+/ Silence /+

[se7en_]

So lately I been spending a lot of time making custome brushes and testing them in PS. This was a little something tat happened during that process. C+C welcome.

Updated - Finished illo + then original brush experiment...

http://www.weapon-x.net/ca_post/drained_72.jpg

http://www.weapon-x.net/ca_post/drained_exp.jpg

[vigostar]

Hey, Seven cool image.. I think its a good star not sure if its a good ending.. one suggestion straight from the get-go would be to alternate the angels of the chains... Skew some of those so that they are fading into the distance. The font you picked seems to be working with this graphic painted image you created. I would however extend that gray scratchy stuff you have behind the letters so that it extends over the mouth of the character and creates more of a connection there.. I also like the scratchy elements you have in the overall BG with those cloudy like splatters.. I would work that into the texture.. Have some of that black smudged out areas that are coming off the figure morph into chains themselves.. Hope some of my suggestions help...

[davekang]

It certainly is a good experimental piece.
I don't do digitals but your point of view on customized brushes applies just the same on my traditional works. It is my sincere belief that it is the power
of your brush strokes that turn you into great from good.
Could be a silly question but, is there a meaning behind the word 'silence'?

[se7en_]

vigostar - thanks man, are always there with a hug crit : ) It doesn't need to be a good ending, it was simply an experiment and I thought the result looked cool. I might take it a few steps further and turn it into an actual illustration but who knows : )

davekang - thanks! I have been thinking the same thing. All of my older work was round brush and it looks too smooth. I was also not very confident in my brushwork so I am trying to really get my head around less brushstrokes and making them count.

The word silence represents someone who has feelings or thoughts about something but doesn't express it. Its just something I will never understand. My emotions and words just spill, but people around me tend to keep their cards close to their chest and it can be frustrating knowing that they feel one thing and say the opposite or worse, nothing at all.

[vigostar]

seven- Im not sure if this is relavent or not but, I remember when I was in Montreal and I believe I was actually speaking to Sasha at the time showing him a piece if artwork. He said that it was a good drawing but, nothing more... He explained that when you go onto creating artwork there should always be a purpose. Its not something that I have followed but, thought it was an interesting thought nonethess and I figured I'd share.

[se7en_]

haha - agreed but I have learned that in order to pull off what I want to do I need to spend a lot more time just getting techniques down. Brush experimentation is a big part of that.

Check out the new version, I think I am going to be using it for my biz cards. What do you guys/girls think?

[Nexus]

Damn Se7en, I checked out your website and it's very slick. Do you do web design? As far as the above image goes, I like it overall but the head of the guy could be moved from dead center. Since he's more or less static in position youre gonna have to compensate with a slightly more dynamic composition. The whole piece right down to the typography has alot going on so that guy just sitting there looks very dull by comparison. Good work overall though and I like your use of brushes/layers, very well done.

[Justin.]

Seven, I really gotta say this, and I don't want to be an asshole, but;

Every finished piece you produce, while it is usually very skillfully executed, always seems to fail when it comes to the anatomy department. Everytime I point out these errors, people blow them off as "intention", but over a long period of time it has become apparent it is not- and I am not saying this to put you down- but I think if you just worked alot more on your anatomy and perspective, you could push your stuff alot further than it is going. When I look at this, I see the custom brushes and the texture and the typography, but the face is subpar to all of it and brings the piece down as a whole. Even the rendering on the face isn't that bad, but some minor tune-ups, or posibly some use of reference, would really escalate your stuff. Alot of your pieces have heads in them, and alot of the heads have messy proportions, or they look the same, with the same shape and nose and the same wrinkles and the same jaw. I think either working on some basic anatomy skills or using reference more heavily would really help you out.

The composition is really nice, and I think this piece could work just fine sans the head.

I attached below a paint-over to hopefully help demonstrate my point a bit better- I took artistic liberty with the eyes (The blank white was a bit too capturing IMO, so I tried just throwing something else in there. Sorry, didn't mean to screw with your concept!)

[se7en_]

Nexus - Thanks for the compliments. Yeah Im a designer by trade and education. I have done way too much web stuff over the years ; )

The static pose and centering was intentional. It kinda adds to the awkwardness of the subject. Its not supposed to be dynamic and exciting but brooding, introspective and quiet. Thanks on the brush props : )

Justin - wtf!? jk, point taken. Believe me I striggle. Its not for lack of practice or studying or using ref. I do all of those things. I will never be Marko with his god given perfect anotomy and perspective : p I am also okay with that.

