outward bound

**foster** · October 25th, 2002, 04:24 PM

Young adult book for TOR Books. Oil paint, painter 7 and PhotoShop.

Jon

**AfroLaxMan** · October 25th, 2002, 04:27 PM

I like this one a lot, tells a huge story.

**negativespace** · October 25th, 2002, 04:30 PM

Great work! How far do you work on your oil paintings before you scan them in and start working them with Painter and Photoshop?

**Sketch** · October 25th, 2002, 04:31 PM

I love the fact that he's looking up! Very interesting piece.

Burn Things. · October 25th, 2002, 04:44 PM

wow this is a great painting- love the space suit and background

**prismacolor** · October 25th, 2002, 05:38 PM

Very nice, Jon --thanks again for posting your work and being willing to subject yourself to crits and comments both good and bad!

**Living Rope** · October 25th, 2002, 06:19 PM

pfff... what else can be said than "Woaw ! What a masterpiece !"

Oh yeah, in fact I have one question Mr Foster: I'd like to know how old are you ? (Wanna know if it's too late for me to become that efficient.)

...one day I'll be Jon Foster !:thumbsup:
JSR

**Smeagol71** · October 25th, 2002, 06:40 PM

Wow Jon, I live for this stuff. That poster in the background is classic. Almost a Norman Rockwell meets HG Wells thing! LOL! Do you have any more of this retro influenced work? I can't get enough of this stuff. We shot a note back and forth about this stuff before though...great subject matter, great work!

Eventually I'll get around to putting some of my own ideas into color!!!

**black_fish** · October 25th, 2002, 08:26 PM

Very nice. I especially like the composition and the shadow of the 'window' going across the character. It leads the eye to the face, and at the same time gives the feeling that the character is actually looking at the sky through a window. Masterful.
On the other hand I have a problem with the skin of the character and especially his neck: if the character is a young boy, as he seems to be, the neck and the face have too many marks and wrinkles and the muscles are too apparent. Almost gives a feel of 'old skin' rather than smooth babyfatty skin. I understand that this also comes from your style of painting but I think it's a little too much on this piece.
Just my two cents, trying to be helpful not trying to criticize

**bengal** · October 26th, 2002, 02:49 PM

foster>> man, i love your work... would you mind allowing me to put your HP in my links? i'd be proud!!

great great piece, with noble mediums.... bravo monsieur.

**foster** · October 27th, 2002, 12:52 AM

Afrolaxman, thanks, I was hoping that it would have that self contained narrative feel.

Negativespace, this piece is a bit of an aberration. I did a portrait of a young boy in front of an open sky. He was the main character for a story I was working on and I was just trying to get a feel for him in paint. I will attach what the painting was before. In any case I just used the space suite in this piece. Usually if I am going to paint on canvas or board I like to get as far along as I can before the deadline. This usually ends up being about 80-90% done in oil. Then I shoot it with my digital camera in two sections (top and bottom), bring it into the computer and piece it together in PhotoShop. If I have been good I only need to paint a couple of things in the computer and do some color adjustment. But sometime I end up doing most in the computer and only a small fraction analog. That is the case with this one.

Sketch, yea I know, it is not everyday that you get a chance to have the character look at something off screen especially when he or she is solo in the painting.

Burn things, thank you. The suit is my favorite part as well.

Prismacolor, have you been saying bad things about me? (Can?t bring myself to put a smiley face hear, but I am joking)

Living rope, I used your words when looking at your site and your posts! I am very inspired by your work. Please show more! I?m afraid that if you became me you would become very INEFICIENT. Sometimes I wonder how I get anything done. Thank you for the wonderful compliment, but I hope you know how good you are!

Smeagol, hey I love your retro design sense. I look forward to seeing what you do with these in color as well. I hope to have a whole book that has a retro design feel. It is a big dream right now but is partly in the works. The red suite attachment is part of it.

Black_fish, thank you for the critique and kind words. You are right about his neck. I did see this when painting it but left it, as I was too interested in the marks.

Bengal, thanks and absolutely! When I finally get around to updating my site I will add yours as well. I also would be proud to have you as link. Your work has a?..timeless quality, not the style but your compositions. They are mystical, musical and lovely but also frozen in a japenese comic, aspect panel, kind of way. This is all very good, at least to me. Thanks!

the files attached are some of the in process paintings that are for the book.

Jon

**daarken** · October 27th, 2002, 01:10 AM

more great stuff jon! you always have great compositions and killer brushwork. you and phil hale have a very similar style i think. i love it! looking forward to your next post.

**Smeagol71** · October 27th, 2002, 08:41 AM

Drool...drool...drool...must be first...gasp...in line for...gasp...this book!

**Lono** · October 28th, 2002, 05:00 PM

how do i keep missing these great threads for so long?

i feel like i have to comment on everything you do, because its all so inspiring.

you are the man .

-Lono

**Imp Head** · October 28th, 2002, 05:06 PM

Jon, you gotta post that "fix" you did of the boy on the right with the robot behind him. That's gotta be one of my all time favorites of yours.

Brian

**littlejohn** · October 29th, 2002, 12:42 AM

Thanks for sharing your work with us. I'm very inspired.

**foster** · October 29th, 2002, 10:38 AM

I posted the boy and robot version over in works in progress. Just calling more attention to myself. Sometimes I?m so needy!

There is at this point a very good critique by tedsuo. He makes several good suggestions. Well worth considering.

Jon