[SHAP00PI]

Another alchemy image, I really like the laid back way the program makes me work, the randomness of all the shapes really lets you envision things, its amazing :)

Now I needa find a way to take these further..

Thanks for viewing, have a nice day!!

[Hyptosis]

Hey, neat stuff! ^^ Alchemy looks like fun too. =]

[CB3]

Originally Posted by SHAP00PI

thanks a la bapsi <3

Not an update in this post, but a question..

Was painting today, from reference, was a snow mountain (cliche) anyway, I was having trouble suggesting detail in my strokes, and was finding when painting detail that it was unnatural and there were too many value and saturation differences for it to be believable. Not sure how to go about suggesting detail, settled snow, rock extrusions etc. without making it stick out like a saw thumb.

I'm not sure, will try again tomorrow and see how I go.

Thanks for looking, have a great day :)

That's kind of tough Shapster, being that there are so many different variables involved per subject/enviro/etc, but one of the best ways to go about "suggesting" detail is to make use of contrast via edges in your images, (soft vs. hard; using softer edges to merely imply at some of the greater forms involved) and combine this practice with your knowledge of how light and shade will affect the various 'planes' of a given object.

Just for example, if you study Dominic's 'King of the Sea' painting, you will see where rocks in the middle-ground/bkg, have LESS sharpness, and tonal clarity along their edges and surfaces, than those rocks nearest to the foreground. (only 'suggesting' at their broader details)
The studies your doing here with the cast shadows can play their part for you in this as well, as there is a similar correlation to be found, but yep, it takes just a little practice at first to recognize the overall method, and it's uses; and of course, a much greater deal of practice for any of us to develop, and master it just as well as he has managed to do in his works.

[SHAP00PI]

Really good point there CB3, I agree, I'm my own worst enemy when it comes to judging my work.. I'm not sure what it is, but I either get caught up in details, or I'm not sure where to put the details, once again, Practise is the key word, but finding what to practise on is another thing :)

Thanks for taking the time, and thanks Hyptosis, Alchemy is great!.

[SHAP00PI]

Hey guys, once again, sorry for being so lazy.. I just have been so strict on what I upload, quality wise anyway.

Heres a quick prac I did in photoshop because atm I am really considering going back to photoshop for painting, it is so far more superior to painter in so many ways, photoshop has its flaws, but not gaping flaws like painter.

Here ya go, was fun, found it really easy to add in blue hues for lighting and to blend out, something I was having difficulties with in painter.. :)

Gosh, I feel like such a noob (lol, irony, i am one)

[SHAP00PI]

My first matte painting, was real inspired by another matte painter, and that got me motivated enough to finally dabble in something i really love.

Wanted to illustrate some sort of chinese inspired defense system that was in the middle east, the base plate was the desert plane, I added the buildings, and painted the rest, rock, wooden thing in the horizon and a few clouds

I'm happy with it, but know it is real uninspiring, so critique is welcomed

Not sure how a Matte painting is different from a manipulation, because I found the piece to be really manipulation heavy, in-terms of colour correction, clone stamping etc. and there didn't seem to be a whole lot of painting involved :/

[SHAP00PI]

I think i've found a new love.. matte painting!!

So fun.. I was always too lazy to complete a painting or illustration so being able to combine manipulation skills with my knowledge of painting has been a blast!!

The idea behind this matte is a lost city/village where outsiders must trek for days on end to reach it, it is surrounded by a beautiful river, and is concealed by surrounded mountains and foliage.

I'll attach the base plate to give you guys a rough idea of where I started, but basically, I painted and cloned the water, painted the sureline, that little path and house on the left, the waterfalls, river leading up to mountains and the houses :)

The plate is a tiny res so I haven't been able to do much detailing, thanks to xdreamer for the plate, btw!

This is a wip, also, so I should be updating this periodically with updates :)

[SHAP00PI]

Update, painted foreground foliage, castle on the left, and just tweaked and adjusted stuff.. colours are beginning to annoy me, not quite sure..

I'm happy that I've stuck this one out, I usually give up after a few days.. but it is beginning to become a pain in the ass too look at it :/ colours are shit..

[SHAP00PI]

Finally finished this mofo, I'm happy with my outcome in terms of the workflow, if I made a mistake I fixed it, was a really fun project, and took a pretty long time, haha!