EOW 168 :: The Glasshouse That Lived Forever

[Vulgar`]

http://i39.photobucket.com/albums/e181/chaosrocks/EOW2.jpg

EOW 168 :: The Glasshouse that Lived Forever
topic suggested by revenebo



Brief:

A mysterious plague has caused a mass death of most of the Earth's plant life. The eco-friendly green movement isn't doing much to help the shortage of lumber throughout the world. Just one last tree remains.

What species? A mighty sequoia, a gnarled olive tree or something more ordinary? A shrine/temple/museum/stasis field/memorial park has been built, including the glasshouse that houses the tree. This tree is contained in a "protective" glasshouse for a dauntingly bleak, but necessary purpose - to remain for eternity as a beacon of hope, a testament to a legacy of our civilization coexisting in harmony with nature. Survival.

I've noticed people usually tend to avoid depicting interiors so I'd like them to use this topic as an exercise to challege them on an interior with all the organic details, lights, reflections, textures, etc. it implies. Interior view preferred/mandatory.


Please specify which image is final in this thread!


DEADLINE: Thursday, July 14th, 2011

[Blitzanger]

Well, I'm new at this, but I'd love to give it a try! I wish I could have gotten in on the last one, but alas, it was the 29th when I visited, and I didn't think I could produce anything in only a day.

I had some fun ideas for this one until I read the backstory! Then I was at a loss. I developed some good ideas, and then I noticed the 'interiors preferred' part! Yikes! So now I'm at a loss again. All that comes to mind is some strange combination of Beauty and the Beast and that song about putting all the trees in a tree museum and the big yellow taxi. Also a greenhouse I visited when I was three.

Perhaps I will draw inspiration from this! I might have an idea or two. I'll be back tomorrow with some sketches! Please don't let your expectations for me be too high!

[Ninjac]

Hey CA!! So I've had a sketchbook here for awhile and finally decided to start participating in some of the community activities. This will be my first :)

Really inspiring subject this week. Here is my wip and two color studies. I want to work with the glass reflections on either side of the tree and possibly the foreground. I'll see as it progresses, and as always, crits welcome. :rocker:

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[Ninjac]

Some progress, still working with defining values and shapes. Then it will be time to bring in the reference :)

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[REKLAS]

Initial idea sketch.

[Blitzanger]

Some sketches, I'd really appreciate the input! #1 and #2 are just rough ideas, I figured I'd start slow and advance the ideas from there. I thought it would be funny if the tree were a bonsai tree, it would be easy to maintain and they live for hundreds of years if properly maintained... So I imagined a sterile closed room with glass sides so you could see in.

idea #3 was more of an indoor garden, the plan there was to play with the glass, it would be a large greenhouse and the shaded panels would be mirrors, reflecting inward to give the appearance of more than one tree, while the glass let light in, but I wasn't sure how much of an indoor space that would be.

#4 plays with the bonsai again, a small shrine displaying it, and other exhibits along the walls... not a very advanced idea yet?

I'd love some feedback if you guys can give it! Thanks so much!

[Ninjac]

Cool Reklas, I like the amphitheater vibe you have going on.

Blitzanger: Idea layering is one of the secrets to take an interesting concept even further. I think if you combined the perspective of 1 so the viewer is looking up slightly at 2 with the interesting glass shapes from 3 you start to have a more developed concept. I think 1 and 2 are strongest atm because they focus more on the tree being an icon for hope or the future. I dig the bonsai idea and think it would be an interesting contrast. Making the last tree on earth even more precious since it's so small. Hope this helps :)

[Anthromancer]

My fist attempt at EOW eek!
Brilliant subject, hopefully I can do it justice. Here's my first sketch and initial colours.

[Saruman_sLP]

my 2 cents. i'm suck at perspective so no interior yet. but i will try tomorrow.
p.s first post here :)

[alive]

saruman nice work , the first one is better, in the second one I feel the yellow is not working so well

[coool_brain]

wip01
the concept is a conservative laboratory built around the last tree. They call it "TOL" (Tree Of Life).

Let's see where this goes. Any comments and critics are welcome.

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[JanJager]

Ninjac
I like the composition. I think you got a brilliant start. Left color studie is my favorite. Beware not to oversaturate.
REKLAS
Very nice scene. Looking forward to se where you takes it.
Blitzanger
Personally I like the bonsai idea. 2 and 4 are my favorites.
Anthromancer
Good start A bit early to crate but i like the colors
Saruman_sLP
Nice landscape. Looking forward for the interior.
cool-brain
You got the laboratory feeling. Why not add some scientists.

