Encounter In The Garden (La Pucelle)

[Celtic_Emperor]

Sister Prier often walks through the church garden on her way to and from her training spot to take in the sights. Here she encounters a gentle butterfly. :happy:

This piece took a while, mainly because it had to do with foreshortening, angles, and perspective. I'm satisfied with the piece as is, but I may go back sometime and spruce it up a little.

Caution to those with slow connections. It may take a while to load. It is a large file with large dimensions. Its big enough to be a wallpaper. And don't forget that if your browser auto-resizes it to fit on your screen, it probably looks jagged and such. So I suggest the full view for clarity and THEN the resized view so you can see the whole picture at once, or vice versa. 🙂

Drawn on tablet, colored in Painter IX.

Artwork by & © Damien Jones

Sister Prier & La Pucelle Tactics © Nippon Ichi Software

 

[Low_Roads]

Very nice work on the figure, Vlad! The foreshortening isn't extreme, as the angle isn't terribly high and viewer distance from Prier is rather long. I've always found such gentle perspective difficult to properly achieve. Exaggerated foreshortening is generally more forgiving: if it looks a bit cartoony or grotesque, it still usually acceptable. Slight perspective must be demandingly precise if it's to work, and this certainly does! Everything about this picture is rather gentle and restful. Prier's posture is loose and nonchalant. Her face displays a placid, happy curiosity about her chance butterfly encounter. The lighting is rather muted... no harsh shadows or overly-vivid color: this walkway would seem to be protected by tree canopy. All colors blend well: the various lush floral greens, tree-trunk browns and paving-stone grays have the same basic value, creating a pleasingly unified environment. The framing foreground leaves create a solid depth-of-field, lending good visual interest. This garden path has a good sense of "place"... I can easily imagine the locations it leads from and to. It's not hard to see why Prier has paused to spend some time... it's a place I'd be pleased to visit myself!

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Very nice work on the figure, Vlad! The foreshortening isn't extreme, as the angle isn't terribly high and viewer distance from Prier is rather long. I've always found such gentle perspective difficult to properly achieve. Exaggerated foreshortening is generally more forgiving: if it looks a bit cartoony or grotesque, it still usually acceptable. Slight perspective must be demandingly precise if it's to work, and this certainly does! Everything about this picture is rather gentle and restful. Prier's posture is loose and nonchalant. Her face displays a placid, happy curiosity about her chance butterfly encounter. The lighting is rather muted... no harsh shadows or overly-vivid color: this walkway would seem to be protected by tree canopy. All colors blend well: the various lush floral greens, tree-trunk browns and paving-stone grays have the same basic value, creating a pleasingly unified environment. The framing foreground leaves create a solid depth-of-field, lending good visual interest. This garden path has a good sense of "place"... I can easily imagine the locations it leads from and to. It's not hard to see why Prier has paused to spend some time... it's a place I'd be pleased to visit myself!

You're starting to creep me out! :wooha:

Its like you're in my head and know what I'm thinking artistically. I guess great minds do think alike.

It's true, I didn't want to do exagerated or extreme foreshortening. And I thought the exact same thing and used the exact same thoughts and words when I felt that it would look better (and would be more of a welcome challenge) if I made a more subtle use of foreshortening and made it a complicated shot to draw. The forehshortening was no big deal, but add in the angle, distance, and perspective and its a whole new ballgame because it effects the entire picture.

Its just enough to cause the natural illusion that her legs are shorter and her feet are smaller than they actually are, but not enough to distort the field of vision we have of her and the environment.

I'm not happy with the flowers though. They're too bold and don't blend in well. They were always there, but I colored them last to meet a deadline for a contest this piece is entered it. I had like 2 minutes left! LOL

I may go back and add the shadows from the leaves to the cobblestone and/or add fallen leaves to the cobblestone. I was going to do that anyway, but I opted out of that because I didn't want the picture to look too cluttered with minute details.

 

[Senshi1]

Wow - that's excellent work! 😀 I'm no good at analysing like LBH is, but I know a well-drawn pic when I see one. I agree with the comments about the perspective, too - that has to be my favourite thing about the picture, and something that must have taken a long time to get right. 🙂

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Thanks. 🙂

It didn't take THAT long. The actual planning took longer than the execution but this didn't take as long as it probably looks like it did.

The contest theme was "maiden". There was nothing more specific about it, so it was the perfect excuse for me to draw Prier again since she's like a maiden. If theres a character I really like I'm willing to go the extra mile for them usually. I love Prier! 😀

I think I'll win.

 

[Senshi1]

Best of luck! 🙂 You'll have to let us know how it turns out! 😀

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

"In my experience theres no such thing as luck."- Obi-Wan Kenobi

Maybe taking part in the contest was a mistake. 🙁

 

[Senshi1]

"Nothing will come of nothing"
~William Shakespeare

You never know until you enter. 😉

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

You're not understanding.This is already entered. It was already entered before I posted it here. Entering it was not the problem, or rather, it is.

