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Griatch-art — The Human pit stop

Published: 2007-08-25 08:07:42 +0000 UTC; Views: 5432; Favourites: 44; Downloads: 76
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Description The bar -- where humans stop to relax, regardless of era or location. No matter how technologically advanced we become, there will always be a need for places for people to meet -- be those places real or virtual -- and a bar is bound to remain standard for a long time to come.

All done in GIMP 2.4rc1 [link] . Some random prop and pose references where used for the sketching, otherwise it's all done from scratch. Work time around 14 hours, spread out over two weekends.

The scene is inspired by the MMORPG EVE Online [link] , but only in spirit; I haven't explicitly used any actual graphics or reference materials from there at all. Some character types you will recognize though.

("Blackback Starkiel" is my character's name in EVE, by the way, if you want to drop by and say hi.)

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I have heard from time to time that many scenes I do are rather calm and serene. Now, this is an attempt to make a really busy scene. The idea was to have people sort of caught doing normal things and not being bothered about us, the viewers.

I also really wanted to train drawing males of different ages and postures. I also worked hard on adding texture to almost everything in sight. Unfortunately most of that hard work is not really showing at this image size, the print is based off the full-size original, showing all the details .

Hopefully the bar should feel used and sort of ingrained, despite the fancy bar desk.

I am, as always, looking for critique on this, I'm still adjusting it, but it's easy to go blind to one's own images.

UPDATE: Incoorporated some changes to this, increased level of detail on the man sitting to the left at the bar, as well as the man in the leather jacket, to make him look less flat. Tweaked light a little bit too.

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Griatch
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Comments: 48

Lyra-brjp [2012-01-18 14:16:49 +0000 UTC]

Woooow, amazing *---*

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Griatch-art In reply to Lyra-brjp [2012-01-28 10:46:46 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! And thanks for the fave too!
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Griatch

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Lucida [2012-01-12 15:28:30 +0000 UTC]

Very peculiar light effect with these strange glowing colours, it's spectacular !

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Griatch-art In reply to Lucida [2012-01-28 10:47:26 +0000 UTC]

Yes, the light from that lit-up bardesk was interesting to get right. Glad you like it!
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Griatch

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AkikoHana [2008-03-13 16:02:50 +0000 UTC]

looks great!

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rover-tcb [2008-03-13 07:47:32 +0000 UTC]

This is wonderful! Great work on the lights

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Griatch-art In reply to rover-tcb [2008-03-13 12:16:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, spent a lot of time on the details of this picture. Glad you like it.
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Griatch

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demonflair [2008-02-04 00:03:17 +0000 UTC]

Holy!! This is awesome!!

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Griatch-art In reply to demonflair [2008-02-04 10:04:19 +0000 UTC]

Glad you like it!
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Griatch

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X-A-N-A [2008-02-03 21:26:02 +0000 UTC]

That green guy is shiny! I love this! FAV'D!!!!!!

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Griatch-art In reply to X-A-N-A [2008-02-03 21:37:09 +0000 UTC]

Thanks a lot! Which green guy do you mean though?
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Griatch

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X-A-N-A In reply to Griatch-art [2008-02-03 21:55:41 +0000 UTC]

The shiny one. He's wearing green and there's yellow shininess and whatever on it. Kinda like a Combine hunter

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Griatch-art In reply to X-A-N-A [2008-02-03 22:36:07 +0000 UTC]

Aha, yes he was a fun character to draw.
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Griatch

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jimmytc25 [2008-02-03 21:12:27 +0000 UTC]

wow this is extremely awesome color blending and effects in the way this is painted, nice work

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Griatch-art In reply to jimmytc25 [2008-02-03 21:17:12 +0000 UTC]

Thanks, glad you like it.
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Griatch

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Sniperwhere [2007-11-22 00:31:39 +0000 UTC]

Wow. The detail of this thing is amazing. The distance effect is very nice too.

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Griatch-art In reply to Sniperwhere [2007-11-22 04:45:04 +0000 UTC]

Nice! Thanks!
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Griatch

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isaqueprofeta [2007-11-22 00:07:43 +0000 UTC]

I loved concept ^^

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Griatch-art In reply to isaqueprofeta [2007-11-22 06:20:29 +0000 UTC]

Glad to hear it!
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Griatch

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zanroth [2007-11-21 16:54:11 +0000 UTC]

I can't disagree on the bar being standard place to meet part.
The level of detail you put into it is astonishing, and I can hardly believe it took you only 14 hours to complete.
Something like this would've set me back weeks if I didn't quit near the start.

