[genesequence]

What was I thinking. Green with envy at the sheer talent on this forum, and bored after remaking my website a third time this month, I decided to start an ambitious project to eat up my remaining days off (until my new job with a REAL paycheque starts)!

Since I only have five more days to work on it, I thought I may as well post the foundational work on the board and see what people thought. Since I have had the audacity to critique the work of others, I thought I should put my Wacom Tablet where my mouth is.



I think that you'll get the idea (she's made of fire). Obviously, it is still in the rough, blocking stages, but I am about ready to put some work into the details, so stop me if I am about to make critical errors!

I, as all of the others seeking help and advice, am appreciative for any comments/criticisms/insults that you may wish to sling my way.

THX.

-genesequence.

[This message has been edited by genesequence (edited May 17, 2000).]

[lotor]

I would just darken up the dark spots and add some of that blue to the foreground shadows...maybe maybe not.
Also get some reference of fire. I think the color is a little off.
ciao

[lotor]

What i mean is the fire doesn't seem warm enough.ciao

[Moose]

when i would make fire, i would use the smudge tool...i dont know how well it works in a 3d environment though....but anyway. try the smudge tool set at a low pressure and just play with the form and colors until you get something you like. here is an example of what i mean from something i had made a while ago:


I am not sure if this would work right in this piece, or if this is the kinda fire you are looking for...but hey. its a suggestion

[This message has been edited by Moose (edited May 17, 2000).]

[Mr Weasel]

Fire is beautiful isn't it ? I love looking at fires. I love looking at H-bombs as it blows up and light up the nite.

[osk]

As the other guys said , change the color of the fire a bit .. you should get a reference or references of what fire looks like .. because . if you dont this might turn out horrible .. but so far you got a good start .. also put some flames at the bootom where she is coming from otherwise . she might lookt like she is coming out of yellow puding .. or something .. OH OH .. and TAKE VERY good attetion to detail . on that blue cave entrance you got in the back .. because if you do it right . that depth will do your piece a lot og good .. think about lighting too. eventhough i think you got it down ..
oh and one thing I dont like about her is that she is wearing a dress .. I mean i am not a pervert . but .. usually mythical figures like this one wouldnt be wearing a dress .. it hust doesn't seem to fit .. since the idea of something being made out of fire or melted rock . is that when it gets very hot everything becomes very curvi and smooth ...

More over .. if this was my piece .. I would make it look like she is just being born out of this fire .. and eventhough it doesn't hurt her .. I would make it look like she is having some kind of pain out of all this .. by tilting her head a bit back .. and maybe make it look like she is screaming or something ....

well thats all ..

[genesequence]

I think that I have bit off more than I can chew a stick at. Umm, yes, fire. I thought "great, I can get some practice with one of the oldest and most difficult technical problems known to painters for centuries, painting light with pigment (even if it's phosphorous-lit picture elements)!"

However, my resolve remains unshaken. I WILL have an impressive painting by Sunday night, if the effort kills me, my two cats, and my wife!!! Well, no. not really.

Anyhooz... here's where I stand, after taking some of the excellent commentary into account.



Some of you may be shaking your heads and wondering, "That's all he did in 10 hours?!" Yes, I'm a fool.

Osk: A nude fire elemental? Dare I take that step? I wanted to do a very ornate brocaded dress that would have a sort of 19th century feel - but, as you say, it just doesn't make sense. It made sense to me when I did the pencil sketch. But that was many hours ago. I think I may just go for the skin.

Lotor et al: I think I should leave the flames to the end. They may interfere with the planning of the scene at this point, so I haven't worked them up quite yet. Thanks for the suggestion about, what was it you called it, "photo reference" (sic.). I always thought that was cheating (i.e. too lazy to search image banks for pictures of bonfires).

see ya all in a bit (12 hours)
- genesequence.

[This message has been edited by genesequence (edited May 17, 2000).]

[AliasMoze]

Genesequence,
One thing I started doing with paintings was to created an Adjustment Layer above all the other layers, with Hue/Saturation. In the adustment layer, I take the saturation all the way down, reducing the whole picture to black and white. This makes it easy to toggle between color and B&W. Problems with values are much easier to nail in B&W, because you're not blinded by all the color.

Anyway, I'm not sure I'm the first to try that, but...

[This message has been edited by AliasMoze (edited May 17, 2000).]

[Lange_Pisang]

Mwoooaaah....

Genesequence (wow, long and hard to type...),

maybe, you have to detail it more, and chose some brighter and "hotter" colors...hmm?
BTW her face is nice!


------------------
http://www.geocities.com/lange_pisang/Photoshop_Art/KruegerB.gif
awwwwww...still have to learn a lot,
-Lange Pisang (Long Banana :D)

[genesequence]

A little further along...



Now, I've earned a break. Time to go see Gladiator!!!

-genesequence.

[osk]

I LIKE it A lot .. sorry this is a little late .. but I just had this on my mind for the last couple of days .. but this is more of what I was talking about when I posted . here before about . the firewoman being born

[genesequence]

Osk: Hoaly sheep! That's awesome. Do ya think I should? I was reading Plato's Republic the other day, and I thought I would paint the enlightened man emerging from the cave of shadows into the world of light. Then I thought, I'll make it a woman, producing light in a cave of shadows. Now, it's the Phoenix, rising from the ashes. This is a big step!

I'll post what I have so far...



What do the rest of you think? Cultured lady in a flowing, flaming gown? or Heavy Metal screaming naked chick? I really can't decide, but it's time to start on the figure...

Please HELP!

-genesequence.

[theresa]

I LIKE THE CULTURED LADY woooo!

very cool! =)

[osk]

thanks , but my sketch was just to illustrate .. how I pictured your lady .. on her wild side .. like that .. I really dont like my sketch that much is kinda disproportioned .. but I think a blend . of both could do the trick .. . ... IS ANY MASTA ARTIST OUT THERE?? REPLY with opinion please .