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tarorae — Garden Repose
Published: 2007-10-08 22:22:16 +0000 UTC; Views: 4605; Favourites: 61; Downloads: 87
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Alright, so this marks the hardest picture I've ever attempted, and the only one I've ever completed.This image saw me using a lot of new techniques that I've never tried before, so please be gentle.
First off, the lines were drawn on three seperate pages, compiled in Photoshop and each coloured seperately. LOOK! A full, finished background! that never happens!
Secondly, this marks the most layers i've ever used in one image: 48. pretty evenly split between the three layers, actually.
Thirdly, this marks the most time I've ever spent on one picture, from the twelve hours spent drawing and inking the lines to the ballpark 35-40 hours spent colouring.
Fourthly, this image saw me use about four or five different techniques for shading and colouring, many of which i found frustrating beyond reason, especially using different layer styles and texture combinations. Many of the techniques would not have been possible without the use of my love's Tablet, which I'm still learning how to use, so thanks for your patience, pet.
There were a lot of things about this picture that i normally skimp about, that i made sure to take time on. I would have liked to have been finished this picture over two hours ago, but i wasn't happy with the background layer, and i really am still not too happy with it.
There are aspects of this that i like, and that i feel i succeeded on: the richness of his cloak, the varyance in texture on his clothes, the [i]suberta[/i] leaves on the right there, the trunk of the tree.
There are also many many things i loathe, but cannot figure out how to do better: the lichen, the water in general, the lighting in the background layer. I also could not for the life of me figure out how to do beams of light, hence their layer was utterly axed.
As for the setting, this is a sitting rock off the side of the path behind Ahd'ar'ohk's house on his little island. *pops wrist back into joint*
Well, this is my birthday present to me. I wanted a new featured deviation picture, and this is it, for better or for worse. So if you don't like it, oh well. Just keep in mind it was a mountain to tackle, and however much of me the mountain took away, I'm still standing.
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Comments: 64
Thank you very much! Thanks for having a look at my page in return~
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Love it, wonderful tone and composition.
I specially like the cape. It took work to get done, by what I can see. Very good job!
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Thank you very much! The cape is my favourite part of the image as well~
And thank you very much for visiting my page - I admire your art very much!
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The coloring here is wonderful! 
I especially love the fall of that red cape/cloak. And the rocks look fabulous also! I can definitely see all the techniques you've put into creating it, and it all works well together. 
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Thank you so much! I really love how the cape turned out; that's probably my favourite part. This artwork is getting old, but I still haven't really done anything this complex since...so I should get back on the horse and try to top it!
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Yes you should! If you have art this awesome, why not try to make art that is even more so! ;3
I'd love to see it! <3
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Well, I certainly have ambitions to, but huge projects never seem to happen for me! I'm still working on one called Festival of Light that I've been poking at for 5 years now.
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Wow, five years is a while, but I'm sure you've learned new things that you could apply to it throughout that time. I have a painting I started while pregnant three years ago that is STILL ufinished, but I've added more to it since then too, after learning some things; made some parts better because I learned a new technique or medium.
But I know what you mean about the big projects not happening. I've been trying to do a group picture of my characters from a story I've been writing for years, and still can't seem to get it down on paper from my brain.
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I've had that too! A lot of the time, some part of a picture i loved when i did it...i come back and it's so crap I don't finish the entire picture.
And yes! I have been trying to draw the characters from my novels too, but I had to develop a whole new style to be able to get even close to rendering them!
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I know what you mean! My own style has changed a lot in thepast few years, especially just in the past, oh, six months or so. It's a major improvement as far as anatomy goes. I'm finally starting to get a feel for keeping facial features consistent and anatomy generally correct--or as close as I can get it anyways.
And that is exactly one of the reasons I haven't finished it yet, is because I go back to it occassionally and look at it and think "Holy crap! That's horrible compared to what I can do now" but other times, I just decide to try to work on it so it's finished.
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yeah, the characters from my Ul-Zaorith things couldn't be captured properly in a manga style, so I had to figure out a style that would accurately represent them, but that was still fun to do. I'm not into doing strict realism, and i do so love the combination of black lines and soft colouring, so I developed my pseudo-realism fantasy style. Now I find myself using an approximation of that for all of my art because it just defines people better than my old style.
And yah, I've gone back and forced myself to finish art that I owed, and a lot of the time, it basically means restarting the colouring so I can maintain consistency.
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Well the style definitely works well for you, in my opinion.
I've had to restart the coloring on several projects lately, but I think it is for the better, in the end.
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Thank you! that's good to hear, since I've been putting a lot of stock into this style, working on trying to improve and develop it, so...
And yah, sometimes, it's just easier to start from scratch than try to continue in a style that isn't working for you anymore.
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You're welcome! I can definitely see that you put a lot of effort into your artwork, it shows! And I've enjoyed talking to you also. You seem to be very intelligent and kind as well.
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I do put a lot of effort in, but I think when you're still on the upcurve of learning, you have to. I remember the days when I couldn't do any art unless it could be done in one sitting. Now it takes me a minimum of 12 hours to do anything. 
And yes, I've enjoyed talking to you too! It's always nice to talk to other artists, and to get feedback from people. So, thank you for taking the time!
