Courtyard Fountain- Reworked 9/26

[Slosh]

You may recognize a couple elements in this image, since I've been posting parts of it all around lately. The sky background is only temporary. I used EZ's sky material (I think it was his). Once I get all of the vegatation figured out, I will paint my own sky. I'm really stumped as to where to move from here, but we will see.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032748530wlz.jpg

and a close-up:


http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032749465tdh.jpg

[banez]

this would be Perfect for that http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=008227 :tu: pillar arch

[Ron Harris]

very nice Brian...and a great use of the tools....love the water of course....how did you do your tiling?

[DeeVee]

Great images B :ex: I have a feeling that this is going to be another good one. a few benches for folks to sit on would not be out of place in this setting, maybee a few doves or pigeons. However, I am sure that you thought of those already. Looking forward to your next update. :) :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :)

[kandavu]

Isn't what the fellow/figure in back is doing to the foreground figure still illegal in some states? ;)

[Northstarr]

Oh slosh this is beautiful! I picture a well manicured hedge behind the patio. And potted trees & other plants around the other edges, or something like that.

I love the statues, and I don't think they are doing anything "nasty" - they are just standing there. Right?? :rolleyes:

:tu: :tu:

[Slosh]

Now that I have finished laughing (Kandavu, you are a nut), I suppose they do look like they are in a verticle backside tango. LOL! Nothing like a little public display of affection, right?

DeeVee, you are reading my mind! I plan two zsphere wrought iron type benches, which I will attempt to record the script for (crossing fingers). Had not considered birds, but I really like the idea. Thanks!

Northstarr, I have put a couple of large potted plants on a covered alcove behind the fountain. Surrounded by columns. Looks kinda good, I think. I used the idea from (who?) to place spheres on a separate layer, then spray brush a leaf tool into the main layer. Works like a charm, I love the technique. Hedges are planned, possibly a gate, benches as mentioned before. Flowers would be a nice touch, I'm thinking white and pink. Does anyone think the perspective is off? I'm trying with the global thing, but it's hard, especially if you save the file, then restart later. The global setting seems to disappear for new objects.

Ron, the tiled patio was created by making 3d cubes, flattened, then arranging them in a pattern with spaces between. Then, I MRGBZgrabbed them and made a tileable texture. Repeated that about 10-15 times on a 3d plane. The center circular stones were using the same pattern with a 3d circle. It was very hard to place flat on the main patio. It wanted to float above it several "inches" leaving a shadow. I think I finally got it pretty well, though.

PS: I gotta give kudos to Jelee who did that wonderful image awhile back with the palm trees and the pool. When I originally thought of doing this image, I was not sure how I would arrange it. Jelee's picture truly inspired quite a bit of this.

[juandel]

this is gonna be another very inspiring slosh-project, i can feel that in my - water :) as for refinding the global vanishing point (as far as i know it has to be selected for each new object), aurick has posted a neato method in this thread (http://www.pixolator.com/zbc-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=003476)

cant wait to see this finished!

- juandel

[Slosh]

Thanks for the link, Juandel...that is certainly great advice. I wish I'd done it at the start of this project.

Here is an update on this WIP. I've been resisting the temptation to post it because I don't want the final image to loose any of the oomph by overposting, but I can't seem to help myself. There are still tiny details to be added: birds, benches (thanks DeeVee), butterflies, improvements on the grass and more flowers. The statues are finished. I decided to leave them somewhat abstract (if that is the correct term) since I am unable to duplicate either a Greek or Roman style. The material on the suns and statues is verdigris (ish). I know it is probably not really verdigris, but it looks like it, so I am happy with it. The patio and all other stone work is supposed to be whatever material is used in Greco/Roman architecture, although it probably looks like concrete. The leaves on the trees and potted plants are just a figment of my imagination and not based on any particular plant in life. I used the spray brush for placing the leaves, so some of them appear detached from the actual limbs, but unless you scrutinized closely, you probably would not have noticed. The water was done with my "clear water" material, developed in my Garden Fountain image from back in May. I used environmental reflections to get the pool to reflect the scene. The rocks lining the flower beds are just rocks.

I should be completely finished with this by later this week and will be posting the final image without any WIPs in between. Thanks for the comments.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032839034umj.jpg

[DeeVee]

Holy Moley! as the Marvel kids used to say. This is great, just outstanding just.... :) :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[DLee]

Slosh this is really good. Bright and inviting. Good job.

Did a dog dig in the garden? Got to keep the dogs on a leash...

[Vikki]

Slosh, totally awesome! I want to be there. :D

This is turning out very, very well!

:tu: :tu: :tu:

[Slosh]

DLee...huh? LOL! I'm guessing you are talking about the leaves on the patio? Otherwise, I have no idea what you mean.

