WIP: There be dragons....

[malibu]

Some of you will guess what this is for, I've been commissioned to do a book cover ;) ... still a long way to go with lots more texturing to go.

All digital painted in PS!



::edit:: update Aug 5
I believe I'm done. I KNOW I'm out of time... Unless something glaring jumps out.

http://www.pictusdesign.com/temp/Redheart-3_g.jpg

[*NL*]

Hey Dan!

That looks good, is it just me or is it just a detail?
When you are talking about the foreground I kind of miss what that's all about.
Maybe post more?

I Think this must be like the first time I saw graphics from you... :)

Haha, screw the author. ;)

[malibu]

Above link is updated with today's progress....

[malibu]

Well, we met with a Marketing gal today and she wants some changes...

Full wrap instead of front only. She wanted at least part of the dragon's head on the cover, the author is resistant--wanting to leave much of the dragon's features to the reader's imagination. So, we compromised, I'm going to go full wrap and add Riza (the damsel not-so-in-distress) from the novel as a rider and you'll see part of her face peeking out behind the wing. When I add her...

She said it crucial to have a face, especially eyes on the cover of any product. It creates sympathy and makes a buyer identify better with the product. Who am I to argue?

[zyconium]

it looks like its off to a good start so far dan :)
be nice to see where you go with this !.. seems like it could take a while to get all those nasty little details in there :)

[Fig]

looking good, i like the texture in the wings. i definitely want to see the dragon's scales more battle-damaged, more worn. you know, like He-Man.

off to a good start, should be fun to see this develop. when's the release date?

[malibu]

Okay, a minor update posted from last nite. I redid the chest armor, leg scales, and started to paint the wing (just bkgd so far).

I agree Fig, it needs tons of distressing and weathering--but I want to get all the composition in place before I do the heavy texturing. I've selected a backgd scene, but haven't started painting it yet.

[malibu]

Got the 'model' photos done with a young gal for Riza--just started to paint her. Added the scales to the wing and did more work on the wing texturing. I'll prolly work on the girl next so I can get some feedback from marketing... not that I have time to change directions anymore :eek:

Update posted in first post of thread.

[malibu]

Updated with girl...

I need to make her look older. What thoughts? How best to do that? Add shadow's under cheekbones? Thin out face?

::edit:: Okay, I aged her appropriately. Updated link.

[*NL*]

Heya Dan!

Yay! It's looking better and better...
I think there is something wrong with the position of the girl.
When I looked at it, something felt wrong.
I can't really put my finger on what it is, but I think it is her position.

[malibu]

Is she too far forward? Too far back? Is she too 'big' in proportion to the dragon? /me shakes Minse's spinal cord to get more info!

[*NL*]

I think she's too far back... We need to see just a little bit more of her.
Why did you choose to make her look that way? What is she looking at?
Why isn't she looking at the viewer? Answers!

*gently grabs a hold of the spinal cord and plugs it back in*

[Noelb]

The picture looks good... one point IMHO the wing shouldn't dissapear behind the body like that unless it had some support like one of the wing spines.
Try tapering the wing infront of the body to attatch at the base you will then also be able to show the leg of the girl flying on the dragon....

[malibu]

Okay, I turned her body (note shoulders), and put them into the right (better?) perspective--left shoulder higher.

Noelb: you've got my attention--although I'm not sure exactly what you mean. Support? Do you mean showing how the wing attaches to the body? In my mind, the dragon is rolling away from us (showing the underbelly), so I wouldn't see this. The leathery part of the wing (membrane) is attached along the length of the body--there are two trains of thought here in dragon illustration (from my research). One with the wing attached across the length (more correct with bat pysiology), and the other unattached. If you took a sail and didn't attach it along the bottom to the lenth of the boom, it wouldn't work--so I opt for the first.

But again, I'm not discounting what you said--I'd like to understand better what you mean--and only explain my thought here for clarification. You may very well be right that I should see the wing attachment at the base (if that's what you mean)


::edit:: I see part of the issue (I think). Sometimes with a work in progress you see things in your head that aren't really there. The scales will flow up the back of the neck--just not there yet... Let me add them and we'll see if the wing doesn't look more 'connected'.

[malibu]

[blurry eyed]Okay, I've fixed some of the stuff pointed out, and have the background 98% complete.[/blurry eyed]

[mihai]

heeey!!!
howcome I didn't hear anything about this so far? Shame on you! :P
I like it. Is it for what I think it is?

[malibu]

Okay, almost finished. Just need to do final highlighting and shading on dragon and girl... unless you guys see something--oh, NL, I put her arms on a diet ;)

(posted above)

[Blastafuzix]

Your doing a fantastic job, and yes clients can be very picky, ouch :D

[*NL*]

Yay, that looks better!
But shouldn't there be a see through??? Like below her arm?
Isn't it weird to see her belly there? Or is her position slightly turned towards the viewer? Just put your wife in that position with her arms like that, and find out if this is the way you see it... Maybe take a photograp.

[malibu]

I'll give it a try NL... :P

Blasta: Sorry, I should know better than to make inside jokes on a forum. Some of the guys here know that the author is my wife >>> http://www.jackiegamber.com

[mercy]

I went and saw each day update. Excellent work. esp the Girls face is very nicely done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[malibu]

Okay. It's done. Well, if left up to the artist, it would never be done... but the publisher in me says I'm out of time. Link updated in first post of thread. Oh, bugger, here it is too

http://www.pictusdesign.com/temp/Redheart-3_g.jpg

[*NL*]

I love it Dan.
This is one of the first projects I saw of you, and I think you worked it out marvelous.

Maybe the tail looks a bit too blurry, but that is ok!
I wonder how it will look on the cover! Get me a copy! :)