Cheeiro

[kaktuzlime]

Maybe, maybe.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c308/kaktuzlime/Lich2.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c308/kaktuzlime/Lich4.jpg

[echoless]

This is where i am just now.
Im trying to make him look really frail yet still powerful, and clearly someone to be feared.
(and hopefully it wont just look like a zombie, or gollum)

crits welcome.

[Smolin]

This is where i am just now.
Im trying to make him look really frail yet still powerful, and clearly someone to be feared.
(and hopefully it wont just look like a zombie, or gollum)

crits welcome.

The lighting is really good so far. The idea of making him both frail and fearlessly menacing is the way to go, but his expression isn't doing much yet, so he is going in a zombie-like direction. If you give him more menace, mania, melancholy, machismo or malevolence, it'd help sell the character.

[shockowaffel]

@Kaktuzlime:
Looks promising, but what's with the cheese ?

[kaktuzlime]

@Shockowaffel- I was thinking it´s the phylactery! Who would suspect the cheese? And it smells bad... I´m thinking it will be a nice contrasting element to the sinister dude. May be too comical, but It feels good so far. Would be neat if I could put some other destroyed objects on the ground, as if the heroes had tried to find the real one, maybe. Thinking about maybe adding some sort of design element that would suggest the heroes motivation, like a half chewed arm witha wedding ring on it or something. We´ll see ;) Thanks! =D

[Sarmati]

ok, black and whites more or less done.

[echoless]

Thank you for the advice Smolin, and the excellent use of M words. You have defiantly got the menacing psycho expression down in your design. I think my problem is in the eyes. I'll do my best to make him look a little more psychotic.

[Saleem]

@janjager- braaaaaaaaaaap please finish it
also how do i make my sketchbook Someone please please tell me. i dont know feel like a noob........ noob i am

[NecrotoX]

I'm done:

[Fernando Soares]

This CHOW is getting really exiting, a lot of good paintings
And how is so Far my version, started to add value and experiment something with the composition (only in the character), using the necklace and the shoulder straps to create a loop that goes from the head to the doll, but I dont know if its really working I'm new on this.
I gonna change the Hands, It's kinda strage, maybe with the palm facing the sky for a more arrogant look.

XD

[Ruri]

Crysse: I love your style, but I think your dude needs to look more ancient. Maybe if he had a long beard?

Here's a little update on mine. I'm planing on adding a layer of dust and spiderwebs.

[Crysse]

Ruri… I work , I work ;)
I like your idea with the egg.
This character has a history of crazy !

Fernando really a good idea
to place your character in this historical period.

[KyllSwitch]

My first chow. Comments and crits welcome. Good Work so far everyone.

kaktuzlime- I like the thumbnails. Very expressive poses. And I think you could make the cheese thing work.

Fernando Soares- I like the overall pose and style but I agree with you on the hands

Vaejoun- Lookin good

[Quinn Simoes]

A small update on mine.

I really like all the different interpretations everyone is doing.

[ArtByManon]

echoless - lovely, really chilling.

KyllSwitch - really love the setting on this and the lecherous expression!!

Nearly done with mine - just lots of detailing to go...

[gunnarsson]

nice work, i think there are many good interpretations of the subject!:)

looks promissing Kaktuzlime, heard about the chow-win through the grapevine/Johan. That be awesome, well deserved! Gotta do a sketchmeet soon yea? anytimes good for me.

When at last i'm within arms reach of a scanner, my sketchbook is not! Got a colored pencil thing goin, looks nice so far, gotta post soon. Supercool subject, thanks Arthemis! Good luck everyone!

[ArtByManon]

Well, 2am now so I think i'm gonna leave it - I reckon its finished... if anyone sees anything glaring and doesn't fit, please gimme a shout!!

[Brandozer]

Of course there are drug addled immortals... especially on the beaches of montenegro...

WIP:
http://brandomain.files.wordpress.com/2010/09/chow214_brandozer_02tonal.jpg

[ArtByManon]

Of course there are drug addled immortals... especially on the beaches of montenegro...


Oh man I love this - LOVE the expression of the Hare and such a brilliantly original concept!

[lkjhgfdsa]

decided to go with something a bit more comical...lecherous boney old men are funny after all...

[Smolin]

Manon: I personally feel it'd be improved if you gave his skin a different color than his clothing, and in something lighter than it is now. My eye keep focusing on the girl, since she has the most definition and is the brightest/most detailed element in the piece.

Brandozer: That is insane. And awesome.

