[Flexible Elf]

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

Something I was toying around with. I wanted to take it one small step beyond a "quickpainting" by workin on a little more detail.. but it's still not a finished work.

The only photo-reference I used was quickly eyeballing some snaps of Greece to get an idea of what kinda mountains, trees, & sky I could use in it. I wanted it to feel like Greece rather than just making generic scenery like I usually do.

Inspirations were
1) Seeing a commercial for that Jason and the Argonauts Mini Series that was on a little while ago.. and
2) The Song "Achilles Last Stand" by Led Zeppelin.

-Flexible Elf

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[MaLoRuM]

You did it again...... You Did it again you SOB!!!!!!!!! you made another Masterpiece.... DAMN you! DAMN you to HECK! you awesome artist you! GRRR!!!!! a HEX upon you and your Kickass art!

lol

thats sooooo TyGhT Yo! You definetly captured the greece feel! That shield looks awesome! You even got the BOATS in the water, excellent attention to detail! I cant say anything about this pic accept...... g'damn....

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The Correct Procedure in The Art of the B*tch Slap: *Extend arm* *reel back* *twist torso* *stare opponent in eye* *twist back and release* :) *follow up with something cool to say*

[Awetopsy]

Actually that hill immediately behind him kinda looks like the back of a dragon...

really nice motion. the only things I would change would be to put some scattered clouds in, and the guy on the left side, I think his torso is a bit short for the rest of him and that makes his right arm look a bit awkward. (mind you if I were getting my neck slashed open by a raging greek guy I'd probly look a bit awkward too ;o)

cheers

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http://noelsart.cjb.net

[CapnPyro]

Damn thats neat, alot of action it. I like the sort of olive tone you gave the picture. It works well how the picture is layed out, the first thing i saw was the shield, then i noticed a blood trail and followed it to the dead guy on the right, then followd the blood trail back up to the one he just cut Neato.

-Capn

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http://home1.gte.net/capnpyro

[anticz]

Hey Flex,
If you need any more inspiration for Achilles go here and check out my Achilles tendon . Not nearly as cool as this but still worth a laugh.
Warning:Gruesome pics here
http://www.anticz.com/Achilles.htm

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Mike B. - Supervising Janitor
PrestoStudios
anticz.com
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[shahar2k]

WOW anticz, those are some awesome achilles paintings, I didn't know battles in greece could be as grousome as that
heh I've seen that once before, and had time enough to forget and cringe all over again

btw, I seem to remember haze never being that thick in the area (I lived in Israel, same zone) here's a reference photo http://members.tripod.com/apollophotos/photos/greece/aegina/aeg04.jpg http://members.tripod.com/apollophotos/photos/greece/spetses/spet05.jpg http://members.tripod.com/apollophotos/photos/greece/spetses/spet06.jpg

no real serious changes, except colors, that area tends to have a very white ground, (limestone I think?) and usually rocky sand very close to the beach, allso, the colors around the mideteranian are just intense, I love the place

lastly, ... where's Achilles going? because usually the whole army would be behind him, but that's nothing to complain about (cant complain about the subject of paintings, just composition and technique )

end party pooping
still, amazing drawing, heh and I just love how you do that blood that just always looks so tasty


PS: the images didn't load as images, so I put them as links

[This message has been edited by shahar2k (edited October 23, 2000).]

[jasonN]

Cool pic FE. I was going to comment on the olive tone, but that was intended.

Hey anticz:
"the doctor gave lots of good drugs to keep me entertained in the meantime"

heheheh.

Ouch that zipper looks nasty. Man that must have wrecked!

-Jason

[eetu]

oooooh i dig this ;)

the only thing bothering me is the thick black lines in his helmet

eetu.

[Dean Welsh]

I'm not very in tune with Greek Mythology but I always pictured Achilles as some massive Giant.

-Dean

[Chapel]

Heh.. I always pictured him as a young guy in athletic shape, but no body builder type.

Nice pic by the way. How is that comic coming FE?

[Flexible Elf]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

Malorum: Thanks man, I'm glad you like.

Awetopsy: I'll fix his torso you're right it is a little short, just need to rearrange a few highlights.

Cap'N: Yeah this is the second time I've used blood as an indicator for motion I'll have to try something new next time.

shahar2k: Achilles is working his way down the hillside, he just had to stop to dispatch of those pursuing foot soldiers.

JasonN: Yeah I was going for the olive thing

eetu: The sharpness of some of the contrasts, namely on the helmet, bothered me a tad too. I might fix it.

Dean, Chapel: In ancient greece a tall warrior was like 5' 9". I toiled with how to make Achilles look for a long time and looking back at it, I hoped to have some more to his armor, and maybe a slimmer build. My old comic-style habits die hard. Maybe I just should just go back to a comic style totally.

Chapel: I'm about halfway done with the comic... I hit a snag with the mood I wanted to convey and I haven't worked on it : /
but I'll finish it soon.

-Flexible Elf


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[This message has been edited by Flexible Elf (edited October 23, 2000).]

[SaltyDog]

Nice Pic I just happened to finish reading Homer's "Illiad" last week (which for those who don't know, chronicles Achilles seige of Troy and his one on one battle with Hektor, the champion of Troy.)

