CHOW#94 - Guest Host: JessieBean Topic: Yin & Yang

[Oblio]

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff185/CA_Chow/ChowLines/chow-lines-1.jpg


ROUND #94

YIN and YANG



Andrei:

Okay! I've decided I'd like the theme to be the Yin and the Yang:

In traditional eastern cultures and religions, the Yin and Yang are a system of cosmic balance, dark vs. light, good vs. evil, male vs. female, etc.

For this chow there need to be two characters who are polar opposites and yet, through their contrast and conflict, balance one another out. The yin-yang symbol does not have to be in the image unless you want it to, nor does this have to be Asian inspired. The emphasis WILL be on contrasting personalities and the relationship between the two. Be creative with your opposites!

More info on the Yin/Yang dynamic relationship: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yin_and_yang
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_philosophy

:^^:
Cheers,
--Jessica

_________________________________
Now concept!!





:right: FOLLOW THE TOPIC.
:grandpa: You will receive votes for every successful representation of the topic elements. The ammount of votes will be listed in the round topic. Description is optional.

:right: POST YOUR FINAL IN THE FINAL BURNING THREAD.


:right: SAVE YOUR FILES IN THE FOLLOWING FORMAT. Chow##_Nickname
example: "CHOW#100_Oblio.jpg" ;)

:right: PLACE THE IMAGE IN A FRAME WITH YOUR NAME/TOPIC

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i222/ChowPics/frame.jpg
(you can add CA logo, etc).

-------------------------
DEADLINE
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28
The way the deadline works: if deadline is on a Sunday and your image is posted on that Sunday 23:59 your local time it's a good entry.
In fact - as long there is Sunday somewhere on the planet your entry is ok. I will make the poll sometimes Monday afternoon my time (GMT +2) yet i'll have a look at the last entries.
--------------------------

There are new rules.


POST YOUR FINALS IN THE FINAL BURNING THREAD!
also - remember to include your nickname in the filename.

About quality - as general rule: if your shapes and values are not decent - you are out. watch proportions, perspective etc. we need perfectly readable shapes and coherent, consistent values.

_____________
Please try to save your progress - maybe a nice tutorial is coming out.
BE PROFESSIONAL - only finished and good quality entries will be taken to the poll. The host will make the selection.


DON'T FORGET YOUR PRIZE! THE WINNER OF THIS ROUND WILL SELECT THE TOPIC OF THE NEXT ONE!

And will assist me in selecting the entries for the poll. In one week we'll have a new client.Vote him now <3

[Daray]

Nice topic! *waits for the staggering amount of angels and demons* ;)

[Blaz]

Oooh nice topic...I might actually make something..

...and this time for real! :O

[newman]

cool! nice topic.

[Rist]

Deadline is wrong, sorry to be the gramhammer. Just slap me.

I would really love to join these some day ---->>busy bunny.

[edujante]

Very interesting topic!oh yeah!

[daestwen]

I am totally in.

It looks like for the next 7 weeks I'm in whether I'd choose to or not - as I've officially been given this contest as weekly homework...

[JessiBean]

Nice topic! *waits for the staggering amount of angels and demons* ;)

Hopefully not TOOO awful many of those, though it could be a good spin :^^:

and Daestwen: what an awesome idea, CHOWs make good homework, I think. Excited to see what you come up with!

[daestwen]

JessiBean: I know! I'm kind of proud of myself for weaseling my way into this one, personally. >D

I admit that angel/demon is tempting... haha, but now that it's expected I can't do it! >O

[solorpower]

I think that angels and demons are a typical yet eternal theme that will never go away. There are many cool ways to depict them, but I also think I may have to sway away from the spiritual theme. This week should be a fun one!

[Olof]

Wouldn't want to ruin a nice topic, but isn't this alot like the "bipolar man" chow that was a year ago?

I'm doing one however :) (or two I might say?)

.peace

[grenogs]

this is sooo open, though for some reason the devil and sadam hussain from south park comes to mind at the moment :)

[Georgeous]

For this chow there need to be two characters
To bad! Started sketching on a character with split personality, could that count as two characters?

[JessiBean]

To bad! Started sketching on a character with split personality, could that count as two characters?

Afraid not, like MorteM pointed out, Chow has covered split personalities not too long ago, the point of this one is to have two elements who are separate but in balance, not the same person. So it's not a split personality, it's opposites. The brief is still very open, as there are an awful lot of opposites one can cover...
Hope that helps!
:^^:

[fydbac]

Great topic: so many possibilities...definitely promotes outside thinking.

[navarrot]

people, don't you think these topics begin to be too abstract? It is supposed that this is an exercice to prectice a kind of brief we could recieve someday.
In this case: Ying and yang... They are two characters for a movie? a tv spot? a videogame?

I'm sorry but I think that without these details the exercice will be useless.

More opinions?
:[

[Daray]

JessiBean:
I admit that angel/demon is tempting... haha, but now that it's expected I can't do it! >O

haha same here! I keep sketching and thinking 'horns may look nice... bollocks!'

;)

[Monika Gruszka]

great topic, Jessi! I'm in:)

[Poojipoo]

Wee, this time I'm for sure gonna join in! Missed a couple CHOWs and I gotta make up for it. :/

EDIT: Took me long enough, but I finally got it up here! Here you go!

http://www.deatsfeats.com/images/chow94_yinyang.jpg

[Sorknes]

haha same here! I keep sketching and thinking 'horns may look nice... bollocks!'

;)

Same with me.... I saw this topic earlier today, and thought "I better keep away from angels and demons, it's a giveaway...." and now I'm doodling at work trying to find something that works and every now and then my mind wanders to "That would probably look better with a tail.... oh snap!"....

:nohope:

[JessiBean]

people, don't you think these topics begin to be too abstract? It is supposed that this is an exercice to prectice a kind of brief we could recieve someday.
In this case: Ying and yang... They are two characters for a movie? a tv spot? a videogame?

I'm sorry but I think that without these details the exercice will be useless.

More opinions?
:[

While some briefs can be very concise or specific, they can also be very abstract (especially when it comes to Illustration, which is what my background is in) I will say this is the first CHOW I've gotten to pick so I cannot vouch for past topics, and I chose this topic because 1) I am often impressed when someone can turn an abstract concept into a personified character and 2) I love how many exciting interpretations can come from a simple beginning like a symbol. Part of the idea is to follow the brief, the other part is to be as creative as possible. An AD hires someone because they appreciate their personal voice and creative spin on things, not just for their technical ability because there are an awful lot of technically talented people out there.

And any time spent on practice to hone one's skills is never, ever useless. In any case, I do hope you'll participate, and if you win, you can be the next A.D. :^^:

[MarkWinters]

people, don't you think these topics begin to be too abstract? It is supposed that this is an exercice to prectice a kind of brief we could recieve someday.
In this case: Ying and yang... They are two characters for a movie? a tv spot? a videogame?

I'm sorry but I think that without these details the exercice will be useless.