Kyllswitch: Excellent so far, but he's starting to evoke a certain Gollum-ness. Adding some more regal elements could really help sell it.

[ChaoticKnight]

kinda messy right now. Trying to add color soon and figure out what to do with his hands/bg.

[Brandon Bien]

10645211064522
Awesome topic, going to have fun doing this. I need to make it more obvious my character is wearing his own head as a necklace. Maybe it'll come with refinement.

[ArtByManon]

Manon: I personally feel it'd be improved if you gave his skin a different color than his clothing, and in something lighter than it is now. My eye keep focusing on the girl, since she has the most definition and is the brightest/most detailed element in the piece.

Brandozer: That is insane. And awesome.

Kyllswitch: Excellent so far, but he's starting to evoke a certain Gollum-ness. Adding some more regal elements could really help sell it.

Thank you - yeah, I see what you're saying - mine is more an illustration than a concept design!!! I will see what i can do to fix that today :)

[The Tim]

I went for the lich/wizard/king look, with a touch of pervert.

My first CHOW, so comments are more than welcome!

With his phylactery now in it's last state, Koschei could not rely on coincidances anymore. He took the egg and imbued it into his staff, so he could defend his precious soul from any threat.

[shockowaffel]

@Brandozer:
Bizarre but awesome. ^^


And I too finally found a good concept I'll stick to.
As seen in my sketches I first went over some kind of lich-knight, not much of a caster or an old man but something you should be afraid of.
Looked ok, but it really lacked the originality or an inovative idea at all.

So I skribbled on and somehow a bit inspired by Kaktuzlimes' skeches
(thx pal) I suddenly remembered he was supposed to be an evil immortal.
Not neccessaryly undead but kinda old or bony.
Than I thought, what would an immortal lich-knight-villain look like and Lobo and Deathmetal came to my mind. ^^

Heres the skribbles for it and I like it.

[Vaejoun]

@Brandozer: Hilllarious
@Chaotic Knight: Diffcult light setting you chose there. But great feeling.
@Shockowaffel: Nice thoughts, I am looking forward where you take this.

Heres mine so far. Almost finnished I think

[shockowaffel]

@Vaejoun:
Thx bro, I'll do my best.
Yours looks awesome.
Im just missing the little pieses of his skull flying nearby.
It gave it a more magical flair imo.

In case you worry too much about yout BG again, remember, it's a character design, not an illustration.

[UCT]

Well, its getting... somewhere. Thanks for all the encouraging.


In my hubble opinion, I think thats shaping up brilliantly, great style and colouring technique.

The 'furballs' are really fire balls, I thought since he was a magician and immortal, a firey waste would help show off his firey lust for ladies. Im thiniking of using a balance between 'autum' colours (I hate that term) and off whites, with really bold cobolt blues and fresh pinks. If I do get this finished, he is going to have pink balls!!!

cheers for the feedback.

[ArtByManon]

@Brandozer: Hilllarious
@Chaotic Knight: Diffcult light setting you chose there. But great feeling.
@Shockowaffel: Nice thoughts, I am looking forward where you take this.

Heres mine so far. Almost finnished I think

Love this!!! Although I did really like the dark version. I just love the hot thong'd chick slung over his arm. haha. great stuff.

[Pesmerga]

I'm in for fun.

Loving yours Vaejoun. Also quite a few interesting pieces so far.

[Martheart]

Finals thread is up (http://conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=2869768#post2869768), people! Post your awesome final pieces there, including your wips!

Also don't forget about the deadline! September 19th, 9:00 pm GMT+1!

[arri-att]

I am a bit confused.
to go with some sorrowful girl or a set of weird weaponary?
what do you think?

[kischi]

great entries so far. Vaejoun I really like your version!
lach land: I love your lines!

im also in i think ;)

wips:
lines
1064759

value close up
1064761

have fun and good luck all!

[shockowaffel]

I was rigt, the comic like thing fits me better for this one.
I love to draw this bastard. ^^

[GirlinByakkoya]

Hello! This my first time participating and I'm psyched to be doing this! I'm not as far along as I had hoped to be at this time in the week, but I felt needed to post something.

I tried to concentrate on the idea of him being senile and what I as a young woman would be frightened by. I imagined him as a crazy hermit living on an island with hollow spot in his chest where his soul would have been kept.

[UCT]

Could I post a final first thing on Monday morning as I dont have the netty at home :( ?

[Martheart]

Could I post a final first thing on Monday morning as I dont have the netty at home :( ?

