The Stork (FINAL)

[Nightblue]

final:

[LillyCat]

Oh my! What a wonderful idea. I really like where this painting it going and love to see the steps you will take until it is finshed ^^

Super good luck hun

[Kitten Poker]

Being strapped into that chair looks really uncomfortable :p

Cool Robot stork though ^_^

[Leighton]

Nice idea. The stork popped into my head but I couldn't think of a way to treat it. Looking good so far. But where does the stork lady get the babies? And is there something a little sinister about the figures they are handing the baby to? Look forward to seeing how this progresses.

[Nightblue]

Lilly: Thanks!

Kitten: Thanks! Comfort was never the intention I barely talked myself of making her a corpse.

Leighton: Thanks! Babies are wonderful little things that seem to light up the world, but inevitably you have to surrender them to the mercy of the world. Add the great sacrifice good parents make for their children to the mix and you have my rather mixed view of the whole affair.

Update...

[Nightblue]

With rough colors.

[Nightblue]

messing with colors, and started painting over stuff.

[Randis]

cool, i like it.
You forgot to fix up the storks legs after moving it in the last image.

i like the one character with the skull, that ads a nice twist to the story.
But i am not sure if i like the way you disconnected the rider. She is so way up and lonely there, as if she has nothing to do with the process.
The perspective of the gate distracts me a bit, it is a bit hard to read. if i would draw lines it would look wrong for sure. A bit strange is also the perspective. Looking at the baby and the rider, the view is from down under but the landscape in the BG is in top view.

[Jakers]

Wow this is cool so far! Nice work!

I have to agree that the rider feels disconnected - she seems to be trying to show a lack of emotion since she isnt looking at anything in particular and has overly relaxed body posture. Because she is dark and wedged into the corner, she doesnt hold your attention for that long - she could be brighter and brought into the frame further.

Also as mentioned, the perspective of the BG isnt working well. It does have nice silhouettes going on with the baby and I love the feeling the outstreached arms give Good hands.

I also love the mysterious skull - it makes you think they are hiding themselves from the rider, or have cruel intentions to an otherwise joyful tale of storks.

[Nightblue]

Randis: wow, thanks! I was thinking about how much the background bothers me... now that you point out the perspective it's so glaringly wrong! Thanks a lot! I wanted the rider to be actually disconnected from the process, but you are right - I'm not trying hard enough to make her part of the story. Thanks for taking the time to comment!

Jakers: Appreciate it! I started out wanting to make the woman dead, but couldn't resist painting fleshy skintones. I may have her pay more attention to the scene at least and move her a bit. Been trying hard to force myself to learn to paint hands, so your compliments made me very happy

sorry about replying without art, but the comments about the background really made me slap myself in the head (the good way). Thanks much guys!

[Nightblue]

perspective/pose overhaul... Does this work better? Feedback/paint-overs will be greatly appreciated!

[LillyCat]

This is coming along wonderful..I really love colors and how everything feels dead and the more muted color with that and then you have the baby area so full of life. Great use for the colors

[Randis]

thats looks a lot better now! Tho i think it looks like the rider is looking at the wall.
IMO it would be a nice link if the rider would observe the people on the ground, maybe glancing in the direction of the guy with the skull head, that would add some story here.

cheers

another thing. You have that glow around the baby now, i like it, tho it looks a bit artificial. Now the glow could be the sun in the background, if you add some back light on the characters with the same color that would fit better. If it would be more clear that the glow is the sun, this would have a great symbolism.

[Nightblue]

LillyCat: Thanks for the kind words
R a n d i s: Thanks for the crits! I'll mess more with the woman's head some more - still not happy with the perspective, among other things.

Pushing the perspective more. I think I'm on the verge of over-doing it. Also made the baby glow. Seems a bit much right now... Will sleep tonight and come back with fresh eyes tomorrow.

[Darklit]

Beautiful! I do have one critique. I think the rider is a little stiff in the hips and shoulders. Its proportionately correct, i think, but her pose seems a bit unnatural.

I like the idea of her looking away, like shes ashamed of the glowing baby, or bored with the whole process and daydreaming into the distance. right now though, it seems very mechanical, which doesn't make her contrast well with the stork.

How does she feel about what shes doing right now?

Beyond that, i love the idea!

[NIRONERU]

the other concept where she was staring at the viewer has her head depicted in a better way... on the second concept where she is staring down, her head seemed to have shrunken a little bit... also if you will re-apply the first concept, you can make her eyes look down, as to give out the expression that she is gazing directly at the skeleton guy so that she doesn't seem too oblivious about the people she is giving the baby to...

