Nature: Dryad

Painting \ Figure | 06/19/05 @569 | tigerzi | critiques (27) | views (2245)

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Description

This is my final piece for AS level art coursework on the theme of 'Natural Forms'.
It took me a while to justify how exactly this related back to natural forms, something to do with the personification of nature... humanity, its relationship with nature and its right to class itself as a natural form... blegh something like that.

Countless hours on Photoshop Elements clutching my Wacom Intuos tablet (I would be lost without it), I stupidly didn't use any references to create the dryad, apart from a mirror to help with parts of the face and torso that really threatened my sanity. I have to admit to cheating and using a photo for the background, which I suppose makes this image qualify for photo-manipulation status - if I'm being an idiot and putting this in the wrong section, please don't hesitate to tell me!

I feel the need to quote my inspirations, firstly the existance of the art nouveau-esque rings behind her is due to an obsession of mine with Alphonse Mucha, and I realise that stylistically, because of this, my picture looks similar to Blackeri's recent seven sins series, which absolutely stunned me and I would be lying if I claim they did not influence this picture just a bit! ^_^u

Okay enough babble, enjoy! Critique is welcome, I can only grow through recognising my mistakes, and I keep seeing more and more in this piece! Agh.

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Comments (27)

Diane

06/19/05 @573

Beautiful painting, even if the right arm is too small. Very well done!

+5/5

bellas

06/19/05 @577

nice work for only 16 years old

you have talent

AbbERLINE

06/19/05 @580

the anatomy could be better but it´s fine. keep working

gktuncay

06/19/05 @589

Bellas said what I wished to!
Unbelievable talent at age 16!
Keep up the good work, practice on anatomy!
+Top Marks

Sinkinson

06/19/05 @609

Great painting. I like the colours you've used.

Very nice idea.

darturbrain

06/19/05 @658

yea you really have talent, and this is outstanding, great use of colors
me like

+5/5

SandraS

06/19/05 @669

WOOOAH

curlyhair

06/19/05 @691

I like the colors.It's very original and well done.I won't tell you about small problems-it's already told by others.I think it's great
9 by my side

tigerzi

06/19/05 @736

Wow, such lovely sweet comments! Thanks so much everyone!
Diane; I hadn't noticed the smallness of the right arm. :S Thanks so much for pointing that out!
I feel a hugging binge coming on. *community love*

SinisterUrge

06/19/05 @790

Really cool painting, and your only 16? Holy s*%t, there are a lot of great young talent on this site. 7/8

Crow

06/19/05 @821

you're sixteen? man, you're good at that age.. I like that one.

Crow

06/19/05 @840

anyway, after picking my jaw from floor and reading your description, I must admit I'm surprised you used photograph for background. Background is totally unimportant here, it needs no awesome details, so you could have slapped something with photographic values in there, something you painted

Just pick a crisp edge brush, and dark color and start building depth with tree trunks. Darkest values to front, then by using the opacity tool, fade the value lighter when moving further away. You can even use motion blurred and color corrected lens flare as a lightsource, then slap some textures and textured brushes and color variation, different hazes etc.

Here's an example, sorry about, what seems like color blindness, of me. Took me 30 mins or so. Easy as a pie compared to character work you did.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/Sir_Ranath/sepia.jpg

Not the best example, but you get the point.

tigerzi

06/19/05 @920

Argh that must be the most helpful comment I've ever received, Crow! *cling* I LOVE YOU!
I was petrified of doing the background to be honest. Im such a perfectionist, I just know I would have overdetailed and it would have ended up awful, but your comment just made it all seem so simple! I will have to try, maybe if I can bear to look at this thing again i'll try and give it a shot! Thank you for giving me confidence!

ei-en

06/20/05 @964

amazing work

Crow

06/20/05 @023

well, about overdetailing, the background is now a bit too crisp compared to the character actually. The darkerst values of the painting are in those trees, they take the focus off the character quite a bit. Also, edges and details on nearest tree trunks are really crisp, that really doesn't go with quite paintery and soft style of the character.

