Elephant and smilodon....

[Molin]

Latest picture update - Revision 6 is further down this topic...

Original post...
Yo all,
Its mighty fun to paint at the moment and this is my latest scribble.

I paintined this straight from head and this is my first try at an elephant so the anatomy is probably funked up a bit. Although im not looking for perfection, im rather looking for the movement. The Elephants left front leg ( our right ) looks abit bleh and ill fix it in next version.

If any has any comments before i start detailling this baby and darkening it down a bit id love to hear em.

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev2_smaller_.jpg

- Click here for larger version - (http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev2_smaller.jpg)

the almighty sketch....;D
http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant_path_sketch.jpg

:chug:
/Molin

[Molin]

I have updated it with a few minor changes and i have also added a soon to be smilodon.

I wanted the bigcat to have both weight and motion. Do you guys think i overdid the motion and gave it to much of a curlup?.. or is it acceptable?

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev3.jpg

/Molin

[Reilly]

I think the cat looks great so far. Actually, I really like scribbly black lines around it too, it heps subdue the muddy, chalky Painter "look." Would you be able to add the sketchy lines for the elephant too?

You probably don't want that for the finished piece, but I just want to see it :cool:

--Reilly

[Molin]

Yo Reilly, Its photoshop, i have never come around to work with painter, perhaps someday.

Youve got some great stuff on your homepage... Thanks for the watch... Ill add your link on my site next update....
/Molin

[Reilly]

Thanks man, glad you like my site.
Anyway, Photoshop, Painter, whatever, you know the look I'm talking about right? Nothing really wrong with it, just thought I'd point it out.

I love the elephants face by the way.
I also like that you added a horn to it's fore-head. Elephants need more spikes in my opinion.

--Reilly

[Molin]

Ok an update. Added some lighting and some more details.
I really had problems with the perspective on the cat. The pose is totally bonkers as it bends inwards against the tree and at the same time i wanted it to have a forward motion.

Also the sky will be a big problem. Hmm im not looking for a "real" but more of an stylized simpliefied one so it doesnt take so much focus from the middle of the painting. Ill se how i do this... first time for me anyways. And the trees gah....;)

Also i am painting everything on a single layer so any mistake is only undoable to that extent.. This keeps me focus abit more on what i do i think instead of just adding new layers as i go aloing with each element.

The image as it is now. Revision 4.
http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev4_smaller.jpg

Closeup, like 50% of the real scale..
http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev4_closeup.jpg

Thoughts are more then welcome...
/Molin

[deschamps]

Great start! It's going to come out really nice. One suggestion. The horn on the forehead of the elephant doesn't look centered. It actually looks closer to HIS right eye. Try moving it and see if looks a little more natural.
-Eric

[Molin]

Eric - Yes i agree. It also looks kind of misplaced and i am wondering if i should take it away. Ill do this change the next revision.

I went to your site...... !!...... !!...... !!....... :bash:

You are really good... I love your work.. totally. Youve got the contrast that I dont get.....;(... The image "Beasts" is great!!.... Superwork... thanks for the watch...

Thx for your comment... :chug:
/Molin

[MindCandyMan]

also the two horns on the elephant are both facing the same direction...the one closest to us would be foreshortened. Great work though man I can't wait to see it finished.

[Molin]

MindCandyMan - yup i agree however i wanted the horns to be straight and not the typicl elephant curve above the trunk thing. BUT i tihnk it will look better with a turn just before the tip of the horn so ill be adding that as well to the next revision.

Revision 5.
Ok so alot have been done. Ill do more changes today. I will be focusing on getting the details right for the closest tree. Ill probably do alot more contrast work for the smilodon as well. Ill try getting the fur more "rich" and not so flat as it is now. I dont want that much shading in it though but just that little to give it some stance, or what its called in english.

Also the high dry grass needs some work..

gah...:(.. alot to be done...;)
again one note to the cat. Its crazy how much a line can do. If you notice the two lines above the cats head that predicts some bone. They are really crucial to even make it look slightly as a cat head. Some strokes are barely noticable to the whole but are really essential to the element. Hmm quite fun to find things out...;)
http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev5.jpg

/Molin

[MindCandyMan]

dude the texture on the elephant's trunk looks totally fantastic man...everything is really starting to come together....hey could you post a close up of the elephants trunk?

Keep your momentum man...looks great!

[Molin]

MindCandyMan - Here you go.

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev5_closeup.jpg
/Molin

[MindCandyMan]

Awesome, thanks man

[Molin]

Ok update version 6....;)..
Gah done tons of work on every part now exept the grass. Ill be doing some more detailing on the cat and I dont know if it shows but the tree should have some details as well this time.

Hm i think i funked up something in this version since the elephant seems to have no weight no more....:( I think his shadow is a bit of this time. Also his tusks are more then funkier then funkier.. :bash:

Any comments are more then welcome.

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev6.jpg
/Molin

[Wynd]

I'm thinking the shadow treatment on his tusks is a bit too angular? Maybe making them a bit more grainy and bone-like.

Also, I'm not sure if anything can be done to remedy this, but these are massive creatures; is there some way to give us a sense of scale? I realize part of the problem is that during this era, everything was huge, so it kind of cancels itself out, but I'm thinking adding a third creature / object that is somewhat familiar and true to the time may be one option.

The texturing on the skin of the mammoth-like creature is superb!

[Molin]

Wynd - Hm yes, i thought about putting i some birds. That will give some sense of scale i think.

thx for your comment
/Molin

[Molin]

ghaaaaaad... Ive been fiddling with the grass and foilage on the closes tree for GAAA hours...;/.. cant get anywhere.. always back to square 1.
ANyone has any tips on brushes to use or any links to tutorials?.. Im stcuk.. I need to clear my head before i go bonkers on leaves and grass.....

Heres, i really hope, the last revision before final with complete grass and foilage.

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/elephant-path_rev7.jpg

/Molin