See, the other contestants aren't....well....really that good as artists. Theres no way for me to put this humbly- theres no way I can lose to them. Victory is assured.

This contest, and any other future contest on that site will not be fair, because they'll never have an honest chance against me.

I don't know how they feel about this. Maybe I should ask them.

But how do you go about asking- "hey guys, does my talent intimidate you?". You, know? Thats kind of a rude think to ask because it might make them feel self-conscious and small. Its not the same as asking people if they don't comment to you because of the same thing. Because with a situation like this, they're going to be reminded of the facts...

They're nice young people, but I'm not sure I should take part in another contest ever again there.

 

[Senshi1]

If you feel that entering is a bad idea, then it's best not to - winning won't be as rewarding as it should be.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I can't withdrawl now though. They'd know why I'm doing it, and they deserve their dignity.

Hopefully everyone will get at least 1 vote (even if it may be a pity vote). If theres one thing I believe, its that win, lose, or draw, everyone should get some kudos for at least trying. (Not necessarily in the form of a vote, but rather a typed response).

I didn't know this was going to happen, so in the future I'll have to make it a point to seek out challenging contests where I know my skills will be challenged and I can better avoid this kind of problem.

I don't regret drawing this picture though. I would have drawn it anyway. 😀

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Oh, also, just in case people didn't know this already, Prier wears tanned pantyhose. Thats why her legs appear darker than her shoulders and face. It also explains the shine on her legs. XD

 

[Dark_Rain]

I'm far from capable of giving a detailed description like LBH of why I love this particular piece, but it's just one of those things that makes you stop and...well, stare at it for a while. She has a very peaceful expression on her face, and while I haven't gotten around to playing La Pucelle {Because I have to order it online -_-} I believe that Prier in that sort of situation would be a rare and welcome thing indeed compared to her attitude that you hear about whenever someone mentions the game ^_^; The perspective is amazing, as well.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

I'm far from capable of giving a detailed description like LBH of why I love this particular piece, but it's just one of those things that makes you stop and...well, stare at it for a while. She has a very peaceful expression on her face, and while I haven't gotten around to playing La Pucelle {Because I have to order it online -_-} I believe that Prier in that sort of situation would be a rare and welcome thing indeed compared to her attitude that you hear about whenever someone mentions the game ^_^; The perspective is amazing, as well.

Thank you. :happy:

Yes, I did mean for this picture to be seen as one of those moments where we see the softer, gentler side of Prier. She's always fighting demons and competing with others that we don't see much of this side. I hope to expand on the idea like I did with Brunch Time. http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=25857&highlight=brunch+time

Also, you need to play the game. Or else. :weird:

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Oooh very nice 🙂
Not your usual style though.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Thank you. 🙂

How do you mean?

 

[Darth Vegeta]

Hmm i'm used to seeing your black and white anime pencil ones 🙂 That's all.

 

[Kenjisan]

This is the best picture you've done. Everything from the coloring to the perspective is very nice. Nothing to criticize that I can find.

 

[leenotler]

Somehow, I missed commenting before,(and sometimes posting seems like interrupting old friends) but I admire your art, especially this one and "Never Coming Home".

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Hmm i'm used to seeing your black and white anime pencil ones 🙂 That's all.

Really? I haven't drawn a black and white in a while now. 🙂

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

This is the best picture you've done. Everything from the coloring to the perspective is very nice. Nothing to criticize that I can find.

Thank you. 🙂

LOL, lots of people say its the best picture. And then, when I come out with a new one they say it's THAT one thats the best picture.

Either I'm constantly outdoing myself or you're some fickle-ass people. LOL! 😛

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Somehow, I missed commenting before,(and sometimes posting seems like interrupting old friends) but I admire your art, especially this one and "Never Coming Home".

Thank you. :happy:

Interupting old friends? You mean me and LBH and Senshi? Nah. Don't let something like that stop you from posting to people.

I AM capable of speaking to multiple people at the same time, afterall.

 

[Dark_Rain]

Thank you. :happy:

Yes, I did mean for this picture to be seen as one of those moments where we see the softer, gentler side of Prier. She's always fighting demons and competing with others that we don't see much of this side. I hope to expand on the idea like I did with Brunch Time. http://www.tickletheater.com/showthread.php?t=25857&highlight=brunch+time

Also, you need to play the game. Or else. :weird:

You're welcome ^_^

Well, at least I got that part right XD I also enjoyed your other picture. Everyone has a priceless expression on their face in that one. It's too bad that she was too busy competing and trying to make herself noticed that we don't see that side as often as we should.

😵 Or else? Well, to avoid finding out what 'else' is, unless it's a gift wrapped Sango, I suppose I'll just have to order the game online via Amazon! Twist my arm.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

*does the twisting of the arm*

Now go. And do not fail.

 

[Dark_Rain]

>_o I wasn't being serious...*Rubs his arm* >_>; But it'll take time for the game to arrive, whenever I get around to ordering it. Right now I'm kinda busy with Kingdom Hearts 2.