[coool_brain]

@janjager: yeah sure. That's part of the plan. Thanks.

[Ninjac]

Thanks Jan, sweet sketches you have here. They all have some great potential. I like the bottom left the best. The perspective allows the tree to have a nice impact as well as some atmosphere. Excited to see what one you are going to go with.

Here is a progress update. Working on making sure my forms read in the light and then painting it to a finish.

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[android411]

great stuff everyone, after some months full of work I found the time to join at least this round, will have to refine this though, adjust lighting and details...

[Blitzanger]

Well, I've taken Ninjac's advice and mashed them all together! Any additional thoughts? I'd love everyone's input, I've never done this before! I'd love to know I'm doing it right!

The glass panels behind the tree will be broken into one of three types of glass, clear, green stained glass, or mirrors. I thought that would be a fun contrast, kind of simulating a forest with the green light and the mirrors reflecting the tree and the park, and the clear glass would show the world beyond, the barren, lifeless world without plants. I liked the playfulness of the bonsai concept, so I ran with that.

[siryder]

This is a cool subject. heres my start... lots to do:)
http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss75/siryder/EOW/SiRyder_TheGlassHouse_WIP_02.jpg

[SinnerMan]

here's my sketch

[Ros1]

Very interesting topic :)

JanJager - Cool sketches. It's really hard to decide which one looks best :) I think i like the most top left and the one below it (down left)

SinnerMan - I like the idea with showing the roots...

My very quick sketch just to show the idea:

[Dayle]

Cool subject and plenty of time to come up with something. I will probably start over with a more solid concept but I wanted to try and get the feel for it. The emphasis on interior makes it really difficult, but thats a good thing!

[alive]

janjager- i really like the sketch on the top left or bottom left, nice work dude,


ros1, - i like it, your style is very geometric and unique, i noticed that in your last entry too

[ryan mcshane]

is it against the rules for somebody else to post an entry for somebody?
if i get this done today or tomorrow, i want to enter.. but i leave town on wednesday night and won't be able to get the net.. so either, could somebody open up a finals thread soon? or could i get a friend it for me?
thanks!

[Anthromancer]

Ok, haven't had much time to continue this, but here's my current WIP. Now I look at it, I think the perspective is waaaaay off... Really cool stuff on here guys!

[Rob Powell]

@ryan mcshane: just post your final image here and state that it is your final. Unlike the other weeklies this is both the wips thread and finals thread

[Anthromancer]

Decided I didn't like the original idea, so here's my new WIP. A little cheesy perhaps, but we'll see how it goes.

[jinjorz]

First try in EoW! Gonna enjoy it! so here's my little starting idea.
Critique and suggestion are appreciated

[Corrick]

I know it isn't inside, it just came out...

http://williamwerk.com/art/tree2.jpg

Leaning more towards Ozymandius with this one...

http://williamwerk.com/art/tree4.jpg

Last one...

http://williamwerk.com/art/tree5.jpg

[Streetz]

Rough Sketch. Might try some more before proceeding.

Comments are always welcome. :rendered:

[ryan mcshane]

hope this is okay for my final, if not i dont mind if i dont get into the poll
http://ryanoir.tumblr.com/photo/1280/7294872330/1/tumblr_lnwen2cP361qb9dsc

[gunsbins]

Corrick very nice man, nice and clean, keep it up :D
JanJager Nice sketches dude, I like the blue scene, very nice camera angle.

Here are two very quick sketches for the idea, try not focus to much on the tree, but the interior of the glass house, perspective and light sources.

[UmpaArt]

Gunsbins, definitely the second one! You could throw in so many cool things in that one.

[Mooglesarelittle]

REKLAS: Great start! Would love to see it developed
coool_brain: I really like the design of the environment but I think the composition could be more focused on the tree itself so the viewer gets a stronger impression the this tree is special.
JanJager: All of your thumbs are pretty sweet but I think the bottom left is my fave.
Ninjac: Really love the colour palette. Possibly add some human figures or something we can relate to so we can better understand the scale of the environment.
android411: Nice start man, looking forward to seeing this developed
siryder: Again, great start, looking forward to seeing it developed
SinnerMan: Gah, again again, great start, looking forward to seeing it developed!
Ros1: Sweet comp dude.
jinjorz: Love the epic scale of this piece.
gunsbins: Both the sketches are ace, looking forward to seeing them develop.

