[Lee Yiankun]

I drew this as a contest entry at eatpoo.com

Spend 4 days on Photoshop 6.0
Tell me your thoughts on this one ^_^

[cheney]

Both the woman and the beast are great. The beast is very awesome.

What I don't like is the composition between the beast and the women. You are trying to blend them into a single flowing image, but failed. The actual blend of the hair is good where it blends from blonde to black.

But, notice how his hand/paw just seems to disappear, and how it looks like the beast is floating above the woman's head.

I know you might think this is nit-picking, but as a design artist composition is very important to me.

[EvilJ]

Hey Cheney, I'm a noob, so feel free to take me to school on this, but arn't the items in this particular image that you are commenting on matters of opinion more than specific artistic flaws? I was under the impression that the claw was supposed to disappear, (back from whence it was summoned i guess).
If I had to pick one thing out of this pick that didn't flow with the rest, I would suggest that the hands, and maybe the arms on the girl be fixed, but thats just me. Otherwise, I think this pic is massively good

[Axl]

Awesome rendering of the beast, I especially like the amount of detail present.
I can see the points that are being made by cheney but I have to agree with EvilJ.
What I saw when I first looked at this was the beast materializing from thin air, hence part of the claw isn't visible as it's still being summoned.
Maybe distorting the (portal?) just above her head may make it look less like it's sitting right on top of her. The only thing that I don't like are her hands as they look alot less polished than the rest of the piece.

[The Badseed Subsides]

I love you for posting that. Thankyou.

[cheney]

No, its not a matter of opinion any more than the painting techniques use to texture the beast. Its basic design concepts.

Also, this needs a background. Until the issue I mentioned earlier and some sort of background are resolved this looks very unfinished.

If you think I am wrong then prove me wrong. Show me any finished painting that so lacks basic design qualities such as anything published proffesionally where two image were put together in a poorly contructed manner on a plain white background.

[Lee Yiankun]

I had to make this clear.(sorry, I not good with English)

My intent while designing this picture was to try to make a circular composition. I tried various backgrounds, and I must say this. This is as finish as it gets. Since the beast is as dense as you can get already, any background would make the whole picture even more denser. (I love chinese paintings. the whole thought of a plain black ink on white BG makes me go in awe of what the ancients can do)

Thankyou for your opinion on this subject ^_^

BTW, the beast is indeed floating & meterializing in mid-air.

[Light]

This is nice work. I agree it looks a little unfinished but the comments about having a proof that the composition is bad is absurd.

The composition may be a little weak but I wouldnt be surprised to see something like this in game magazine.

If you want to prove something then prove 1=1.. otherwise lets enjoy art and comment on it.

[Ian Jones]

Great work!

I agree with the general discussion so far, the composition and background are a little weak.

Overall though, its a fanatsic concept and great painting. Well done.

[Kari Christensen]

I love the texture on the beast! Great painting. Unfortuneately there's some problems with the drawing on the anatomy of the creature and the girl. With a little reference I think the painting would be perfect. I like the composition, by the way.

[minkee]

composition: if i had been able to paint this (i wish ) i'd have preferred to have the black swirl / side of the beast create more of a figure of 8, rather than a back to front B shape - by having the swirl on the girls left. that may have cause problems on the not-yet-materialised claw, but i'd have found it more balanced. And maybe had a gap between the girls head and the bottom of the beast...

but the point is the work on the beast and and the girl is absolutely brilliant, and i love it.

oh, & white backgrounds are fine by me

--minkee

[Eric Pommer]

cheney:

quote

Quote:

If you think I am wrong then prove me wrong. Show me any finished painting that so lacks basic design qualities such as anything published proffesionally where two image were put together in a poorly contructed manner on a plain white background.

a) Getting published is hardly "proof" of artistic merit. We've all seen poorly done pieces make it to print.

b) Unless you can explain what artistic rules have been broken, your opinion that the piece is 'poorly constructed' and needs a background is just that. Sijun is all about asking for and offering opinions, but don't pretend they're anything more.

Personally, I would tinker with the composition a bit myself...I think either the beast or the summoner should be significantly closer to the viewer. But that's just my opinion.

[ May 06, 2002: Message edited by: Eric Pommer ]

[cheney]

Who are you painting idols?

Picaso, Dali, Loki, Mullins, Giger.......

Find a painting from anybody who is considered a "proffesional" that is merely 2 objects slapped together on a blank background.

Since all of you think I am completely full of shit this should be very easy for you.

Maybe I could make a badass photo-real painting of a tropical plant, building, or other such complex object only to have them laying around on a flat white background. We all know such a concept would be stupid, so are your arguements.

I am a senior level student in a Bachelors of Fine Art program. Design is the primary level of concept they teach us before we even pick up pencils much less brushes.

Seriously, all you people have argued is something along the lines of "i think this good, because its how i do it". You people can continue to tell me how wrong I am, but you have yet to really tell me why.