|| stoph's SB || UPDATED 25/11 - LIFE DRAWING

[Slechtvalk]

Awesome work and its really great to hear about that charity project and what you want out of it.

[monstertree]

Those DVD captures are really good, I've learned many a thing from painting a screencap Good work on the DOF in the last one, you pulled it off without making it cheesy!

[stoph]

weee page 7! its all downhill from here (i wish..)

Blaz: hahaaa everyone keeps saying that, but i've never heard of or seen the show in my life! must've channeled it or somethin heh

Slechtvalk: thanks mate, appreciate the support. meeting with my writer a week from today to go over some more stuff. i think a few more solid days work and we'll be really close to nailing the story arc and rough storyboard, then its just a matter of doing the pages and adding the dialogue

monstertree: yeah like i said, looking at that DVD still for 3 hours really got me thinking about DOF. i reckon i'll be using it (but not too much) in the graphic novel, cause i really want a cinematic quality to the work

heres a quick update (yes, more graphic design, eh). branding for a new Salvation Army youth camp to be held next year, called REVOLUTION. i'm not so sure if its a finished concept yet, i would really like your critiques on it.

the concept and inspiration behind the piece is quite significant in this case. the event is themed towards breaking away from old ways, taking new ground and growing in a spiritual sense, so i wanted to convey this notion by using the tree, since it draws many parallels to the Christian walk and life in general. the stump represents the solid, deep-rooted, yet limited foundation of faith already in place - the groundwork is laid, but the real growth is yet to occur. the new sapling sprouting from the stump represents personal, ground-breaking spiritual growth as an individual, whilst also making reference to the overall Salvationist movement in that it is moving and growing and very much alive. certain Scripture uses the symbolism of a tree when referring to Jesus, and since the event will be held in and around arid bushland, the concept is a multi-fauceted and well-suited one (imho).

oh, and the image of Jesus on the stump and the typeface itself were both pre-existing brand elements of REVOLUTION that i had to work with, as REVOLUTION is not strictly limited to this particular camp - it encompasses all of the current youth-oriented ventures the Salvation Army are undertaking, so it had to find its way in there somehow. i included some detail shots, just to show it wasnt all just scratchy, that there is some form there. i wanted the look to be grungy, and purposely limited the colours to keep with the current REVOLUTION pallette as well as helping when it comes to print time.

this particular piece will be printed up on A1 posters, with the details of the event placed somewhere on there. i was thinking maybe coming off the tips of the branches. i'll post a few potential layouts for the typography soon.

let me know what you think

[Krist]

nice comp's indeed, what a space in your images but still the impact reaches the viewer. also like the simple sketch expression. no fuzz just art

[liam.c]

http://www.conceptart.org/forums/att...1&d=1196768808 studies rockin man !

[Brendan N]

Hey stoph

first time in here. This last poster is looking pretty good, well designed and thought out.

I do have one or two things to say about it though:
I think your two focal points are competing a bit too much at this point. I only saw it was love spelled backwards around the 3rd glancing over it as my eyes were going up and down the whole time.

I can't help but think this is a very aggressive image for a religious youth camp. High contrast black and red doesn't exactly spell peaceful, and at first I confused Jesus' head with Castro's. I realise it's due to the Revolution theme, but the whole image feels like a call to arms - violent and aggressive. The Red stars continue the sort of socialist/communist theme, and amongst all this the little tree starts to feel like a hand.

This might be just me seeing it in this way so take it with some salt.

[Eytan]

great work man, really like your graphic design stuff

keep up the good work man i hope to see more from you soon

[roidvoid]

the revolution logo looks a lot like the ron paul revolution logo...

[stoph]

Krist, liam.c, Quick_Sketch: thank you all, its people like you who take the time to provide encouragement that keep me going

roidvoid: haha i googled it and youre right im not familiar with american politics, so i cant say i plagerized it. that being said, i didnt design the REVOLUTION logo to begin with, it was done by another designer in the Salvation Army, and i think it was made early last year, if not before then, so i dont know what came first, but yeh.

Brendan N: woot! got a crit and everything im glad you brought up some of those issues. i agree on the focal points being confusing, i wasnt too sure where to place the logo on the tree/page, so i just put it there and forgot to get around to it by the time the day ended. i've been having doubts about its placement in relation to everything since then, so im glad im not just being pedantic about my own work.

as for the high-contrast black/white/red scheme, these were the original colours of the REVOLUTION branding, and given the clean-cut, graphic feel to the logo and the typeface, i didnt want to get caught up into gradients or anything like that. i'm also designing this with t-shirts in mind, so the less colours the better. the image of Christ being compared to that of Castro's is a deliberate move, made to have the viewer take a second glance. its effective in that its an unusual way to portray Christ - as a revolutionary, as a controversial figurehead of a movement (which is what He was back when he introduced christianity, when you think about it). the stars were an element of the original REVOLUTION branding, also, and i wanted to use them in this case, but i can see how they read as you pointed out they do. might look into that. as for the tree, i'll introduce a little more assymetry to avoid it reading as a hand.