I think that's everyone? (Sorry if I've missed you!)

Been a while since I gave an EOW challenge a shot. I thought this weeks topic was pretty interesting/challenging so I wanted to give it a go.

My basic idea is that the tree is being displayed in a really sleek sci-fi building in the heart of a bustling city. Drew up quite a few thumbnails as I've been struggling with a solid composition, not quite sure if I've nailed it yet, definitely going to try and push it further.

[Corrick]

Ninjac, great progress with this one, it's good to see a solid evolution take place in a composition. The tree itself is turning out nicely as well as its root system and base. The background is contrasting a little too heavily with the foreground (which may be on purpose), and could use some caustic reflection from the water and ambient colors bouncing on the structure, as well as reflections in the glass of the tree itself. Otherwise can't wait to see the finish.

REKLAS, angling an image can help or hurt the composition. In this case it seems like your building is falling over. Also, some mild perspective issues are forming on the right side, would suggest you draw lines from your vanishing point and use them for reference. Otherwise this has a lot of potential for some very nice architecture choices. Love the lighting by the way.

Blitzanger, these are a little rough to critique thoroughly, so look forward to further development. Keep it up!

Anthromancer, I liked (what I'm assuming was) the scale of the first image. Perspective looks like it's going to be a major issue though with such a large environment, so keep an eye on your angles as they form. You can still take it somewhere. The second image is more intimate, and even poignant if maybe a little trite, but I would suggest pulling back to reveal more of the environment. It's almost too intimate, like the tree is feeling sorry for itself. Let us feel sorry for it too.

Saruman_sLP, both color choices are interesting, like the first better though. Composition-wise these are fine if a bit flat, my only comment would be more towards the subject itself, there looks to be plenty of trees on this planet.

coool_brain, this is a great approach and I love the stark whiteness of the environment. You could have a lot of fun with the holographics and lighting here. Well done, can't wait to see more.

JanJager, excellent thumbnails, looking forward to your choice of composition.

android411, there's a "busy-ness" from all the textures, especially the large yellow lines in the floor, that draw a significant focus away from the tree itself. Try to limit and contain detail to where it is most necessary to focus the eye of the viewer on exactly what you want them to see first.

siryder, interesting architecture choice, I like the flow of lines through the image.

SinnerMan, great composition, really liking the shapes here.

Ros1, nice, can't wait to see more.

Dayle, while I wait for more detail in this image, I can suggest something with the lighting. Light and dark weigh heavily on the tone of this image, so take care to show the interaction of light with forms. Make sure shadows are falling in the right direction, and if there is light on the ground, make sure it's coming from somewhere. With such a direct source of light, it needs to have a "cause and effect" everywhere.

jinjorz, great color pallet, and an interesting take on the subject. I look forward to more.

Streetz, good start to the environment.

ryan_mcshane, love love love the colors in this. The brushstrokes are fantastic as well. It's a little impressionistic and the tree looks mostly dead but the feel of the image is great.

gunsbins, terrific start to this one, nice thumbnails. Also a good example of focus taken away from the main subject but not to the detriment of the image overall.

Mooglesarelittle, tough to see what's in the thumbnails but thanks for posting up IRL process, always nice to see pen work. The image itself has a good start with the lighting and composition, look forward to more.


Hopefully touched on all the entries so far, will try to keep up as more join in. This is looking like a great round, nice work everyone.

[Lege1]

Corrick: You're simply amazing man. I love your entry this round. Great work and awesome crit list to everyone. You're a real asset to this forum.

[Saruman_sLP]

As i said, i'm bad at interiors and perspective stuff. So i struggled with this one, but with help of some references, it starts to develop into something like this. This is kinda futuristic museum of old stuff hehe.

And thanks for advices! They pushed me to try second color scheme (the first one here).

there is a lot of stuff to fix, but this one is more about this challange i think, so this one will be pushed forward, instead of my previous landscape.

[Nickodemus]

My thumbnails so far...I'm leaning towards D. Any thoughts?

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gT_GpnQN6No/ThZkVU1FT1I/AAAAAAAAAYU/sdzHLklsCxo/s1600/EOW_Glasshouse_thumbnails.jpg

[Flame_Unquenchable]

Nicodemus - I like D, but I think E could really turn into something cool.

[android411]

thanks for the feedback everyone, great stuff coming in, I´ll try to give some crits later too...

I did a second version too...

