New Painting - Cupid Incubation [Archive]

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 02:33 AM

a weird technique, I'd like to hear comments;

skeleton built piece by piece in Zbrush and uterus from a ring3D. Rendered with a central light and a side light, to bring out the surface details. then exported to photoshop, to give the X-ray look.

it's a cupid, so, naturally, there's the skeleton structure of a wing clearly visible.

my point is, love, however strong and intellectual, can always be traced back to its organic, endorfin-soaked, messy, sweaty origins, namely sex. :)

hope you like it
http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1009975638zxr.jpg

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> anything that induces emotion, whether positive or negative, is art <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Darksprite - The Art And Design Of Christos Neofotistos (http://www25.brinkster.com/darksprite/)
my renderosity gallery (http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=cneofotistos)

Ron Harris

01-02-02, 03:48 AM

well I dont know about anybody else...and please take this as a serious compliment....I thought this at first was a real photo being passed off as being cgi....but I re read the post and saw the part about the wings....excellant work....i would love to hear more about the creation of this image...very ultra kewlies :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 04:25 AM

thanks Ron. compliment well-received :)

below is a small walkthrough:

http://www2.zbrushcentral.com/zbc_uploads/user_image-1009974193vaj.jpg

steps 2-4 are photoshop
step 4 was used for the uterus. it's simply a few repetitions of difference clouds, with black and white as background and foreground respectively.

hope this is enlighting :)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> anything that induces emotion, whether positive or negative, is art <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Darksprite - The Art And Design Of Christos Neofotistos (http://www25.brinkster.com/darksprite/)
my renderosity gallery (http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=cneofotistos)

ed_the_atom

01-02-02, 04:58 AM

........so the death of a loved one is art?
murder is art?........just looking at your quote.....nothing to do with what I think of the pic.......which incidentally is well painted.........although abstruse.

Artsey fartsey stuff has never intrigued me....personally I find it pretentious, however I'm just one dork out of billions....so who really cares.

All that aside it is good to see you following a theme of late. It shows a thinking mind. :tu: :tu:

edit:.......forgive the spelling...it was late.........Artsey Fartsey.....Artsie Fartsie. In any event I meant Artsy-Craftsy.

aurick

01-02-02, 05:37 AM

Very original, and something I'd never have thought of. Then again, that describes everything you've done so far. :) That's some really impressive modeling, creating all of those pieces just right. I'm very impressed!

Ron Harris

01-02-02, 06:30 AM

well....yall have provoked discussion from this fat man....I dont know if we need this in another forum or not but the theme is the pic I guess....sex is the root of all...it can logically be traced back to everything...power money greed advertising friendship ....and I know I have left out a million other things ....and as far as death of a loved one as art....A mortician is an artist...they use their own versions of Zbrush to paint a lifeless body and prepare the carcass for viewing...taxidermy is an art...making the dead look natural....those that take pics during a war and capture the feeling are creating art....i dont like abstract art that much coz i dont understand it....but I appreciate the feelings and the work that goes into it...and sometimes I find the colors and shapes pleasing...I find art in the natural formation of trees and rocks and hillsides...though alot of us dont find it to be art until it is reproduced in some form or fashion and regurgitated back onto a canvas or screen.....and Murder....well you know I am a gore hound...but even to paint a pic depicting the scene of a murder and to have you feel like you are there is art...and pics are done constantly I see of dragonslayers and other fantasy wars amongst trolls and other omnifarious beings....so I would have to say death can be art...and artsie fartsie I would say is in the eye of the beholder...and Ed I dont find you to be a dork and I do care what you think....everyones opinion is important....so what do you call art? I had to look up pretentious...I am no brain..but it says..."Claiming or demanding a position of distinction or merit, especially when unjustified" I think the art stands on its own and deserves merit..for technique, design, imagination and implementation...I think that pretentious art exists and should be possibly exposed...but this is just the opinion of an old fatman....I love a good debate....thnx ED.and also thanks for the vocabulary check for me...learned a new word...abstruse..."difficult to understand ".. :tu: and thank you again for sharing yer image Christos :cool: thankyou both for evoking thought from me...Hapy New Years

robotalk

01-02-02, 06:47 AM

Your talent and imagination are undeniable--and you break into new territory with your subject matter--is this art ?
Yes-
is it masterfully created ??
Yes --
would I want it up on my wall to look at ? Nah ...
It would "spook out" all the nudes hanging next to it :D :D :D :tu: :tu: :tu:

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 06:54 AM

thanx for all the comments :) I love a good debate too. and you are welcome for thought induction, I'm doing my best, and still it's not nearly good enough.