More opinions?
:[
I've done some work for Mattel and their briefs go from uber specific by giving me the characters' stats (height, weight, age, sex, race etc) and I've had briefs as vague as we want the villains to be aliens but not LOOK like aliens and not look human either. Go! I personally like the Yin and Yang topic. It makes me stretch my creative thinking muscles - which are puny and underdeveloped like my real muscles...:S

[PuppyKitten]

I'm really excited for this one! Not just about drawing it, but about seeing what direction everyone takes it in.

Now that angel/demon is off the table (for most people) it's gonna be a real versatile topic. Whee!

[grenogs]

people, don't you think these topics begin to be too abstract? It is supposed that this is an exercice to prectice a kind of brief we could recieve someday.
In this case: Ying and yang... They are two characters for a movie? a tv spot? a videogame?

I'm sorry but I think that without these details the exercice will be useless.

More opinions?
:[

I had the exact same opinions as you when i first started these, and to some extent i still do, but i've come to realise that by not aiming it specifically to one direction, eg- video games, concept art, illustration, movies, etc... I've been able to use it to my advantage. Example, chow#92 and #93 was great for my portfolio as i'm a book illustrator. And those chow subjects that dont fit my portfolio are those from which i can experiment and have fun with and aim it towards a new direction.

Just want to mention though, On a personal level The last few chow's have been great, i've always prefered the idea of some added requirements to the brief(makes things a little more demanding) instead of the simple one heading briefs, with no information that we have had sometimes in the past.

[navarrot]

OK ok, it is too difficult for me to express some kind of subtil details about what I tryed dto express. And in fact i like a lot these activities as they are. So doesn't matter, Forget what I said.

JessiBean, I like the topic. Nothing more to say :)

[Liam Harvey]

i may do something.
unfortunately i doubt the standards of what i end up producing will be viable for entry.

can we post wips in this forum? or no?

[newman]

the oldest difference of all!
its cheesy going for the man/woman thing i know, but i'm going to try and work in some more stuff as well; light/dark soft/hard big/small etc.
i haven't got loads of time this week so i'll see how far i get...

::edit:: lunchtime update x2

[grenogs]

Are we limited to just human figures, or are animals aloud to be our yin and yang?

[deviousg]

Making a costume this week - probably won't have time...

[ACRO]

finally back .....
im down 4 this one

[OldJake666]

newman wouldnt one of them be clothed in order to have the ultimate contrast? ;)

[grenogs]

newman wouldnt one of them be clothed in order to have the ultimate contrast? ;)

or mabe even no skin;)

[JessiBean]

Are we limited to just human figures, or are animals aloud to be our yin and yang?

Animals are fine, sure... so long as you show character :^^:

Newman, LOVE the spin and the way you're heading

Some sketches -- going for Creation vs. Chaos, celestial beings, etc. More soon...
223640

[S.C. Watson]

I've got some wicked ideas forming for this one. Just wondering if I'm going to have the time to pull it off...
I may have to go head to head with Jessibean on the line-work this week :needle:

[rodriguez]

Quick sketch of one my characters probably change quite a bit tho


http://img103.imageshack.us/img103/1524/wipie7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[JessiBean]

I've got some wicked ideas forming for this one. Just wondering if I'm going to have the time to pull it off...
I may have to go head to head with Jessibean on the line-work this week :needle:

Oooo, throwdown!
Good, cause I wanted to really push my lines, I've been getting lazy.
:wink:

[rjparamonte]

Here's my rough... Not sure how much yin and yang is coming through yet. Plenty of opposites between the two figures, but I figure it'll change some by the end.

[scottmcd]

I'm not going to have time this week. :frustrated:

It's annoying because I've got what I think is a decent idea. Namely an old, frail tribal shaman applying ritual paint to his best hunter before an expedition. One feeds the body, the other the spirit. Both are needed for the tribe to survive. The hunter is on his knees before the shaman but is still about as tall as the old man.

Maybe I'll try to squeeze it in...

[bumskee]

great topic!! refreshing..

[solorpower]

Life and Death. I got the faces where I like them, so now I need to start adding color.

(I noticed some things wrong, so I am going to adjust them.......)

(Original pencil drawing, some blending)...
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/chow94_sketch.jpg

I'm updating to include my progress.....and for later reference.

Added background color for mood...
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/chow94a_web.jpg

Values started....
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/chow94b_web.jpg

Finishing some values here......and working on the details still...
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/chow94c_web.jpg

Started to add some color.....I did the values with the Conte brush (In Painter), and I'm doing washes of Digital Watercolor. I'll go back and lighten some areas as this seems to be getting saturated a bit. Everything is still in the rough stages.....
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/chow94d_web.jpg

Another progress shot........going for the final touches and fixing some hues/values......
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/chow94e_web.jpg

Final
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b335/solorpower/chow94_solorpower.jpg

[S.C. Watson]

Juan, check this: http://www.furiae.com/gallery/spoiled.jpg

I think you're in the safe zone, but it's the first thing that popped into my head when I saw your image.

If you're not familiar with Linda Bergkvist's work, you can see more here: http://www.furiae.com

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[Chance.]

Bah...

I probly won't finish this either.

Still, it stimulates the brain juices.

[humboldt squid]

Here's what I have so far.

[Stephan_R]

*placeholder*

I'm in finally :P nearly done... such a great topic.

[solorpower]

Juan, check this: http://www.furiae.com/gallery/spoiled.jpg

I think you're in the safe zone, but it's the first thing that popped into my head when I saw your image.

If you're not familiar with Linda Bergkvist's work, you can see more here: http://www.furiae.com

Cheers,
~Oreg.
This idea just came to me, it might have have influenced by Linda's or Michael Whelan's work, where he uses 2 women to represent summer and winter, but I have not visited their websites in a long time.

I wanted to paint women to make it a more pleasing painting for me. But I see what you mean.

[JessiBean]

rjparamonte - I can see where you're going, and it could be pretty awesome. Make sure the contrast is reinforced by something other than size here... the guy in the back makes me think of the round, laughing buddha. Are you going for a master/servant type relationship? Perhaps you have a gluttonous deity and his emaciated priest serving him? Just thoughts...

solorpower - I think you're far enough from Linda's piece to be okay, though I can see the influence. It is REALLY lovely... enjoying the process. It may just be that you're halfway, but the one on the left's face is looking a teeny bit flat about the chin/cheek, and since the rest of the figure is so detailed and right on, it stands out some. (no more nitpicking)

chance - what an interesting concept! I do hope you can invest more in it, it has a lot of potential...

humboldt squid - I love the humor in this one! it's early days, I know, just make sure you push that contrast as you go along...
:^^:

Stephan R - nearly done already? wow... can't wait to see...

[bluki]

my entry... this time i just want to focus my whole energy on the characters, without thinking much about the background...

the concept is pretty much standard yin-yang:
robot / machine >< human
male >< female
gun >< sword
you'll see more of these concept when i'm going to the color stage:
Black >< white
Red >< blue

and the character's name are Indigo (male) and vermilion (female) they're assassins, a team / partner....
i appreciate any input for it.

