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Post by AFG on May 7, 2012 11:17:08 GMT
This is the start of what is going to be a very large painting for my sister. She is head of a Hospice down in England (I'm very proud of her and greatly admire the work she does) and she asked if I would do a painting to hang in the entrance hall of the hospice. I was very reluctant at first as I felt a bit daunted by the task but have decided the least I can do is try. The idea is to eventually have an angel sitting by a waterfall surrounded by flowers, colourful birds etc. and hopefully it will give a feeling of peace and contentment. BY Waters EdgeThis is where I am with the painting now, still more to do, I am working on the swan at the moment and then will begin to add the finishing touches, I quite like how it is turning out
This is just getting the basic shape Now starting to establish shadow/value Second StageGetting the face shape I was originally going to have her hair behind her ear. Working on eye and nose. I like her hair like this so have decided to keep it this way, this also shows the original sketch. I have darkened her skin and have started to try placing the wing and added a towel/cloth Thought I would post this to let you see what I have been doing,, I had to create a painting using the Highlander film theme tune as the inspiration but make it unique. If you listen to this The Music the painting should make sense, hopefully. This was a sixty minute sketch we had to do from a given object, I was given an old boot. This was a fifteen minute painting where the subject had to be tree, rock and grass. This again was having sixty minutes to turn sketch to painting, this time doing it digitally, I used an old sketch I had done previously which was allowed. It is very rough but the idea is to get you to the stage where you can paint/draw concept ideas quickly.
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Post by Goonfella on May 7, 2012 17:49:27 GMT
Well what can I say? Nothing I say can ever do justice to the magnificence of the image and the shear emotion of the song, together making up something that is just out of this world. What a great choice of music, it compliments this piece perfectly. The Painting is just sublime, from the soft glow of the fire in the Lion`s mouth ( that is what it represents isn`t it? ) , the candle and it`s reflection on the water, to the water itself and the surrounding landscape - it`s all just ..... SO BEAUTIFUL! It really is a masterpiece Afg. Very very well done.
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Post by Leif on May 7, 2012 17:55:50 GMT
Wow. This spells doom and gloom in some ancient world. Really dark, but most effective picture. Strangely enough it all seams to belong there. Great work.
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Post by TheBad1 on May 7, 2012 22:41:39 GMT
This is an absolutely fantastic surprise. Treat. Pleasure
You've such an unique way of making great looking, realistic skies. The lake/loch/ llyn is superb ... as are the trees, hills and accruements.
The only critique I can offer is that you don't show us your work often enough
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Post by Helen on May 7, 2012 23:18:27 GMT
Oh my gosh. I love the mountains and the trees and the light glowing in the back. It's a very cool piece. Oh, and the dragon (is that a dragon) flying is an awesome touch.
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Post by AFG on May 8, 2012 8:25:32 GMT
I have put a larger version of the work up now, I forgot we are not tied to 600x800 rule on fans, I have also added some other stuff I have been doing. @ Goonfella: I was fortunate in the theme song I was given as I had done a painting a while back that I knew I could develop the theme from. @ Leif: It was a heavy theme to depict and one that took me into a few dark places while I was doing it. @ Welshy: the only good thing I have found with using photoshop is when it comes to painting or rendering as it is called in the digital world, I can set both the flow and opacity of the brush and also the pressure sensitivity of the pen which allows me to lay down shape and value first before before adding colour, I can also change the brush to 'dodge' which lets me lighten specific areas or 'burn' which darkens and is great when it comes to creating sky's. @ Helen: yes it's a dragon Helen, you should be able to see it better now I have put a larger version up. Thanks for the great comments, I have been going through a bit of a confidence crises recently, wondering if I had left the art dream to late in life and doubting my ability and paintings as a result, but these comments are helping to build the confidence again.
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Post by Helen on May 9, 2012 2:42:45 GMT
Oh, wow! Those are some nice sketches! The hardest part for me in school was (in high school, that is, since that was the only time I took an art class) to sketch quickly and focus right in class. I couldn't really do it. Students were noisy (and nosy) and I just hated the atmosphere. Thanks for sharing all your work. It's really fun to view all of them. The boot looks so real!
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Post by barbieq25 on May 9, 2012 9:14:55 GMT
AFG it is great to see you on here & with such marvellous works for us to see too. I like the way you have used the sketches to render the digital works. I just adore the sketch of the boot. The time frames you were given just about gave me a panic attack!
Thanks for sharing your journey with us. It is great to see you follow your dream.
I love the flying dragon!
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Post by AFG on May 9, 2012 15:22:46 GMT
@ Helen: LOL.... nobody has time to talk or look at what others are doing, we are all to busy trying to get something down on paper, it also helps that they don't object if you plug-in the earphones and listen to music to shut the world out while drawing and painting or rendering as I am being forever told to call it, I now call it painting just to annoy them and tell them it's an age thing ;D @ Barbieq: the time scales are frighting to begin with, first time I thought to myself "Your having a laugh" or a phrase similar to that but it is surprising how you begin to adapt to it by no longer looking to put detail in but more concentrating on the over all shape so it makes sense, then adding detail if time allows. During the final Observation and Illustration class this semester we had to set up six sheets on the drawing board and sketch the model as she changed pose every 30 seconds, we then had to do a 3 minute sketch and compare all of them, the 30 second sketches were more accurate proportions wise simply because you don't have time to argue with yourself and just have to draw.