And, although I wouldn't mind if it had a symbolic enough meaning, there IS no death in this painting.

quite the contrary, it's an X-ray of a baby cupid being incubated. at least, I said so in the title :)

much love to all of you.

and, robo; I haven't hung any of my works on my walls. and it's MY art :)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> anything that induces emotion, whether positive or negative, is art <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Darksprite - The Art And Design Of Christos Neofotistos (http://www25.brinkster.com/darksprite/)
my renderosity gallery (http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=cneofotistos)

Ron Harris

01-02-02, 07:24 AM

hmmm thought about a meaning for it...how about the birthing of love since cupid is a symbol of love I guess...and since this symbol of love is in the womb...could this not be the sex tie in ....just a thought :eek: :eek: :eek:

rhom

01-02-02, 07:32 AM

The technique is excellent-thanks for sharing.X-Rays have always fascinated me-
I think they have their own inherent beauty.I once saw an article on a woman artist(namescape)I think in Airbrush Arts
who at the time was painting nothing but
X-Rays-big ones-I liked looking at them -I
like looking at this one.I think possibly I'm
more fascinated with bones-don't know why-don't care-nice work Chris.There is always more to yours than meets the eye.

Azlan

01-02-02, 07:52 AM

After being a member her for more than a month and NOT posting any of my work I feel slightly guilty about critiquing someone elses. But not guilty enough to keep me from doing it. Before I do though I wanted to say to all of you that your work is exceptional. Computer graphics are not easy to create regardless of how simple the program your using may make it. It's a true artist that can render their feelings into solid reality. Whether you writew it,paint it, or sing it, art is art. And this angel's fetis is art. How one interprets it is irrelevent. Because each interpretation will say it is in some form or fashion art. Whatever the picture says to you it's a creation of a very creative and imaginative, and artistic mind.
So, on that note, I personally loved the art work in this particular picture and also what the picture says to me. What it makes me think of. Or how I see it you might say. In any case it's excellent art and please keep it coming. :tu: :tu: :tu: :tu:

juandel

01-02-02, 08:51 AM

:D :D :D Christos!!!! and a multitude of kudos, once more! excellentest!

- juandel

PS: my uptonow theory, that cupids come in eggshells and therefore are bellybuttonless was proven wrong by both your uteral x-ray and a quick done websearch for the original cupid’s parents. most researchers say that they were aphrodite and ares, who, among other things, represent love and aggression, and are reported to be wingless :D

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 09:03 AM

:) hansl :)

I love it when you do your homework (which is always).

I've never wondered about cupid, because after all, he's only one of his kind, and it's a god thing, as you said (his parents being ares and aphrodite).

but I *have* been thinking about how centaurs breed. the horse and human embryos are completely incompatible... so I guess some of these thoughts infringed into the cupid in utero...

:)

thank you for your kind comments :)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> anything that induces emotion, whether positive or negative, is art <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Darksprite - The Art And Design Of Christos Neofotistos (http://www25.brinkster.com/darksprite/)
my renderosity gallery (http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=cneofotistos)

juandel

01-02-02, 09:08 AM

maybe pegasus (ahm, his wife?) is laying eggs containing centaurs? :D

- juandel

DeeVee

01-02-02, 11:18 AM

Great imagination, well presented in this painting.

Stonecutter

01-02-02, 12:31 PM

Thanks, Ed!
(Upon reflection I decided I should edit this post)
Christo, beyond doubt, you have great talent...On the other hand, your morbid lens causes you to make equivalence where there is none, and the gaps in your conception are bothersome. For instance, I would expect a medical student to know that ossification is a later process in gestation, hence the delay in the closing of the skull sutures in embryos.(And yes, I know it represents an X-Ray image...)
Another point...Art is not without responsibility...There are no free passes.
Ed is 1000% right...Everything is not art. Your pieces are thought-provoking, and well executed, but essentially, you have the juvenile need to shock, and thus your message, such as it is, gets lost.

Downwrdspiral

01-02-02, 01:49 PM

Nicely done. I actually did print this one out on some nice photo paper and hung it on my wall. Im into the dark, H.R. Giger style art, and this reminds me of just that. Keep up the good work.