you hit the nail on the head with the comment on the violent and aggressive - this is precisely the concept i was trying to get across. to understand the edgy, aggressive nature of the piece in conjunction with a christian youth event, you need to first understand the nature of the Salvation Army.

we are a militaristic christian organisation. this is a significant characteristic that permiates our existance and sets us apart from the run-of-the-mill christian sect. everything we do revolves around the idea that we are in a war, which is true when you look at things from the proper perspective. we see ourselves doing battle with the forces that bind society, that bind mankind, with poverty, homelessness, addiction, and every other form of thorn in the side of humanity. we are on the frontlines of a spiritual war made manifest in the extreme ebs of society. we dont just talk about making a difference, for standing in the gap and fighting for the underdog - we do it. its practical and functional faith. some of the songs iconic of the movement during the early days, even continuing to present day, speak of "storming the forts of darkness," issuing a call to arms, that every soldier of the Salvation Army should hear and answer that call with a fierce and firey resolve.

heh, i could go on, but i dont wanna overload your minds, and dont wanna be accused of being "preachy". its not my intent, but like i said, to understand the nature of the image, you need to understand that this is precisely what we are - aggressive and violent, though (to quote the Good Book) our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.



wow. this post became huge all of a sudden haha! i dont have anything fresh to show you guys (sorry), ive been held up with work and such (stupid job, lol). i'll do my best to update with a painting in the next week or so.

[Brendan N]

Well in that case it's pretty good design because it's definitely conveying the message .

[stoph]

okay, as promised, heres a painting 1.5hr's in a foodcourt. i find myself at my most creative when im not in my bedroom haha

this should be a no brainer - be quick and guess before Diphallia does! hahaa as always, there's 10 points on the line.

[Diphallia]

sorry
War of the worlds!
Nice one stoph!

I'm the most creative in my bed.
No seriously, I am.

[stoph]

hahaaaa D it was inevidable i dunno if i should keep giving out points, i think you've acquired an unbeatable lead at this point.

i'll see what i can do about another painting soon, i got a site that needs finishing before the new year and have a lot of family things to do re: holidays and such in between.

leave me love, im off to work with no sleep

[Diphallia]

Haha, I think I have.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Please do enjoy 2008!

Give yourself a break on the holidays now!
But please do me one favor: Scribble down something when the new year has come (at the moment).
Anything, anywhere, just label it "first drawing 2008".
Photograph it, and upload it!

[stoph]

hey guys, sorry i havent updated for a bit, been busy at work and with festivities and what not. hope everyone had a safe and happy holidays, i did (aside from getting a big bit of backwash of pepperspray down the bay on new years..)

this isnt so much an art update as it is a web design one. i promised a friends band about 4 months ago that, after doing their EP artwork, i would do them a myspace, too. it took about 10 different draft designs to reach this final product, cause myspace insisted on incorrectly parsing the CSS in random areas. now i worked out the kinks (i hope). i kept a fair portion of the basic myspace band layout, but again i did considerable work on the left hand side. note: the Shortcuts drop down menu in the top left corner is immovable and considered part of the advertising, as is the banner top center. if you do anything to change them = deletion.

i am never touching a myspace layout again. ever.

without further waffling, here is the site - Nazarite Vow

if you like screamo/hardcore, along the same vein as Underoath, check them out. they are really worth a listen, and they have improved immensely since the recordings they have on their page.

i promise some paintings in my next post. promise.

[Slechtvalk]

Awesome stuff stoph.
I used to like that kinda style music.
Its a good excuse to listen to that kinda stuff again

A lot of stuff kinda sounds the same nowadays.

I really like (mortification - the 2 best releases Scrolls/Self-titled -Also Australian band) the old thrash/death stuff...

Real great artwork & site. Professional quality.

[otis]

Stoph..

You have a GREAT sense of space and design. Your work is really good. Do you ever showcase your work in shows?

If not, I highly suggest you get your work out there!

Keep it up. Stay true.

[IanE]

Your graphic stuff is fantastic... so.. minimal, yet, detailed, precise, amazing.

Great work. Please keep updating!!

[B-Man]

Come on man I bet your really busy but so is most people on this forum.
Your dads axe isnt gonna scare me no more man, Im gonna start molesting if you dont post something! ha ha

[monsi]

wow I just watched war of the worlds and thought that shot would make a good painting!

weird

very nice stuff.

