Oregano || Sketch Book III ||CLOSED || 01-29-05

[S.C. Watson]

NEW SKETCHBOOK HERE (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=405789#post405789)

THIS ONE IS CLOSED AND WILL NO LONGER BE UPDATED
---

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099683758.jpg

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099683647.jpg

[jetpack42]

long time no see any drawings man. good to see you getting back into the mix. your stuff is definitely inspiring.

[Groover McNab]

Man you're racking up the sketchbooks, hehe.

I like that first drawing very much, great line quality and the face is really well done. Would love to see something like that finished and colored :wink:

[Bojee]

Good to see you back, I really dig the painting. :)

[flex mathews]

great work dude, i like the 2nd one the best.

[S.C. Watson]

jetpack42 - thanks man. Been doing stuff, just haven't been posting.

Groover McNab - This one's for you bro. Hope you like :donk:

Bojee - hey dude. good to be back.

flex mathews - cool. I'll post a coloured version in a little while.

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099689736.jpg

[Groover McNab]

Hehey cool man! That was a ridiculously quick turnaround!

Remind me to buy you a drink in SF! :vodkamachine:

[johanson]

I didn’t post much, but I checked your old sketchbook thread often. Glad to see you back! I really dig that second drawing (the alien-squid). Can’t wait to see more.

later,

-Andrew

[S.C. Watson]

Groover McNab - I'm not going. But I'll be down that way a few days before, so maybe we can hook up, depending.

johanson - ... and here we are! :tihi:

It's a floater on a gas giant:

[dCepT]

Kick ass!

Very cool to see the sketch and the colored version! Nice warm/cold contrasts!

Keep updating!

d-C

[S.C. Watson]

dCept - :tihi:

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099703091.jpg

[S.C. Watson]

now it's coloured crap:
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099714030.jpg

[dakoscwash]

Hey shane! Looong time man. Awesome new sketchbook. I especially love the first color piece.. very cool. Hope all is well in life, hang in there and keep up the good work.

[mentler]

***** I like this thread ::::: I am throwing it 5 bones ~~~~~

[S.C. Watson]

dakoscwash - Hey dude! How's it going? Thanks for popping in and glad you like the new book :D

mentler - why thank you, kind sir!

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099768871.jpg

[Burning Eyes]

Very nice new sketchbook, love all this stuff man, keep postn'

[S.C. Watson]

Burning Eyes - thanks!

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099773756.jpg

[S.C. Watson]

still working on this. Crits welcomed.

This piece is set in the same world as Whomee (http://www.oreganoproductions.com/07/gal_whome.shtml) and the Mayor of Happiness (http://www.oreganoproductions.com/07/gal_mayor.shtml) and features the heroine of the story.

THE HALL OF DRAGONS
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099887422.jpg

[S.C. Watson]

image removed

[Eyal]

i like your style, good clean lines..
the illustrations r really sweet
but post more!

[Bojee]

Oreg- Looking good. :tihi:

[Jokisalo]

Oregano: holy... i dig your digi paintings, sketches are hot too!!
defenetely gonna keep my eyes on ya!
and if you are interested could you please share your thoughts of my sketches. thanks

[S.C. Watson]

Eyal - Thanks! Here's some more!

Bojee - Thanks man!

Jokisalo - Glad you like 'em! I'll stop by your spot in a few here!

Some WiPs.
Spent the day sketching this baby up and just started doing the colour work (1:10pm, my time, which may or may not be your time)

Images removed

[xia]

Your baby WIP looks really cool! Solid drawing, awaiting for the progress. :)

[S.C. Watson]

Hey Xia, thanks! I'll be posting more here a little later.

Hey Mike. I use pencil for the initial sketch, then scan it and do the colour work in Painter. So, the white sketch up there is all pencil scanned into PS, which I then save and start working on in painter.

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
~S

[mentler]

***** Any friend of Mike's is a friend of Mike's

[S.C. Watson]

mentler - yeah!! What you said! I think... >:|

[jester]

Very nice sketchbook! I'll be back! :)

Jester

[Burning Eyes]

Like I said before I like all yer stuffs, ill keep watch on this thread, and check up often... Love your pencil sketches the most, more!

[S.C. Watson]

jester - thanks!