[ismo]

Wow, the bar seems to be really high this time. Great works everybody.

Here's mine so far. Kind of messed lot's of things up already (perspective, lighting...), so lots of cleaning up to do. I just finished watching The Road so I just had to take part in this. :)

Nickodemus: I'd go with E but D's cool too.

android411: Nice lighting. I think the tree looks slightly odd because it's so small but still has the full grown tree characteristics. Anyways, very nice piece.

Saruman_sLP: Nice work. I like the second one more. The picture might be slightly too busy at the moment. I'd push back the contrast on those windows to try to make the tree stand out better as a focal point.

gunsbins: Both are really cool. I'd probably go with 2 mirrored. I think it would be more easy for the eyes to have the focal point on the right in such a "fast" composition.

ryan mcshane: Nice colors, man. The red guys could have been bit less saturated though.

Corrick: Very cool. The second one's my favorite.

Ros1: Very dynamic. I like it.

SinnerMan: Interesting start. Maybe could use something in the foreground though to balance the composition.

siryder: I like the composition a lot.

Ninjac : Very nice. You've got nice mood going in here.

[ismo]

Update. Still WIP.

I think I should bring the workspace more to the foreground and make it bigger to add depth. The perspective's still whacked too, struggling to get the pool around the tree look right. I know it's wrong now. I also wonder if the cool light behind the tree is still competing too much with the main lighting coming from the horizon. The upper parts of the tree probably lack contrast too. There's just so many things to fix still...

[Anthromancer]

Wow, there are some really beautiful pieces of work on here!
As for me, I decided to start again! Feeling happier with it though, so it's all worth it... I think...:)
Thankyou for the advice Corrick, and yeah, the perspective really threw me on the first! I'm hoping I've got it right on this one.

[takashmen]

my first try, still lot of work to do

i used only pen tool and custom shapes

[Lyno]

Some really nice ideas so far!
I made these two environments, I hope I'll find the time to finish this one!
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[SinnerMan]

proggrezzin

[android411]

so here´s my final image

@Mooglesarelittle - very nice lighting, maybe you could try to bring the tree a bit more into the golden section as it´s a bit centered right now, I´m excited about your progress...

@Saruman_sLP - I like the composition but I agree with ismo with the business

@ismo - wonderful image, I think it communicates the idea of beeing the last glasshouse the most

@corrick - all images are very interesting and look great, the first is my favourite though

[chipsandsalsa]

everyone's work is looking really good, lots of original ideas!

Jinjorz- I really like the idea of the floating glass cylinder

saruman- you did a really great job of creating texture and putting color into those white and gray surfaces

below are two sketches and a WIP.

[GoGoJojo]

Thought I would try, I've never done one of these. I picked a banyan tree, something that would take over everything once everyone is gone. Still gotta work on the architecture though...

[Blitzanger]

Blah. I was on vacation for a week so I got nothing done. It is not finished, but I'm not going to do any more on it. How do you guys do this? :/ Well, I'll try again next time, Hopefully I'll actually get it all done! I don't know how my one cave landscape can look so good and this can look like such a mess. :( Ah well, maybe next week. I'm very disappointed with myself...

[artiphats]

Coming in a bit late to the game. I haven't participated in an EOW in way too long, this one looked like fun. A lot of great entries that I see, here are my thumb-sketches for now...

[kingkostas]

lovely entries mates!!!Here what i worked for this eow. Probably will work it some more if i find the time.

[takashmen]

@kingkostas don't forget to flip stairs consequently with the ground :)

i must sleep a night with it to call it finish, maybe i won't change a thing :D

EDIT some changes and here is my final image

[daflom]

quick sketch:

[Ninjac]

Tons of great entries. Great work everyone keep, pushing your limits :D

Here is my final for this EoW, was such a blast for my first :rocker:

Flavor Text:The last tree on Earth is contained within a sacred glass house high within the city skyline. Triple layered carbon-filament woven glass protects the tree from the massive amounts of pollution and radiation that have blanketed the planet over the past centuries. Large gun ships patrol the surrounding area day and night. One docking bay allows supplies to enter and samples of micro organisms to leave through a highly sophisticated decontamination chamber. Trained at an early age in biochemistry and dendrology (study of trees), only the Priestesses of Gaia are allowed to enter into the glass house. Once in they are a permanent resident, becoming one with their new home. They care for and cultivate the environment with the assistance of the most advanced filtration technologies, until death. It is one of the highest planetary honors and only a select few are chosen amongst the millions of women who compete for the position.

