Liffey's Work, 2 final entries

[Ian Barker]

[Ian Barker]

For some reason, I've found that my work often goes better when I make it up as I go along. That's what's happening here so far. As I went, I kind of got the idea that it's about different kinds of artists. I'm still working on some of the details, but I'll leave you to interpret the rest as you well.

Anyways, critique away, I appreciate it a TON.

[Ian Barker]

Going kind of slow due to long work days, hopefully can make some good progress this weekend though. I basically have the rough colors blocked in now. Critique would be really great before I start putting detail and stuff in

[hala]

It looks like it's coming along pretty well, the guy in front though is getting a little lost in the grass, but that might just be because of the way it is colored right now. keep at it !

[Ian Barker]

The grass is growing out of his back, so that will become less muddled when I get to the details. Thanks for the comment!

[Ian Barker]

Didn't get quite as much done today as I'd hoped, due to getting distracted by some sketches and MB DVDs... which I guess if you're going to be distracted, that's the way to do it

Anyways, I've started on the first layer of detail. Going for a surreal cartoony kind of look.

[Ian Barker]

Here's today's progress. I'm fairly happy with how the grass is turning out... although it looks a lot better on the right half, so I still have plenty of work to do. Also, the grass is supposed to be going into the guy's veins, but right now you have to look hard to see it. I'll fix that later on.

[Black Spot]

Beginning to look really cute and original.

[Ian Barker]

Thanks

Been a tough week for drawing... 12 hour work days all week long :|
I need to do something about all that green.

[Ian Barker]

Yikes, been a while since I've had time to work on this. I'm pretty much done with the second round of color now... next step is tightening things up.

[Puck]

I like the cartoony and humorous angle you're taking with this. I think you could tweak the composition to make use of the top half of the canvas a bit, maybe by raising the babies up higher?

I'm really trying to interpret the meaning of it... but so far no luck... Any clues? Is it drug related?

[Ian Barker]

Progress continues to be extremely sparadic. :/ Having some trouble the the spider cloud. Also I like these trees better than the old ones but the colors seem really overwealming, I may need to add some saturation to the rest of the piece.

[Ian Barker]

Puck: I'm hoping to add enough interest to the cloud to make the composition feel more balanced. As for the meaning, it's very abstract, but in my mind it has something to do with different eras of art, whether you think of it as realism vs abstract or digital vs traditional or whatever. Doesn't even have to be about art really. You tend to have one group treading old water, reproducing what's already been done to the point of being unrecognizeable, and you have the other group that's so obsessed with advancing and measuring their own self worth (and who knows, maybe they're just measuring their own piss) that they've tried to bypass some basic growths that need to occur. They tend to have the idea that they're enlightening traditionalists, while the traditionalists just stare googly-eyed. I just kind of made that up as I was painting, so it's not like some deep thought that I'm attached to or am trying to promote, it's more just an idea that helps me come up with more details as I go. Uh... I wasn't high or anything when I made this, but I guess a drug related explanation would work too.

Oh, and some things I have no clue about, such as the spider cloud and banana symbol. I really enjoy it in when there are things in art that the creator can't even explain. It can add some mystery and intrigue, and just give it an outlandish feeling, so hopefully that works out in this piece.

[Ian Barker]

I think I'm nearing completion! Any last minute suggestions would be hugely appreciated.

[Ian Barker]

Final image in first post! If there are any last suggestions I'll modify it, but for now I've done all I can see to do.

I'm going to attempt a second entry. I'll have to stay on top of this next one since I have less time. It's going to be cartoony again, but this time in a different style, and the content will make a lot more sense. First sketch coming up soon.

[sluggert]

I'm confused as to what is happening in this piece :0

[Ian Barker]

Here's the beginning of my second entry! It shows God at creation. There's going to be a lot more animals coming out of the water for the final. All critique welcome, especially on composition and color! I'm hoping JM's download will come out soon so I can get some good ideas before going too far...

[miycko]

you ave a very nice painting style and it's a good entry you've made, a bit abstract for but still good, no suggestions at the moment. waiting to see what you do with your second entry.

[Nickillus]

I have various theories about what could be going on in your first entry Liffey. The main contender involves the use of clouds as nappies for alien babies afraid of flatulence, and may explain where dark clouds and storms come from?
The only things that I don't have an explanation for are the green blobby creatures lurking in the background.
Intriguing and charming stuff.

[Ian Barker]

miycko: Yeah, I wasn't real concerned with making the ideal entry since I figure I didn't stand a chance anyways. Decided to just have fun with it... which usually results in people having no idea what I'm doing.

Nickillus: Whatever works I gues, lol. Those green blobs are supposed to be hills. I wanted them to be almost Mario-ish, but I may have to make them grassier looking.

I noticed that pretty much all of the God-related entries so far have been pretty dark, hence the style for this. Also, since the main crit for my last entry was "wtf?", I decided to make this one a bit more obvious. Hopefully I can get some composition and color crit early on!

Next WIP, focusing on defining the light source:

[Ian Barker]

WIP #3, I think so far I'm liking this better than my last one. As much as I enjoy putting down randomness, it sure does make things easier to plan them out.

[Ian Barker]

WIP#4

Been a while since I've had a chance to work on this, but I think I should be able to get it done on time if I sink some solid hours into this weekend.

[Ian Barker]

After watching the color class, made some improvements, and have several more in mind I need to do.

[Ian Barker]

Contuing to polish, and I'm starting to put in some animals coming out of the water. It's going to be dificult to pull of the composition. Might have to consider extending the canvas downwards.

Any critique?

[Ian Barker]

Final at top of page. Decided on flowers instead of animals. I know, but I was runnig out of time. :/

[MoonChilD]

for some reason i like the first one a lot
its cute delicate and tells a story ,i love those kind of stuff over evil darklords and all

[Ian Barker]

Thanks! I figured there'd be a lot of darker entries, which is why I decided to go for a more cartoony look on these.