EOW Round 159: The Symplegades

[Vulgar`]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/images/EOW.jpg

Topic = The Symplegades
suggested by Misplacedhippos



This should be done in any time/setting period except Ancient Greece. You don't have to use actual rocks, but something that represents them. Same with the ship/dove. But you should represent all those elements. Think of the elements of this concept: the rocks, a dove, and the Argonaut's ship as symbolic items. If you choose, you can create your own reinterpretation of 'The Symplegades' but this week's contest is also subject to your own creative version. Any questions, post them!

From Wikipedia:
"The Symplegades, or Clashing Rocks, also known as the Cyanean Rocks, were, according to Greek mythology, a pair of rocks at the Bosphorus that clashed together randomly. They were defeated by Jason and the Argonauts, who would have been lost and killed by the rocks except for Phineas' advice. Jason let a dove fly between the rocks; it lost only its tail feathers. The Argonauts rowed mightily to get through and lost only part of the stern ornament. After that, the Symplegades stopped moving permanently."


- Please specify which image is final when you post your final in this thread! -


Deadline: March 10

[Misplacedhippos]

This probably goes without saying, but I forgot to add that the focus should be on the "rocks" themselves, as in, the environment, haha. Maybe it shouldn't even need the ship? I dunno.

Oh here is a james gurney version- http://jamesgurney.com/clashingrocks.html

[dragon4lunch]

Oh, so this wouldn't cut it? You need actual falling rocks?
http://trickstertoys.com/additional/EOW159_dragon4lunch_001.jpg

[Vulgar`]

^Edited the briefing somewhat. Hope it helps.

[+oas+]

well this is interesting, alot of room for interpretation here.

so are these rocks/ mountains physical beings, or are they stationary? also since they were rowing, are these in water?

[Jaunay]

Yes! Symbolism, I'm in! This is hard one. I wondering what mood people are going to portray.

[DyingAtheist]

Not sure if it's too far away from the brief, or even counts as an environment but...
My idea is basically the doorway out of a childs bedroom, the child wants to escape their room but the two parents are standing either side leaning over as the rocks did. The kid lets her hamster pet run through the game for a momentary distraction before charging through herself.

[Ragnj]

Nice, I really like that its open for interpretation and own creative solutions.

EDIT: Wip

[Misplacedhippos]

well this is interesting, alot of room for interpretation here.

so are these rocks/ mountains physical beings, or are they stationary? also since they were rowing, are these in water?

I've sort of understood them as being normal rocks that are personified by the sailors. But they have/can be represented as physically moving. The story took place in water yes, your environment doesn't have to, but it can.

Not sure if it's too far away from the brief, or even counts as an environment but...
My idea is basically the doorway out of a childs bedroom, the child wants to escape their room but the two parents are standing either side leaning over as the rocks did. The kid lets her hamster pet run through the game for a momentary distraction before charging through herself.

That sounds really awesome, but it probably falls outside of the EOW rules...
"You may include characters or creatures but they MUST not be the focus"
Maybe you could pull it off somehow, I dunno.

I realize this topic is really narrative. While the narration is part of it, it still needs to be an environment design.

Oh, so this wouldn't cut it? You need actual falling rocks?

You don't need falling rocks, or even any actual "rocks", as long as you have something that represents the essence of them.

[+oas+]

sweet man, this topic coms at a great time, as i am starting to finally get the hang of painting rocks.

look forward to sketching a bit later, after i tear through bulletstorm. the game is awesome, and gorgeous.

[Loakers]

a small narrative I found randomly, really helps vision this:

The Symplegades are the "Clashing Rocks" through which the Argo had to pass in order to enter the Hellespont. They moved randomly about in the sea, crashing together and crushing ships between them. No humans had ever passed safely through them. Acting on the advice of the seer Phineus, Jason let a dove fly through the rocks to see if the passage was safe; the dove passed through, losing only its tail feathers as the rocks crashed together behind it. Jason and his Argonauts then rowed mightily through the passage, and the Argo made the hazardous trip safely, losing only a piece of her stern ornament. After the Argo's successful journey, the Symplegades stopped moving and became firmly rooted in the sea. The Romans called them Cyaneae insulae.