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[Lyno]

This is mine :)! Finished it but then I realized I hadn't a glass cage :wtf: :
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So I tried to mimic it in my final piece below: I don't like this one so much, it's too bright I think?
(Flipped image reads better I think)
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[Saruman_sLP]

jeez, for some reason i thought that the deadline is 16 july. and now looking at first post i'm like "wattahellisgoingooon omg omg".
So i rushed to finish this one. I know there is still a lot of things to do, but i'm satisfied with final outcome, i hope u like it too.

This is a museum, where memories of lost things live. Glasshouse of memories, yeah.

[siryder]

Awesome entries so far can't wait to see all the finals! It was fun. -

http://i563.photobucket.com/albums/ss75/siryder/EOW/EOW-168_siryder.jpg

[SinnerMan]

Final image
Guess I'm calling it a day with this one. Nice entries everyone! :D

[chipsandsalsa]

This iron and glass atrium in New York City contains the last living tree found on earth. Its' windows shield the solitary oak from the harsh environment outside; plant life no longer grows anywhere in the smoggy atmosphere. It is hoped one day the tree will fill the space; so millions may marvel at its beauty and reflect on the carelessness of the past. Underneath a mural depicting a long past scene from once lush and verdant nearby Central Park, the oak sheds its leaves in preparation for the winter season.

[Zimzibar]

Some thumbnails i worked up for this, mainly for practice given i won't get anything finished in time :) Some amazing entries, good luck everyone!

[artiphats]

Blah, had a great idea of a statue of this goddess that is built around the tree, up on top of a stepway. All of it is inside of this vaulted room with stained glass windows all around and up high. No time to do it though, but I'm in on the next round no matter what!

[GoGoJojo]

FINAL

Here we go :)

This banyan tree is the last tree on earth. Having been enshrined by the people of earth, it continues to grow long after mankind had fallen, overtaking its home year by year, until the day it breaks out. Whether it flourishes or dies will mark mankind's final victory or defeat.

[Corrick]

"Oh I remember it being packed in there, everyone wanted to get a look. Not like they hadn't seen one before, but this one became kinda special, you know? Even with the las-nets and restrictors people would try to get closer... but no one much goes anymore. Of course everyone supports it, with the tax and everything and fundraisers for repairing the holo-glass and token gentech research. Mostly though it's just the old dome everyone passes downtown... We're proud of it though... I mean, who gets to honestly say they have the last tree on the planet... sad, but... who can say that?"

http://williamwerk.com/art/eow168-corrick.jpg

[Ros1]

Very cool round again, lots of strong entries.

My final:

[gunsbins]

Ros1 & Corrick great work as usual guys.

Here's my final piece. I've imagined about a lab has been built to research the last tree remains on Earth, for the mysterious bacterium that protected the tree against the plague.

[android411]

awesome stuff guys!

hope it´s not too late but I did a third one, as I was not happy with the last images as I used too much texture and not much painting, this needs lots of refinement though however I thing it´s too too late to continue. Anyways after some months without painting I´m getting into it again. If it´s ok please take this one for final...

[Nickodemus]

Here is where I am right now...heading out of state for the weekend, so I doubt I'll be able to finish in time...went with "E" as a few people recommended. Very happy I did.

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-unNF0tfsuqA/Th07gsRh3xI/AAAAAAAAAYc/oiWT8b_idjA/s1600/EOW_Glasshouse_WIP.jpg

[Vulgar`]

Wow, nice entries guys.

I'm always up to give the artists extra time when desired, I've never seen a rush to put the polls up if there's still entries and progress to be had by each participant.


DEADLINE: EXTENDED UNTIL MIDNIGHT, SUNDAY

New activity goes up tonight with a 2-day extension as well to balance out the two week length. This activity is the shiznit...

:yum:

[Lyno]

Thank you Vulgar! Maybe I find some time to refine mine then. Great entries everyone :)!

[android411]

thanks vulgar for the extra time, here´s is an update than...

[android411]

and another update, I think I´m pretty much done with it...

[Saruman_sLP]

ok here is my final.
great works in this thread :)

[chipsandsalsa]

Ros1 & Corrick great work as usual guys.

Here's my final piece. I've imagined about a lab has been built to research the last tree remains on Earth, for the mysterious bacterium that protected the tree against the plague.

This is a great idea, adding that extra bit of story to the setting. You really get the feeling that its a scientific installation, rather than ending up looking military or something. Good job!