Burning Eyes - thanks BE, I really appreciate your comments. I'll have more pencils up for you soon. I want plow through this pic at the moment tho!

Wip4

[Bojee]

The wip is way cool.:teeth:

[Sok N. Wett]

Damn no wonder it wasn't showing any new post from you, that's because you made a new sketchthread....man that last one is amazing I love the way you color, great treats.

[AlphonseIV]

hey it been a long time since ive seen your work- have you taken my advice and applyed to wizards yet? cuz you need to they would accept this art with open arms.

ps. i used to post under "ubermind" and posed that question to you half a year ago

[S.C. Watson]

Bojee - cool, thanks! :bashful:

Sok N. Wett - Hey, sorry about that. Yeah, I should go dig that out and post a note, huh? And thanks!

AlphonseIV - heya! yup, I remember. What'd you change your handle for? I did apply to Wizards for a concept artist position, but they wanted me to move and I just couldn't do that, so I had to let that opportunity pass. I also sent off a batch of stuff for consideration for freelance work but never heard back from them. I'll be submitting some more works shortly after the new year, probably around Feb. or so. I've got a *ton* of stuff to work through first though...!

Anyway, I was hoping to have this bugger done by today because I've got so damn much stuff stacking up that I have to do, but it's been a fairly fractured day so far and I've not gotten a real chance to work on him or much of anything else. Fortunately, this is a commission piece so I'm not totally goofing off...

[S.C. Watson]

thanks Mike :P

Making some progress here...

[AlphonseIV]

Dude this picture is so beast. i really like the color scheme and the pose. i can't wait to see the final product. you got better

[S.C. Watson]

AlphonseIV - Thanks man. I'm glad you are diggin' this vibe :P

Now for a small change of pace - this is for the challenge between myself, Digitalgannon, and MIKECORRIERO. I've decided to go with an Alice in Wonderland theme featuring a love triangle between Alice, the Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts.

Character roughs for the Hatter, Alice, The Rabbit, and the Cat:
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1100321185.jpg

[Sok N. Wett]

Cool stuff as usual, damn one of these days we need to make a field trip to visit your house, I'm always up for a sleepover...lol, if not San Fran is almost here, and would love to sketch and learn from you.

[S.C. Watson]

Hey Sok, Sent you a pm, so check it if you haven't :dur:
____

WIP update:

[Sok N. Wett]

Great update, I can't wait to see a finish product, if you get done could I get a hi res version so I can print it and hang it in my room, I need all the inspiration I can get. Sucks that you won't be at the workshop, but hey that doesn't mean you won't be able to sketch with us at the hotel. Yeah one of these weekends the sketch group should head over there, cause we still are talking about it.

[dogfood]

Hey Shane, killer stuff (especially the squid), and the four-armed guy is probably the coolest thing I've seen of yours. The perspective stuff is really throwing me off, though. I keep wanting to look at the face (the nexus of the body elements), but the background keeps sucking my eye back to the knee. Obviously it's not done and I have a tough time watching my hair get cut, too (What are you doing, man?! It's all uneven and... hairy!).

Cool stuff; cool... stuff.

[Nike]

Hi Oregano
beautiful sketches and colored stuff here.
My favourites are the alien sketch and this one:
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1099773756.jpg
Love it - do you have a bigger version of it? :bashful:

Also the last update is great....
Looking forwards to seeing more,
Nike

[dCepT]

That last colored piece is looking like it'll end up lookind pretty damn awesome!
I really like the perspective!

d-C

[S.C. Watson]

Sok N. Wett - PM me your address and I'll ship a print out for you :wink: Yeah, if we could hook up in Frisco, that would be cool. I *may* be gone by the time the workshop starts, though... not sure...

dogfood - dude. I need to, like, you know. Keep you in my back pocket or something. You've got the eye. Thanks! :bashful:

Nike - Hi Nike! Thanks for stopping by! PM me your address and ship a print out to you as well!

dCepT - Thanks man. I decided to change things around with the background some, so heres da final!

---
Okay. It's done, dammit. I hate it when a pic that should take 2 days max drags on for like week. It's not like I'm getting paid by the hour! :nohope:

[xia]

Damn! The creature looks bitchin Bro!