[Thélema]

This is what I've done so far. Kind of a nordic Symplegades, with icy mountains and that stuff :3 Don't know what kind of ship I'll add. Maybe a viking one, I suppose...


Crits please! This is my first time in EOW, I need practise with enviroments.

http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/9086/simplgadescopia.jpg

[SandyMan]

1 hour WIP, at its core. Im planning on working with this until the due date, theres TONS of stuff missing :P

[PianoForte]

well here's my WIP shot, crits welcomed.

1180176

[SandyMan]

WIP 2, I dont know how this will end up looking, but im putting a lot of effort into making it. I dont have much experience with environments but i'd like to gain some with these challenges.

[emerging]

made a quick 3D scene to work from. Lots of work to be done!

[Bnoch]

Here's a first stab at this thing. Really like the subject matter, lots of room for interpretation. I'm ditching this and trying a different approach next.

As general feedback for those who asked, I think more reference/exploration ahead of diving into shape blocking/sketching will help a bunch. It's tough to get a look that you can be satisfied with when it's being guessed. Reference is always up for interpretation, but the core functions/form/shapes will be more focused with a solid base that supports a good idea. It doesn't always work out... ;) For myself, I can't start anything until I understand it a bit, otherwise I'm just painting and not designing.

And knowing is half the battle... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJ-ckU_D1fg)

Boom goes the dynamite.

[PianoForte]

well you just blew me out of the water Bnoch. thats amazing work,

[coool_brain]

a quick one. it can be a fishing boat.... like the one in perfect storm.

no bird/dove factor though. is it fitting into the description?

btw work in progress...

[coool_brain]

Bnoch: your pre-production presentation is really helping us.... at least me.

I see, you got statues carved in your symplegades :)

great mate. you are already winning this ;)

[SinnerMan]

well I threw this together

[+oas+]

bnoch.. what studio do you work for? your work is just ridiculous. so much detail in such short time.

[kingkostas]

Great works mates!!!Here something i started working, not sure if i will manage to finish it but i will try.

Dragon4lunch- Very nice start mate, this looks very itneresting.Like structure from an ancient civilization.

Ragnj- Beautiful sketch mate. Define it a little more and get rid of unessecary details in the image

Thelema-Interesting so far, maybe try a "from below" viewpoint

Sandyman- Interesting one mate!!!Do your best with this, it can be a great piece. However with the open space on the sides, i would prefered going that way :P, but maybe the crew thinks that there is no danger and that it is a beautiful structure (I prefered the previous version)

Pianoforte- Heheh the sign of their death, interesting but maybe a little to centered

emerging-Nice base mate, keep up!!!

Bnoch- Really awesome work mate!!!thats inspiring

coool brain- Still very rough, keep up building it :)

SinnerMan- Very interesting depiction mate, these hands will crash them :)

[Sebastian Gromann]

>yay, smashing whales - epic scene, kingcostas :D
>bnoch, your way of woking seems to be very constantly, which is niiice ! really loving your setting in that picture!

gonna be an awesome round \°_°/


here's my first approach on that theme; wanted to make it biiig, and somewhat lotr-style - its kinda lame though, so i donno if i'll stick with that one

http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv227/SnobbyOo/sdsdfgsdfsdgdfgKopie23.jpg

[emerging]

bnoch - truly a masterpiece! your environments are real pro!

[+oas+]

king kostas.. great subject matter, love your idea of a figurative wall.
snobby.. really well rendered. although would be nice to maybe get a pop of color in there.

[android411]

really sick stuff this round, got really inspired to do one myself

[dragon4lunch]

bnoch: When you go from the black&white to color - do you go via Image>Adjustment> Hue/Saturation to colorize it or do you use a new layer and set it to color? Or maybe even something else?

android411: Great idea. Floating ship between floating rocks - good stuff.
SnobbyOo: Looks great, you've got some skills, sir! Not lame at all.

[SandyMan]

WIP 3, I hope im not spamming too much, all criticism is welcome.