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Post by blackpenny on May 9, 2012 16:14:58 GMT
I meant to comment on the first painting a couple of days ago, but I watched the video, then started watching other Highlander videos, and almost bought the series on DVD. *LOL*(Good thing I didn't have a credit card handy.)
Anyway, it's great seeing your work. I took one drawing class in my life - it was called Drawing for the Completely Untalented and ran about 8 weeks - and that was a challenge. Good for you for pursuing it, they say it's never too late to follow your dream.
And if you can annoy people too, even better! ;D
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Post by Ella on May 9, 2012 16:23:05 GMT
Great work and it is never late to go after your dreams. I have no formal art training either and can really relate to that and I have plans to do something about it too .
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Post by Pixey on May 11, 2012 16:00:27 GMT
First of all - how wonderful to hear from you. Your pieces are excellent; the boot is so realistic and the loch is simply magical. I love how you make the train/face play with one's imagination
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Post by AFG on May 12, 2012 4:31:04 GMT
@ Penny: I often begin to research a subject on the internet and couple of hours later wonder how I got where I am and can't remember what I started out doing @ Ella: thank you, I would advise anyone with a love of art and the determination to learn to go and experience life in the art world. @ Pixey: thanks, that one area of the painting I deliberately left obscure so the imagination could decided what it is. @ Helen: here is a couple of pics of Biddy, because she is a Shetland collie she will not grow much bigger than she is just now at eight months. She seems to think that my purpose in life is to feed her treats and scratch her belly on demand
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Post by Sargon III on May 12, 2012 4:35:13 GMT
Oh, wow my friend great to hear from you, I love that painting, the fog is amazing, and the two figures are stunning, the flying object has a devil tail, that just what I am seeing, maybe you meant something else, I really like the whole story, oh I forgot to mention how awesome is the reflection of the lantern on the floor/water, thanks for posting it here AFG.
EDIT: so cute doggy ;D
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Post by AFG on May 12, 2012 5:02:30 GMT
@ Sargon: thanks, to me the whole point of this type of painting is allowing peoples imagination to build the story and see what their imaginations tells them to
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Post by barbieq25 on May 12, 2012 11:29:04 GMT
AFG, it is great to read your insights & how you are getting on & what you are up to with your studies. I am so jealous but on the other hand I am so very happy for you. I loved my studies even when they drove me crazy & I'd recommend anyone do it if they can. I've learnt a lot here too from fellow artists both new & masters. To me here is a bit like a classroom. Love your Biddy. Cute face..bet it is hard to resist giving in
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Post by Helen on May 12, 2012 18:10:21 GMT
AFG: She does look like my Lassie. I bet they'd get along very well. It's hard to resist giving them treats. Biddy is soooooo cute. I love her markings.
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Post by blackpenny on May 15, 2012 18:07:33 GMT
She seems to think that my purpose in life is to feed her treats and scratch her belly on demand You mean it isn't? ;D What a cute dog! We've briefly discussed whether or not to get another dog when ours is no longer with us - she'll be 17 in a month - and Shetland is one breed we've considered. I think a dog would be too much work at my age.
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Post by TheBad1 on May 15, 2012 21:48:44 GMT
Every time I see that painting (render ) I'm in awe. The depth of it all is truly fantastic mate Excellent sketching and painting too ... Total talent in capturing all the creases of the leather on the boot ... I love that tree on those rocks. The texture of reminds me of lumps of granite. Beautiful wee doggie. She's gorgeous
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Post by AFG on May 16, 2012 10:47:04 GMT
@ Barbieq: I totally agree, being a member of this community not only gave me the confidence to go to Uni and study art but it also gave me an invaluable learning platform @ Helen: I am sure they would, I am beginning to think she has been fitted with a jet engine the speed she runs around at @ Penny: 17 , that is a very good age for a dog to achieve, a grand old lady @ Welshy: I am very fortunate to be in the position where my daily life revolves around art, that and the fact I am also surrounded on a daily basis with incredibly helpful and talented artists. If you look at your own art from when you first started using PDN to what you produce now and then imagine what you could achieve through working with it on a daily basis. It's a bit like when a football scout discovers a raw talent, when the big club takes him on he is then surrounded with all the facilities and help to allow that raw ability to flourish.
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Post by barbieq25 on May 16, 2012 13:16:15 GMT
AFG, for me personally, having studied some art at uni, I feel so glad that "one of us" has gone on to further their formal studies. Feels like we are there with you.
So true too about the progress we have all made over the years. Personally, I never dreamed I could be producing the works that I have. In each work there is an awful lot of you guys represented.
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Post by AFG on May 21, 2012 11:06:39 GMT
@ Barbieq: aye, little did I know where I would end up when I stumbled across Paint.Net. One of the great pleasures I get is seeing how the folks here have grown and developed art wise. I have come to the conclusion that pdn is like a security blanket to me, it's grand going off on a wander, but it's always good to come home ;D
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