The sketch is finished!

now with the figures composited in... started the big canvas today!

This is sufficiently completed to begin the BIG painting. Have learned a lot through this process and am ready to tackle the large image, I know there are at least a few changes I am going to make as I proceed on the final.

a litlle more progress

deleted the previous post because of blurry photo...

School is back in session!

This is still the "sketch" for this image, I should finish all of the experimenting and painting by Friday and start the "real" work on Monday. It's really good to be back in school!

rounding 2nd base

Work in progress, small (11 x 14) painted sketch to work out all the kinks and prepare for the larger final piece... approx 36 x 48! Introducing more color variation so the final piece won't be monochromatic.

tree creature composite

Photo composite is almost complete, still need to place a few people in bottom right corner. Then all that is left is painting... School is ending for summer break, so it may be a while before this piece is updated.

tree creature model (part 5)

Here is the finished model AND here it is with the armature and supports still showing. Now with the reference photographed and the composite also completed, it's time to begin the painting...

tree creature model (part 4)

Small update. Fiddling around with camera settings and lens length. Natural lighting seems to work the best so far.

tree creature model (part 3)

It's starting to come together, getting as much included as possible but will still have to embellish in the final painting. The Q-Tip at the bottom represents a person for scale. We are talking BIG CREATURE!

tree creature model (part 2)

These shots are after a lot of carving, gouging, and painting. The right leg was detached and repositioned to match the drawing better. It has a much more dynamic feel to it now. It has begun to look more tree like, forest elemental. I used a dual color textured paint to get the bark finish. A funny thing is that everyone who sees the spray can says "I didn't know anyone really used that stuff." You can see from the veggie bits I have laying around there is a lot more work to be done.

tree creature color thumbnails

Experimenting with color combinations and lighting. Top right is probably the one I will go with, still need to investigate more fall like colors and maybe some lighting from below.

tree creature model

Built the masses using florist foam, needs a little more shaping before applying the veggie bits, because it will be covered the shape is important not the surface finish. Head, hands, and feet will be completed separately and attached later. About 24" tall.

Menacing Tree Creature pencil

Here is the final layout. I refined the images and added more detail, I like the creature but think I can do better. Going to try my hand at some "organic" sculpture using actual vegetation and see what I can come up with. I may come back to this but want to experiment a little more. I will post wip pictures of the sculpture if it works out. Then, on to the color comps...

Tree creature advances menacingly from a huge forest

Next project: This is the composition I have decided on, needs another figure or two at the bottom to give it some scale and tell "the story" better. The image at the top are investigations of the creature structure and mass, intend to add the tree bits later. Bottom two creatures are more like what I envision.