[grenogs]

bluki red><blue? i think you mean orange><blue or red><green or even yellow><violet.

also gun><sword may be a bit pushing it, lazer weapon><rock might be a better one.

[solorpower]

solorpower - I think you're far enough from Linda's piece to be okay, though I can see the influence. It is REALLY lovely... enjoying the process. It may just be that you're halfway, but the one on the left's face is looking a teeny bit flat about the chin/cheek, and since the rest of the figure is so detailed and right on, it stands out some. (no more nitpicking)

Thanks Jessi. I was actually working on her face/chin area today.....I may just have to re-draw her face again or go to a reference. Its funny how this piece reminds people of Linda's work. It's totally coincidental......started out as an idea and a pencil sketch, but I wanted to try a dress versus some skin-tight outfit (which is cool also to do). I saw the bird that Linda did, and the similarities with dresses in her work. :rendered:

[S.C. Watson]

This idea just came to me, it might have have influenced by Linda's or Michael Whelan's work, where he uses 2 women to represent summer and winter, but I have not visited their websites in a long time.

I wanted to paint women to make it a more pleasing painting for me. But I see what you mean.

heya,

I wasn't trying to imply that you were copying her piece - sorry if it came out that way :[

What struck me was the bird/skull/death theme, really. I should have been more clear on that. I'll shut up now.

In other news, my scanner of ten years has finally gone senile. No matter what I put on the bed, it gives me a pretty white scan. :er:

~Oreg.

[bluki]

bluki red><blue? i think you mean orange><blue or red><green or even yellow><violet.

also gun><sword may be a bit pushing it, lazer weapon><rock might be a better one.

yeah pretty much when we play multiplayer games the opposing teams always coded with red and blue....., so that's why i pick the color.... :\

and lazer weapon >< rock???? lol, i dunno 'bout that.

[thetempest]

Hiya, Here is a WIP from me, I dunno whether i got the skills to get my idea across right now but I'm trying to show creation and destruction (much like sheva) but i think that encompasses to me fertility and sterility as well as beauty and revulsion,

Anyway hope I can finish this week and would love some harsh crits to help me out,

http://i211.photobucket.com/albums/bb191/thetempest_photo/ying.jpg

Ta!

[monstertree]

Here's my rough lines, just flung them out today so expect a lot of undefined areas to be changed for the final :)

[Chance.]

We want to see some more progress from you Jessi!

Hey, I don't know where the best place to ask this is, so I'll just fire it off here and hopefully someone will know.

What is this new "thanks" thing all about? Did they make an announcement somewhere and I missed it?

One thing that I would like to see more of amongst the entries, is contrast.

Yin and Yang imply counterbalancing yet Opposite forces. The better we can emphasize the difference between our characters, the stronger our pieces.

anyway, those are my two cents

[MarkWinters]

We want to see some more progress from you Jessi!

Hey, I don't know where the best place to ask this is, so I'll just fire it off here and hopefully someone will know.

What is this new "thanks" thing all about? Did they make an announcement somewhere and I missed it?


You check the thread here:

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?t=109024

[grenogs]

yeah pretty much when we play multiplayer games the opposing teams always coded with red and blue....., so that's why i pick the color.... :\

and lazer weapon >< rock???? lol, i dunno 'bout that.

ah, very true, i didnt even concider gaming, lol i just automaticly thought colour wheel, lol

ok, maybe not rock, how about balistic missile><stick :bashful:

[rjparamonte]

Actually Jess you hit the two major nails on the head with your read of it, so that's encouraging hehe. I'll see if I can bring out more yin and yang, maybe opposite expressions and constrating warm and cold colors.

I think this is going to be a tour de force as far as entries when all's said and done.

[solorpower]

heya,

I wasn't trying to imply that you were copying her piece - sorry if it came out that way :[

What struck me was the bird/skull/death theme, really. I should have been more clear on that. I'll shut up now.

In other news, my scanner of ten years has finally gone senile. No matter what I put on the bed, it gives me a pretty white scan. :er:

~Oreg.
OH......I didn't even realize that! "el-oh-el".....

I'm not too sure on the birds, I might pick a different creature all together, and maybe add a snake to "Death" - but that would be a living creature...so....

As far as "Life", I think a string of colorful butterflies flying out of her hand should contrast nicely with Death's black dress and lifeless creatures (Life will be pearly white with colors....) Should be fun so I better get to painting......

[timothee]

I've been taking care of some personal stuff the last couple of weeks, but I had to get in on this week's CHOW. It was a bit daunting doing the initial brainstorming, but I got something down on paper:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r146/timdeplace/YinandYang-small.jpg
These two characters are brothers. They fight together during battles, using each other's strong points to defeat the enemy. I tried to emphasize contrast, as in: organic vs. synthetic, massive vs. compact, offense vs. defense, etc.

Final:
http://i143.photobucket.com/albums/r146/timdeplace/CHOW94_yinyang5_timotheecopy.jpg

[Nerahla]

all these excellent, excellent sketchers/drawers makes me want to cry and rip my hair out.

10 more years and MAYBE I'll be that good. But then I'll be 44. /sigh

[JessiBean]

In other news, my scanner of ten years has finally gone senile. No matter what I put on the bed, it gives me a pretty white scan.

Is this scanner an HP? I have been using the same HP scanner for about 5 or 6 years, chugging along, but getting a little crappier with time (most of my electronics do that), and then the POS just up and croaks one day... I went to HP online to trouble shoot (which was less then helpful) and on a whim downloaded a new driver (the fancy pants ImageZone one). It was like Lazarus rising from the dead, he's working like a champ now... who knew? Maybe it'll help...
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html?pageDisplay=support

Also, Monstertree - wow... I'm guessing nature vs. man made? or something down that path. Love the mood brewing already.

thetempest - intellectually I love your concept (I'm kinda headed the same way, so of course I love it) I think you just need to push further, maybe incorporate some of the Indian symbolism? Further rendering will also help, so it may just be early days on this one...

timothee - I dig your concept, I think fleshing out in rendering will sell it more (really PUNCH the fact that one is organic, the other is mechanical) The dude on the left's expression is priceless.

solorpower - never underestimate the power of a flowy dress. they sucker me in all the damn time... ;)

rjparamonte - excellent! looking forward to more...
and I agree, some great stuff coming out, methinks. And look, it's only Wednesday...

Some progress from me (for Chance) -- Pardon the quickie scan (I hate piecing these damn things together) I'm getting awful involved in the lines, and this week is SO busy (Big Halloween party on Sat., lots of prep still to do, hand dying from pumpkin carving) I'm praying I finish...
224625

Right! I have drawing to do!
Happy CHOWing...
:^^:

[S.C. Watson]

all these excellent, excellent sketchers/drawers makes me want to cry and rip my hair out.