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 02:00 PM

well, Michael, I have never, ever, asked anyone to like my art or my messages.

you may always refrain from looking at my paintings. my need to shock is much less juvenile than your need to make easy-viewing art. everything is not art: a piece without a motive, without essence, without passion, should not even be considered art. just technique.

I'm sorry, but politically correct means nothing to me, other than oppression.

I'm surprised you think I'm so illiterate, michael, because actually the fetus you are witnessing has a skull with no ossification at the sutures. and it is really eye-popping for any doctor or medical student to spot. the particular fetus is in its late stages, but still, the sutures are clearly open

for your information, I DID use a top-notch reference, both for the human fetus skeleton, and for the bird's wing (Marjorie A. England; Life Before Birth, Mosby-Wolfe publications)

she and her associates will be intrigued to learn that their published x-ray material is outdated and outmoded by your standards.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> anything that induces emotion, whether positive or negative, is art <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Darksprite - The Art And Design Of Christos Neofotistos (http://www25.brinkster.com/darksprite/)
my renderosity gallery (http://www.renderosity.com/gallery.ez?ByArtist=Yes&Artist=cneofotistos)

Stonecutter

01-02-02, 02:07 PM

And I'm surprised that you think I intended to recommend 'Political correctness', which I despise as well...
My point comes from that fact that you have mentioned your need to shock previously. Also I would not deprive myself of an opportunity to view your fine pieces...I personally do not find them shocking. As I said, I think you have great talent, and I'm sorry you regard my work as some kind of greeting card, cutesy 'Easy Art'. We all have ruts we get into, I suppose...

drjjwow

01-02-02, 02:09 PM

simple awesome... i like the idea in this image... it shows great tallent.. and it would appear that you have both photoshop and zbrush down packed... great image..

el_pix

01-02-02, 02:10 PM

at first sight i didnt want to join this discussion, but i feel like leaving a little statement now.

i think some of u missed the point a little, cuz imho it reads
*everything (man made) that induces emotion....) otherwise apples, rocks, whatever would be art, not nature. and i'd say that *art* requires an *artist* and some *artistry* to be involved. so, supposedly, the quote was originally thought to distinguish artists / works of art, from, well, a loaf of bread or something else (man made). probably all this does heavily depend on your beliefs either, whatever they might be.

and, personally, i always found *art* that expressed feelings considered as *negative* to be way more impressive, and even important, than depictions of shiny happy people on green meadows, with butterflies and fluffy clouds around them. the latter, honestly, tends to make me sick. personally again, i think that being an *artist* requires a little more than the ability to nicely draw something, might be the urge to change, improve, influence *the world*, at least a little, instead of being merely decorative and entertaining.

well, hope i could make myself understood, since obviously my english needs a little more polish, for the more difficult thoughts.

01-02-02, 02:40 PM

Your work is as usual outstanding; you have a lot of talent. I do understand where Ed’s coming from regarding the quote. I was just hopping mad in November when the British Turner Art Prize of £20,000 went to an “artist” who’s work was a light that went on and of. My frustration is with people like the prize-winner who have absolutely no ability getting all that money when young artists with talent are struggling. I’m well past the young stage so it wouldn’t apply to me. Back in 1981 I went to the local Arts Council office when my job had collapsed; I had done sculpting and sold master models, in my spare time. The woman looked at my work, said it was very skilful but was it art, she pointed out that it was representational and commercial. She went on to tell me how they were financing an “artist” going for the Turner Prize who stacked rubber tyres in the shape of a submarine. By this point it was obvious we were not getting on and she said to me that she supposed I’d call that crap, I said no, craps more use, it might manure the garden. When I asked her what art she did, she didn’t do any; she had just studied the arts. In my book I don’t think art can be just anything, I think it must have a degree of skill, even if that's only beginners level, it must show some effort. I thought I’d have to join this debate.
Dave