I am not sure about the BG thought...if you keep it simplify or push the contrast back a lil. so it won't compete with the creature. Just my two cents. Looks great thought.

[S.C. Watson]

Xia - you raise a good point regarding the bg. I'm going to let it sit for a day or so. I'm fried on this pic. I can see what you are talking about tho, and to be honest, I think you are right. But I just don't want to mess with it any more!! >:|

____

OKAY! I *just* got my Painter IX upgrade. (insert evil laughter here). So, the above critter is officially my last picture done with 8.

...And here's my first with IX - a quicky of the space shuttle launching for my son.

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1100642482.jpg

If you don't have IX, I highly recomend it. My first reaction to the artists' oils was "Holy Flerkin' Snit! This is COOL". It is FAR more like using real oils than anything 8 could even hope to offer. And their dirty brush feature is really cool, too!
~Oreg.

[Darkside]

hey man, great things going on here.
your last but one painting is cool, but the bg...doesn´t fit like Xia said :)

[Sok N. Wett]

Cool you finally finished it. That creature is so awesome, I see you took out the body that was suppose to be by his feet. Anywho I sent ya a PM.

[dogfood]

Dang it, Shane! I don't need to spend any more money! Knock it off! (you better be getting some ad lucre from Corel).

The launch pic is now my favorite. The lighting effects on the plumes is out of this world and the sky and subtle brightness shift is just outstanding. The shuttle itself is just a tad flat (there's usually a lot more contrast in the actual one due to the brightness of the rocket, but there's also a "flare" toward the top of the flame column that decreases the sharpness of ship/flame interface).

This just plane rocks.

[S.C. Watson]

Hey,

I decided to take some pics down because they are now going to be used for a client project (one of them already was, and decided to that it would be best to remove it in good faith anyway).

Damn, this thing looks empty now... :nohope:

Well, I'll just have to go through and fill it up again!

Darkside - thanks. yeah, the background on that one (which has been removed) has been being a pain...

Sok N. Wett - hey. Sent ya a PM as well. I think you may have gotten it by now. Yeah, I removed the body - it was getting in the way.

dogfood - Hey bro, hehe. Nah, nothin' from Corel, cept a cool program :D I really like the launch pic as well. It was a quickie, so I wasn't too worried about the shuttle. But since I've dropped a ton of images from the thread I'll probably go back in and bring it out some.

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[S.C. Watson]

Okay, trying to fill the void here. This is a doodle that kind of got out of hand.
*sigh*... I don't really have the time to be dinking around with this stuff... >:| :zzz:

WIP 1
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1100843682.jpg

[S.C. Watson]

Wip 2
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1100847808.jpg

I promis, I won't be taking these down.

[young paddy1]

Love that sketch of the elfin woman with the Amidala-ish hairstlye, very cool facial features.

I'll go along with what Xia said although I think, the background on that creature could be better utilised in some space opera type thing, I suppose you could put a window surround on it as if the creature's in a space ship?

This last one with the floaty job has a good over all premise, I like the swampy feel you've got in the foreground, and the image has come on leaps and bounds since the first WIP where it looked a little like a badly textured 3d piece.

cheerio

[S.C. Watson]

Hey YP1,

Unfortunately, the critter that Xia was talking about was one that was removed (see a couple of posts up).

Anyway, the one that you were referring to was done with more of a children's book theme in mind, for more of a pathos or story scene.

Re: the Landscape with the floaty job: LOL, you're harsh, but thanks! :bashful:

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[steak-tron]

cool stuff Oreg! I don't check this thread enough, like those pencil pages and that green critter is a killer. Great painter 9 stuff too.

[Sok N. Wett]

Cool is that a floating rock or something else you have in mind? I would love to see some more pencil sketches of characters I think they rock.

[S.C. Watson]

steak-tron - Heya! Thanks bro! Really digging your stuff as well :jawdrop:

Sok - Yes! Pencil sketches! Must do! -- haven't had time at the moment, but I will. I think better with a pencil in my hand anyway ;) Um, that floaty thing is going to be a ship... I think...

---
Here's some older stuff that I did for Fantasy Flight Games that I don't think I've posted in my sketchbooks before...