10 more years and MAYBE I'll be that good. But then I'll be 44. /sigh
hey Nerahla,

I'm 36 (soon to be 37 :xpld: ), and I totally understand how you feel. Some of these young kids make me just want to give up sometimes. But the way I figure it, what I lack in age I make up for in experience, meanness, and just sheer stubbornness :frustrated: !

Put the pencil to the paper and show 'em what ya got - If ya can't do it pretty yet, do it ugly, but just do it! :yayca:

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[S.C. Watson]

Is this scanner an HP? I have been using the same HP scanner for about 5 or 6 years, chugging along, but getting a little crappier with time (most of my electronics do that), and then the POS just up and croaks one day... I went to HP online to trouble shoot (which was less then helpful) and on a whim downloaded a new driver (the fancy pants ImageZone one). It was like Lazarus rising from the dead, he's working like a champ now... who knew? Maybe it'll help...
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html?pageDisplay=support


Thanks Jessi. It's actually an old Mikrotech Scan Maker IV. The driver idea is a good one. I'll check that out.

Your line work is beautiful, btw. I think you've beat me, hands down, there.

That said, I think you'll dig what I'm doing. I want to finish it off before posting it. Cheap, I know, but there you have it ;)

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[JessiBean]

Thanks Jessi. It's actually an old Mikrotech Scan Maker IV. The driver idea is a good one. I'll check that out.

Your line work is beautiful, btw. I think you've beat me, hands down, there.

That said, I think you'll dig what I'm doing. I want to finish it off before posting it. Cheap, I know, but there you have it ;)

Cheers,
~Oreg.

Issue 1: My pleasure.

Issue 2: Thank you! Though having you beat remains to be seen... and on that count...

Issue 3: You scallywag! Alright, alright... I shall sit here, flexing my pencil and waiting patiently... :teeth:

[PuppyKitten]

You guys this is haaaard ;_;

*whiney*

I am hitting so many walls and then I come here and see all the pretty WIPs.

[Chance.]

Jessi, I love the way you worked the symbol into it. I'll bet most of the rest of us thought about trying that, but didn't have the guts or the skills to pull it off. Yours is looking great, thanks for the update.

I just popped over to your sig link at deviantart. You are a VCU graduate!!!??? Wicked. I'm applying in about a month and am currently finishing my portfolio.
I'm guessing that you went through the communication arts program? Boy would I like to pick your brain sometime. I'm either going that route or for kinetic imaging. (if I'm accepted that is)
It doesn't surprise me that you came out of one of the best schools in the country, I can see it in the strength of your work. Apparently everyone else can too, seeing how you have won chow two weeks in a row.
Keep on inspiring us!

Oh, and get a sketchbook so we can see some of the other stuff you are working on!

Maybe some more comments on everyone else's work tomorrow.:P

[lindsy liu]

Am I doing this right? *pokes screen*
Howdy everyone. Im a newbie here. This is my first post and Im really excited to try out this CHOW. You are all such spectacular artists that I'm a bit intimidated! :bashful:
This is something I sketched out today while in math lecture. Umm my yin and yang idea is not very apparent I think...

If you can see in the tiny circle at the bottom is a child sleeping and the two main figures are dreams. The female figure represents good dreams while the male figure represents nightmares. Those little blobby things wrapped around their arms are going to be in the yin and yang shapes and each will contain images representing either good dreams or bad dreams. ehehe its all a little convoluted I know.:nohope:
http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/8441/chowsc1uy0.jpg

My brother tells me that the circle looks like an embryo and that the two figures look like a mom and dad. HA! Can anyone think of a way to strengthen my idea? Am I following the guidelines correctly so far?

Thank you all for your help!

[JessiBean]

Chance - congrats on a GREAT choice of schools... there are actually a few of my classmates from Communication Arts (which I would recommend over KI any day) lurking on here, Mr. Visions ( http://www.mrvisions.com// <--- he made my face melt, he was so good -- still is. what a hard worker) and Burtzum (<-- also UBER talented) among them.
:^^:

Are you applying as a freshman or a transfer? (if the former, you have to make it through AFO, but that's not so bad if you work hard and can handle some insanely silly projects -- I had to make giant shoes out of cardboard and paint by numbers) If the latter, we can talk more about who you should be in touch with to make sure you get through. And I'm more than happy to talk anytime about the program and the Profs (gosh, to be close to such talent... you get to work with the best, and then they bring in Demo speakers like Jon Foster and Anita Kuntz and Syd Mead. Drool) I adored college. As soon as they open up a Masters I'll go back.

Let me reign it in, though, before I go tangenting off again. Feel free to drop me a note with questions, etc. ;) And thanks for stroking my ego some about the CHOW...
Mmmm... a sketchbook? (plotting ensues)

puppykitten - don't be discouraged, your work is stunning, I have faith you can dream up something awesome.

lindsy liu - first off, welcome to CHOW! As far as your piece, I love the idea of shaping the figures as dreams (very original), and think it can come across very well, but as it sits currently, it's a little lost with this composition. I would suggest separating the two figures to show they are at odds (overlapping, they look like a happy couple, perhaps they are fighting over the child?) and bring the sleeping kid up some/make him larger so you can see what he is, put him in something resembling a bed (elements should be easily readable to get the idea across quickly) Perhaps a horizontal composition as opposed to vertical? I hope that helps some, and keep painting!

Also, anyone who wants to rip into my piece, please do so... we loves us come C&C.

[S.C. Watson]

If you can see in the tiny circle at the bottom is a child sleeping and the two main figures are dreams. The female figure represents good dreams while the male figure represents nightmares. Those little blobby things wrapped around their arms are going to be in the yin and yang shapes and each will contain images representing either good dreams or bad dreams. ehehe its all a little convoluted I know.:nohope:
My brother tells me that the circle looks like an embryo and that the two figures look like a mom and dad. HA! Can anyone think of a way to strengthen my idea? Am I following the guidelines correctly so far?

Thank you all for your help!

Hi lindsy,

So far, your image is looking good. I like the idea behind it, but just judging from the line art, the female character looks pretty scary to me at the moment :x I'd suggest softening her features some if she's supposed to be the "good dreams."

Also, I'd suggest the idea of the kid in the yin/yang symbol at the bottom (I'd suggest moving it from the side as it is kind of a visual distraction there - the twisty things can still attach to it if comes from the kids bed). The womb symbology isn't a bad idea at all, if you can move that to the bed as well. I'd suggest moving the child's head to the right and up a little, and then using a darker color for the covers to help create the impression of the yin/yang.

The only other caveat is to perhaps allow the viewer to see the male figures' face - or, turn it away completely to help allude to the mystery of bad dreams and night mares.

Anyway, just some thoughts. Hope it helps, and welcome to Conceptart.org and CHOW! Hope to see more of you around!

Cheers,
~Oreg.