Ron Harris

01-02-02, 03:05 PM

I sat here and debated adding another 2 cents worth....and debating a little religious belief into it...because that does involve emotions and deep rooted feelings...but the unltimate artist, God, created it all...ie the rocks, loaves of bread, meadows, demonic and heavenly spectres...and we copy His works and visions of His works...And He probably put alot of thought into creating and sculpting everything....if we create something close to the original its thought to be a forgery..or a cheap knockoff if we arent skilled enough to exactly reproduce...Art is also a matter of an individuals tastes...like wine...I have drank expensive wines and found them very unpallettable and found some cheap wines that were pure divintiy....and one persons concepts and observations doesnt set the standards for everyone else...The eye of the spectator and artist has a pallette of its own as well...some one brought up the word manure....and the first thought in my mind was what texture is it and can it be scanned? and if there are any little lifeforms on it can they be mutated and translated onto my sketchpad for later rendering...I do agree with the statement about ppl proclaiming artist status by turning on a lightswitch and the grouping of submarine shaped tire stack....We call that kitch...well I will try to behave now....this has been a very fun list of postings from everyone...I have enjoyed it very much

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 03:14 PM

well... it would probably lower my already mediocre status on this forum.

but I'm an atheist. this means, that whenever things go very bad for my, instead of praying, I think it would be nice if there *was* a god to pray to.

this may or may not have any relation to the way I paint and think, but then again, I have to be honest.

:)

el_pix

01-02-02, 03:25 PM

and then, again, i have to agree.
perspective changes, if you don't believe in any divine being, and from my point of view, *things going bad* are one of the main reasons, why religious people need a god, or many of them.
isn't it interesting, that whatever you discuss in depth, you almost always end up, speaking about religion or sex, depending on who you're talking to?
btw: following ed's argumentation, the only form of art, that's not to be considered *heretic* or *blasphemy* should be non-figurative / abstract, because it doesn't even try to mimic *HIS* (i hope spelling in caps shows enough respect) creations.
and interesting again, considering this, there's astonishingly little difference between religions, no matter how much they despise each other.

another atheists thoughts

*even snow is only water in a nice dress*
(very vaguely translated)

el_pix

01-02-02, 03:27 PM

doh, sorry, it's not *ed's* but *ron's*.

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 03:33 PM

Stonecutter

01-02-02, 03:36 PM

christo, I have to thank you for being the genesis of such an interesting conversation, and although it might have gotten lost here, I do like your piece...
(By the way, don't you mean you are an agnostic? It has always seemed illogical to call yourself an atheist, the reasoning chain being:
In order to be absolutely sure God doesn't exist, you would have to know everything...
Therefore it follows that, since knowing everything is impossible, the thing you might not know could be God....I consider myself an agnostic, since I don't know everything...Just a thought to add to the discussion.)

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 03:43 PM

Although some atheists (and they are in the minority) may claim to know that there is no god, most atheists claim no such thing. Atheism is a "lack of belief in god" and nothing more. Those who claim to "know" there is no god are sometimes referred to as "strong atheists", but their thinking is as faulty as those who claim to know that there is a god. Atheists who don't go as far as claiming knowledge of no god can also be called "strong atheists". For instance, atheists who claim an affirmative belief that there is no god usually are also referred to as "strong atheists" even though they do not claim knowledge of such a thing. For now, let me just state that no one can know there is no god for the same reason that no one can know there is no Santa Claus, Easter Bunny, unicorn, or other such creature. Some may say that we can know that there are none of the above since we can trace through history where these characters were created and that the ideas about them have changed over the centuries. The same can also be said of god (except the history of god goes back a bit farther so it is more difficult to track with certainty) but for this arguments sake, let's say that such creatures, although there is a strong probability that they are fictional, can not be 100% positively proven unreal for the basic reason that the entire universe would need to be explored to positively assert the non-existence of such a hypothetical being. If the theist attempts to define their god however, that specific god can be disproven through the use of logic and reason. In these cases, an atheist can accurately state that they know that the god described does not exist.

To summarize, atheism is a lack of belief in god. Basic atheism (of the non-strong variety) on its own does not positively assert anything regardless of what some atheists may say or think and regardless of what theists frequently define as atheism.

I'm not an agnostic theist.

dOb

01-02-02, 03:49 PM

Hi,

"Art" is a variable imho. Carries the value you put in. Like any other word. Value changes.

There're no guidelines or There're lots of guidelines. It's same. Only "point of view" changes.

If someone says "this is art" It is art. No doubt. If otherone says "This is not art" It's not art. No doubt :)

Words are labels. Labels are good for everyday thinking. When you start to go deeper... Words become useless.