[stoph]

BAHAHAA B-Man, your presence here has been sorely missed, along with my own i assume? best stop molesting, im just about to bus' uh cap in yo bearskin butt!

otis, thanks a lot mate, i really appreciate the praise! i have never had a show of my own, though i have had a piece hung for a state-wide school collective (ended up winning top prize, which was very encouraging to state the least). one of these days i'll have amassed a body of work worthy of gallery-status

thankyou to everyone who hasn't lost faith in me just yet, as i've said previously, i've been run off my feet with work (35+ hours, only one day off a week), and design for the salvo's (really enjoying it)

speaking of the latter, i just finished a poster that will replace the tree/stump concept for the same youth event earlier on in this SB. i had another sit-down with the youth team, and we decided that we needed to take a different approach. i feel this attempt is a little more on the money. it's in keeping with the militaristic theme, and actually draws reference to certain relevant visions within the 'Army, and also some cool passages of Scripture regarding the second coming (all unintentional and unrealized until completion) - which has only strengthened its message and appeal. i'm pretty happy to say this one is done, i have no time these days to spend much more on it (and i've been warned my fingers will be forcibly broken if i keep trying to be a perfectionist). the inspiration is blatantly taken from the N. C. Wyeth WWII propaganda poster for buying war bonds, reproduced in 3 colours for ease of printing and further in keeping with the red/black/white theme already established in the pre-existing brand.



the sketch beneath was a quick little something i did to wind down from today, intended for a character design to be used in my graphic novel (you saw it here first, folks!)



more soon..

[B-Man]

OOOooohhhh update!!!!! Hmm is it just me or is it a bit small... I quote
"best stop molesting, im just about to bus' uh cap in yo bearskin butt!" This post is not gonna do any major damage on my "bearskin butt" Its like shooting me with a BB gun.
But on the otherhand its an update, and Its a good one! That poster is awsome Is it the J-man with the red flag? You get such respect for him in your composition. Well done Stoph. The character is only a head but I like it. Cant wait for a full character! Bring a bigger "GUN" next time man.
Mahalo!
Ps. I never touched your sister.

[Diphallia]

Cool propaganda poster!
Glad to hear that you're having fun at your work
Good luck pal! Keep it up and keep on living!

[Slechtvalk]

Great work!

If this were a class critique and we had to say something....

The Poster:
It has a Albrecht Durer meets pictorial modernism style to it .
If you really want to bump up the Durer-ness have the hatch lines horizontal.

B-17s? ... maybe do 4... Horsemen of the Apocalypse (white/red/black/pale).

Add a border (black) possibly 2; one thick and one thin.

Maybe have the stencil text on bottom green for army colors and
that red/green complementry element. The catch is that it might take the red's thunder away and throw the color scheme.


Character Design:
Awesome head. Only the eyes make the gender difference as of now.
Maybe add ear-rings or something more femine, unless its the design intent
(contrasting elements... hair/features...).


Just ideas to think about... possibly test and have a yay or nay response.



(add the attachements with the paperclip icon in the text type/link/tags...etc to make them show up and not the link)

[stoph]

B-Man, you are one lucky cubovvabear that i didnt just open up a can o woop and throw you downnnnn!

Shlechtvalk, the crits are right on the money, but i felt 4 bombers said "reconnisance/suicide mission" as opposed to "FULL BLOWN AIR RAID, FTW!!" that, and im not entirely sure the horsemen theme would be read immediately in that way. the idea of having green in there would defeat the purpose of working in 3 colours (we're gonna be printing shirts + posters = cheaper production costs) and the original branding that i adapted for this concept was limited to red/black/white. all valid comments, nonetheless as for the character sketch, it's the beginnings of what has already become a multi-staged and many-drafted pool of character sketches in full, i just thought i'd share it because thats where my style is heading and, whilst i wanna keep everybody happy with sneak-peaks at the work im doing, i dont wanna share too much without giving it all away

D-Man, thanks for the continued support

[stoph]

long time no post! been flat out at work and sadly my art has to miss out.. heres a meagre sketch to keep me loose and to let you all know i'm alive (just...)



may do something more with this

[B-Man]

You know Im untouchable!
I like your loose sketch but before you do anything else fix the proportion problems with the legs and the balance point. The face is great, even though he looks just as intelligent as your mom! ( OH NO HE DIDNT!!!! )
Ciao! You little burn-out!

[pennington]

DUDE!! that poster is awesome. and you have amazing typography/design skills.

[stoph]

B-Man: yeh, thats what you get for starting a figure with the head and leaving the legs till last oh, and i will destroy you, dont you worry

pennington: many thanks brother, its good to know my designs are appreciated

phew, been a while since i did this! okay, heres a painting i started at 3am this morning and finished this arvo. lost track of time, but upwards of around 3.5-4hrs steady work im guessing. yes, there are many flaws in it, but the idea is that im improving with every piece.. right?



10 points up for grabs whoever can name that movie (easy one)

[Exquisite Beast]

I am LEGEND! Additionally, I'm Aussie too. Nice work with the Salvo's poster - it's got that edgy, topical look that a lot of Christian youth events often bomb out on. Nice linework as well. I'm digging the last painting but I feel that the scene you've chosen is too complicated for a painting - the mirrors, weird perspective clashes on the rotation of the objects (like police car vs will smith vs dog), glass and chrome effects and wide array of colours only mess with the vectors and cleanness of the composition. It's like each part is done really well but visually they don't work together. I much prefer your Black Hawk Down and War of the Worlds paints. They are simple, restrained in palette and evoke strong emotion. I really like the muscle man though - I wish my anatomy were that good (in real life too...!)