[Stonecutter]

I like this Brian...Nice and clean, bright and the perspective on the tiling is really nice as well!

:cool: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :cool:

[rhom]

A real treat to look at Brian.Great work.You've put some work into this one and it shows.

[Mik]

Really nice scene, great modelling.
:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :)

[Slosh]

OK. All done. Don't laugh at my deformed little birds! Ha ha! I just couldn't get them right, working from memory. I probably should have surfed the web for some reference photos.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1032914433mvt.jpg

Changes: further modeling on the statues, added the birds, the park bench. Changed the white flowers, added honeysuckle vines (or what I remember honeysuckle to look like), changed the material on the large potted plants, added a sundial and Eeyore statue and adjusted lighting settings.

[Mahlikus The Black]

WOW man!!
:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:
Awesome scene!

[Mentat7]

That looks great Brian! Although imho with the strong lighting used I think the ground shadows should be a little stronger? You really put a lot of work into this and it shows! :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

[PusGhetty]

This is some fine work Brian, as usual... Great details and composition!

[Slosh]

Ya know what, Lonnie? I agree. I wasn't sure if I should do them stronger or not. It looked funny in the alcove area when they were darker.

[Northstarr]

BEAUTIFUL!! what more can I say??

:tu: :tu:

[banez]

hey Thats Cool how you added them 2 Baby Chickens :tu:
and Bubble Bath soap in the Water ;)

[Downwrdspiral]

The birds look fine, the fountain is amazing, the spouts are nicely done, the lighting is perfect. Its got that mid summer\spring day look to it.

[Digits]

came together nicely. lovely mood, colors and peacefullness

[Slosh]

EZ, I love ya, man! You never fail to make me laugh. Thanks a million.

[Belleski]

Beautiful garden there Slosh!! I love the red flowers and the birds and the bench and.....etc.
The water streams in the fountain are perfect.
My only concern is that the leaves on the trees seem to be upsidedown. It is not imediately apparent but I did find myself staring at the loveely image for a while, so I did notice them. Those red flowers...you must give me the recipe. :D :tu: :tu:

[Mik]

Excellent finish, the detail just keeps appearing.
I didn't notice the Eeyore statue until you pointed it out.
Well done.
:tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :)

[DM]

Great finish. :tu: :tu: :tu:
Dave

[Slosh]

Hi Belle, nice to see you again. Yeah, the leaves are all pointing in the same direction...the wrong direction. I used the spray stroke to apply them, but would probably have been better off with dragdots. Since I applied them to the same layer as most of the image, I can't delete them without messing everything up. The flowers on the wall were created with sweep profile to produce a bell (Belle?) shape, then using z-symmetry with a radial count of 5, I pulled out petals.

[Flycatcher]

Great sutff, Slosh - airy and light and full of spring promise. :tu: :tu: :tu:

Wouldn't have noticed the shadows thing unless it had been pointed out, Pity about the tree leaves - I guessed that was the reason, and of course the solution.

I'm not sure what species they are, but the birds are fine. The one sitting on the fence immediately, and somewhat incongrously, brought to mind the one at the end of David Lynch's "Blue Velvet". :)

[Ron Harris]

outstanding work Brian. chickens or z-game hens? snicker...EZ cracks me up too.... I agree about the shadows...but you have set the scene nicely....maybe a senior citizen with a bag of bird feed sittin on the bench feeding the fowl. I hope you take this one a bit further...I love it :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu: :cool: :D :cool: :D :tu: :tu: :tu: ;) ;)

[Slosh]

I don't really know if I can take it any further...it would be too busy. Not sure I want to ruin it by attempting a human being.

That said, I took Mentat's shadow advice and redid the pic. I also reworked the leaves on the trees. Fortunately, the trees were on their own layer (surprised me. I though they were merged), so I deleted the layer and started it over. A little better, methinks. The birds got a makeover, too. And some extra texturing to the bench.

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1033020157neg.jpg

[Mahlikus The Black]

Beauiful! Love the bench material

[Nemo]

great stuff - wonderful picture here :)

How about a little dust and dirt ?

:tu: :tu:

[Grub]

Terrific work Slosh. :cool: :tu: :tu: :tu:

Very minor quibbles:-
The leaves on the floor could do with some more random angle placement/shapes(they all point in the same direction). The crack on the floor might need highlighting along the edge like the one on the building, as it's closer to the viewer.
:)

[Mentat7]

Looking great Brian! Those leaves lying on the tile...can you tell me where to get some? They seem to be floating of their own volition. :D

[Flycatcher]

Great update Slosh. I see the birds are in their summer plumage now. :tu: :tu: :tu:

[JimMcKnew]

:) :) Just keeps getting better. Jim