Subarban Environment

[Matt Elder]

My first attempt at an environment and digital colouring.

http://www.mattelder.com/images/Pictures/ArtworksConceptual/SuburbanEnviroColourMattEld.jpg

[Form]

*cough*

someones been watching the feng dvd methinks

*cough*

all in all its good, i quite like it. It could do with some refining, as the perspective is not 100% tight (as compared to fengs work etc), but that is more of a developed style that you will come to have. For instance in the left foregroud there are 3 circular objects on square panels - the panels are out of perspective (or look it, cant be fucked measuring)and that throws a lot of your image askew.

The lighting is very jumpy - as if it were backlit from above (if it makes no sense written down, it prolly dont make sense as an image;)

I like the colours tho, and overall i can see youve put a lot of thought into it and will surely improve.

[toad]

hey, i'm a big fan of feng.
i really like this piece, the purple overall scheme, and awsome moonlight effect makes it look more fantassy-haunting, and at the same time kind of quiet and calm. i also really like the slightly rounded feel to it all, it makes the piece flow really well. overall a REALLY nice piece!

keep it up!

[Matt Elder]

Thanks guys for the comments, greatly appreciated! Just wondering if the image overall reads as a bit of a bad Feng knock off - wasn't intended but get the sense it comes across that way?

form * cough* yeah I have been having a look at the Feng DVDs as it is more what I'm interested in. Just these days really spending the time looking alot at the old master drawings (Leonardo, Michangelo, Guericino, Rubens) and learning oil painting. I'm pretty sure these guys knew stuff and I'm at a very classically oriented art school at the moment.

Your right about the perspective part. I found myself using a ruler excessively so I tried to do numerous things quickly so the image didn't become "dead" and overcontrived. However being a beginner in this regard, made some mistakes so it is a matter of trying to strike a balance - obviously not very successfully but that is where practice will come into place.

Not sure I understand your lighting comment. I really struggled with the light and my initial marker rendering was different and I didn't feel it worked. That is one of the things that I learned more with this piece. Most surfaces are very flat and box like and doesn't give much opportunity for shadows.

I tried to have the main light from the building on the right hand side, thought of it as a library or town hall or something. Then there is some light from off in the distance and some other secondary light from the windows on the left hand side to try to balance it all out. Bit of a struggle.

toad - thanks for your comments and interesting that you mentioned quiet and calm. The idea was for a type of crowded suburban area with buildings so close and such. But then there are not many people. I tried to justify it by being a 'night' scene in which most people are at home, vegatating in front of their TVs.

Curious that you mentioned a "purple" scheme as I only used reds and blues, although I guess that reads as 'purple'

[ion one]

i like this peice, if someone can say that your stuff look like fengs work and like it thats a very good thing cause feng rocks....and so does his dvds:D