[lindsy liu]

Thank you JessiBean and Oregano for your suggestions! I think I may have an idea of what to do now. As for her arm covering his face, that was just for the moment. I had planned on bringing his face into the foreground after I had finished coloring the female. But I think separating them would be a better idea. This is my first time coloring with this method. Wish me luck! :)

[Burtzum]

and Burtzum (<-- also UBER talented)


aww shucks. *blushes*

Chance: take as many of the figure drawing classes you can while you're in AFO. Those are about the only worthwhile classes in that BS introductory program. And make sure you sign up for classes with Albert Ephsteyn whenever you can. He used to (hopefully still does) teach Figure Drawing as well as Perspective classes in AFO in addition to the classes he taught in CommArts. He tells it like it is and wont let you fuck around. Funny guy. Don't be scared of him. Danny Robbins used to post on conceptart (another VCU graduate). His forum name was metalwinds. He teaches at VCU now apparently, if he still does when you get there, check him out. He seems to know his stuff. And of course sign up for classes with Sterling Hundley whenever you can. And Kerry's sci-fi class!!!

And make some friends (art friends). I didn't do much of that and thus my education was stunted.

[dabble]

Here's my wip so far. Going for conflict. One is Positive the other is Negative. When they fight and argue they produce lightning and thunder. So far just trying to work out the pose or interaction of the figures. Also playing around with a circular composition to emulate the yin & yang design. There are some other elements of contrast that I still need to add, try to update tomorrow.

Happy wip'in everyone and Welcome to the CHOW Lindsy Liu. Don't worry about being intimidated, we are all here to improve and learn from each other. I think Jesibean and Oregano had good suggestions and would agree. My 2 cents, perhaps the kid could feel more like he's producing the good & bad dreams rather than being contained to the bubble shape he is in. Other than that I would continue to play up how the two characters contrast each other. :rendered:

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x18/dabble21/ConceptArt/CHOW/94_wip01.jpg
Here's my update for today.
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x18/dabble21/ConceptArt/CHOW/94_wip2.jpg
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x18/dabble21/ConceptArt/CHOW/94_yinYang.jpg

[Benjamen Christ]

Here is a crappy pic i took of my sketch, cant wait to get a scanner:[


http://community.imaginefx.com/fxpose/christismellows_portfolio/images/58739/original.aspx

[grenogs]

lindsy i like the idea of the dream, but if your characters are dream images, then why not turn one upside down, and give the 2 characters together that 69 yin&yang shape, that way you could loose the yin&yang shapes around their hands, which at the moment look a little odd. It will also give the image much more movement and drama.

[Nerahla]

oregano, thanks so much :) Maybe I will if I can think up a good conceptualization for this week's CHOW :)

[darkrain]

:yayca:
Hi all,

Posting after ages. Love this topic! The way I see it, there are no absolutes in this world, no black or white in terms of morality. Something evil can be vulnerable, something puritanically good can do great harm. This ambiguity of the yin and yang principle is what I hope to capture in my painting. I then saw this shape in a damp stain in our hallway. A few hours of staring at the disappearing patch of damp and a quick sketch in Painter resulted...

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/shonarain/Assassin_rough.jpg

...that was just as quickly abandoned. Instead I did a quick, clean sketch in Mangastudio which doesn't permit faffing about (I really didn't want to get caught in the sketch which I tend to do, until there's no time to paint. Its in Painter that I need to clock more experience)...

http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb70/shonarain/Assassins_1.jpg

More soon, plus comments on the amazing work already up,
-S

[darkrain]

Ok, here's me two bits of comments on all the wonderful WIPs so far.

NEWMAN: Love seeing the progression of the painting, I'm learning a lot just studying these images. But the interpretation of yin-yang, at least visually, as merely gender difference is a bit unconventional. As for soft vs hard, the man could be the softie and the woman the hard-headed concubine ;).

SOLORPOWER: beautiful wash effect, amazing how you started with such a strong idea of the light-n-shade. Its a classical piece, there can never be enough of those. The expressions are key, I think, the goodie on the left has a cunning look and the dark one on the right looks sad. Love the ambiguity that implies. Gonna watch you to progress in Painter.

HUMBOLDT SQUID: Really clever. Is one called "Yin", and is it a just-extracted tooth...? Would prob win the Mojiwar, over at Mojizu.com. Can't wait to see where you go with it.

BLUKI: Interesting interpretation and beautiful sketch. I think you should stress the mecha vs life conundrum, more dramatic than gun/sword or male/female. Can't help noticing though, we all take pains with the female form and for the male, a few bold shapes suffice ;)

MONSTERTREE: Great sketch, impressed with the detail thats already in there. Dense symbolism worthy of a Renaissance painting. Which set will you emphasise, though? One has to stand out for the painting to have a strong message. Its certainly original to show the opposites embracing.

TIMOTHEE: What comes to mind is Skilled Combat vs Brute Force. Say, a highly trained and disciplined martial arts warrior vs a berserker. One holds his sword with reverence, to the other it might as well be a big stick.

JESSIE: What absolutely stunning drawing. Makes my fingers itch for my pencil and my drawing board. Can't wait to see the full comp.

Right, I've gone invisible now, so no one will know when I'm lurking >:D

-S

[JessiBean]

aww shucks. *blushes*

I meant it. You were quiet, but then you'd come in with these awesome things, especially in Sterling's class, it was like being blind-sided. I still peek at your website and try to figure out what the hell to do with mine.

It is also never too late to make an art friend. I'd humbly volunteer my services... ;)

christ - I like the direction you're headed in, and this is a wonderful drawing. just watch your anatomy in places like his feet, they're looking a little wonky.

darkrain - I love that you began with a stain on your wall, how very inventive. don't forget the 3/4 of the character rule, right now you have about half of each, and maybe open up the composition some (they look like they loathe one another, I can't imagine they'd be so mushed together) It also makes him look a little like an afterthought, so show a little more of him/give him a little more love. And thank you for your comments and crits, muchly appreciated.

dabble - digging the circular feel this one has - subtle but well played. the concept reminds me of some of the Egyptian creation myths. I think once you play up the lightning and thunder this will be stunning (your work usually is)

[ValkyriesBard]

Okies then. ^_^ I'm kinda in, really hope that I can finish. My concept was the Chinese goddess of compassion Guan Yin and the God of Justice and Judgement Gao Yao. I'm going to represent the differences symbolically with color too.

[solorpower]

hey Nerahla,

I'm 36 (soon to be 37 :xpld: ), and I totally understand how you feel. Some of these young kids make me just want to give up sometimes. But the way I figure it, what I lack in age I make up for in experience, meanness, and just sheer stubbornness :frustrated: !

Put the pencil to the paper and show 'em what ya got - If ya can't do it pretty yet, do it ugly, but just do it! :yayca:

Cheers,
~Oreg.

Hey....Happy Early Birthday Ye Old Fart!!!! :blah: I can't believe we're getting up there to 40. Eeek. (bones creek...)

Waiting to see your Chow man! Guess I'll see it soon enough, eh?