Enjoy:


http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1095100978.jpg

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1095101007.jpg
Both pictures (c) Fantasy Flight Games

[S.C. Watson]

still noodling it

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1101086520.jpg

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1101086546.jpg

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1101086565.jpg

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1101086585.jpg

[eliWolff]

I really like those last 2 black and white fantasy sketches you posted.. the dragon man had alot of great detail on his head. I also really like that you show the original black and white sketches for some stuff and then show the color version. Awesome stuff!

[liam.c]

sweet you been doing some really nice stuff oreg! hay on tha last one the ship sorta not popin allmost blending in with the mountin .. could i suggest to move it a little bit so only the hook of the tail is in the mountin or maby change the shadow patern a tiny bit to bring it forward ?

either way mate looking good :)

[S.C. Watson]

eliWolff - thanks!! Glad you liked my humble offerings :bashful:

liam.c - Thaks for the crits. I don't mind that the ship kind of blends with the mountain a little... it's kind of like "oh! - there's a ship there!" But, I am thinking about chunking the top of the mountain some to make it a little more apparent that there is something there.


in the mean time, here a piece that I just finished for a fanzine:
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1101164411.jpg

[jetpack42]

I think whats throwing the ship off is the odd tangent of the shadow on the mountain running directly into the bottom of the ship.

Really like those old black and white pieces for FFG. I do miss seeing your pencil sketches :wink:

[dogfood]

Hey, Shane, the ship scene is pretty cool, but the placement of said vessel is kind of unfortunate. The one edge coincides with the light/shadow line on the mountain and the other is uncomfortably close to the left side of the mountain. And I know you're still working it, but the bottom of the far left pillar looks like a mouth and tongue. Cool stuff, though. I love the metallic feel to it.

[S.C. Watson]

Hey JP - thanks. I can see what you are talking about and will fix it when I get back to the picture.

Dogfood - I'm going to rework that because both you and JP are right about the placement. The easiest thing will be to modify the peak in the background to better accomodate the ship (only if life were that easy, eh?). Can't figure the toungue thing... I'm just not seeing it and am not sure what part you're talking about... :(

---
Yesterday was my one year anniversary for joining CA. I guess it's probably not a big deal, but for me it's been a wild ride. At this time last year, I was casting about trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, and had just decided that, yes, in fact I wanted to pursue art as not just a career, but my vocation, my life's work if you will. I discovered CA shortly after that decision and my fate was sealed. I've not looked back.

Over the course of that year, I've befriended and or spoken to serveral professional artists, many of them "Names" in the inustry that reads like a who's who at a con. I've gotten invaluable advice from so many people here it's mind boggling, and have had almost 75 paying, professional projects including more than 25 CCG's from Fantasy Flight Games and b/w published works, a magazine cover and interior illustrations uncounted along with more than 20 alien illustrations for Malfador Machination's Space Empires V (to be released).

I've also had the pleasure of people asking for prints of my work and of actually signing a card CCG card for one of my local fans.

Who knows what year 2 will bring?

In marking this event, I thought I'd share with you my *very* first picture posted on CA, followed by one done 365 days later (both done with the same mechanical pencil and in an intentionally similar style):

December 8th, 2003:

http://www.oreganoproductions.com/07/art/sheriff.jpg

December 8th/9th, 2004:
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1102636743.jpg


Thank you to everyone who's taken the time to respond to one of my crazy posts and to every single person who's given me advice along the journey.

:yayca:
Cheers,
~Oreg.

[Burning Eyes]

I hope that on my 1 year anniversary here I have a quarter as much to show for it as you do. Congratulations on your accomplishments, and I know you will continue to grow, :) Good luck!

[jungsangchoe]

hey dude... you have very nice work here... the poses the coloring... i like it a lot.. please keep them coming yeah? peace

[Groover McNab]

Hey Oreg, I'm really digging that last sketch. Especially because it desribes a lot w/o too much detail. I think her feet might be a bit small, but awesome sketch anyway.

[dogfood]

Happy anniversary, my friend. Many happy. Very glad to hear you're getting work.

Here's what I was seeing (of course, I see weird things in clouds, too):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/dogfood411/oregtongue.jpg

[Nike]

Hi Shane!
Wow, these two sketches are giving some hope! That's a lot of progress in only one year! Great. I love the last one, so simple and dynamic, just great.
Happy anniversary -and all the best for whatever you are planning to do with your creativity!

