First look at Selena’s homeworld
Selena (the girl you see on banner) is a youth elf and skyship captain. She’s one of the main protagonists of Rainbow Dreams project I’m currently developing.
Selena was born and risen in elven tribe, living in tropical archipelago of Rainbow Dreams world. Her home is a group of islands lost in the ocean. There are huge mountains covered with lush and exotic vegetation. Countless rivers flowing down to the ocean making it looks like a riverworld. If you hike somewhere you’ll see huge trees and flowers with lots and lots of roots and vines. The foliage is so big sometimes that you can park a few cars on just one leaf.
Here is a recent concept art depicting Selena’s home islands seen from the beach. Obviously you can’t say it’s super exotic but just wait till the next shots!
Simply beautifull!
About the huge foliage, I’m curious how you will show us that kind of scale.
Conceptually this reads beautifully, But leo, if your gonna incorporate photo images into your art, it might help the aesthetics to make the transition seamless. Other than optical discrepancy with scaling, I’d say this was masterfully done! Awesome, you never cease to amaze!
@T-Flux
Well I can’t see the problem with scale though – the idea was to show massive mountains, something you can find in China or Thailand (sample) but with a bit of fantasy touch.
Considering comp, once again if you point out places that bugs you that would be great.
@Leo
This image is spectacular.I see the effect you where aiming for. With Relief Rain, it is quite common in islands with high mountains to develope rain clouds. Having it rain only on the Island gives the image a sort of mysticism with a small break in cloud cover to reveal the attractiveness of the Island, It sort of lures in, Awesome, I’m sold on the concept.
You could tell me to go to hell, but the only thing I have a problem with is when I can see where you pasted patches of photos. When I look at your work, on a technical level, I want you to make me say,”Dammit, how the hell did this guy achieve this effect” because, most digital artist use shortcuts, You, craig mullins,everyone, even me, Because its efficient and can be fast to get the Idea out.
The part that bugs me is the lower left-hand corner of the water and 2 small parts of the shore line where it looks like photo. Trust me, it might look like a cool effect today, but will future generations looking at your work say, damn, this Leo was one most fantastic illustrative painters of our generation. How the hell did he achieve this realism? especially when they have the technology to decipher pixels and tell if its consistent or photographic.
@T-Flux
How can you be so sure? The image was probably painted much bigger, actual paint strokes dissapear when it is scaled down so much.
I believe that looking at colors and textures of nature and reference images can be enough to make your own magically realistic painting.
These areas you point out might not have been done with special texture brushes methods, but they can still have been painted. Rendered, how Leo called it in an earlier post.
@DidiKong
Ok man, magic brush it is:), Maybe I don’t know what I’m talking about. There is no way I can be sure, I’m not her to dirty the artist Credibility. To be honest, this man has given me a fair share of pointers which have been very beneficial and motivating, I give him my highest respect. I’ve seen most of his work and this is the only thing that I thought was worth not liking. Mr Leonid, should be proud that he is an intelligent thinking artist but sometimes being to smart can hurt you. The artist reserves the right to tell me, F-off if my observation is faulty. Hmm! I would never point something out like this on deviant art, conceptart or any other public forum. I’m not perfect and it will make me real sad if I have you all hate me for something that I hate doing. I only pointed that out because I think its very apparent in many many of his Island paintings.
I will never bring this detail up again, because at the end of the day, the end product is all that counts. For me, it takes a lot of nerve for me to say I dislike something, most of the mainstream artist would not take the time to reply to comments of this nature. They just simple ignore and move on, well, I don’t blame them. I try never to point out proportion problems and things that are exaggerated about anybody’s art. Things of that nature are trivial. There are thousand of artist that will point the obvious. Remember lens flares that was cool till it became common place with many artist.
I remember back in school at mica, back in the day of round brushes before texture brushes became so advanced, many everyone complained that the works didn’t look natural. A few years later people began inventing really ground breaking brushes most of the one circling around the net today. Some are very recognizable. They really are magic brushes.
So, to Leo, I think Didikong has corrected me, so if those where done completely magic brushes, You are Masterful, I feel like an Ass now:)
Guys,
just my 2 cents. First, I’d really appreciate all the feedback good or critical. Sometimes crit is harsh and blatant but I’m trying to extract constructive points anyway.
Next, it’s good to remember that artists you adore are humans just like you and not Gods.
The purpose of such images is to pitch a concept, showcase an idea. I can use words and tell you, well you know, that looks like this and like that but when you see something it works much better.
I see that modern industry is moving towards fast-paced speedpaints and mock-ups and personally I’m not happy with that trend. But technical issues aren’t a big deal if you see something inspiring or striking. That’s the purpose of conceptual art. However I bought once a special issue of EDGE magazine (Art of videogames) to get some inspiration but can’t find anything that sparks my imagination. Now that’s the problem!
So if T-Flux see some technical flaws that’s fine with me, next time I’ll do my best knowing that you guys keeping tabs on me.
Id like to apologize Didikong for my needless Rant, Id like to apologize to leo for not flipping out and mediating. you guys handle this professionally. So, please continue with the inspiring Stuff, Rainbow dreams is coming along awesome! Hope we don’t loose momentum here because this is like Crack for me, I see and learn all sorts of news, Wip, art links. So, in the words of the great Marvin Gaye “LET Get it ON”
@T-Flux
Let’s get it ON!
Don’t be so hard on your self. I didn’t hate your critics or something, I just wanted to know how you could be so sure about those points.
Anyway, I see no problem, it is just some talking about art, that is where this place is for I think, and that is what we just did.
@DidiKong
Sweet man!
Have ya’ll seen this site?
http://gallery.aethereality.net/artbook/
there are a lot of artbooks on here.
@T-Flux
Man, personally I don’t see any offense in your comments. As I told you, next time I’ll put extra bits knowing someone would dig it!
You are free to express your opinion here, it’s a public place after all. I’m posting stuff here because of your ideas and thoughts. If I don’t need or afraid of comments I would just turn them off. If you’ve a different opinion that’s fine as long as you honest with yourself and others. I’d like to see that blog as a place where you can talk and share ideas without fear, like in a group of good friends. Lot’s of modern online forums lacking of that experience now.
When I’m posting stuff and talking on rainbow dreams I feel like I’m putting my clothing off. I have absolutely no idea how people would react on it. But I’m doing it anyway since it’s the only way to overcome your fears and doubts and learn new things.
@Leo
Sure thing Leo, well, here is an Idea, When ever you are depicting her home world, can u indicate some significant structure landmark, sentinel, statute or something that act like a visual aid that discribes the sophistication and history of the culture. It could be introduce into the next illustration, what are your plans?.
Beautiful work. I like it.