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Griatch-art In reply to zanroth [2007-11-21 18:03:29 +0000 UTC]

I have a busy RL life, so I often have to finish a painting in only one or two sittings. 14 hours feels long enough though ... most of the work is adding details upon detail upon detail ... glad it shows.
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Griatch

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roseofceres [2007-11-19 20:03:49 +0000 UTC]

This is auwsome!! The perspective and the color scheme is really good!!

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Griatch-art In reply to roseofceres [2007-11-19 20:09:48 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!
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Griatch

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mrfaemir [2007-11-18 17:45:12 +0000 UTC]

Yet another awesome deviation from you

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Griatch-art In reply to mrfaemir [2007-11-19 04:29:19 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.
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Griatch

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Laserdance-CA [2007-11-02 07:54:16 +0000 UTC]

wow o.O superb style ^^ and + for using GIMP not PS

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Griatch-art In reply to Laserdance-CA [2007-11-02 13:07:15 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! GIMP does all I need.
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Griatch

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Laserdance-CA In reply to Griatch-art [2007-11-02 19:33:34 +0000 UTC]

oh, i didn't give the fav ^^ sorry

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Laserdance-CA In reply to Griatch-art [2007-11-02 19:26:39 +0000 UTC]

me too ^^

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VGiselleH [2007-09-02 13:22:30 +0000 UTC]

Very cool scene ^_^ I love how it's so dark, yet still looks like an inviting and fun place at the same time. I like the hustle and bustle going on the back, though at the same time it makes the area we see more lonely and/or calm. The dark bartop having not so clean edges is funny, lol, nice detail.

The faces however look a bit 2D however, especially the guy in the what I suppose is a leather jacket, as was already mentioned. Is that leather btw? The collar says it is, but the actual material looks more plastic than leather to me...then again, it's the future, who knows what they did to fashion, heh. Also his hair (hey, it's me) either he should stop using so much gel, or take off that helmet...it doesn't look like hair, more like a solid mass. But maybe the original shows it better?

The guy way at the front looks a bit too shaded. Even if he's darker skinned or something, he's too dark. Or maybe the highlights are too small. The bar itself is either shiny or reflecting light, I can't tell which, and I doubt the barman is standing in complete darkness as well, so the old man's face doesn't make sense to me with so little light. Actually about the only face that looks perfect is mr. bald-grin on the right. Nice light playing on his face, the colors are evenly smoothed out, don't look like blotched as they do on the old man on the front, looks very 3D, and has a lively facial expression. Old-guy-in-front is laughing, so the two of them are the only ones really showing any real emotion. I guess with the couple's back to us turned they are showing some emotion as well though ^_^ But everybody else is either very bored, or don't care, they's just neutrally looking/staring about, even those two guys at the table looking down. It takes away from the bustle you say you're going for. (btw, I find it funny you're going for a "busy" image, yet pick the quietest corner of the the whole area ) More lively expressions "busy's up" a place way more than a body count ^_^ And body movement, even if it's just a hand, an eyebrow, or a tilt of the head... But you know that, you use it on the Jester!

While the image is very good, and there is a lot going on and has lots to look at, I think and know that you can do better >.> Only because I know what you are capable of, I would have guessed this is still an unfinished piece. Which probably sounds more negative than I intended, because I don't...

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Griatch-art In reply to VGiselleH [2007-09-06 07:21:35 +0000 UTC]

Hehe, damn you woman, for inspiring me to add even MORE details to this image!

You have a good point about me having chosen a calm point for the image. I guess you have a point about the expression of some people looking "bored", even though I've heard the two girls on the right look like they're having an interesting discussion at least. I'll also take a look at improving the 3D-feel of the guy in the jacket.

Thanks for the critique Gaeva, you make good points. I'm not sure if I dare go back to this monster of an image right now -- it took me long enough to do the stuff already there. But I'll keep it in mind and after I've looked at it for a little longer I probably will.
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Griatch

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THEbaschti [2007-08-28 20:45:47 +0000 UTC]

Great piece! As already mentioned, the details are amazing.
What could be worked on imo:
The guy in the middle (with the leather jacket (i guess) and brown hair) looks flat, especially his face, maybe work a bit on the lighting there.