Thank KingKostas, I kinda thought the same about my initial WIP, it was supposed to look like yours(which is pretty awesome btw, nice work on the illumination!) but I have already tried paitning deep blue oceans before, and I kinda wanted to challenge myself with something akin to that of a storm.

[Sean McClain]

some really awesome stuff brewing in this thread I have to say, I wanna play! here is
a two hour speedpaint, lets see what else I can come up with now hmmm.

1181437

[kingkostas]

i worked some more on it
Great new entries!!!
Snobby man i love your enviros
playing a little with the composition and stuff

[GEB]

SnobbyOo: Beautiful, love the lighting and sense of scale

Bnoch: Wowsers! Not only an awesome piece but thanks for showing your reference and a lesson too

kingkostas: Sweet take on it

[noche]

Eow has gone super pro that last few rounds! this is great

[dragon4lunch]

kingkostas: Nice take on the subject. Pro illustration!

FINAL - futuristic take. White bullet train represents the dove, the highway with its futuristic cars the ship.

[JanJager]

I agree with you noche

[kingkostas]

thanks very much mates :)
dragon4lunch- nice curves mate, with some nice reflected light these black silhouettes can have interesting forms.
JanJager- Looks beautiful mate, keep up

ok some more work on this. There are a lot of flows that i am trying to cover and i think its because of a weak base.
lets keep up :), great round

[dragon4lunch]

kingkostas: Hey, those seagulls top right - did you use white color and then Color Dodge? How did you get that cool effect? Looks like the sunlight is gleaming off of them!

[kingkostas]

after u place down the basic values or colors then try to pick a very soft brush and with low flow(+ opacity and shape dynamics in pressure) and just work some "overlays(not the mode)". U illuminate the space around the objects and u can give that effect.After that yes u can use dodge to bring more contrast.

[ArtZealot]

So many awesome entries, a little intimidating to post but here's mine. I included the process as well since so many others were doing so. Great topic btw, i love "natural" environments.

(the individual images in non-gif form can be found @ my sketchbook btw. And thx again Kingkostas for helpin out getting that gif up and running :D)

[Velocity Kendall]

heres a very real modern equivalent; an accident or war in space leads to a cascading spall of shrapnel that destroys all our satellites and spacecraft and leaves space off limits for centuries...
that means no more communications, weather or recon satellites, and humanity trapped on earth.
a possible solution? push the junk out of orbit using a (white?) laser...


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

[+oas+]

some very nice stuff here, a shame that i just havent had any luck with interesting ideas. hopefully ill have a spark soon.

blasphemy!

[jbrown67]

so I'm not amazing like some of these submissions... but hey, gotta start somewhere. here's my beginning.

[dragon4lunch]

I think I'm calling this FINAL. Strictly black and white - if the design and look is strong, it should work without colors.

http://trickstertoys.com/additional/EOW159_dragon4lunch_003.jpg

[tmyohlaing]

Wow. you guys' drawings and paintings are so much inspiring to me.
Final image added. Need to do more EOW.

[coool_brain]

check this out guys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1GQaNsc3Os

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

[android411]

hey guys, here is a second one from me, this was actually a work for something else but then I thought that it somehow fits the theme, please correct me if I´m wrong, great updates btw, kingkostas, dragon4lunch really great take on the theme

[Var_Lyz57]

Äàæå íå çíàþ, ÷òî òóò è ñêàçàòü òî ìîæíî

[Flame_Unquenchable]

These posts are super awesome. I'm new here, but I thought I'd show my take on it. :)

Edited.

[Nickodemus]

I'm setting mine in an Antarctic setting, and did some thumbnails. I like G, closely followed by C. Any thoughts?

Can't wait to see where everyone's work goes!

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-zDMEwQ2gTik/TXLMXCNyC_I/AAAAAAAAAVk/6e8i9p8U_kY/s1600/Sympleglades_Thumbs.jpg

[android411]

so here is an update, well I think I call this finished, though it could be improved surely, but at least I learned lots of new things

@Nickodemus, great thumbs, I like c and f most

[dragon4lunch]

android411: Looks good! I especially enjoy the golden light coming through the background. Looks like the sail is going to collide with the branch there soon. Sweet trees, cool picture.

