Sijun Forums :: View topic - Slightly disturbing content...overly squeamish, stay OUT.

Socar MYLES · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2001 9:21 pm

Something quick and dirty...the first personal piece I've had time for in bloody AGES. And of COURSE there's a rat in it. I'm the rat artist, after all! Dammit!

A detail:

InsaneSpaghetti · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2001 9:35 pm

Rats ate all my food!

Cool stuff!

nickmarksdotcom · member Member # Joined: 17 Feb 2001 Posts: 244

I LOVE IT! very cool all the way around. That tape on the eyes and the mini bondage thing ya got going are very disturbing. Good work.

Nick

hethebar · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2001 9:38 pm

Absolutely gorgeous illustration and design. So story provoking. Man I used to love those books the Rats of NIHM. I like this piece a lot. Good job.
hethebar

Enayla · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2001 10:48 pm

Hey, I just realised that this goes rather well with my cutsey rat picture =) The poor rat there is out looking for the queen... and here she is.

Very disturbing indeed, but like always, wonderfully rendered. I really love your style, Socar.

Red Leader · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2001 11:42 pm

Hi Socar. I really like your rat. The fur is great. The background is quite nice too.

If you don't mind, I have some crits for you...

that the tape over the rat's eye might be too close in value and hue to the fur, I found it hard to see at first glance. I would possibly add more mustard color to it, to make it seem like it had been oozing a little (hope that's not too gross for you) or at least manilla colored, as some surgical tape is that color. It just needs to separate from the fur a little.
The stiches you've painted on the rat's side appear to go over it's fur. maybe if the hair was matted a bit on (our) right side of the stitches it would solve this problem? Again, if you want to keep it "clean", a few hairs brushed over the stitching might be enough.
I think the composition could be improved if you put the bottom left side of the floormore into shadow. This would draw the eye down from the type, through the rat, and down to the crown, otherwise, casual viewers might not "get it" at first glance.

Minor things, as always, I like your work!

[ August 06, 2001: Message edited by: Red Leader ]

Socar MYLES · Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2001 11:53 pm

Good points, Red Leader. I'd actually planned on having some of the fur going over the scar...I must've forgotten. (Oops!)

Thanks for the pointers on the tape and the composition. Hadn't noticed those things, myself. I'm going to work on this one a bit in the morning, I think...the tail needs a bit more work, as well.

[EDIT] - Got impatient--gave it a bit of an overhaul right now.

[ August 06, 2001: Message edited by: Socar MYLES ]

c · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 12:41 am

hehe, why rats? puppies are so much cuter ^_^, shouldn't you be drawing puppies?

as for the artwork, it's rather spiff, i second red leader on his suggestions.

also, i know this is off topic, but i was wondering if you could talk a little bit (or provide a link to) about your print-selling thingy. is it going well? how is the print quality, web business software, profits, etc etc.

just curious.

regards.

[ August 06, 2001: Message edited by: c ]

java · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 2:25 am

Very very nice picture Socar, me likes!

The only thing that bothers me is the background, my eyes are drawn to it rather than to the rat. And I would like to see a more define mouth, perhaps show some teeth?

Shiro_tengu · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 3:17 am

Very well done. chilling

gLitterbug · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 3:27 am

Thats the best pic of yours so far, I think. I love it. Love the mood. But it�s really only slightly disturbing.

Looks somewhat like a movie poster.

eyewoo · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 5:48 am

Beautifully done. Very nice!

PlantMan · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 5:55 am

I just don't understand...
why rats?
i dont want to sound out of line, i guess you have pet rats that you have some affection for but there can't be too many people who empathise. Replies here seem to be positive but i just don't get it. Surely drawing can be about so many things, eg inventiveness, celebrating creation, evoking a story or history, expressing and sharing common feelings...
i just see rats

badoli · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 6:09 am

Aren't we all rats?

=)

no, serious, like that pic! Hope u did not hurt any animals to draw that....

Gargoyle · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 6:35 am

reminds me of "The secret of NHIM" story
very cool
i like
but stay away from my pet rat wednesday

Wireframe · junior member Member # Joined: 03 Jan 2001 Posts: 28

::in Mr. Burns of the Simpsons's voice::

Ecelllllllllent. Smithers, commision this man.

simuartist · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 8:37 am

Nasty...but well done...

schabe · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 8:57 am

very nice pic. poor rat, convincing pose.. nice background. only crit: perhaps some more shadow of the rat on the ground is needed.

Red Leader · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 12:32 pm

Those touchups worked nicely. Great job!

darkgoth · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2001 11:02 pm

wow! Thats freaking great! I love the subject, the technique. A great piece!!!

Socar MYLES · Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2001 12:30 pm

Thanks for all the comments, everyone; I appreciate them! Sorry I didn't answer people's questions right away...I was rather busy.

Enayla--It was indirectly inspired by your picture and one other reference.... I had the idea of the Queen of Rats stuck in my head after I saw your picture. Although, if the Queen is dead, I hope your cute little rat never finds her!

c & PlantMan--'Why rats'? I think I am asked that question at least once a day.... My most detailed answer is in this interview: http://digitalart.org/features/interviews/index.php?ID=4 Just scroll down till you find it.

badoli--Of course not! I would never hurt an animal. My 'model' for this image was just sleeping.

And thanks to everyone who left crits and compliments..much appreciated.