Underwater Escape

[deschamps]

Here's a new piece I am working on. Is there anything I should watch out for before taking this further.
Here is my idea behind it:
It'll be an underwater scene, where a creature (along with a passenger)
swiftly escape up from the seafloor away from the underwater volcano.


http://www.ericdeschamps.com/ill/imgs/underwater_escape.jpg

[tomi]

you'll have to watch out for the colors, so that you get the depth of the scene right. the colors in the front should not interfere with those in the background...that makes them looking "faster" i think...but i don't really know...

[I.was.ink]

This is a great sketch cire. I dont know jack about color, but dont over do it with the blues(im assuming its blue).

Keep us updated. :)

[R_M]

I saw it as green...more sewer like. am looking forward to see how it turns out.

[deschamps]

Thanks everyone. I dove into painting it today. About 4 hours worth. Here it is so far...

http://www.ericdeschamps.com/ill/imgs/underwater_escape_V5.jpg

[remedial]

wow. nice paint job, its loose but really adds alot to the drawing. a nice wide range of colors and good application. keep it up!

[Muttonhead]

Hey Cire-

The only thing that I wonder about with this piece is whether or not it is neccessary for his head to be thrown back like that.

Reason is: I think that if I was hurrying to escape a volcanoe, i would be very intent on what is in front of me because I would want to find the strightest path out. This pose kind of looks like the guys is throwing his head back in a moment of euphoria, something that I do not think he would be doing if death was near at hand.

I know it might be apain to change his head, but I really think he would be looking straight ahead...

Nice piece though. I am excited to see where this one goes!

-Muttonhead

[Muttonhead]

Looking at it again, maybe not STRAIGHT ahead, I suppose he could be looking around a bit to see if there are any better paths to take..... I dunno, what does anyone else think about this?

Mutton

[deschamps]

Muttonhead: I am trying to make it look like the creature is swimming up so fast that the passenger gets whipped back from the speed and the force of the water. There needs to be some more tension in the pose so he doesnt look like he is casually looking at the coral as it passes. I'll try some more heads too. Thanks for pointing this out to me!

[deschamps]

http://www.ericdeschamps.com/ill/imgs/underwater_escape_V12.jpg

[danielh68]

Hi cire600,

I thinking it's looking good. For me, the position of the rider also works. It's sort of the same dynamic a cowboy gets when a bucking horse is released from the gate.

With that said, for some reason the sketch communicates to me better then the painting. I can't give an exact reason, but here are some areas you might want to explore:

1. Desaturated non-points-of-interest
2. Up the value on the sea creature, so that it pops out more. Specifically, the hind quarter that disappears in shadow.
3. Make the composition a little more monocromatic, since deep sea water tends to dilute color. Especially, the rider. He sort of has a warm land-dwelling palette, which would not be the case underwater. Sure, there might be warm accent marks, but I think for the most part his composition would reflect the cool surroundings.
4. Perhaps some life to the water. Bubbles, fish, planton, floating algae, etc to help create the layered richness of the sea.
5. Give a clear and decisive reason why the guy is holding on for dear life. The few cracks of lava don't really scare me enough. I expect debri falling, rocks blasting out, fish skirmishing, etc.

I hope this helps,
Dan