[pokepetter]

This round's awesome!

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii288/pokepetter/TheSymplegades800h.jpg?t=1299444193

[Obilex]

flame, we had the same idea!

here's mine so far

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v293/epona8/simpleglades.jpg

[Flame_Unquenchable]

That's awesome man. I love the way the ship has a similar structure to a bird, and the glow on the planet's atmosphere looks sweet. Your drawing makes me want to go over mine again, and retouch it. I liked the idea of a nebula at first, but I think the painting is too busy, it needs some neutral areas. Plus I just can't get the carrier and vortexes to look more realistic like I would prefer.

[vrt]

A tad late to the party, but here's my sketch.

http://www.vrt-designs.com/stuff/ca/eow159_1.jpg

[Urötskidoji]

Wow, everyone here has made really beutiful images! Im sorry I couldnt find any imagination for this like you did. Keep up the good work, people!

[vrt]

Got stuck on my initial sketch, decided to work from another thumb. Started with this (http://www.vrt-designs.com/stuff/ca/eow159_2.jpg).

http://www.vrt-designs.com/stuff/ca/eow159_3.jpg


I like this one much better, personally.

[kingkostas]

awesome new works mates!!!!
vrt -since there is flight in there i may tilted the horizon a little to enchance the dynamism.

[Flame_Unquenchable]

Figured I'd toss up this other idea I had.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/Azgard4Life/Symplegades6.jpg

Texturized, may give this another look when I get home.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a53/Azgard4Life/Symplegades6-2.jpg

[JanJager]

Great round

[Lauaine]

this is first time i ever tried an environment xD while most images so far seem to be the 'ship' heading towards the danger (from what it looks like maybe i missed something which is good possibility xD ), i thought maybe to try an escape. will see how this goes - maybe needs a bit more ''drama'' or something.

[ArtZealot]

this is first time i ever tried an environment xD while most images so far seem to be the 'ship' heading towards the danger (from what it looks like maybe i missed something which is good possibility xD ), i thought maybe to try an escape. will see how this goes - maybe needs a bit more ''drama'' or something.

Awesome! grats on your first post being in the EOW section. let me be the first to welcome you to glorious and wondrous conceptart.org!

[Loakers]

I really struggled with this one.

I eventually arrived at an idea and I only started this yesterday! So here is a WIP so far.

http://www.loakers.co.uk/images/EOW_fishy_preview1.jpg

[pipobimbo]

Here's my final.
It took me some time to get into the subject, but I had this idea yesterday, so I decided to see how far I could go with it.

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/6355/eow159pipobimbo.jpg

Just a few critics now :

Loakers
Nice idea, good color choice. I have some doubts about the shape you're giving to the symplegades, but in a certain way it's different from every other drawing we're seeing here.

Lauaine
Welcome to conceptart, and to EOW.
The emphasis on the drama is indeed a good start. But I think Your composition is too empty on the left side, and too compressed on the right side. Try something closer to 1/3-2/3, maybe.

JanJager
Nice work.

vrt
Impressive.
I like the confrontation between the ancient sculptures and the futuristic flying transportation. First sketch was good too.

Obilex
There's a lot of things that I like in Your image : colours, composition, materials. I just think it's a bit far from the original subject, but since it's Your own interpretation, I gess I don't have much to say.

pokepetter
Splendid.
I like how just a few white birds bring life, light and scale to your picture.

android411
Nice atmosphere, colors, lights, but I would say the same thing I already said to Obilex : I'd like to see some stones, some rocks. I also think Your first sketch was a good start.

dragon4lunch
Nice interpretation of the theme.

jbrown67
I almost came up with that idea. But I thought I'd imagine something a bit dryer. Anyway, nice work.

ArtZealot
What can I say.
It's really nice, and I like the bonus gif.

kingkostas
It's hard to try to find an idea after that. Concept is (for me) probably the best one, and I think what You did with it is spectacular. I hope this is a 6000+ pix picture, because it deserves to be printed.

Sean McClain
Really nice.

SnobbyOo
For a first approach, it is one of the top works I've seen for this round.