Apart from that, great job, I am really feeling the atmosphere and the sci fi flare

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Griatch-art In reply to THEbaschti [2007-08-28 21:09:03 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for the comment!

I'll take a look at the man's face again, it's possible that he's too evenly lit, have to check up on that. Thanks for the input!
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Griatch

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googleaseerch [2007-08-28 01:31:54 +0000 UTC]

Heh, the file kept the EXIF data from what I imagine was a photo reference you used in this And it was a 5D, too

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Griatch-art In reply to googleaseerch [2007-08-28 06:13:51 +0000 UTC]

Hah, cool. I wondered why that was in there. I had a layer with some various reference items on it, guess that was it. Mystery solved.
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Griatch

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curlyhairedboy [2007-08-26 21:16:48 +0000 UTC]

faved.

i think this has a great atmosphere, and it's great to see some male figures in your work. ;0

i see that blue jeans are still popular attire, even in the far future. XD *points to woman on the left side*

the low lighting from the bar is nicely done, and the sense of scale of the venue comes across better than in any of your previous works.

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Griatch-art In reply to curlyhairedboy [2007-08-26 22:31:10 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!

Yep, no reason denim would go out of fashion just because technology advances. People will still want to have cotton fabric against their skin now and then. Good also that the scale is notceable!
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Griatch

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ninereeds-DA [2007-08-26 18:54:28 +0000 UTC]

Tons of detail. Nicely captures the sleazy-bar atmosphere.

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Griatch-art In reply to ninereeds-DA [2007-08-26 19:05:03 +0000 UTC]

The idea was to add as much "sleaziness" and gritty small stuff as possible. Thanks for commenting!
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Griatch

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ZionKai [2007-08-26 18:22:45 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful work, very nice indeed. As others have said, the attention to detail is amazing. The tops of people's heads stretching all the way to the stage makes the bar feel massive.

My favorite details are the two japanese-looking (Or are they pale Khanid/Achura) women on the right, they look like they're having an interesting conversation.

The couple hugging on the other side, as they look out on the sun, also a nice touch that I looked over at first glance.

Altogether the detail you've given it makes it feel like you're actually sitting there scanning the various goings-on in a bar. So I think you've done quite well to achieve that.

Lovely post on the Intergalactic Summit too. I'm going to run off and reply there shortly!

Do you do commissions for ISK by the way?

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Griatch-art In reply to ZionKai [2007-08-26 19:02:53 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for taking your time to look at it!

The idea here was to portray a busy mood with people sort of just doing their thing without bothering about us looking at them. Glad that seemed to have come across. I messed around a lot with the two women on the right, unfortunately a lot of detail in their dresses are not really seen at this resolution unfortunately, the original is 3500x2800 after all ... Also the couple on the left took some effort. Hopefully I managed to make the scene detailed enough to instill some sense of being "there".

I'm pleased to hear you liked it and took your time to describe why, even!

Alas, my schedule does not permit me to do comissions, for ISK nor for any other currency. This really is a hobby past-time for me.

See you on the space lanes, huh?
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Griatch / Starkiel

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ZionKai In reply to Griatch-art [2007-08-26 19:52:56 +0000 UTC]

Definitely felt like I was there...hell I hurt my hand reaching into the screen for a drink

No sweat about the commissions either, it's fantastic to even just see some art incorporated into people's roleplay in Eve. I encourage you to (and hope you will) tackle a directly Eve-related piece sometime. Looking at your other works I know you could pull off something stunning.

Will see you on the spacelanes indeed, hope you're enjoying Eve so far!

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LittlePear [2007-08-26 14:46:52 +0000 UTC]

This looks very cool I love all the details!

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Griatch-art In reply to LittlePear [2007-08-26 16:19:17 +0000 UTC]

Thanks!
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Griatch

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Streeaka [2007-08-25 18:44:07 +0000 UTC]

Er...

Wow.

o_o

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Griatch-art In reply to Streeaka [2007-08-25 19:53:17 +0000 UTC]

Thanks.
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Griatch

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Insanity-Prevails [2007-08-25 13:47:46 +0000 UTC]

The level of detail is amazing, seeing the scene stretch off into the distance and the sheer variety involved here.

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Griatch-art In reply to Insanity-Prevails [2007-08-25 16:06:10 +0000 UTC]

Cool, thanks. Glad to hear the distance perspective comes across.
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Griatch

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