[eBoy]

Hi all fellow painters...
I would like to know what you think of this piece... does it "read"
I started with having the figure in silhuette, but the client wanted to get the character more in the light.
It's a bookcover with both the back and the front... my god my english writing sucks today--- hope you understand...

Looking forward to hear your crits.

[img]http://www.lime.dk/board/NG_preview02.jpg[img]

Hopw do I insert the image??[/img]
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"...look at me mom, I'm on the internet!"

[jr]

gotta put the /img at the end. nice piece btw. suggestion, maybe less detail on the rocks in the forground? or darken it abit?
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[antipro]

wow, beautiful! lovely complementary color scheme. the detail in the rocks might be okay; it seems to fit the rest of the depth of field, since you can see detail in the trees behind as well. the green hues are awesome. i look forward to seeing more of your work.

erik
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[Sumaleth]

I think it's great - very Roger Dean. My fave image from you to date.
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[SolarFlux]

WOW! I like it more than 75% of stuff floating around here.
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SolarFlux
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I don't know much about painting but I'm trying to learn

[Sukhoi]

Cool stuff, eBoy!

I only have some minor crits: How about the eyes, is there a reason for them to be in the dark? I mean in the story. Clearly it looks good, but have you considered how it affects the viewers perception of the character?

The blood stuff is a little on the 70'ies movie side, a little bright and read. You know.

Always loved your style.

Sukhoi

[jayceeL]

This kick's soo much butt Nicely done

JayCeeL

[Gort]

Awesome staging and diffusion of perspective elements! The garb appears more Chinese than Japanese, though (contrary to the topic title)
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- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Cuddly]

Very nice! Love the colors and the mood. I'd have to go with Tom and say it looks more like a Chinese than Japanese character tho'. The tassles on the sword, the long ponytail and the clothes are all more Chinese than Japanese elements.

Great stuff!

[Inspector Lee]

I like it just the way it is. Great composition, very different.
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[ChiaNi]

Eboy: you are one of my favorit artist. I like all your post.
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[NeoFun]

well done! always a pleasure to open your threads
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i like rice.

[eBoy]

Thank you all!

The reason for not showing his face is partly that I find it cool to make a BLACK shadow only in the face, and partly because I want the readers to imagine the maincharacter in their heads!

I must research a little on the chinese vs. japanese issue... he definitely has to look japanese!

Regarding the blood I somehow like that it look "overdone" ... graphical... so it becomes more a symbol of blood, than actually blood dripping off the stones!

Thanks again all... will post an update soon

eBoy
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"...look at me mom, I'm on the internet!"

[Gort]

Woo - better get busy on your research!

A samurai, when not in armor, would typically wear what is known as a hakama. The pony tail would most likely not be long and braided but short. The katana (sword) looks good but should not have tassles.

There is a very inexpensive yet thorough book out there on armour and garb; I have it but I am at work, and I cannot remember the actual title. I'll post it when I get home later today. In the meantime hit the web and library - you know the drill! You might want to even try for some material in a hobby store that specializes in miniatures - they are certain to have books on armor and details, etc.
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- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[Gort]

Hey - found it!!

The Samurai (No. 23 Elite Series)
by Anthony Briant, Anthony J. Bryant, Angus McBride

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0850458978/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/103-8861166-2559848?v=glance&s=books

I own this book, and for the price it's one of the best references I'ver ever seen; it's full of so much detail and stuff - it's a winner! Hope this helps!

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- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[eBoy]

Thanks Tom.
I see your point... but actually, he's not a REAL samurau... and the pony-tail is for the graphics... but anyhow... I have to remake him... he's looking too soft in that kimono thingie!

I'll give him some nice armor.

Cheers

eBoy
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"...look at me mom, I'm on the internet!"

[Gort]

You could always try some tradional medieval civilian garb.

By the way, the hakama might look kind of soft, but it was instrumental in hiding the footwork of the samurai from his opponent. The hakama is still used today in kendo and aikido - two arts firmly rooted in art of the samurai.

So post the next draft when it's ready - I am looking forward to it - your work rocks!
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- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[eyewoo]

Fabulous... very exciting picture... WOW!
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[eBoy]

Here's an update.
I think he look more ninja-ish now?!

What's a hakama Tom?
You meen his pyjamas? well... I've corrected that one now

Comments still appreciated.

Cheers

eBoy


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"...look at me mom, I'm on the internet!"

[Gort]

A hakama - go the right hand column of this page and click on the "Kanai Seminar Pics":

http://www.aikidoatlanta.com/

The Yundansha (black belts) are wearing hakamas over their gis, while the Mudansha (non black belts) are just wearing a gi (video stills courtesy of yours truly).

About your painting:
One thing that seems to bother me is the blood. Your primary light source seems to come from behind, but the blood being on the other side of the rock face (in shadow) seems a bit too luminous and therefore lends itself to be coming from a red light source - almost; it also doesn't appear to drip or streak downward in relationship to the perpendicular establishment (which appears tilted in this case - a good thing in that it makes the painting more dynamic and interesting).

Overall it rocks!! Fantastic work! I checked out other stuff on your site - awesome stuff!
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- Tom Carter

"You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf" - Jack Kornfield

[BooMSticK]

excellent Emil. Looking real nice.

Guess this is a wraparound cover (both back and front), right? A first I thought the composition was a bit odd, with a feeling of falling to the right, but if you cut the left part of, I actually think it works well. Anyways I would probably tilt the mainchar abit more to the left, so he doesn't align so with tree on his left (the big one).

But my main gripe is with the foreground cliff. I think you should lessen the contrast and make it darker. Right now I have a feeling that there are two light sources for the rocks - one for the top right and one for the rest... which is kinda wierd IMO. The form is just not very easy to read thus making it flat and looking abit like a cutout. Making it darker will also seperate it better from the figure since I think right now they look to be on the same plane. Seperating them will give better depth too

anyways.. another nice looking cover! great work!
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