[S.C. Watson]

Burning Eyes thanks man. Just push, don't be afraid to make a fool of yourself, ask a bajillion stoopid questions and go for it. That's my method! :bashful:

jungsangchoe - Thanks :teeth: I promis, I will ;)

Groover McNab - Hey man, thanks. I think you are right. I hadn't looked at 'em much past sketching them in. Easy fix, and thanks for spotting!

dogfood - Oh, dear god, that's priceless! I love it! I was looking someplace entirely different on the pic. That's a hoot! Ah, well, it's gotta stay now, that's great! Hahaha! Oh, man. Seriously, that's a keeper!

Nike! Hey, thank you! :bashful: I'm glad it gives you hope. Just pound away, that's all. Really. And... I think I've pretty well chosen a direction, finally. Now, it's just the next stage of the journey :confident

WIP 1, basic background colour block-in
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1102691729.jpg

[auden100]

Happy anniversary. And congrats on a such a good start in your chosen direction. Its great to know that someone can just make a choice, and given some talent and dedication, and CA.org, they can make it happen.

:cheers:

[Sok N. Wett]

Happy anniversary, mines coming up pretty soon as well, it's great to make friends on here, I was a lurker for a bit until Jetpack started posting and I started making friends with Jetpack and all of a sudden I've made many friends. Thanks for sending the print, I love how the watercolor gives it a nice groovy texture effect, I've even framed it.

[Jokisalo]

nice uptades pal.. love the last one :perv:
i've uptadet my book also, if ya have time take a look.
thanks

[Zebz]

I haven't visited your sketchbooks in a long while Oregano! What a pleasure to look through your stuff again. You're tablet skills just keep on improving. But I'm really likin' the sketches and pencil stuff too. Don't forget those studies! You've gotta have your veggies and meats too y'know! Keep it up. ;)

[S.C. Watson]

auden100 - thank you very much. And as I've found in my life, it is often just making that choice which is the hardest part of everything :wink:

Sok N. Wett - Hey bro. I'm glad JP was able to drag out of lurk mode. He's really good with people, so I'm not surprised :^^:

Glad you got the print! And thanks for framing it! :teeth:

Jokisalo - Thanks for stopping by! And I'll be right over to your sketchbook as soon as I'm done here! (sorry it took me, like what? four days... >:| )

ZebzFree Hey man, long time now see! Thanks for stopping by again. I'm on the atkins art program, so those veggies gotta wait a little bit :needle: haha - actually, I incorporate a lot of my study time into what I'm doing by using tons of ref for my pictures. Though I know what you're talking about and should do some just straight study pics. You're right. I'll shut up now :wink:

--
Mage wip 2
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1103082145.jpg


Cheers,
~Oreg.

PS - Nike, I still gotta send you a note!

[Eyal]

looking sweet so far man
good composition, fun colors and cool pose

i feel the dynamics of the pose get a little held back by the kinda static head. if it had a little tilt or angle, it would probably compliment her pose more and enhance the sense of movement her body creates

just my thought :)

very nice of u to post wips,
keep it up

[mentler]

*****

[Jokisalo]

aahh loving the colors in last one!! wanna see it finished ^^

[S.C. Watson]

Hey guys, just a quick post, then I'm outta here. A couple of photos for you since I don't have anything art wise to post. (got a digital camera from Mrs Clause so I can do this now! :P )

Also, I'm taking off to California for my yearly pilgramage down to the land of sun, so I won't be posting anything for at least a *month*.


Me before coffee (not a happy sight!!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/me.jpg

...and my studio: (which bears a disturbing resemblence to Mike C's (on screen). Though his is much, *MUCH* more organized!)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/workspace.jpg


Okay, THAT'S ALL FOLKS! See ya in a month!

Cheers,
~Oreg. :yayca:

[dogfood]

Same here. Much older.

Nice view out the window, too.

Have fun and say "hi" to Cali for me (though I think you'll have to wait a while for the sun).

Cheers!

[Sok N. Wett]

Oh man I thought I was the only one that thought you were some 35 year old guy who was balding and have a beer belly and all that jazz and now you look like some guy I went to school with. Crazy shit, you should definately take pictures of your lovely outdoors.

