Diane
This one may be the most time consuming piece I've ever done :p (and I don't think that I'll do it again, I had started to hate it in the end ^^)
This is part of a serie I'm doing with my best friend about celebrations (Christmas, Valentine's day, etc....), this is actually the first painting of the serie. She's doing the 2nd one, then I'll do the 3rd, etc...
It's about some persons who can harm people who love them then and being lonely and cold, searching for a heart to take, blinded by they feelings, trying to "hunt" for a "love prey"... Dunno if it's very clear...
The tree is a human hearts tree (that may be a little bit erm... gross, I don't know... I just felt like painting real hearts so here's the result ^^).
The peacock feathers symbolise pride and also bad luck. The eyes... well, she's blind ^^
The snow leopard is meant to symbolise her "hunter" behaviour (now blind aswell), the fact that she's sitting on a tree is meant to represent how lonely she feels (and it's also a nice place to search for hearts, remember )
I know that she's breathing against the wind, but making breath right looked wrong so I'm gonna call this thingie "artistic freedom".
The lighting is typical flat snowy weather lighting so there's not a lot of volume.
Photoshop CS and my beloved wacom
50 hours approx.
Ref used for the body and I've taken a look at some snow leopard shots (google is my friend!) to remember how they look like.
No refs for the fabric so it's totally off but I don't really care since this image is not intended to be realistic (I've never seen a heart tree )
I don't know what else to say... I hope you'll enjoy this image, feel free to crit :)
Thanks for viewing!
Thanks a lot to everybody who has helped me in the WIP thread :)
I definately have an issue with web optimised jpg.... it destroys the colourscheme, contrast and volume :( My painting looks flaaaaat (it had not a lot of volume due to the dull lighting, but the jpg version is totally flat!)
WIP thread : http://www.gfxartist.com/community/forum/141671
Reference : http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/5235/refvs8.jpg
Closeups : http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/162/closeupsee5.jpg
Another version (colder one) : http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8571/valentinegreyfullow8.jpg
traditional and digital illust

Renyn Loving that character ~!!! nice one
Jul 26th, 20077Shadows hmm, i love the "previous version" much better. the colors make more sense and the overall feel, and smoothness work much better. i also love the close-up.
Jul 26th, 2007this is a brilliant concept. it has a lot of meaning and that's what make it so great.
Diane thanks ^^ I'm not crazy about it, but I thought that I would post it here, hopefully the rest of the serie will be better :)
Jul 26th, 2007Diane Thank you :) I don't like any of them.... I only like the meaning of this picture but I thought that I would post it here aswell since the rest of the serie might be better :)
Jul 26th, 20077Shadows you must be kidding! that previous version is probably one of my favorites work from you. :)
Jul 26th, 2007i would definitely fav this, but i think the version you remixed look awkward and the sharpness is off.
Diane I'm gonna change it and put this one in the links then :)
Jul 26th, 2007Thanks! :)
7Shadows yea, that version is so amazing! the colors are perfect. the details are so rich that bigger is better. :)
Jul 26th, 2007+feature!
Diane Oh my.... another feature? oO I think that I'm gonna faint! Thank you so much!
Jul 26th, 2007I didn't think that this one deserved so much attention! Thanks *hugs*
Renyn "I didn't think that this one deserved so much attention!"
Jul 26th, 2007o.O but we Loooove it ~
Diane *blushes* thanks!! As usual, I can't really judge my works, I've seen them too many times ^^
Jul 26th, 20077Shadows haha you are modest, that i already told you. ;)
Jul 26th, 2007at least, give credits for the efforts you've taken and the amazingly deep concepts you came up with.
Diane thank you, thank you and... thank you *blushes* I don't know what to say...
Jul 26th, 2007It's a little bit bigger indeed, I figured it would be more interesting to see some more details :)
Renyn Why you think i asked you first to do that project ;)
Jul 26th, 2007and ya that version is better i think too.... alot more details ~ character is still nice soo *dance*
Diane The other version is totally destroyed by the jpg compression ^^
Jul 26th, 2007I'm sure the project will be very fun and interesting to do! :D
ksch Would you be my Valentine? ... for sure :)
Jul 26th, 2007great work, i like her expression and the details are great
Diane I'm really glad you like it :) I must admit that I've spent a lot of time on this one, both concept-wise and painting :)
Jul 26th, 2007Diane thank you ^^ The girl on the tree is a nast one, you know ^^
Jul 26th, 2007Renyn Pfff ill say yes also lol
Jul 26th, 20077Shadows lol i noticed you painted a piercing on her chin. that's cool!
Jul 26th, 2007oh yes, i would be her valentine for sure. but i'll sleep with my eyes open!
Diane hahaha, guyz, you crack me up :D She looks like she has a bad cunjunctivis ^^
Jul 26th, 2007Diane I wouldn't actually be able to sleep with her if I were a guy ^^ I can't help finding her scary... (not ugly, but really scary with her red eyes!)
Jul 26th, 2007Renyn Details :P She have style x)
Jul 26th, 2007Diane at least she has style, but I'd prefer sleeping with the snow leopard, the fur must be very soft! :)
Jul 26th, 2007Renyn wait until hes getting hungry ~
Jul 26th, 2007Diane oh my.... I had not thought about that.... I bet she does the same as him with human hearts when she's hungry! :p
Jul 26th, 2007Renyn ........ good point lol
Jul 26th, 20077Shadows your concept really sparked quite a conversation. i stay firm with my statement and say i would be her valentine! i'm sure she has a great heart that's only waiting to be found.
Jul 26th, 2007sure, she'll eat a few dozens more until she finds the one!
Diane sure :) Better you be the one ^^
Jul 26th, 2007nekro i want x)
Jul 26th, 2007leiko another beautiful piece
Jul 26th, 2007Diane you want her? :p She's nasty, you know ^^
Jul 26th, 2007Diane Thank you very much leiko! Your works make me feel very happy, it's actually what I meant to do :) Thanks!
Jul 26th, 2007Glauco Cool! But i think this girl is a litlle dangerous isnīt she?
Jul 27th, 2007Inspired! Thank you!
aniOcean Gorgeous. I am really impressed the way u perform arts.
Jul 28th, 2007Love it and fav :)
egarza love the kitty ;)
Jul 29th, 2007you're like a magician
the brushes are your magic wands
see you!
Diane Thank you :) She's a little dangerous indeed ;)
Jul 29th, 2007Diane Thank you very much aniOcean :)
Jul 29th, 2007Diane Thank you *blushes* I'd love to be a magician :D
Jul 29th, 2007raradolly I hear you on that web optimized jpg thing, it destroys vibrant colors.
Dec 7th