IOW # 28: Blast Spell

[Andrew Sonea]

Illustration of the Week #28: Blast Spell

This is a two week topic.

Topic
This weeks topic is Blast Spell. Time to get fantasy in here! Here is your brief:

Please paint an evil looking mage or wizard casting a powerful spell that sends a shockwave knocking back/throwing multiple enemies at once. The emphasis needs to be on the spell--show the sheer strength and speed of it and try to give it a "cool factor" somehow. The setting is a battlefield in the heat of action, but remember to keep this action subordinate to the spell itself.


Deadline
The deadline is Sunday 24th of June, 23:59 GMT

[Kafka Dreams]

This is a damn cool topic. I've been out of action for about a month, but am eager to jump back in.

Question: Do we need to show the enemies getting thrown back, or can that be implied by the force of the spell itself?

[lancer_idenoure]

nice topics this week andrew teen challenge too. hope i can fit something in for one or the other between that dragon challenge. you better finish yours!

[Andrew Sonea]

Question: Do we need to show the enemies getting thrown back, or can that be implied by the force of the spell itself?

Yes please show the enemies being thrown back.

nice topics this week andrew teen challenge too. hope i can fit something in for one or the other between that dragon challenge. you better finish yours!

Thanks! I should finish my entry for that

[Aspectabund]

Huh, should be interesting to see what people come up with for this one. I did a couple quick concepts - not sure which one I'll pursue, though I'm leaning towards the first one at the moment. I'd need to populate that one with a couple more people though, 's a bit sparse-looking.

[jon n]

i like this topic.

[Kafka Dreams]

My very very rough idea.

Going for more of a battle mage- no shrinking wizened old weakling is slogging it out in the battle. Trying for a celtic feel. Want to be down so close to the action you feel like you're about to be engulfed by it.

[Raycharlesx]

Hey guys! This is my first post ever on this site so bear with me if I'm doing this wrong.... Here's my rough concept for this illustration challenge! I hope to be doing these more often as I could use a lot of practice this summer Thanks!


PS. Is there a way to make 300dpi images automatically smaller on the forums without having to downsize the image by like 1000% percent? :/ Er rather I mean, without downsizing them on photoshop?

[Chris Sanders]

Is there a way to make 300dpi images automatically smaller on the forums without having to downsize the image by like 1000% percent? :/ Er rather I mean, without downsizing them on photoshop?

not that i know of, i'm not sure whats more laborious; making the image smaller or using the sites uploader. Dare i say Deviantart has a better system.

Try working 150 dpi and nothing bigger than 2500 pxls wide or tall. i mean you can but there's not much point if you going to post on here. you could even work at 72 dpi as thats all your going to get from the web. Unless you print stuff out, in which case ignore what i just said

[Aaron_]

PS. Is there a way to make 300dpi images automatically smaller on the forums without having to downsize the image by like 1000% percent? :/ Er rather I mean, without downsizing them on photoshop?

What I always do is:

Image Resize

Save as JPEG

Ctrl+Z


Doesn't seem to be a way around it

[Raycharlesx]

What I always do is:

Image Resize

Save as JPEG

Ctrl+Z


Doesn't seem to be a way around it

Yep that's pretty much what I did. I just made sure to save it titled as a "_resize" so I know that it's not original size. Oh well!

[Ionpainter]

What I always do is:

Image Resize

Save as JPEG

Ctrl+Z


Doesn't seem to be a way around it

File --> Save for web and devices (hope its the correct english translation)

You can set quality and resolution in one action.

[Grunler]

Just to be clear, should the sole function of the spell be to create a concussive force that pushes enemies away? Would a fireball that sends out a shock-wave as an aftereffect apply? What a spell that manipulates some secondary target (like rock) to push enemies away?

[Andrew Sonea]

Just to be clear, should the sole function of the spell be to create a concussive force that pushes enemies away? Would a fireball that sends out a shock-wave as an aftereffect apply? What a spell that manipulates some secondary target (like rock) to push enemies away?

Yes, the spell is a blast of energy/wind/what-have-you. So please do not paint a spell that has the blast as an aftereffect, or picks up and throws some other object. It should just be a massive force sent out.

[Kafka Dreams]

Hooray for a day off work.
Got a lot done.

Still need to add the enemies getting blown away, more shadows on the guy, light effects and what not...



As always comments and critiques are desperately needed

[Chris Sanders]

File --> Save for web and devices (hope its the correct english translation)

You can set quality and resolution in one action.

Thanks Ionpainter, that's a really cool little function. cheers!

[bara]

Cool topic, I wanna do this... here's a sketch.

[Ionpainter]

my sketch:

[Grimstitch]

I thought I'd go for more of a distance view of the action. Just a sketch to get the idea of the actual spell (not sure it looks explosive enough at the moment) and planning to add combatants and flying debris.

[eldridge]

New here and decided to join one of these still trying to figure out what the spell would look like but this is the layout i'm going for.

[OakKs]

This subject really inspires me. So here is a quick black and white sketch.
There's still a lot of things to do !

[nudity]

I didn't finish rendering it out but this is as final as its going to get before deadline. Fun topic the other submits look great; I wish I had the patience to fully render out a piece someday.

[Kafka Dreams]

nudity, you know the deadline isn't for another week, right?

[hemlock-key]

This one is going to be fun...especially since I found my stylus at last.

[hemlock-key]

Wow Sean, that looks awesome! Love the lightning.

Did some more work on mine, wasn't liking the tiny mage VS giant baddies. Also dragged in a pencil sketch of the mage to correct some issues there and got some rough coloring to get a lighting idea.

[Blackball21]

This is going to be my first real illustration ever , I came into this a bit late I hope I can get it done in time.

[Ionpainter]

Aspectabund: love your style, 2nd one is my favorite

jon_n: this sketch reminds me of the comics I read in my childhood, nice

Raycharles: cool fight, keep painting

Kafka Dreams: I would suggest to choose a wider format, because illustrations are made for magazines, book covers and backgrounds which don't have quad dimensions. (mostly)
Keep in mind that a potentially client could any time stumble across your work and could license it for a magazine.

bara: couldnt wait to see it in colors

Grimstitch: a like your idea to show a wider area, overthink the colors of your explosion, looks a little bit muddy

eldridge: great powerful angle, but I think the people in the foreground steal a little too much focus

OakKs: looks great, dont forget to set the focus on the impact/spell

Sean McClain: merlin goes enrage, powerful, nice

nudity: cool explosion, but the composition looks like the picture is cutted on the right side, the viewer expects something more on the right (just my subjective feeling)

hemlock-key: nice idea, check the anatomy of the knocked back enemys, use reference

@Blackball21, I look forward to see your entry.

That are my thoughts.

[Grimstitch]

reworking my idea a bit

[hemlock-key]

Updated. Worked on the mage, corrected the enemies and fixed some of my lighting. Still working on it.

Thanks for the input Ionpainter got the enemies more solid and anatomically ballparked.

[OakKs]

I've changed the look of the sorcerer and added some colors and magical effects.
Now I need to work on the details... Any suggestions are welcome.