[Jokisalo]

You really look sleepy in the pic ;D
Ah you have so cleane room!!

[S.C. Watson]

Heya,

Back from California. Had a blast. May post some photos from the trip if anyone wants to see (can't imagine that they would... :rolleyes: but you never know...) Missed you all! :bashful:

Anyway, here's a handfull of pics I did a few months ago for Fantasy Flight Games that's finally been published. It's a mixture of stuff from their Fireborn and Midnight product lines.

Cheers,
~Oreg.

lame...
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1106857427.jpg

eh...
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1106857451.jpg

I liked my original better
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1106857503.jpg

this one is okay
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1106857531.jpg

this one is my favorite
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1106857571.jpg

[S.C. Watson]

Heh, I realized that I was throwing stuff up without responding to anyone. How rude! :(

Jokisalo - heh, yeah. That was Christmas morning. Two kids & extended family later, I was a little... well, wiped :yawn:

Sok N. Wett, dogfood, MIKECORRIERO - No! No hair loss! No! haha. Nah, ain't overweight either. I try to stay svelt und sleek! :confident

dogfood - glad you like the view out the window. Here's some more, just taken especially for you!

out my office window again, full view (sorry about the blurry photos, I thought they were clearer):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/DSC00534.jpg

from the veranda:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/DSC00533.jpg

looking out from the front door, to the left:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/DSC00532.jpg

from the other office window:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/DSC00531.jpg

Bella, our pure bred German Shepard Dingus mix (same general direction as the first office view):
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/DSC00530.jpg
-----------------
Okay, and now for some more artwork. Here's another wip on Mage:
http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1106928540.jpg

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[S.C. Watson]

continueing on with replys...

Jokisalo - see above ;)

mentler - again, thank you!

Eyal - Thanks for the suggestion. I did tip her head a tad. I didn't want to go too far over because then it started looking unnatural to me, but I liked the idea of adjusting the angle some. Good idea!

Okay, finis.

Cheers all!
~Shane

[Ink_Monkey]

Oregano the death wing is well deadly. I've watched your stuff progress for about a year now. Some thing like that and you've really improved.keep it up.
Later

[jetpack42]

geez, you really ARE out in the middle of nowhere. Good to see you posting again! in the black and whites, the faces are losing some structure, maybe because of the edges? The overall soft tones kinda give them a...bubbly look? Anyway, the hands are dope and the Death Wing one IS nuts!

[S.C. Watson]

MIKECORRIERO - hey man thanks :P Glad you liked the Death Wing and Remembering the Future. RtF was a real challenge for some reason. It started out one way and ended up another, and I actually banged heads with the AD over the change. It was cool in the end, but kind of an interesting cycle to go through on that one.

Ink_Monkey - Hey, thanks for the post. I really appreaciate the comments! ;)

jetpack42 - Hey JP! Yeah, you're right on about the faces. I was fidling around with my technique some and wasn't really pleased with any of it. the Art Directors seemed cool with it, but I just didn't feel that it held together well. So much for trying to get the stuff out quicker! :nohope:

Anyway, here's another update on Mage. Crits always welcome!

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1106982183.jpg

Cheers,
~Shane

[Nike]

Welcome back!
Awesome updates, I like them all, but I think Death Wing is outstanding. I also love Remembering the Future...
The mage is still one of my favourites, the last update is really looking good!


P.S. - You still get mail from me...I'll send it on monday!

[S.C. Watson]

Nike - HEY! How you doing? Glad you like the pics ;) No worries about the mailing :^^:

Here's some actual analog work that I did today. Just felt the urg to pick up some coloured pencils :dur:

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1107027413.jpg

Cheers,
~Shane

[Mike Frank]

Hey man nice works! Think that death wing is my favorite of the bunch, the pose of the latest mage girl is really awesome as well. Thanks for posting dude.

[S.C. Watson]

Some_Guy - thanks for the comments! :D

Okay, here's the final on Mage, pending edits. Please crit the living hell out of it. This is the first in a batch I'm doing specifically to submit to Wizards of the Coast, so I want everything to be top notch! :dur:

(I'm also posting this in the Finished section)

http://sketchforums.com/uploads/post-11-1107043386.jpg

Cheers and thanks!
~Shane

[Jokisalo]

oreg my love i love the last one, those colors aahh makes me bleed!!
your lately stuff looks cool i like a lot of those black and whites.
more please?