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Yes, you are right, when you are learning, you definitely have to put all your effort into it, or you won't figure out something new, or get better at the technique you are practicing.
Oh no problem at all! It's half the reason I get on DA, is to talk to fellow artists and to learn things about them and from them! Thank you for taking your own time to talk to me!
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No problem at all! It's always great to know that there's someone on the other end, y'know? That I'm not just putting my stuff out there to be ignored. I'm glad it's being seen! And that I'm being heard, when it comes to that~
I hope to hear from you again~
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Oh I'm sure you will! c: I'm adding you to my watch so I can keep an eye on your work and have lovely conversations again sometime. :3
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Thank you so much for the watch! I truly appreciate the support~ *tips hat to*
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No problem at all dear! *bows dramatically*
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honestly the color and the brush look traditional for me!!
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I think is awesome how you did all those details ^__^!!
awesome work!! seems lots of effort in this ^^
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I love his clothes and the background. Especially the leaves on the tree, and the rocks he's sitting on. It's very beautiful, so great work on this. : )
I know what a pain in the butt coloring can be; that's what takes me the most time to finish, especially since I use traditional methods rather than digital. But I'm sure digital coloring takes a lot of time and effort as well. My boyfriend always works so hard on his pieces, and he colors everything entirely in Photoshop.
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I'm not terribly good with traditional media... I find it takes me a really long time and I don't get very good results...
But I've been trying to get more proficient with digital media, and that means I've had to spend as long on some digital pieces as I would have on traditional media, but it gives me the ability to undo msitakes when I make them. If i messed up on a Traditional piece i just cry because i can't fix it and i basically lose all that effort for nothing.
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Mistakes are always a bitch. But it also encourages me to leave certain things for a while and come back to them later. Sometimes it's just better to take a short break. To sleep on it, for instance.
Heh, well, actually when I make a smaller mistake, I undo it once I scan it into Photoshop.
But that's digital, so you're technically right.
I might just learn digital media better someday. But I'm kind of old-school in that sense...I prefer traditional media, really, even if it is harder. Edits can be added in PS later, anyway, so that's good enough for me (for now at least).
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I prefer -drawing- by hand, i really dislike drawing with a tablet. I don't get as smooth a look or as clean lines. I -can- do clean lnies but a picture that would take me 20 minutes to draw and ink by hand would take me 4 hours to ink digitally.
I really admire people who have a good grasp of traditional media. I feel I am a weak artist because I don't have much versatility.
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I've never tried out a tablet, to be honest. I've heard it's difficult.
I could say the same about myself, actually. I mean, while I prefer traditional over digital, I still feel that nowadays, it's only beneficial for an artist to be able to work digitally as well. I feel it's important if I learn that too.
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yeah, unfortnuately most scanners destroy the depth of colour in traditional work... but on the other hand most printers destroy the smoothness and depth of colour of digital work. XD
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Haha, I'm really annoyed with that. Like my Tifa pic; after I scanned it, it looked all grey and pale. >.> But then again, my scanner isn't exactly professional.
Printers are also annoying in that sense. It's not easy to find a good brand, something that you can rely on, and for an agreeable price too.
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Yeah, if I want things printed nice enough to frame I go tot he Copy Centre.
I'd post more things for print here, but I don't work at a high enough resolution for DA to allow decent sized prints.
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Wow... This piece has been up for so long, so I don't know how much it means after the fact, but this is absolutely gorgeous.
I just noticed that I didn't comment at all on this, wtf is that? xO I'm really sorry, somehow this slipped under the radar [so its a good thing you put it as your main deviation!<3]
I think the colors in this picture are possibly the most vibrant and effective I've seen from you, which is saying a lot, because your use of colors is something I've admired for a long time. The texture in the clothing, his boots especially, is awesome, and your ability to fill an entire canvas with scenary and STILL keep the subject in focus... its totally flawless. And most importantly, Ahddy looks better than ever here! Incredible work, Taro.
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wow, such a beautiful and warm comment!
I'm really very very flattered, especially that you admire aspects of my art that I consider very weak. It gives me hope that I'm getting somewhere...
No comment ever means less for the time of its posting. And this one, Rabs darling, really put a smile on my face.
Thank you~
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You're very welcome, Taro. :] You've more than earned the praise. <3
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Y u Y *loves on Rabs*
We should do an Art Trade sometime!
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I would love that. xD
Although I would feel inferior by far. <_<
But definitely some day. :] Some Ahddy for some Rota! <3
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Definately!
oo! we should do a collab, of Ahddy fighting Rota! *nerds out*
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xD Hahaha, that would be so rad. I'll have to practice up on my action poses! And then one-a these dayys.. <3
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You around on gaia much these days? I've opened an art shop, feel free to come chat and we can set up a trade easily that way.
[link]
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Wow, this one is simply gorgeous. So many bright, natural colours and details. It really shows how much you put into this.
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thank you so much!
I'm not really happy with the lighting, but I haven't figured out how to work lighting yet. ~ , ~
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You'll figure it out soon then, it doesn't look bad so
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The details are beautiful 
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You can definitely see the work you put into this! Great job!
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