[deviousg]

Jessibean - I love the face of your female character, and it looks like you are designing within the yin yang symbol which is cool.

Newman - Nice rendering and natural relaxed postures and flow.

Lindsy Liu - I am pretty new here too - so not sure on satisfying the brief - but I really like your idea of representing this as a dream and nightmare. It seems to me that when you render the crib/bed, it will not look like an embryo, which I am not sure is a bad thing.

Christ - Peace and war, no? Nice approach. I look forward to seeing how you handle color on this one.

darkrain - nice choice of objects to represent the dots. That is where you are going with the cross and dagger, no?

timothee - looking good - I wonder about composition on this - but the creatures are cool.

solar power - nice rendering, cool concept.

Del Mar - NICE!! looking very interesting.

[lindsy liu]

Some progress has been made I think! :) I have changed the composition of the picture to fit some of the suggestions made and to reiterate the circle of the yin and yang symbol. Ignore the male figure for now as I think he may need a redesign. The smoky bits you see are where I may put the respective dream images of the two figures. As for the female figure...noses. PAH who needs em!!


http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7437/chowsc2zi5.jpg

[Stephan_R]

You guys this is haaaard ;_;

*whiney*

I am hitting so many walls and then I come here and see all the pretty WIPs.

Yeah staring at finely crafted line work can depress me too, just ignore the thread while you work. I'll tell you my process :)

Imagine darkness, like in Finding Nemo where Marlin and Dori are in the deep ocean with the angler fish. Slowly and sudden light appears, but it's not strong at all.. you just see subtle shapes. That's where I start with my ideas, except I wish I started with darker colors so they don't look so cartoony all the time. Painting is just "light falling on things"... start playing with light, color, composition and have fun bringing the images in your mind to life. As my art director keeps reminding me, don't get precious in the early stages. Usually your first crappy sketch is the best, and the more you polish it the further it is from that awesome idea.

[timothee]

Jessi- Thanks, I will really try and push my rendering, experiment with my coloring process. I really like the direction you're going with yours, nice line flow. Can't wait to see how the other character turns out.
Darkrain- I think you hit my idea on the mark. Interesting take with the characters you have, maybe have the priest's expression less angry for contrast.
Monstertree- I really dig your characters, they are almost "one". Let's see some color slapped on that baby.
Dabble- Really nice composition.
Deviousg- Thanks, I chose the particuliar poses because I wanted the Berserker character to have more of an aggressive stance, while the other one has a more stern pose. I would have liked to do a sweet Yin Yang composition like Jessi's but I don't know if it would work so well for my characters.
Must get my daily fix of coffee:$ , and start rendering this sucker.

[Delmar]

Cool topic..

Tiny concept, hope i have time to come up with something more d/refined.

@chance: Hope you don´t mind that we have the same idea regarding the greyscale and color....but i just recognized that you already posted something in this style :\

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b279/Delmar18/yingyang.jpg

[eskanto]

sorry about being completely clueless here but if i want to particpate in this week's chow do i have pm anybody or do i just post my final?

[MarkWinters]

You have to do sooper secret favors for Oregano and Oblio before they let you post. The favor is always different and always vile... OR just post your pic in the Final Burning thread (yet to be opened) by end of day Sunday. Be sure to read the rules at the top of the thread.

[JessiBean]

You have to do sooper secret favors for Oregano and Oblio before they let you post. The favor is always different and always vile...

No kidding! I won't even go into what they had me do... but that poor parakeet will never look at rubber tubing again without shuddering, and neither will I.
;)

[eskanto]

why thank you for the info ill be sure complete my special favors before i have to post. although i'll have to beg mercy if i'm asked to do anything involving animals and rubber tubing. :)

[Chance.]

"GULP"

We lightweights must fly under the radar. Best to keep our heads down lest the evil mods demand our soul's or our poor pet's soul's or something equally as frightening.

[ValkyriesBard]

JessieBean - I really like the way you have built the character. Your linework is very strong and I really like how your eye is directed through the peice. Brilliant composition, can't wait to see it done!

Dabble Excellent composition! Watch the proportions of the man, the distortion of his torso doesn't quite make the connection to his pelvis. Muscles too. You have such a fluid grace to the males position, I would almost like to see the same grace in the female form. It would serve to emphasize the yin yang symbol. Good job so far!

Christ Beautiful rendition of the dress, the folds of the fabric are eye catching. The form of the male is a little weak, the structure of his body is being lost in his clothes.

Darkrain Interesting idea. I agree with the previous comment, there needs to be more of their bodies showing, and the interaction needs to be a little more developed. Nice so far, can't wait to see the colored!

Lindsy Liu - Composition is good, but this concept only called for two characters. I would downplay the baby if you are going to include it. Also, the structure of your characters is a little flat. I think if could be fixed with a render though.

Delmar - That looks amazing, your final is going to rock.

[hoshicat]

This is exciting to see peoples art come together, I've started something, I'm hoping these exercises will help me get back into drawing.... I haven't done anything for a while.

[Kilow]

Changing the technique a little bit :D
I try to finish this in the weekend.



Domination and submission!
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/kyronk/ScannedImage-2.jpg
I must work in the lights of the leather now.

Sorry my poor feedback, my english is awful

now
http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w61/kyronk/ScannedImage.jpg
Almost finished

[Benjamen Christ]

Thanks to Jessi, Dev,and Valk for those very helpful comments, they shall be taken to heart!

Ben Christ

[dabble]

Update on page 3.

Decided to go ol' school and use a pencil to refine my sketch. Took a little longer than expected, was hoping to get some color in.
There are some really nice wip's going on here. Sorry, no c&c from me today, gotta get some zzz's and wake up hecka early. :yawn:
Thanks Timothee, Valkyriesbard & Jessibean for your c&c. As usual Jessibean, beautiful line work, looking forward to seeing your progress and thanks for your kind words.

[newman]

finished! posted the update on page one- just got to remember to stick it in the final thread when it comes up.
i'm pretty happy with how this came out, but i'm not sure how well it conforms to the brief; so (jessibean) i won't be too disappointed if it doesn't get to the poll.
i don't really feel like i've taken part this week (other than the pic of course), tried to use the small amount of spare time i had for drawing rather than typing!
next time i'll try and get a bit more involved.
all the wips are looking nice- i particularly like delmars, even tho i've got no idea what its supposed to be!
good luck everyone!

[solorpower]

Hey Newman,

That painting looks awesome. I like the tones you used for the girl, and the guy has a "dirty" yet serene feel to him. First thing I thought when viewing your pic was "Beauty and the Beast"......very contrasty, and then I thought of giants, but the Nephilim from the Bible comes to mind.

Just a quick note about the the Nephilim: the Bible says that angels, or what other scholars believe to be extraterrestrials, "fell from the heavens" and mated with humans and the Nephilim were born. But they could also be fallen angels that joined the human race......just a very interesting little part of the Bible that captures my imagination. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephilim (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nephilim) ....side note about this source...."The neutrality and factual accuracy of this article are disputed."