[JeffZNY]

Oregano-
I checked this out in the finally finished forum, then scooted over here to check out your sketchbook. My first reaction upon seeing your sketchwork was that it looks much better to me BEFORE you paint it digitally. However, as I look at more and more of the stuff, I don't think the art itself is at fault. Looking at the crits in the finally finished section, everyone seems to be talking about the saturation on your colors. This seems to be a running theme in your work, and it really detracts from the art, at least for me personally. However, I think the problems you're having might be a result of your settings in photoshop or whatever program you're using. I downloaded your most recent image and tried to open it up in photoshop...when I did so, I got this message: The embedded color profile does not match the current RGB working space. When I discard the embedded color profile, this is what I get:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/JeffZNY/oregano.jpg

Now, I'm not sure how this shows up on your monitor, but it looks amazingly better on my screen. Obviously there's nothing saying that my monitor settings are right, and your's are not, however since so many ppl have commented on the oversaturation, I suspect that I'm not the only one having this problem. Maybe a simple adjustment of your color profile could make life a lot easier for you...but maybe not. I don't know, just trying to help! I hope you don't mind my posting this (I'll remove it if you do)...I've gotten in trouble once before for playing with someone else's colors...

[S.C. Watson]

Hey JeffZNY, thanks for posting that. I've run into monitor trouble before, so there is a possiblity that may be playing into it some.

However, on my screen the two pictures look identicle. I'm not picking up a change of anysort. I'm curious; can you do a screen shot of your desktop? that might show what you are seeing. (print screen button on pc's, don't know about mac - just paste the picture iin photoshop).

as for what program I use, I paint in Corel Painter, and then do my post work, like getting it web ready, in photoshop. Incidently, I get the same " The embedded color profile does not match the current RGB working space" message when I try to open the work initially from painter. I wonder how to fix that, because I don't know....

On that note, I also know that I *do* lean way too far to the right on the pallet, and do tend to over saturate the colors. Half the time, I do it without even thiinking and don't notice that I'm doing until someone mentions it. :nohope:

I'm currently going through and trying to correct a lot of these issues, basicaly from the ground up. So I hope to have my work looking less saturated and a little more "normal" here soon :S

Jokisalo Hey man. Got a sketch dump coming in the next few days so watch this space! ;)

thanks,
~Shane

[JeffZNY]

Hmm, they look identical?...that's not good! I don't even know what the problem would be then...is that a problem with your monitor, your web browser, or your color profile. For what it's worth, I have no problem going back and forth between Painter and Photoshop, so the fact that you're getting that message means something needs to be adjusted. Do you save your Painter files in .psd format? I don't know if that has anythign to do with it, I'm just throwing out ideas. Here's a screenshot, though if they looked identical before, I'm not sure whether or not this will help any. Maybe someone more knowledgeable than I can lend a suggestion.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v470/JeffZNY/oreg.jpg
I probably should've commented in the finally finished section rather than here...

[Nike]

hi
on my screen the two above are looking identically, too, while the last one on the left is looking oversaturated to me.
On the other hand I've discovered that on my brother's monitor some pictures are looking darker than on mine...

[S.C. Watson]

Yeah, I'd say something needs to be adjusted alright.... urg.

The one on the right is how mine consistantly looks to me. In otherwords, it looks like the one that I painted.

I'm just a wee bit concerned that it is showing up like the one on the left... :O

I'm suspecting that the color profile mismatch is the source of this problem. Now, I just need to figure this out.

Thanks for posting the two views - DON'T DELETE THEM please! rrrrrggggg.