From the story, they describe Achilles as god-like in Stature. He's massive, being able to lift spears that would normally take 4 guys to get off the ground. But..he's also extremely nimble, being an runner as well.
He's the son of Thetis, a godess of the sea and Peleus (a mortal king)
Hope that clears it up a bit. You might want to check the book out as well, it gives very specific details of Achilles armor (which was given to him by Hephaestus)

[deranged]

cool pic!
and zeppelin rules! w00t :P

[Axl]

I like what you've done, a nice change in direction. Little details like the vessels and the coastline are nice touches. Nice pic.

[Feklore]

Awesome background, very realistic. The battle scene is really good too

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Feklore

[Flexible Elf]

I just might, I've always liked Greek mythology....

huh huh... Aphrodite.. huh

-Flexible Elf

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[Joachim]

looks really nice Flexible Elf ! I really like the colors and the composition of this one. Also, a really nice height feeling from that well designed landscape. some small things that could be improved, I think is.... the characters except the guys killing, looks a bit stiff in their poses. Also, you could have done a bit with the lightning position on them, they blend a bit too much with the background. And also since you've made the sun a bit behind, they could have gotten a bit more of a "silhouettish" look which I think could have improved the picture. Also, since it's such a bright daytime, I think it seems a bit odd that you have the glow from the sun coming in on the sky that low and with a such thin reflectionline on the water...more like for a evening setting don't you think?. maybe the boats could have been removed as well ?!?
But, what the hey, don't take it to hard, I'm not saying this because I don't like it. There's always things to improve with a piece, but the picture is absolutely beautiful !

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Joachim's Place

[Flexible Elf]

Thank you Joachim!

I definitely was concerned about the poses for sure.. the part I was shady on (no pun intended) was the lighting and I think you're right about the silhouette comment. Maybe the bounced light from the hilltop was too strong. As for the sun reflection, I'll have to take a peep at some photo reference I think to get a better idea on how it should look. I'll definitely spend more time on my poses.

-Flexible Elf

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[Flexible Elf]

I think next time I'll opt for a more dramatic angle... and to make Achilles a little more imposing I probably should have had him arching back with the strike rather than leaning forward into it. He looks a little more stunted but if you line it up he's much bigger than the two other guys.

What to do next.. what to do next.

/me scratches his head



-Flexible Elf

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[Chapel]

Are you going to go off on a greek god tear? Maybe you should do some of the other ones. Zeus or Hercules or Trident...maybe Aphrodite?

[Joachim]

flexible, for the fun of it, I just rendered a simple anim, to show what I ment about the reflection thing
Hehe, now you must think, "don't I have anything better to do ?!?"



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Joachim's Place

[spooge demon]

Go elf!

Your values, shapes and colors are really improving. Hmmm... What else is there?

Yes, dropping the contrast like J said might be nice, to give a back lit feel.

Watch that black that you used to abuse, you are almost free. But don't get too fancy like me and loose all the punch.

[Chapel]

That is a cool animation Joachim!

[Flexible Elf]

Hehe Joachim. that animation rocks, I appreciate that alot. I couldn't find any real good examples of that. It helps me quite a bit actually.

How often do you guys ever find yourselves just making simple shapes in a 3d program like Bryce, etc. to reference lighting, shadow and reflection? It seems like a great way to figure out the basics at least without total photo-reference.

Thanks spooge! Seeing you saying I'm improving is a great endorsement and yes I am the king of unnecessary black contrast and line. I shall break the chains! hehe. But if I can pack half the punch that you do in your images I'll be thrilled

-Flexible Elf

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[Jenn]

Hey.. The sexy elf did it again.. Tho I must admit I think your other images had a little more punch to them this one is very nice.

Maybe its me but this image looks a little light

Keep if coming FE
-smooch-

Nice stuff



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DarkChyld

[Silico]

yeah, i think i'd have to agree with jenn on this one.

don't get me wrong, this is truely amazing stuff!! i dunno, it doesn't seem as moody as your other ones... hrmm, anyways yeah you seriously one of my favorite artists!! i love your ectoplasm man guy thing!! so keep up the ultimate work!!


p.s- oh yeah, about that comic thing, i'd really like you to post it on the board when you finish it!! i got so into it when i read it! the comic got to me more than any other one, i have never been very in to comics but then yours... suprem-o and i love it

[Superbug]

DAmn! That's a nice pic flex. It really feels like greece!! And that blood looks so yummy i could eat it!

[shahar2k]

if you want a real great program to reference landscapes off of, try http:/www.planetside.co.uk
it's called Terragen I'm sure some people here are familiar with it
here's my favorite pics made with terragen

[Flexible Elf]

Thanks a million peoples

I should have that comic done real soon if not tonight. I'm always at least 4 ideas behind on my paintings it seems

-Flexible Elf

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[Rob M]

Fexible Elf, I gotta say, I love this image.
I especially like the surrounding hillsides.

Just one question about his attack.

Achilles ran the man on the right through with his blade, then pushed him off, brought the sword around, and then cut into the second man's throat. Correct?