Anyway.....very nice entry.

[newman]

my first time using the tanks button!
did i do it right?

[solorpower]

Yep, the thanks works.:confident

[addleheaded]

timothee ur piece is badass! i like the developement-contrast a lot :3 and the design of course. it gives this yin&yang theme a new face ;)
and jessiebean ur linework so far is great! can't wait to see ur work finished
... i'm busy atm working at my teenchallenge so i do not enter :/ next one maybe

[Jabo]

Here's my first draft. Didn't come out as intended. The woman is Yin, the peaceful and deliberate part of the soul, the guy is Yang, the offensive and revengeful part. He's a warrior, she's an advisor. The guy in the middle has to face both of them... Well, at least that's what it was meant to be like. I think it depends on their poses. The woman gives me most headaches. Let's see if I can make something out of this. I'm aiming for an American Indian kind of theme, that's why the warrior is a clich&#233;d Mohawk, whose looks are rather brutal to me. The woman is a kind of Iroqouis, and as I read, the American constitution is based on their peaceful laws and habits.

http://www.drain5.com/pics/art/chow/chow94_ying_yang_01.jpg

[Polyhymnia]

I'm new how do you post things?

[daestwen]

Just a really base sketch.

I went through dozens of thumbnails for this one, dammit, and I'm still not happy. :/ But whatever.

Koi Fish / Raven / thingermajinger.

http://www.daestwen.com/gallery_pics/yinyang_sketch001.png

[Blue Disciple]

Kilow - Way too much sex here. And the pose just doesn't seem to work. It ends up looking almost medieval because of the "evil" woman's leg going over the "good" woman's body. I suggest starting over entirely.

ACRO - I don't get it. I mean, I think I get what you were going for, but it seems a little shallow that good is "sexy" and evil is "death", IMO.

daestwen - Looks good but the girls are a little mannish here in the initial stages. And evil's rump is too sharp and too small for the common female (if that's because she's a raven-like humanoid, might I suggest making an exception in that one area).

EDIT: SP

[humboldt squid]

Probably done as I'll ever be, I wish I had more time to work on it :(

[ManaBurn]

I'm not sure I'll ever be done with this one, but I may not have time to do more. Had a chance to try out some processes that I picked up in Androids tutorial. Tried to go a completely diffrent route with no intention other then to create interesting abstract shapes that meant nothing outside of the pictures content. Then just shaped and molded the emerging forms to fit my original ying yang idea. Was really suprised to realize how much fun I was having with it all the way through. C&C welcome and appreciated. I'll post the story for it in the final burning.

ps. If you haven't done it yet go buy and download Jason Chan, and Androids tutorials. They are hands down the most useful information I've ever come across since I started painting.

[Johann de Venecia]

Cool topic, and very cool entries!

I haven't been here in a while. Where do I even start? My pencil is like an estranged spouse to me now, and the tablet might as well be extraterrestrial. Perhaps CHOW is a bit too ambitious for my reacquaintance to drawing, but I always make a bee-line for this section because its just too damn fun. This sort of rant belongs to the sketchbook section! Apologies. Here's to gaining some confidence back.

Idea is the death and rebirth of Spring. If she is Spring, I guess that makes him Winter. Life needs decay to blossom, in essence. Colors tomorrow maybe:

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/deceptant10/roughyinyang.jpg

Update: Final for now.

http://i93.photobucket.com/albums/l69/deceptant10/lukavi_chow94_yinyang.jpg

Comments and crits to follow...

[sve]

Johann :) :) :) :) :). I :heart: lukavi... You reappeared on my daughter's birthday, like a tender new life in spring :). I like the drawing, you pull these lines in two opposite ways slowly with efforts like nerves, feels like tension and a sweet pain.
I'm so glad to see your footprints in this thread :). I remembered about you just yesterday!
Wish you all the best.
Little critique: I think it would be better to slightly shift arms of the Rebirth closer to the center... right now they are off center and it makes the drawing askew. Or at least you need to balance this slight asymmetry with some trick, like feeling empty space on the left side of the winter. I don't know, some rhythm in how you place these curves is not right, I think... You know... curve goes to right... you need to balance it on the left with an opposite motion.... well maybe you know some other trick to actually keep an image being in harmony and intriguingly fresh as well in the same time.

I remember what you said about showing drawing before they are ripe to a viewer... hope you will not take my words too close to your heart. I don't want your image to be doomed.

[Johann de Venecia]

Svetlana: I forgot about my silly superstition! Thank you very much for the crit. I see what you mean by her arms contributing to the imbalance. Unfortunately I was already half into coloring the pic when I read your post. I compensated by putting warmer colors down that corner. Not sure if that fixed it? But maybe it provided enough distraction? Haha. Happy birthday to your daughter. She is about 8 or 9 now? Hugs to her, love.

Manaburn: I like the approach. Very playful and experimental. Isn't that the funnest way to make a pic? Fire and Ice as the yin and yang perhaps? As a crit, I would watch the anatomy ( I am one to talk, yes? :wink: ), particularly the lady. The skeleton is very cool.

Kilow: The ladies are very sexy. I don't see much of a yin and yang though. Maybe there is a surprise for us later on.

Bluki: Yin Yang relationship is not too defined, besides one is cute and another is gruff maybe. Asspat: I love the girl, a lot of spunk there.

Newman: My favourite so far. That's really solid rendering. The YinYang looks to be the female's softness and the male's roughness. I haven't read the complimentary text so I maybe wrong. Really cool paint job.

Kudos to everyone. Real sleepy, maybe more tomorrow.

[sbn..]

Interesting work so far.

Soon as I have installed this here scanner driver, I have something too I think.

[ACRO]

yo blue diciple
i meant to write a caring nurse and deadly doc....
it sorta represents what kids think when they go to the doc.

[JaBoo]

I'm going to try it! Hopefully I can get it done in time. This will be my first CHOW.

[MarkWinters]

Lukavi - That's one beautiful piece! I love it muchly!

[Lewis]

Here's Yin

lets hope i get to finish Yang :(

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/5820/yinhs9.jpg

[JordanRoots]

I totally dig the one of the upside down girl drinking blood, it awesome ! !

[S.C. Watson]

Mine:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/chow_files/CHOW-94-LINEART.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v25/Oregano/chow_files/CHOW-94-oregano.jpg

Jessi - I concede. You win the line art :yayca:

Final burning thread is up. (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?p=1502754#post1502754) Be there or be... hexagonal?...something... :nohope:

NEW TOPIC AND POLL TOMORROW EVENING -8 GMT (PACIFIC STANDARD TIME).

[solorpower]

Very nice Shane!

[Kilow]

Kilow: The ladies are very sexy. I don't see much of a yin and yang though. Maybe there is a surprise for us later on.


Well, i see like a sado masoquistic relation, both roles are opposites and complementary for me.


The leg problem is because a layer order, in the final, everything going to be in the right place.