I took a right to tweak it a bit, tell me if you want it removed. It's a bit of a pointer with the values and detail, how to bring the character up more crisp and strong. (I paid no attention to those circles, sorry

)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/Sir_Ranath/crow-nature-manip.jpg

BlacKeri

06/20/05 @434

Great pic =) I love the composition and the character. Good job!

ARTOONATOR

06/20/05 @677

Well, this counts for painting according to me. The only problem there is that the contrast of the background is higher than that in the forground. It troubles my eyes... But Crow allready mentioned what you can do about that. His latest version is a very good example.
Other than that, it's great. Good visual concept, love the jugendstil, great dramatic pose and styling. Good job. Your optic sence of natural logics is extremely high for a girl your age. High EQ?

thienbao

06/20/05 @822

Beautiful!!

BaronImpossible

06/20/05 @950

Excellent overall colour scheme

Great figure

On the whole, good composition, except her hair just touches the top border. Try not to have anything just touching the border, either leave space or overlap.

Interesting shape combination, the vertical lines and the circle

You're not cheating by using a photo, because you said that you had used one, which is fine. But why? You're capable of painting a better background than that. Believe me, a photo in a painting is always visible at first glance, and in my experience always (yes, always) decreases the quality of that painting.
+9/10. If you'd painted the background that would've been 10, and I almost never give 10's

Congrats on the Epi ed's pick BTW, nice going

Jane

06/21/05 @742

Commenting upon the woman figure you painted: Great work!

Her stomach looks good, the colouring is wonderful. The only thing you should take notice of is that her right upper arm is too short.
Keep it up and paint more!

tigerzi

06/21/05 @937

Thank you so much for all this incredible feedback, everyone - I wasn't expecting such a wonderful response!
Crow, you are as ever wonderful, your 'tweaking' is fantastic - maybe a bit too bright on her face, but I can see exactly what you're saying about the values and saturation between bg/foreground, and THANK YOU for taking the time to help me!
Artoonator and BaronImpossible, what WONDERFUL critiques, I really appreciate your advice - I will be sure to stay away from using photographs, though painting a background might just kill me :S But i will experiment and I will LEARN! muahaha

Crow

06/22/05 @341

well yeah, sorry.. blew the contrast there, should have decreased more from bg in the first place, not push it with character until it got that weird dodge effect.

nahtanojmal

06/22/05 @350

WHOA
Where did you learn to paint like that?
Are you sure your 16?

Quizzical

06/22/05 @442

nahtanojmal - yes, she is very much 16. ^^
Forgive me that I'm too exhausted to go spastic for the fourth time, McLucy. I assure you the awe and pride continues. XD

MayYeo

06/26/05 @583

If you dun say the BG it's a photo I didn't notice it. I have to love the shading and the composition, and the theme the most!! I love the green lights on her. Everything is amazing except... I find the arm kinda "skinny" and "short". See what I mean? That's all. Great job!

ayle

06/26/05 @682

This is wonderful!

alebrije

04/09/07 @277

Beautiful!

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Nature: Dryad

Painting \ Figure | 06/19/05 @569 | tigerzi | critiques (27) | views (2245)

Description

Recent: 0 votes, 0 points

Total: 36 votes, 269 points

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Comments (27)

06/19/05 @573

06/19/05 @577

06/19/05 @580

06/19/05 @589

06/19/05 @609

06/19/05 @658

06/19/05 @669

06/19/05 @691

06/19/05 @736

06/19/05 @790

06/19/05 @821

06/19/05 @840

06/19/05 @920

06/20/05 @964

06/20/05 @023

06/20/05 @434

06/20/05 @677

06/20/05 @822

06/20/05 @950

06/21/05 @742

06/21/05 @937

06/22/05 @341

06/22/05 @350

06/22/05 @442

06/26/05 @583

06/26/05 @682

04/09/07 @277

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