[Steven Stahlberg]

from an idea in the brainstorming thread

[Highfive]

Nicely painted!

I guess you're looking for comments over the idea, so I've gotta say this pic reminds me of Diablo 2.

It looks like two Succubi waiting impatiently on a Hell-styled jetty leading to a Portal from another realm. Their job descriptions are to tear fool-hardy adventurers asunder with their fireballs as they come through the portal, but these two are so bored with the lack of action of Battlenet, they've opted to pulling out their banjos and singing "Koom-by-yah".

Tell me if I'm an idiot

[Speed3D]

OMG! When I originally had an idea for a pic for this subject between 8 July and 22 October (yes, I date my sketchpads too ), I do what I always do....sketch down basic pose very scribbly into my sketchpad for later. And the pose you've got for the "audience" is almost exactly as Id sketched it! The actual setting/lute player is a bit different though, but it looks really cool so far....I'm hoping you're going to go with color for this piece once you've worked out the values/shapes etc

Nice work Steven

[taff]

neat, i love this sketch Steven!

do not have many crits, I think the idea is great, there is a bunch of harmony in this picture.

[KOryH]

Hey Steven,
I really like the feel of this painting. I would live to see what kind of colors you had in mind for it. One thing does bother me however... It seems that that the second figure (laying down) is quite a bit smaller than I would expect. I am basing this observation on the perspective of the dock as compared to the diminishing size of the figures. I understand that it is entirely possible for this to happen because of the eyeline being almost even with the top of the dock, however it just seems a bit odd.
Once again, really great work. BTW what is in the background?

[Steven Stahlberg]

Highfive: Succubi at rest! I like it! Koom-by-yah! LOL

Speed3D, t4fF and KOryh, thanks! What's in the background? As often is the case with me, I'm not quite sure. The land of Faery, perhaps?

Ouch, you're right about the perspective, I'll fix it now - can't understand how I could miss that?!

Ok, I fixed it, and changed some other things while I was at it.

[ December 22, 2001: Message edited by: Steven Stahlberg ]

[Steven Stahlberg]

Put much more work into it, colored it, cropped it, improved it. It's still a blurry dirty sketch though, I just can't get into cleaning it up until I'm sure I'm finished with the tweaking. Which may be never...

[Highfive]

Totally gorgeous, Steve! I strongly recommend you should start another thread for this pic because it's too good to stick on the end of this one. More people will see it that way.

[Michael Clarke]

This is really turning out beautiful! I love the colors you got going on.. and the misty atmosphere is working quite nicely. Very nice work on the surfaces so far too... the pillow under the left faery looks very "satin".

The only thing that bugs me is the ear on the singing/playing faery. Maybe its just a personal preference on faery ear design - but i picture it having more intricacy in the shape, and where it meets the head looks slightly off.

Other than that it looks gorgeous.. I look forward to seeing it finished!

[Basement bound]

I really liked how in the sketch the path from the castle stood out. In the coloured version it becomes lost with the background fade. Perhaps boost it a little, it really caught my eye and made it follow around the whole picture, completeing the trigualar compostion.

JA

[ December 25, 2001: Message edited by: Basement bound ]

[Brian Balognatubez]

That is a very nice peice!

[Steven Stahlberg]

Thanks guys. Here's an updated version, with more of the path, I agree it's better that way. I didn't work on the ear much, I'll save that for the final version. I also hesitate to start a new thread, this way I can show the evolution better.
So which one of these 3 is better?

[ValarianROOT]

I vote for "jetty 3." I like the mood better and the composition is less cramped than the second one. I've followed your work for about a year now and really respect you. So, I hesitate to mention, but IMHO...
Lose the tiny dolphin and I Love the effect you got for the fairy wings, but they just don't seem to mesh with the feel of the rest of the piece. Hard to find an example but they remind me of how Rick Berry incorporates a collage/ multimedia feel to some of his work. Anyway that's my two cents.

Merry Christmas (Holidays/ Winter solstice) to everyone!!!

[Michael Clarke]

This most recent version looks excellent to me. I like the direction you've gone in with the color - it looks more fitting for a faeryland image. And I like how you've opened up the sides more to give the space some breathing room.

Something i just thought of: the design of the instrument she is playing looks a tad angular - I would picture a more curvey and ornate shape especially where the body meets the fretboard / neck - those hard right angles there make it seem almost "techy". But I can imagine you still might not have gone into elaborating on the instrument or perhaps thats the way that instrument was made in olden times - so feel free to disregard my comment.

I'm curious about the little sea creature poking its head out of the water.. is that a tiny dolphin?

[Highfive]

I'm all for the second jetty. It feels warmer and more like the environment naked fairies frolicking.

[Lunatique]

Wow, damn, woo hoo! This is such a departure from your usual style in terms of renering and color. I'm impressed.

I like the last version, but I don't know about the excessive purple on the flesh though. Maybe have refelcted pruple on the flesh but keep some warmer tones too?

[Steven Stahlberg]

Thanks all, and Happy Holidays!
That little fish is a Bottlefish, common in the waters of Faery; they are known for their love of music. The several different species may contain whiskey, cryptic messages, or tiny model frigates.

[Justa Fledgling]

Might this have also been posted on epilogue? I feel that ive seen this somewhere.

[Steven Stahlberg]

I posted it on Sijun as well.

[DarkStalker1]

I like the last one posted the best . Sets the mood better . The only issue I have is with the hair on fairy leaning against post ,it looks to solid .No one else has mentioned it so it must be just me though.
Always a plesure .

[J-D Leon]

the sketch is stunning.
but not color version..(choose of colour)

may i sugguest somehting?
the lady lay there look bit be fatty and asian-look.

maybe the sky turn to abit darker will be more comfortable..