[Flexible Elf]

http://xploitzero.tripod.com/images/courage.JPG

Here's another quickie... (in case anyone wants to know what quickie means, these paintings take me about an hour or so.. but I am getting faster each painting)

This one is basically an excuse to practice on some clouds.. I normally suck pretty much on them but I was inspired tonight by a really nice sunset, so I gave it a try.

I might have to weave all these pics together to tell a story of some kind.

-Flexible Elf

[g:tech]

Another cool pic, Elf. I really dig the colors in this one.

As you already stated, the only thing that looks a bit off is the clouds, but that's just a nit-pick. Better than I could do!

Treeline looks great, btw. No sound files for this one? jk



------------------
-g:tech

[Jonno]

i think the clouds look good. thats a kick ass shade of blue for the clouds.

------------------
http://jonno.gfxartist.net/

[Rinaldo]

Hi Flexible Elf. Nice going for about an hour but I think it could have done with a few little things. A bit of rim light on those monster-things in the FG. As is they sort of confuse me a bit. I like the tree line. But the clouds don't do it for me. Have a look at the SPEED PICS SUBJECTS thread (here I think http://www.sijun.com/dhabih/ubb/Forum2/HTML/003393.html ) there are some nice photos of clouds posted by waylon and me. If these don't tickle your fancy then I'm sure there are other photos you'll be able to find.
I think it would have been cool to have a lot of movement in the clouds, seeing as there is not much in the rest of the pic.
The flame on the right is supposed to be far a way? If so you need to make it much less graphic. There is no way it would get that big and retain that shape. There would also be some smoke above it as opposed to what is happening at the moment.
You also might want to use some more intense colours for the fire. You may want a stylistic effect and if so disregard this but I am not getting a "hot/warm" feeling from it.

Boy that sounds harsh I don't mean to put down. I'm really enjoying this thing you've got going. Especially because of the fantasy theme.
Keep it up

[Jenn]

Nice one.

------------------
DarkChyld

[The Dude]

Nice one elf! I really like your style
and I liked the other pic you did too with
the fighting knights. Great colors in both.

| The.Dude |
www.WorthlessFacts.com

[This message has been edited by The Dude (edited September 01, 2000).]

[Chapel]

Nice one Elf. I like the atmosphere you create in your pics. But I can't help but to think that guy is saying "How dare you mock my girlish figure!"

[mantis]

good job. 'Timur the lame' anyone remember history class? I like the pic. Trees look good and the characters in the forground look ok. I would add different colros instead of a solid color. The clouds are bad. You are making the same mistake ceenda made with that submarine picture, look for the post. There was a lot of good advice in that thread.

------------------
Arpan . B
[email protected]
www.liquid2k.com/koma
Highroller Studios

[Flexible Elf]

Thanks again guys for the feedback...

I'm at work right now so I can't really tweak the image but I will a bit

-Rinaldo - I agree the fire should be a little more coarse, .. I had misgivings about it when I posted it, but it does have smoke billowing up.. it might not be evident enough. To make the pic a little more 'hot' the image might need some color correction as a whole. I wasn't sure if the orcs would be in the globe of light, that's why I didn't give them that little outline. Also, you're not being harsh, I need crits because I am still learning :) Everything I've done so far has just been practice on my weak points.

-Chapel - Hehe.. the first elf that I made for the picture looked a little too svelt. I wanted him to be a bit slender. The vegetarian AVENGER! ROAR!! hehe.

-Mantis - I think ceenda was getting kudos for his clouds but his water was what people were talking about.. I might be wrong.

I'll re-up the picture when I get home fixing the fire and the color. I wanna make the clouds right but I might as well do a whole new pic, I'll keep workin' on it.

Thanks,

-Flexible Elf

[This message has been edited by Flexible Elf (edited September 01, 2000).]

[Axl]

Another nice pic.
I like the pose of the main character. The sky looks broody, nice colours. The only thing I don't think looks right are the flames, they look too big in relation to the castle tower.

[Gambit]

Nice work on this one! The colors are great. You are getting better with each pic Keep it up...



------------------
Gamingvault.com

[Tinusch]

Whoa, I looked at the pic yesterday then again today, and it's totally different. I kinda liked the dark, cool atmosphere you had in the first one. I think the fire looked a little better before too. But still, you have an awesome style. Your composition is AWESOME in all of your pics.

[Visigoth]

Flexible Elf, I really, really like your style. It's quite distinct, and I always get an awesome sense of mood and setting when viewing your work... my hat is off to you sir.

------------------
Your car is a fiberglass penis extension.

[Jenn]

Hope you dont mind again FE.

------------------
DarkChyld

[Worthy]

great color scheme..and the warrior elf guy is top-notch. the clouds look too..pasted on..for me. i dont mean sharpen filter or anything in PS..but..heck..i dont know..clouds are a tough one

------------------
3D Sculptor
Viewpoint Digital

[Flexible Elf]

Gracias once again guys

Any ideas for a next one? I'm open.
Love to keep at it. I'm diggin' the fantasy genre.. it's lots of fun.

-Flexible Elf

[Jenn]

How about a faere ring? and a lagoon

------------------
DarkChyld

[Mozeman]

Hey Flex;

I think it's definately on the right track; nice and cinematic. I like the design especially.

A couple of things I notice:

The problem with the clouds is that they're done with a soft brush. They look out of focus, which shortens the depth of field and causes you to lose the scale I think you're going for. Sharpening them up will solve a LOT of the problems you're having. The colors look fine.

The fire also has a scale problem. For one thing, it looks like it's on the same plane as the guy. Fires that big tend to be more billowy (is the a word?) and volumous. Also, the smoke from a fire that big would be overwhelming. Try some billowing, thick, black smoke. I would also try bumping up the values on the fire. Try finding some pics of forrest fires (should find plenty nowadays) as reference.

The elf looks great, tho' the texture on his leg makes it look like it's made of wood. But awesome design. Very nice.

The foreground dudes are nice. I wonder how a rimlight from the fire and the lantern would help bring them out. What do you think?

Just some observations. Nice job.



------------------
Mozeman
Moser Brothers Animation Forum

[Flexible Elf]

I fixed it a little I guess.. tried to make the fire looks a little further off.. but I've never seen a fire hundreds of feet high (Next time I'll try to find firefighter photos for reference or something) "But why doesn't the fire burn the forest around the castle?"

There's a story behind it...

(gratuitous rough story outline)

Scelus a sorcerer caused the regent of the castle to spontaneously combust after a dispute (and after the sorcerer had left) causing magic flames to tower into the sky engulfing only the castle. Orc minions were sent in to slay all of those who managed to escape the blaze. Timor is just an elven swordsman who had business with the regent and is surprised by a band of orcs using a portal charm to get the jump on him (orcs aren't very sneaky otherwise) anyway, blah blah blah.. I'm just spinnin' the wheels and that explanation is totally generic.. but I'm thinking about starting up a fantasy strip after all just for fun, but a lot more involved. Sci-fi is a little tiresome.

But I'll keep chugging away at this.. gotta get better.. practice practice Thanks again for your feedback.. it helps me out a lot.

-Flexible Elf

[Loki]

Nice one, elf! You've got quite your own style going! Neat!