The Crestock Photoshop Contest 2007

I create my boy references in poser. But I used a photo of my friend as a facial reference which you can see here: http://caelicorn.deviantart.com/art/Sacredearth-ref-71786379

This photo was taken when she was 13 or so, so I referenced it liberally and tried to age her according to my memory.

The tree texture is used throughout this image. You can see a montage of texturising here: http://caelicorn.deviantart.com/art/Sacred-Earth-texture-montage-71786613

The wings were made by layering the tree in about three different lighting layers, then I painted over and played with them. The fabric was made similarly, following the flow of the branches. The tree is also throughout the stone to give it interesting shape.

The guitar is in the background to create the strange, building-like structures. Bits and pieces of the guitar and phone are interspersed everywhere as shrapnel etc that the earth spirit is tearing up. Oh and there is the hand with plant stock I referenced in her hand ^.^

You can see a larger version here http://caelicorn.deviantart.com/art/Sacred-Earth-71786859

and close up here: http://caelicorn.deviantart.com/art/Sacred-Earth-closeup-71787005

Er "boy" = "body!" XD

Oh, and necklace and staff are made out of the leaves, cut into interesting swirly shapes and taking up about four/five layers each. Mm think thats it :P

Fantastic picture I must say :)
My only worry is that the 'central focus' seems to be more on the girl herself, rather than the stock images. The only reason i'm saying this is because in the contest conditions it says "One or several of the supplied images must be recognisable as a central part of your design."

I'm in no way trying to rip on this, don't get me wrong - because I think it's a magnificent piece! I'm just worried that the stock images were more just used as textures/decorations, rather than large/centrally focused parts of the image.

Please do not take this the wrong way.

Awesome, i really like your image...
Impressive!

Sorry to say, but I have to agree with phreek_23. Although this is a stunningly beautiful piece of artwork, and shows off your skills superbly, I'm not sure that it conforms to the rules of the contest, which states that at least one of the supplied images must be a central part of your design. The central part of your design is the fairy and nothing much else is recognisable as the stock images supplied, apart from the hand with the seedling in it, which is a small detail in your work.

Nah I dont think you're trying to rip into it don't worry :-) Well I thought about that - that depends on your interpretation I guess. The seedling is focal here, although the overall focus is the girl (compositionally). I dont know if it says that stock has to be central, I think it just has to be a main obvious element, and I guess that's up to the judges discretion. However, because of the layout of this picture in this submission here, the seedling is focal - there's a box for it. I guess that's a cheeky way of circumventing your doubts :-)

Oh, also, in the large image that the judges can view, they can see that the guitar fret board is repeated several times in the background. That is something you miss when the image is compressed here, unfortunately. I should have put a snip of that here in the closeups so that you can see them. If you go to the large version of the picture, I think you will be able to see them there, kind regards.

Actually, I think it's "recognisable" not "obvious" source as a main element of the image. But I'm all for beating out the interpretation of phraseologies :-) its the literary and legal background.

Jawdropping beauty! Great mood you set in that image, and amazing painting skills. Good luck mate!

great job dude

I think your painting skills are excellent and I will let other people argue about whether the stock is focal enough. I read your first post and I have a suggestion. You mentioned using poser as reference. It is my opinion that everything that comes out of 3D programs is so lifeless and stiff that you should consider using photos, a model or drawing freehand. You've got the chops to paint everything else. in this composition. I would suggest taking a life drawing or figure painting class to boost your courage at painting humans from scratch. you've got the chops.

Such a creative use of stock and absolutely amazing skills!

I didn't even notice some of the subtleties like the guitar fretboard till you mentioned it.

My fingers are crossed for you.

Thanks dude! Well actually most fantasy artists nowadays will use reference :-) the Hildebrandts did, Vallejo does, Enayla does..I think that Frazetta is one of the only prominent ones not to, which is probably why he has UBER GOD-LIKE status!!

Poser is a pretty terrible program actually, and yes! The figures look so stiff. I tend to take a lot of license when referencing them, because they arent always anatomically correct. But theyre really good for getting a feel for a tricky pose with a lot of torsion or foreshortening.

And now you make me want lamb chops...mmm...chops....

Definately one of the better entries of this comp. (and there are a lot of good ones) - you do this work on your sh1tty computer too I understand... - imagine what your work would be like on a macbook pro!! - kudos!

Yeah the seed's pretty cool. Freakin' amazing. Goodluck!!

But I prefer pork chops myself ;)

Stunning work as always! Fingers crossed for you :D

i think too much time is spent for a little plant. i don't see the point. i hope the voting people have a common sense about the criterias of the contest. Very cool artwork, but i believe it has nothing to do with the contest.

"Too much effort"? lol?

Oh no! Someone put in more than an afternoons work on a submitted peice. Whatever will we do?!!!!

A great piece of art here, Caelicorn. I'm not going to bump your vote (as I want mine to win :p ) but I really respect the level of craftmanship, and as others have said, very creative use of stock.

LoL! It's not just the little plant in the picture...

WoW! A huge prize and we're not allowed to put a lot of effort in!!!! Crestock must be giving away computers for free!

This is breathtaking and amazing. When I went to vote on Monday I looked at each piece of work and never saw this picture. I would have voted for this if I saw it before. It's gorgeous....so judges when you look over the pieces you can mentally note that this would have been my vote.

Hey sweetie, I love this picture of yours. I think its technically the best entry here. Dont pay any attention to the haters, I think the prize is so big that people are going to be immature and bitchy about it. Good luck, I hope that the judges recognise true talent and innovation! Merry Christmas!

Totally agree very nice. I can see why some would complain about the minimal stock usage but other than that there not much to fault. Very nice painting piece.

Wow, super good. Excellent detail. Mood is interesting too.

but I'm kinda sick of floating and flying islands. The meme is getting old. Nice painting though.

Well done! Got my vote!

Good luck honey!

Thanks peoples! And you cant get sick of floating and flying islands, they're teh AWESOME!

This is really a great picture

Awesome! I like how you have the details zooming in from face to plant, to really get the message home of how this is about nature and plants.

Hi,
If you think my image
is worth looking at then please drop a comment saying: Yes
If you think it is not worth it then please don't hesitate to say: Bullshit.

http://www.crestock.com/blog/design/contest2007/entry.aspx?id=6424
Thanks for your time

@Nestr
Stop posting your work on others art, this isn't about you.

How can this not win? Amazing stuff!