[Leighton]

Love the ambiguity of this image. And the stork itself is looking amazing.

[d00dlebug]

I have to agree with Darklit, the version where the woman's looking away does give another level to the image and makes the viewer question it a little: "what's she thinking" etc.
Also I'd like to add that I really like the addition of the "Death" figure in the front, it's a great idea and works well in the composition

[Bendragon]

Looking good! I cant see much add to it. But perhaps the outdoors could be worked into, just looked under worked at the moment. Maybe a few paler areas there to help the contrast around the stork? Just a suggestion, but its looking good so far.

[bladesofpassion]

She looks quite fatigued! Is that what youre implying? Her hands arms are limp and her back is slumped compared to the warm hands of the cloaked person reaching for the baby. It is a very wonderful piece!

[zimfin]

Looking good so far though I agree with others that the riders lack of interest seems out of place. I would agree particularly with Randis as I also thought she would be best looking at the crowd, either the one collecting the baby or the dodgy skull guy who looks like he's up to no good.
I think if you look at the perspective of the walls and then the line of the top of the headrest, it seems to me like this is making her look very unstable, although that could be intentional. Anyway, this is all just my opinion and you can tell me to shut it too. Lol.
Keep up the good work.

[ceasar]

cool idea looks very detailed.

[Beelow]

Nice colors and composition and idea. You'd probably want to revisit some of the perspective issues you have going on with female rider. You may want to separate the storks leg from the top of the head of the skull guy. The values are a little bit to close. I like were this image is going though. Just gotta put elbow grease in this image. Cool entry though.

[Nightblue]

You guys are wonderful. Thanks to everybody who replied, and special thanks to those pointing out the strangeness of the rider - with your help, I've made up my mind to right the wrongs instead of holding onto the parts I prematurely detailed out.

Messed with the woman's perspective more, among other things. I've tried to push everything into the perspective grid. I'm about to jump back into painting/rendering and finish this piece up. If something still seem off to you, please do point it out Many, many thanks!

On lunch break, so I'll reply later.

[Randis]

i really like the head now, love the lighting on her face too.
Still i think her pose looks a bit helpless, it is the way she is holding her arms.
I think if you raise the arm on the right side higher and make her hands fists, holding a leash, that would fit perfectly. It would look as if she is balancing the bird.

Love the hands of the person who is reaching out, great lighting here and love the transfluency effect.

Glowing baby is good too i think, tho right now you see the glow but you can not see what emits the glow, it just looks like a halo on top of the baby.

Cant wait to see the image final
cheers!

[Nightblue]

Darklit: Thanks a lot for the crits! I changed the woman's perspective and hopefully she'll look less stiff now.

NIRONERU: Thanks a lot! part of the reason I turned the woman's head in that way is I realized I've fallen back to my comfort zone of painting 3/4 face at eye level again. She's actually not an active part of the process, so I think I'll completely remove her from it by having her appear unconscious.

Leighton: Thanks for the kind words!

d00dlebug: Thanks a lot

Bendragon: Thanks! Per friend's suggestion, I made the outdoor area darker. I plan to paint some cool, moody clouds... been spending too much time on the woman+bird+ baby.

bladesofpassion: Thanks! I want her to look helpless and passive - in fact, I wanted her to be dead at first but I couldn't resist painting skin tones...

zimfin: Thanks! I've been pushing her perspective so hopefully she's now more properly seated

ceasar: Thanks!

Beelow: Thanks! Will try to apply elbow grease little by little once I have the major issues fixed.

R a n d i s: Thanks for visiting again! Having her look helpless has been the idea. The bird is its own driver here and the leash are just for show. I'll try to define it better, as they are supposed to be tied to the arms of the seat rather than being held by the woman.

====

Thanks again for all the valuable suggestions! Getting closer I hope... only a few days left and I'll keep pushing this painting.

[Seaport]

That's an improvement in the position the head,though are her eyes closed? love the hands reaching up for the child

[miycko]

this is a great painting the baby kinda looks like he's pissed about something & the bottom of the lady's boot looks a little funny, i'm not sure why, maybe it's just me.

[MoonChilD]

good stuff...i like it a lot so far

try to make it more "holly" if possible

[Nightblue]

Thanks guys replies later, gotta run again.

Semi-final. Will tweak more later likely, so if you see things that are off please do shout! Thanks!