Here's the problem. I use ref, but not specific ref. Just a shot that is close to what Im trying to do. In the future, I NEED to take the time to find the models and set up a shot that I can take myself with the exact pose and lighting. Hey if it works for Julie, Boris and Tim Bradstreet it can work for me. Tracing is the real pro secret or using the grid ; )

I just always hope that what I have learned and practiced will finally pay off and the image will work. Sadly, it hasn't yet. Basically, I just don't want to take the time in the beginning when Im inspired to stop and shot the correct ref. I do realize that it is holding me back though and I do appreciate your feedback.

btw - the paintover does nothing that I can see to improve the anatomy, but it doesn't offend me either : )

[Rich Pellegrino]

I think the anatomy is fine. I think Oaksford "humanized" a zombie-like creature which isn't the point. My only crit would be that the eyes are too bright. Once I get stuck on them, I can't look away. Maybe that is what you want but, why bother with all the nice texture and color in the BG? looks good dude. Makes me think what would happen if Ash Wood collaborated with Dave Mckean. keep them coming.

[Justin.]

If you notice on yours, on our right, he is missing a quite prominent piece of maxilla which is present on the left. It gives the face a sort of "Skewed" distortion. I can understand going for "zombie-esque" anatomy, but it isn't a very good cover-up for awkward looking anatomy. There are tons of different zombies anyways, not one "Barbie" zombie that sets a mold for the rest.
The nose is very low, and I think if you would raise the nostrils a bit, but keeping the ball of the nose where it is, it would have a more evil, but more believable appearance- Point being about anatomy, the more distorted anatomy is from realism, the less believable. "Zombie" anatomy should not be that much different from "human" anatomy, seeing as how it is the same being only in a different stage of life.
The mouth was only a tad low, so I raised it. Most of my paintover was to bring out forms better to show the anatomy, instead of having half the damn thing in shadow.
The reason I added the nostril was to give the face more direction- the nose on the original seems to be pointing at us, while the face was obviously at some degree of angle.

But agian, in regards to Voodoo's comment, IMO, "humanizing" a zombie only makes it that much scarier/believable. I figured along with all this textured and gritty 'realism', you might as well make a scarier figure. I apologize if you do not see the significance of my paintover.

P.S.-
a) I believe Marko is an Atheist,
b) Not being "talented" shouldn't be pretext to not practice. Anyone could be better than anyone else with enough work. Marko is no more special than any of us, he just opened his eyes and observed.. that's all it really takes, along with some determination.

Good luck!

[jcaffoe]

Justin is dead on.

If you're wondering how to take your stuff (generally speaking, not even this specific piece) to the next level, study head structure and general muscle structure for the body.

Believe me, there is no easy way to learn, no shortcut, and no substitute for practice. Just practice until it makes sense.

That being said you have an awesome design sense, and your use of type and texture is great. Just get your drawing skills up to par with your design and you'll be ready to rock.

[Rich Pellegrino]

But agian, in regards to Voodoo's comment, IMO, "humanizing" a zombie only makes it that much scarier/believable. I figured along with all this textured and gritty 'realism', you might as well make a scarier figure.


Good point Oaksford and good points in general.

Se7ens figure was scarier IMO though. This is not mean to be a jab but, your PO looks like a teenager wearing makeup. The addition of the upper lip and pupils aren't helping on the scary factor either.


Here is some food for thought:

Sometimes one has to bend the rules to get them to do what they want. that is assuming one knows the rules...otherwise it is moot.

Think about it.

[se7en_]

voodoochile - thanks man! AW + DM ar two very influential artist to me, I take that as a huge compliment, bad anatomy or not ; )

Justin Oaksford - Again you are missing the point here it isn't a zombie and I have no SF or horror agenda here. Its about a feeling, about being silent when you should speak up. Letting your life bring you down because you don't have the balls to change it. The eyes are glowing because of the intense observation of all that is around him that he can't have. Passion only serves to toment sometimes. Hence the eyes are bleeding. The watery reflection is to show his emotional side, notice that it is dripping away into a black void. Sometimes all of our emotions just fade away into nothingness even though they can touch us so deeply, they have zero effect on others.

So I guess at the end of it, yes I could improve the anatomy and push my art further and I will keep practicing. But I am trying to communicate an artistic point not make reference art for a 3D modeller or a flashy cover for a SF book. It is art and nothing more.

Either way I do truly appreciate the feedback and you have some great points.

voodoochile - Haha. That what always works for me as a graphic designer, breaking the rules. As I get better as an illustrator I will be able to break them more successfully. My main mission is to keep doing work that doesn't look like everyone else's on CA.org/cg society/sijun/deviant. My ship will come in eventually : )