[Binke]

Me and a friend watched the Gladiator tonight again.. very awesome movie imo. And after the movie ended, I just had to paint something similar to that big battle scene in the beginning. I wanted a feeling of chaos.

So here is a quick very rough 40min piece I did while listening to the soundtrack of the movie. Any input is greatly appriciated. Although I'm not sure I want to tighten it up more..because it will be hard keeping the "feeling" of the picture. But I'm having problems with the composition so, that will probably be what I will change.


..and you HAVE to listen to the tune "The Battle" from the Gladiator soundtrack when viewing this picture
oh and I really can't paint horses..
edit: oh and this pic will probably look screwed on monitors brighter then mine.
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Art Dimensional

[This message has been edited by Binke (edited February 10, 2001).]

[Collosimo]

*BUMP*

This is cool. I like your fire effects. Simple yet effective. Could you explain the proccess of doing fire? it just lloks to me like exactly the right palette choice.

I also think that the silhouettes are very effective against the flames. That foreground cavalry guy is just visible enough. Not too distracting, but still interesting.

Composition is good in terms of eye investigation. I founf myself looking at the fire first then flitting all over the chaotic battlefield and then finally resting on the foreground cavalry.

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/COLLOSIMO

[Cos]

definetely looking good there binke! Colours are really nice, and you captured the chaos well with the brush strokes.

Maybe try making the foreground (hill, guy and horse) much bigger, just to give the pic some more depth, and it might give it a more dramatic look too.

Anyways, goodwork!

[Binke]

Oh man I did this REEEALLY late last night, and man I must've been tired heh. Perspective is screwed, and there isnt enough contrast between the foreground and the background. Ah well, the colors are decent I guess anyway

Collosimo: Thanks. The process of doing fire? Well for that fire, I just painted some orange/yellow fire looking stuff (I used a custom brush) then hit it with a orange color dodge stroke, to get the glow effect.
Cos: Thanks! Yes yes, a very good idea to make the foreground bigger, it was my intention in the beginning, I guess I was too tired to do anything about it.


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Art Dimensional

[Zoso]

Binke -

Despite the problems that you pointed out yourself, this is a good looking pic. This will look good finished for sure! Love that fire!

[Anthony]

Kinda nice atmosphere. If you wanted to get the confusion of a battle, it'll be necessary to either bring the camera in closer or detail more-for me at least the mass of stuff in the lower half of the pic reads as a bushes and twigs or something, not people. Adding in recognizable shapes and ideas to it will help this. Long swords, banners, etc. This sketch would be sort of like something you'd make as a director, or as a matter painter, to show yourself one way you might have it. If it's as an art piece of its own, it'll be important to work on making it more readily understood. The Romans in their silver and red, the barbarians in their black furs....this is a good contrast you could use to your advantage. Nice image!

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-Anthony
Carpe Carpem

[Binke]

Zoso: Thanks man
Anthony: I agree with you. I guess the picture kinda went the impressionist way when I did it. Because it was mostly built upon feelings, I didnt really think what I was painting..the brush just moved with the music Anyways, thanks for the helpfull comments, ill take it into consideration.

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Art Dimensional