Sijun Forums :: View topic - still life

eyewoo · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2002 9:38 pm

A still life contrasting cool silver colors against warm copper and soft round pots against hard sharp bike parts.

Done using a Wacom tablet and Photoshop...

Detail 1

Detail 2

Detail 3

Reference Photo

Initial Trace

quintessential · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2002 10:41 pm

looking good man, it has a very distinctly 'eyewoo/fleabrain' kinda feel to it. the reflection of the bike on the one pot bothers me slightly, but i think its probably just me.

SplitSoul · Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2002 11:11 pm

Wow. Just wow. As usual.

eyewoo · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2002 10:16 am

Hey thanks... I'm pretty happy with this one. I try to do pictures that have a natural tension. Contrasting the cool and warm colors and the soft roundness of the copper pots with the hard edged bicycle does that for me.

Mb · junior member Member # Joined: 23 Nov 2001 Posts: 45

Excellent work as usual. I just have a comment on your work overall: you hardly ever use any dark values. I think that you could implement more dramatic lighting if you increased contrast some.

For example just open the Levels adjustment dialog box for this still life. Do you see how the histogram is high throughout, especially near the 255 end of the spectrum, but has almost nothing between 0 and ~40? Just hit auto...see what happens.

This may be an improvement or impairment; it's your work. But just try it. I'm curious to know if you like the brightness of your paintings or not.

<edit> typos </edit>

[ April 20, 2002: Message edited by: Mb ]

eyewoo · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2002 1:30 pm

Thanks for the suggestion Mb, but I keep them light like that by choice. It is my style. Of course, if you look closely, you will see some very dark shadowed areas in my works, but I keep them to a minimum. I like the light....

As for drama, I try to create it with shape, color and tension in the content. It's pretty easy to create drama with a shaft of light beaming down from a dark sky... it's just not the way I prefer doing it.

[ April 20, 2002: Message edited by: eyewoo ]

el scoono · member Member # Joined: 17 Jan 2002 Posts: 155

this is really great! i like the composition; it's a very lively and different still life. rendering all those metallic surfaces must have been fun (and challenging).

i played with the levels as MB was saying, and i did like it better with some deeper shadows. it gave the pots a more natural bronze tone and cut down on some of the yellow.

anyway, that's just my preference. it looks just fine as is

Mb · junior member Member # Joined: 23 Nov 2001 Posts: 45

I assumed you probably intend your color schemes, just a personal preference I guess. But imagine; if you combined the tension of color and shape (both of which are awesome in this piece) with interesting lighting, you could create paintings with create dramatic effect. Just because dramatic lighting is easier than the other two doesn't mean it's ineffective. And of course, you don't need to have a cliche shaft of light in the dark sky

eyewoo · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2002 4:28 pm

Mb... I'm not saying it's ineffective. I like a good dramatic scene just like anyone would, but it's not what I do. I prefer a more subtle approach to presenting imagery... which has not always been my way, but that's where I'm at now.

Mb · junior member Member # Joined: 23 Nov 2001 Posts: 45

yep, I understand.

Jeasterrealist · Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2002 9:34 pm

try not tracing next time

eyewoo · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2002 6:20 am

Jeasterrealist... What is your comment...? some sort of admonishment. jeez...

Hey Jester, there are no rules when it comes to making art. I trace to save time. I'm perfectly capable of freehand drawing (check my website sketches section) and enjoy it when the final product is meant to be a free hand drawing... but it doesn't make sense to me to spend hours doing a realist drawing that is just going to be covered up with color - digital or otherwise. Tracing saves time, bigtime time!!!

[ April 21, 2002: Message edited by: eyewoo ]

Malachi Maloney · Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2002 6:34 am

Very nice work, Phil.

I really like the smooth brushwork you've done in this one. One of my favorites of yours.
I think my "all time favorite" of your is still that one with the shallow pond and the whitish colored rocks though.
The attention to detail in that piece still amazes me every time I see it.

Anyway, keep up the good work.

Malachi

The Magic Pen · member Member # Joined: 05 Dec 2001 Posts: 321

Very nice !

eyewoo · Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2002 9:26 am

Thanks Malachi...

Also one of my favorites - the landscape with [url=http://www.eyewoo.com/displayArt.html?4^4^swimhole^White%20Rock%20Swimming%20Hole%20on%20the%20Red%20River]white rocks[/url].