Bnoch
Magnificent. A real piece of art.

Anyway, this is going to be one of the best rounds I've seen.
Nice work everybody.

[Lyno]

Very nice works everyone, really great to see :)!!

[Loakers]

quick wee update :D

http://www.loakers.co.uk/images/EOW_fishy_preview2.jpg

[vrt]

Story: In a time where mankind has long forgotten about thing such as presidents, oil and war, and logic can explain whatever's needed, one group of adventurers is about to find out there's quite a bit more to their world than they'd have ever thought.

I'm cheesy, sue me.

http://www.vrt-designs.com/stuff/ca/eow159_final.jpg


Sadly, the PSD got lost in a network failure, so I had to work from what I posted earlier. I think it turned out alright, though. Hopefully, I can get some critiques in tomorrow!

[Flame_Unquenchable]

Ok, Finished and in a better format.

[Lauaine]

Awesome! grats on your first post being in the EOW section. let me be the first to welcome you to glorious and wondrous conceptart.org!

Thanks :)

@ pipobimbo, thanks for the advice :) i think the boat/ship is a little too centered atm. would it be better to add more canvas to the right? I think maybe the compact part as you described is needed for the closing part of the rocks/glaciers (in this case) haha, well which ever way, im having lots of fun with this so far
everyone here's got such awesome work! you're all inspiring xD

I've worked a bit more on it last night (water and boat/ship)

[Loakers]

Ok, I'm calling this done. Again, sorry its a late submission, but I think I just about got away with it, Nyeeeeh hehe *twists moustache*

There still alot I'd like to fix, but this is my final submission

http://www.loakers.co.uk/images/EOW_fishy_preview4.jpg

[Sebastian Gromann]

great work everyone, i'm really exciting what everyone will come up with :)


here's my final -cirts are always welcome ;)


http://i686.photobucket.com/albums/vv227/SnobbyOo/sdsdfgsdfsdgdfgKopie23-2.jpg

[Lauaine]

the end for this one - final. thanks for the challenge :)
(inspired by the journey of the HMS Erebus)

[Vulgar`]

Great round folks! :yayca:

I'll most likely post the poll by tomorrow night so until then, GRACE PERIOD!

[kingkostas]

Great works all over the place!!! THnx for the kind words and comments
pipobimbo thnx very much mate!!!

ok here my final. I want to work in more things so i guess thats my final for this challenge.

[hyjaxe]

my final

[Incinerated]

Great entries everyone.

deleted the old post, I had the wrong image in it.

1186925

[+oas+]

go whales.

not a fan of my final by any means, i just lost interest with the topic.
http://i52.tinypic.com/25qd4qg.jpg

[pipobimbo]

@+oas+
How can You lose interest in such a dynamic image ?
Too bad for us, it was really promising.

[coool_brain]

yeah i agree with pipobimbo

toast! if you ask me, yours is the most exceptional of all. its a time period which we can assosiate with. Not too futuristic, not too medeival type.

great thought. thanks very much for atleast sharing that.

I know it will take a while to finish that though.

I couldn't proceed with mine. may be next time. the competition is too huge here.

great work all of you who did great work. :)

[Emokun]

Final!

[Incinerated]

final

1187076

[ThomD]

Quick one from me, GREAT stuff thusfar.

[+oas+]

well i appreciate the comments. hopefully this week will be more productive.

[skoenig]

Hope this makes is in time! Saw Vulgar isn't posting the pol til tonight, but I'm not sure what time zone he's in.

I thought of using the sand as the water, there are certain desert where the sand slides down the hills like water as it shift (causing it to "sing", pretty cool), and it can randomly carry some rocks with it. In this environment a normal ship won't do, so I have a special "sand ship" that glides over the sand pulled by sidewinder snakes. Hopefully they'll get though :)

[Aurathaur]

Yeah rocks and water is boring, turned out to my most promising thumb though.

I was thinking more about the dove, an imposing passing of some sort. However, once shown the way-- it loses its potency.

A secret pirate cache lays on the other side; Pintel and Ragetti are bedecked in their umbrellas and ladies outfits, and have made it safely to the placid flows ;)