~Shane

[JeffZNY]

Okay good, I'm glad that worked and you can see what I'm seeing. I was pretty confident that was the problem A) because so many ppl had talked about the colors, and B) as soon as I discarded the color profile I said to myself, "Jesus, that's gotta be what he's seeing because it looks fantastic." I actually took the liberty of taking a bunch of your pieces on CA and seeing how they'd look without the profile, and I was amazed. When I first saw them, I liked your Harry Potter pic and the portrait of the old man holding an orb of some sort a lot, but my appreciation has increased 10 fold by viewing them this way...You really need to fix this in order to do yourself justice! When I look, it says the embedded profile is "Dell 1800FP" which is obviously optimized for your specific monitor, but doesn't work for everyone, in particular mac users like me. For what it's worth, my color profile is set on "Monitor RGB- Color LCD"...not that this is right or wrong, but it seems to show things more accurately for me.

[S.C. Watson]

hey JeffZNY, thanks again man. I posted a note in the lounge here (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=37975) so with luck someone will be able to shed some light on this. I've also contacted another artist friend who does stuff professionally in the hopes that he might have some insight. I'm also checking my Painter 9 book, but that looks to be seriously useless on this issue.

I'm going to check google to see if I can dig something up there... :dead:

Thanks Nike! :dur:

[JeffZNY]

No problem, man...I'm procrastinating today, checking out your stuff, and drooling over carlos huante's website. I'm sure there's a really easy way to fix the problem you're having...it's probably a simple setting in your display options, or your working space setting in photoshop's preferences.

All this fussing about monitor settings though, I forgot to leave a crit on the actualy piece:) It looks pretty awesome when I adjust the color settings properly, so great job! I only have a few comments: 1) did you intentionally give her a bit of a pig nose? 2) that light seems a little strong on her face compared to how much is landing on her leg. I know the face is closer to the source, but still seems like the leg would be getting more light from something so bright. 3) I like the pose, but her right leg bothers me...The foot seems too small and in general it just doesn't seem quite right compared to how accurate the rest of the figure is. So you could probably stand to work on that leg a bit more, or an even easier solution could be to edit her cloak a bit so it drops down and covers the leg entirely. My two cents...good luck!

[dogfood]

Hey brother, welcome back. I just returned after 2 1/2 weeks in El Segundo (with very limited web access). While I really enjoyed the weather (only one real rainy day), living in the Embassy Suites did not rock. Oh, but the Mexican food...

Thanks for the pics. I do miss the Puget Islands.

Great stuff. I actually like the Asylum a lot. One of the things I noticed, though, was that the windows on our end seem really sharp in comparison to the rest of the piece (the absolute black flattens them a lot, so they look like black plates, vice empty space). Maybe a little less dark with the suggestion of shapes and such.

The man-dragon reflection is neat, but seems unbalanced, with so much weight hanging over the mostly pale water. The dragon shadow framing the face also hi-lights the face a bit much (seeing that it should be a reflection, I would think a little more swimmy).

The crowd scene composition has everything rushing through the upper right corner. There is very little that keeps the eye on the page, especially with the dark weight of the right side.

The structures on the Fae Ambush are nice, but the values don't seem to define the shapes. While I can imagine that they represent the light streaming through the trees, the shapes aren't really defined in either the shade or light.

Death Wing is fantastic. The composition and sense of motion are astounding and the story-telling top-notch. I love the moment before the real action, when you know something must happen, but you're not sure what. Brilliant. You know, her left thigh might be a bit long.

You know, I like what's happening with most of the mage, but her head in the painting is much larger than her head in the drawing. The nose also seems much more "piggy" in the current version. I should probably address all of this in the finished section.

I like the sketches, as well.

Welcome back, again.

[S.C. Watson]

Hey troops,

I've closed this sketchbook and opened another here (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=38620)

JeffZNY - Man, I can not thank you enough for all the trouble you went through. Means a lot, seriously. I'm going to be getting back to mage after I plow through a stack o' cards for Fantasy Flight. I want to extensively rework the piece - I've had a lot of good input from people, you included, and think the piece just needs some rethinking and reworking, not to mention color adjustment :rendered: Thanks again for taking the time!

dogfood - :donk: Wondered what the hell happened to you! You were down in El Segundo, like L.A.? Heh, was down near there in January :}

yeah, um, I pretty much *hate* all of those b/w pieces except Deathwing. There's so much shit wrong with them, including the fact that they've been published, but what the hell. :\

cheers, and good to hear from you!
~Shane

[Ilja Murometz]

The last digital is nice, although the face looks weird >:D but the colours are beautiful. Composition is cool too.