:D

[MEMPER]

Heres WIP. Dont know if I'll finish tho....

[lindsy liu]

Alas. Corrupted art file I have. :( No time for mending. Best of luck to the rest of the entries though.They are all lovely!

[daestwen]

Put my final up in the final burning thread. No more time to work on it, but I wanted to at least finish. :(

[Corrick]

Giving a shot at CHOW...

Sketch 1 (http://williamwerk.com/art/yinyang.jpg)

Sketch 2

http://williamwerk.com/art/yinyang_sk.jpg

Final

http://williamwerk.com/art/chow94_corrick.jpg

[bluki]

lukavi: thank you for your crits, i hope you can see the yin-yang theme / reference in the final piece... :)

my finals:

Indigo and Vermilion, professional assassin, always works together.

Indigo the mysterious machine once human, it is a rare chance to see him to utter a word or showing any signs of emotions, wielding the chainsword (a customized chainsaw or a customized sword? either way is fine...lol), specialize in close combat, very strong, but slow.

Vermilion, the gunner that obviously specialized in long range battles, she is a hot headed character, easily provoked, trigger happy, shoot first think later.

[Rodimus25]

Really diggin Lukavi's take on this topic:blah:

Heres my lame attempt:) Yin and Yang, 2 halves of one whole.

[Daray]

Lots of lovely entries again this time! Keep it up everyone!

I really like the style you've painted in, rodimus25, and those colours are lovely and vivid!

lukavi - Not meaning to kiss your arse, but you're the reason I didnt quite give up on myself. Using linework with subtle colouring really enhances your work! Lovely as always!

Oregano- nice work! Really like the use of subtle colouring with this one, suits the image well.

Well, here's mine. I'm not entirely happy with it, my RSI (repetitive Strain injury) Is really playing up now winter is here. I was happy with the line work, just not the colours. I'm seriously in need to learning how to use them and paint :[ oh yeah! And I cant paint metal... why the hell do I do punish myself by drawing fantasy knights and swords :P

Anyway I originally wanted chess pieces, but couldnt get the King right at all without a full on front pose, and then I couldnt get his helm to work. They are both loosely based on a Dove / Raven, death /war / Peace, Light/ Dark , Armour / Magic really the list goes on with all these pictures!


227112

[Corrick]

Updated and done.

[pseudobiotic]

Brand spankin' new member here. After lurking on the CHOW threads for a while and getting inspired, I figured it was time to get my butt in gear and draw.

I had the same war/peace theme that others had going on. I hate to default to the war = man, peace = woman notion, but . . . yeah. This doesn't feel as much like a case of unique character design as the illustration of a general concept (well, with the exception of the war half . . . maybe).

Also: sorry for the lack of process on this one. :V I would've liked to get some crit early on if I had time.

[ValkyriesBard]

Almost completely done.

[ACRO]

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g313/PARNUN/acro-DOC-N-NURSE-yinyang.jpg

[JessiBean]

Finally done... thank goodness. Lovely things accomplished this week, more indepth comments tomorrow.
:yayca:

227404

[sbn..]

Finally done... but the poll is up a day early??
O noes... I think I missed it.


Yes, it looks like it. I am late as well, but am actually in time based on the "sunday anywhere in the world" clause. Oh well, I've made my entry. I'll try to post in the other thread, as I believe it's still open.

Here it is, at any rate:

http://jim1000tongues.net/forum/conceptart_org/chow_94_sbn.jpg

A brother and a sister, worlds apart, share a bedroom.

There are a few details I'd change if I had the time. Overall, I like the rough style, though.

[Stephan_R]

The robot and the vampire
http://www.steveroyer.com/sketching/chow_94.jpg
In daylight the metal man hunts for fresh blood. As dawn approaches he hands the catch to his little friend, a young vampire. During the night the metal man cannot see, and enters sleep mode.... counting on the little girl to turn him back on before dusk. On this particular morning, the metal man does not awaken.

[PuppyKitten]

I am planning on posting many more comments a little later but I can't keep my mouth shut right now: StephanR your picture is gorgeous. I love the rendering on the dress and the robot and the light AND the story behind it. You are officially adored. :D

My crit, if you want it, is that the yellow tint to her far eye looks very bright for the shadow being cast over it. It's the same color as the near eye. I thought maybe her eyes are glowing but I can't tell since it's not a close up. Maybe it's just standing out to me because it's a primary color sitting next to a lot of saturated red so it's drawing my eye. Oh wells.

Speaking of blood, that's some gorgeous blood. Looks very wet and you got the shadow-color perfect.

[deviousg]

Isn't yin the feminine, dark, night, black side of the equation?

Robo vampire pic is neat! Other nice stuff as well.

[Stephan_R]

Thank you PuppyKitten, you sound cuddly. I liked the crits and I changed the image to address it :)

deviousg: Thanks for stopping in to comment, very appreciated.

I'll share comments on the submissions later. Larger version in my blog :) http://stephanroyer.blogspot.com/

[PuppyKitten]

Thank you PuppyKitten, you sound cuddly

Are you calling me fat?! D: (heh heh, I kid...)


Isn't yin the feminine, dark, night, black side of the equation?

Yep, but this topic does not seem oriented in the traditional eastern yin/yang philosophy. It seemed open to interpret two equal and opposing entities. I personally used (too much) of the actual symbol, but deviated from the original definition of yin/yang. Bleh :P

[Stephan_R]

Did another quick one with a chef theme on the robot, not sure if its better or worse. http://www.steveroyer.com/sketching/robot_chef.jpg

[PuppyKitten]

Here's mine! Can you figure out which parts I cut corners on to make the time limit? :D

The unicorn and the dragon. What can I say, it's a classic. The constructed wing on each character represents the fact that "good" and "evil" are concepts that were constructed in our minds (created to satisfy the needs of a growing species) and NOT an innate property of the universe.

(God, I hope this works this time, ca is being funky and is not showing me my posts...)

[OYO!]

Hey guys,

Great ideas around here.
Here is my interpretation of the Yin/Yang.

This theme has been for me the perfect occasion to put in practice a method gathered from different books I read recently( pixar, skillful huntman, Richard Williams,...): I focused my studies on opposite shapes, curves and patterns . From the beginning, I wanted to use the oriental influence and combine it with the opposite world, the western (and more precisely cowboys in this case). Then i throw the idea of two robots as it could be even more interesting.

I ended up with this two dudes Salsa and Chips which for me are some bounty hunters bots, one is a silent sniper assasin, mute, calm and who appreciated his sunday grease bath, the other one is a blabber mouth trigger happy buddhist gunner , greatest fan of Madonna. Sort of. :)

So much fun to work on these guys.

I wanted to share my process as it's the first time am tryin to work from the silhouette first, from outside to inside. It has been a very interesting for me as I really experimented a lot of possibilities using a simple sheet of tracing paper and discover things i would have not think about if i had started directly with the details. I might use it again soon :)

Here is a little wip.
Any comments and crits welcome !

Y.