02-04-2014, 05:15 AM
Jaik: Lots of cool stuff and diverse ideas in there. The giant creature lit from below is really cool and could make for a great mood painting. Although it doesn't show off the design very good, unless you stay pretty close to something everybody knows (turtle/toad etc). Value thumb 2 and 3 run the risk of turning into a cliché, especially those birds on branches. If you go into that direction make sure you add something unique as well (face of the bird guy looks interesting so far). That is a problem I am running into as well, because my brain is plastered with tree-people we all have seen far too often by now. Depicting an aged(!) Naga like creature would be pretty cool too, if pulled off successfully! (I say that because I already realized I have sincerely neglected painting aged bodies so far.) Anyway, I like that idea of yours where you combine turtle(?) silhouette with tree elements. Since this topic is very broad and you also explored many possible directions, I would suggest you do some more of those rough concepts before settling on one concept. And if you settle, explore 5 or 10 variations of that design before going on.
Here is what I have got so far. Brainstorming and developing a few ideas... not too happy yet.
SWAMP
dark green, brown, grey
wetlands, ponds, (dead trees), grass/reeds, cypress knees, mist
"bruchwald"
more or less forested
moods: drepssing, morbid, dark vs. dreamlike, misty-green
ELDER
grandfather-like, tells stories to the children
war-chief like, hard person
fragile, strong, tiny/slim, massive ... body language?
religious leader?
SWAMP ELDER
probably some kind of authority, wise
leader or elder of a human tribe living in the swamp
humanoid species, adapted to living in the swamp (frog like/greenish/wet skin)
tree like species, incorporating all 'swamp' things in his design (from moss to hanging stuff), gnarly
combination of all above - humanoid with bark skin etc
what culture does this creature/person belong to? how do they live? what does it mean to be an elder? what's their job and how does it show?
inspired by swamp animals?
to do:
environment -- decide on mood
elder - decide on direction
animals or plants to give life to surroundings
think of the culture they belong to
composition of final image -- maybe some interesting perspective? light situation (campfire)?
what does the elder do? tell stories? give advice? show something interesting to tell a story with visuals.
avoid:
treebeard
WoW druid treeform
gollum
Here is what I have got so far. Brainstorming and developing a few ideas... not too happy yet.
SWAMP
dark green, brown, grey
wetlands, ponds, (dead trees), grass/reeds, cypress knees, mist
"bruchwald"
more or less forested
moods: drepssing, morbid, dark vs. dreamlike, misty-green
ELDER
grandfather-like, tells stories to the children
war-chief like, hard person
fragile, strong, tiny/slim, massive ... body language?
religious leader?
SWAMP ELDER
probably some kind of authority, wise
leader or elder of a human tribe living in the swamp
humanoid species, adapted to living in the swamp (frog like/greenish/wet skin)
tree like species, incorporating all 'swamp' things in his design (from moss to hanging stuff), gnarly
combination of all above - humanoid with bark skin etc
what culture does this creature/person belong to? how do they live? what does it mean to be an elder? what's their job and how does it show?
inspired by swamp animals?
to do:
environment -- decide on mood
elder - decide on direction
animals or plants to give life to surroundings
think of the culture they belong to
composition of final image -- maybe some interesting perspective? light situation (campfire)?
what does the elder do? tell stories? give advice? show something interesting to tell a story with visuals.
avoid:
treebeard
WoW druid treeform
gollum