Newborn - Life and Death - growth

[Simon Boxer]

Update: here's my final
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I'm going to do a piece on life and death. More specifically, how death changes those around. Newborn as a concept of sensation instead of in the literal sense.

The trauma of dealing with death, the relief of the suffering ending, and what you learnt from it. Feeling newborn.

I don't believe in reincarnation. This isn't about the dead being reborn, it's about having a new perspective on life. Looking at the world through new eyes, as cliché as that sounds. The theme I want to present includes growth.

Artistically, as distinct from conceptually, I want my art to be fresh. I'm going to use this topic to experiment with my art. Encorporate some of my design roots maybe. I love unrefined art, and I like to paint fast - I like to give an impression. I see this thread as a chance to make something more polished. This doesn't necessarily mean photoreal, I'm not exactly sure where I'll end up.

Enough talk, I'm alluding to a lot of avenues I could explore. I'd best get to it.

Cheers,
Simon

[Vaejoun]

I like the sketches. The last one has a fresh more graphical touch, that I like.

The last days I experimented on life and death as well, but the layout didnt work so good, so I am curious where your are taking this piece.

[pearlyking]

I like your sketches, I hope that you end up somewhere where your happy with what you've done. "I'm not exactly sure where I'll end up."

[Simon Boxer]

Alrighty, I've been thinking about what I want to depict, taking reference photos, and did a sketch today.

I'm going for a diagonal curve composition showing a man falling into water below his resting place and the boy rising from his watchful position. This illustration is character and narrative central, so the background will mostly be abstract/minimal. Or perhaps I'll add flowers, a candle or something to that effect. For now I'm going to work on the focal elements.

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[Simon Boxer]

Blocking in some colours.

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[Simon Boxer]

Cleaning up a bit before refining further...
Considering adding some loose background elements for depth. Looking at other peoples' entries makes me realise how distant my layout makes the viewer :S
It's not really dynamic or immersive. No matter, I'm gonna finish it.

Also, a bit of a late comment reply but thanks Vaejoun and pearlyking, appreciate the comments :>

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[Bhrandon]

wow

you are onto something.

interesting take on color... very... fresh to have something so.... crude...

and i mean that positively.

it is nice to see something not photo real, but it is obvious you know what you are doing. I cant wait to see where this ends up.

[diissar]

hi,really nice style,i like the color you used,waiting for more from you!!

[Simon Boxer]

Thanks Bhrandon and diisar! Heh, that's reassuring. Some of the artists here totally nail photoreal painting.

Anyway, here's my latest modification. Added an implication of water, a log and a Life candle. Changed the background colours. I'm happy with the bottom portion of the background. It's quite rivery, and has the body falling to a yellow light. Read of that what you will, but I don't believe in heaven (or hell). The man's just being lost in the light. The green in the top portion of the background is gonna change.

Flipping the composition makes it read so differently... I haven't decided which way I want to go with. The other (originally posted) way reads man dies, boy is 'released'. Well, that's the simplified reading. This way reads boy is released (with a hint of mourning) as man dies, but I'm thinking of extending the canvas upwards and making the background tree more epic-sized, stretching up and left. This way it's more cyclical. Plus I might be able to imply the man dies and fuels the tree's grown. The tree is the newborn. It's not quite clear the boy feels 'newborn' in this composition but it might be more obvious if it's about growth as a result of death symbolised by the tree. It ties in perfectly with what I wanted to say so I've just talked myself into it :>
I'm thinking either the roots can go into the water or the Life candle's smoke/fire can embrace the tree. And I don't mean bellowing smoke... Onwards!

Will hopefully get a chance to make more progress before going away tomorrow til Thurs :/

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[Simon Boxer]

+1 update.

Pleased with where this is headed... Sketched in a tree, which seems to balance it out better, and I've made it vaguely resemble a hand reaching up. Consistent theme, anyone?

I think I'll change the boy's hand so it's on the floating man's leg as well.

It was all looking too dark and brooding so lightened up the background. It looked good with a mauvey kind of colour but was too sinister.

To do:
Clean up peopel (faces mainly), as well as the bits above the floating man's face.
Refine trees and candle
Add bubbles in the water

Potential adds to experiment with:
Water froth/foam
Symbolic waterlife/animal(s)
Symbolic design on shirt
More pattern in background or further setting indication.

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[Luci Fer]

I love the colors you use

[Simon Boxer]

Thanks, Luci Fer.

Haven't forgotten about this... Here's an update:

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[arttorney]

Extremely proud of you for not doing the usual giant monster emerging from some random object. This reminds me of rayonism. Natalia Goncharova etc., although you have some higher chroma than I usually see in that stuff.

[Simon Boxer]

Thanks arttorney, really appreciate that. Wasn't familiar with Rayonism before, but it's an interesting concept. Cheers!

I think I'm getting pretty close to being done with this one:

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[Simon Boxer]

Added final image to the first post.