:( No, I'm really sorry, but to be fair to everyone we put up the poll on sunday, 9:00 pm GMT + 1! Since this is quite a popular topic I'm also afraid the poll will be full anyway by monday (we only have 50 spots). I hope you can find a way to post your painting earlier!

[ChaoticKnight]

@vaejoun: Thanks! Very nice piece yourself so far. I like the stylization of his face

Update:

[KyllSwitch]

@Smolin - Good crit and suggestion. He does have a Smeagol/ Gollum vibe goin on. Unfortunately I don't have any more time to work on it, hopefully the magic lights will suffice!

Good work and good luck everybody

[shockowaffel]

@ChaoticKnight:
Nice effects, though I'd really like to see more of the character.

[UCT]

:( No, I'm really sorry, but to be fair to everyone we put up the poll on sunday, 9:00 pm GMT + 1! Since this is quite a popular topic I'm also afraid the poll will be full anyway by monday (we only have 50 spots). I hope you can find a way to post your painting earlier!

obviously, thats totally cool. I enjoyed it and will post what I will have then and vote.

[Sarmati]

So here is where I am now. I'll take a break cause it gets a bit frustrating. I have no idea what I could put as the background.

[CrookedHorn]

Sarmati:: i believe your perspective on the chair is a bit off. i would drop perspective lines and block the arm of the chair in. the rest of the piece seems pretty good. Once you make those changes i think you will have a nice illustration/character design and any other perspective issue you would have will be noticeable after adjusting the arm of the chair.

[kaktuzlime]

Vaejoun and brandozer, awesome!

Looking good Shockowaffel! I like how you´re using angular shapes, both in the design as well as in the silhouette shapes. Nice to see you try and tell a story :) Glad to see you´re having fun, it shows!

So far.
The drawing pretty much done. Just started on values.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c308/kaktuzlime/Lich10.jpg

[Sakuranym]

GirlinByakkoya Looking nice! I actually like the pen sketch in the bottom left hand corner the best! I think because you don't have too much time you should focus on the character-make sure we can see most of him while still having him in an interesting pose and filling up most of your image space.

[reginanegra]

I am a bit confused.
to go with some sorrowful girl or a set of weird weaponary?
what do you think?

definitely the girl!

[arri-att]

definitely the girl!

ehhh to late( but thanks anyway.

[Pesmerga]

Update.

[noche]

so much interesting stuff in here! i was doodling on mine, but i also have the "vampire" problem i think....... not sure if ill keep it going, we'll see..

[Selim]

Man you guys are awesome. Almost made me not wanting to post :P well that and the fact that I may not finish this one.
Here is the sketch. Tell me what you think.

1065177

[tbaldree]

Had a little time to get some work done tonight - repainted my test painting and tried a bit different pose and setup - more zombie-cossack-old-guy. Managed to squeeze an egg in there for once -

Trying to decide whether to keep on with this or try something else entirely - seems I get a ways along and then scrap things a lot.

Really strange feeling working without lineart to start - kind of freeing! I think I like it. More like sculpting and less like tedious overdrawing.

[blackrobin]

koschei

[h2rra]

Just started this one

[BANDD]

finally had some time to work on this... might not make the deadline but i might still finish it... nice interpretations all around ;)

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x148/bpdeakin/Koschie1.jpg

[LORD M]

Scribbled this when when I saw this contest, just putting it up for fun. I thought of Koschei as an horrid horny old man that got no shame left in that scrawny body of his and run around in nothing but the chestplate of his armour and his boots. :P


Might try and do something digital with it.

[Ruri]

Selim: Great style, I like the angular lines with the subtle shading. I think you might need to add some things like wrinkles to make him look older.

tbaldree: I think you should stick with that design, I like his creepy eyes, and the way you put the egg in there. One thing, I think with the size of his sword the bottom half of it should be visible underneath him.

h2rra: That's a great start.

Here's where I'm at. Pretty close to finished.

[Gadbury]

Another update on mine, not sure how much more I will do now. Not completely happy with the design, looks a bit cheesey old fantasy art for my taste...

[kaktuzlime]

WippetyWip. Special FX and stuff tomorrow. Don´t know if I´m gonna make it. Laundry and CGMW in the evening. This image also needs textures I think.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c308/kaktuzlime/KoscheiWIP.jpg

[BANDD]

last update... gotta go work

http://i181.photobucket.com/albums/x148/bpdeakin/Koschie3.jpg