Zoronos' Errand...

[Stonecutter]

Well, I could fool around with it for a lot longer, but I want to move on, so here it is...

I have to apologize, 'cause I wanted to put four figures in, and not the three figures I ended with, but I would have had to change the whole composition. Also, I inserted the ship, rather than model it, because I realized nobody would see all the detail I was working so hard on. Everything was done in ZBrush, no markers, no baking, except for the fog alpha, and the conversion to JPG...
Hope you enjoy it, and something entirely different is in the works.
The guy on the left is the weasel-pirate Zorono, who works for the Count in the middle. He has been controlling the mind of the king with the aid of Menkara, the second-rate sorceror on the right, and has decided to marry the young Princess to control the throne...it is the vision of the Princess' ship at sea, that Menkara here reveals...
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads0/user_image-1000420925yhy.jpg
NOTE: I've edited this post after reading Impendings' comment on Ambient settings, and felt I had to substitute one following his advice, since I think it does improve the image. Thanks, man!

[ZBC Moderator]

Stonecutter,

Excellent image! It tells a wonderful story, and the characters have lots of life. The facial expressions are great, and you did a nice job modeling the clothing.

-ZuZu :)

[Kathy]

WOW!

What storybook art!

:tu: :tu:

Clothing :tu:
Expressions :tu:
Characters :tu: :tu:
Zoronno :tu: :tu:
Everything :tu: :tu:

Did I mention I like it???? ;)

[dom]

cool,love the sword

[william]

I especialy like all the detail, Super work! :tu: :tu: :tu:

[robotalk]

What a delight--all the detail in the faces-clothing -ring -sword --all superior ZBrush work--yes it tells the story majestically !! wonderful work !!

[aurick]

Cool! We get to see what you were using the clothing for. Very nice job, and very unlike anything that we've seen here before. If you don't mind the observation, the fog seems a little too bright against the background compared to where it's against Menkara. On the other hand, the bowl and its stand are first-rate, and the Count's coat is a work of art in itself. Great job!

[Digits]

A most incredible image Stonecutter! The costumes, the expressions, the action! Very well done :tu: :tu: :tu:

[juandel]

another outstanding work, stonecutter! bravissimo! my favorite "part" is Menkara, his expression and robe manages to top even the perfectissimo done ones of Zorono and the Count! supreme! i’m happy to hear that you are working on the next project already - but please: let us know one day, how things go on in this story (and what the princess looks like :D )

TIA and for sharing this treasure!

- juandel

[impending]

Hey Stonecutter,

Very nice, we don't see many full figures here. The expressions are wonderful and the detailing is top notch! I always enjoy an image that speaks - this is one!

If I may make a suggestion - this image would benefit from adjustments to the ambient settings. The overall image contrast would increase which would add depth to the characters and to the image overall. Ambient is set in two places. Global ambient may be found in the light panel. The default setting is 15 which I feel is very high - as a rule of thumb, 8-9 works well. The second ambient setting is found in each material's panel and generally defaults to a setting of 10 - I prefer a setting of 5-6. You will have to increase the intensity of the lights to compensate for lowering these settings.

These are just suggestions - sometimes I turn the ambient down to zero, it differs for each image. Unless these settings are lowered you will not be able to achieve a rich black in your image, only a dark gray - but more importantly the overall image contrast will suffer.

Again, I really like this image - it's obvious you've put a lot of effort into it. I look forward to seeing more :)

jd

[Angst]

Stone...

Sweet image (I really dig the detailing on the clothing in particular)!

Let's see the princess already...

~a.

[banez]

thats what i like a little story behind the picture.
nice story craft art work.

[Stonecutter]

Thanks to all for all the response... :)
I might have to do the Princess, (Her name is Chabela by the way), leaning on the rail of the ship, looking back as if having a premonition, but...
First to projects, (4 or 5), that I've been working on while doing this one.
Thanks for the advice on ambient settings, but as an airbrusher and painter, I try to avoid much in the way of black in my images, but I will check it out.
ZBrush on, compadres!!!

[Stargo]

Very nice image :tu: :tu:
Great modelling and face expressions :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

__________

Stargo

My gallery (http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=Stargo)

[Sunny]

I'm in love with the boat :) Any chance of a closer look?

[Stonecutter]

Sunny, as I said above, I decided not to put the modelled boat into my image, since nobody would see the detail...the boat in the image is a 2D painting detail from a piece by Frank Frazetta, that I was using as a reference to build my model...
NOW since you've made me feel so guilty, (just kidding, Sunny!), I guess I'll have to revisit the gang, and do another one with the Princess on the boat. Being an artist sitting in my studio every day, with no pressure on me, my projects sometimes are going on in groups of a half dozen, but if people want, I'll undertake the other half of this image, The Princess on the boat. (It would be nice to see the boat up close.)
Sounds a little wacko, huh?
Talking to yourself about how nice it would be to see the boat up close? :rolleyes:
That's what this imagination engine we call ZBrush can do to you!!!