(27 April 2011 update above: Honestly I really shouldn't have published the illustration as it is below. It wasnt ready. Regardless I have reworked it with the warp tool function, revisited the value structure, and utilizing my new super brush of doom in photoshop repainted it! hope you enjoy the difference. I know I DO! I know its not much of a complete change..for example...Maybe over the summer I will get around to adding color back in. IN the meanwhile...off to go work on final deadlines.)
Among my greatest surprises this week was the Earthquake and Tsunami that hit Japan. In the the picture I wanted to address the fact that no matter who you are, where you are, and what you are doing, you are not immune to the natural way of life: fear, danger, injury and even death.
It seems that we as a people like to forget that we are only part of a page which is being turned by time in the book called reality. We imagine to ourselves that we are part of a grand plot staring ourselves...and we become so self absorbed in what we are doing, and what we want to do, that we forget to remember that life is short and precious.
Events like this make me wonder what MY tragedy would be if a natural disaster hit nearby. Immediately my mind lists off my wife, son, parents, bothers, sisters, relatives, friends, my cat...etc. But during good times I am surprised at how easily this list is contradicted by the normal flow of life, which is filled with innumerable directions and distractions. Always remember WHAT MATTERS MOST!
Anyway....
Here is what I learned/explored with this picture:
Recently I came across a great blog entry from Freelance Illusrator Greg Newbold discussing the uses of value and color and it set my mind thinking...
I've heard of such concepts before, but end up usually stumbling across the finish line ignorantly because I was focused on having a good range of darks and lights which emphasis the focal point(s) of the picture.
...well this time I went at it from a value-relationship point first. The first picture you see below is my initial impression of what I wanted to accomplish. The 2nd one is what it ended up being (my final picture turned greyscale).
So ultimately I created a picture that not only LOOKS good with color, but also with only greyscale values. I accomplished the picture by setting the value with a greyscale layer, and then utilizing the selection tool, colorize, and colorbalance, I ultimately kept the same tonal values while making it color(though to further emphasize the woman as the main point I changed the umbrella to be lighter than the hair, and ultimately anchored the picture by making the table about the same as the hair.)
Your illustration shows us just how victims from the recent earthquake tragedies had absolutely no warning. The immediateness of your artwork is so moving.
ReplyDeleteFirst New Zealand and now Japan! I can't stomach watching anymore news reports. And only weeks prior, we had cyclones and floods destroying so many homes and lives of friends and neighbours.
Really puts life into perspective. It makes you want to give all those close to you an extra tight hug and tell them how much you love them.
Great piece. I understand first-hand how reality can hit hard and unexpected. I live on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and though we were expecting Hurricane Katrina, we did not expect the total annihilation of our city Gulfport. To walk outside and down to the beach (I live one block from the beach, and yes, my family and I stayed during the hurricane), and to see nothing left - no buildings, houses, cars, even sections of streets! - was hard to believe at first.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about what you learned/explored on this piece. Value is, I think, one of those things that does get forgotten when one has this great idea and is ready to get it done! But value does make the piece go more smoothly, and look more put together.
Good luck @ IF! This is definitely a winning piece
Great.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100%. A friend once said to me were are just ants going on with our daily lives and routines, only concerned with our own task. It seems we never stop to think- what of someone else somewhere else. Events like this remind me of how much he is right. R.I.P Adrain. Oh yeah and "an injustice anywhere truly is an injustice everywhere." Love your work check me out here.
ReplyDeletehttp://itsitsinthemind.blogspot.com/
Life is precious, I pray for the safety of those who are struggling to stay alive, wherever they might be. It helps curb the selfishness that comes so easily to me. Good picture, thanks Mike.
ReplyDeleteGood illustration. very strong graphics.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all your comments. I appreciate the sincere reply. if you havnt noticed I have REWORKED the illustration to look like it should have!
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