I can only talk about what I like or not I like. And Chris' work is what I like :)

Ron Harris

01-02-02, 03:49 PM

El pix...I walk to the beat of my own drums for the most part...I am christian, I have pagan friends,now my first agnostic and atheistic friends and now that I know I am not a pc type person I even have alot of gay friends...with all that in mind ...it goes against most everything that is taught in religion...live and let live...and i do that..I am in support of christos art and freedom of expression and love the work...I promise I wont comment anymore about this...I promise...I am not a religious fanatic...and btw...I need God when things go good...and when things seem bad too...but then again good and bad are perspectives too....so I always need Him...but I still like to draw monsters and mutilations and gore and everyything that could or might shock a person..though that is not my reason for doing it...its just fun... :) and I normally find cupid depictions boring until today when I got to view their bones...I would like to hear more about some comments earlier from some of the ppl regarding the responisibility of artists...and why and what they should be responsible for.....

picsas

01-02-02, 03:56 PM

I agree with with the above, we are entitled to free thought and therefore we may judge with our own opinions, but we can not force others to follow.
I like this image, its different to what I have seen for a while and I find that inspirational.

Happy New Year ;)

01-02-02, 04:08 PM

Just had to chip in here again, on the point Ron made about everybody having a different view on art.Thats not true in the UK, the trendies of the Arts Council, and the Tate Gallery set the standards. Thats how come Tracey Emin with her unmade bed and dirty underwear scattered around it won the Turner 2 years ago. And it was her actual bed, not a painting of it. If you took computer art to these Lords of art they would not accept it as art. These are the same people who are sucking the rest of us into their intellectual claptrap views.
On religion, I'm with Stonecutter the points he makes are indisputable, thats why I'm agnostic. I realised many years ago how little we really know.
Thanks for a good debate everyone.
Dave

el_pix

01-02-02, 04:11 PM

will this thread ever end ... ?
well, i need to get rid of some more:
maaan, did i chuckle over that *easter bunny* comparison, gotta keep that in mind and will eventually quote it :D

and just look at the reactions and the debate, it's a brilliant proof of how true the *induced-emotion-theory* is.

ron, i did neither mean to offend, nor was a offended by anything said, what i wrote was merely my *default* reaction on the topic *religion* and how i often feel, that being atheist / pagan / nihilist / existentialist / whatever does fundamentally change perception and even communication in the western (read: christian) hemisphere.

actually, this forum keeps me from learning z, guess i'll never be able to post some works myself.

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 04:16 PM

it goes without saying that noone here wants to insult others. it's the first rule in a high-standard conversation, such as this one.

Kathy

01-02-02, 04:53 PM

I am mandated by my pagan gods to add to this post that has grown larger than them, and they are NOT pleased.

Art is art is art is art.

Cupid is not real.

Babies are not xrayed (well not normally)

God comes in so many flavors it's like Baskin Robbins. Taste long enough and you'll probably find one you like. Personally, I believe in ME.

Anybody can shock people. *yawn* How UNIMPRESSIVE is THAT trick?

Does anyone really know anything? If so, where are my freaken missing socks?

Do I like this particular picture named after cupid?

Does it matter?

Can a person's geographic location affect their opinions?

Can a Greek NOT see it the way of an American?

Can a Canadian NOT see it the way of a Greek?

Why is there war?

Why is everything related to sex? I don't think it is, I think things are only related to sex if that's the thread of thought contained in one's brain.

I do not believe my love is traceable to endorfin-soaked, messy, sweaty origins. In fact, I beg to differ, demand exception, and complain at that ignorant statement.

MY LOVE can be traced back hundreds of years to a family lineage of trust, loyalty, honor, dedication, perserverance, strength and courage.

MY LOVE is above value to my family, my children and my husband. NOT ONE person that experiences my love considers it traceable to sweaty origins. On the contrary, it is unfathomable in depth and value. IT IS NOT TRACEABLE TO SEX. I am insulted that you would undermind the value of love to that extent.

But hey, you sure can use ZBrush well.

:D :tu:

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 05:01 PM

thanx kathy.
:)

pretty good!

one or two words;

the fact that we urinate and defecate doesn't make eating a haute-cuisine dish sound lewd and filthy.

so, the fact that love stems from endorfins, hormones that affect the mood, for the sake of gods!, make love a filthy condition. well, not necessarily.

my love for my companion, which is the person *I* have picked to love (unlike parents, siblings whom I may not even LIKE) is always endorfin-related, even if I've only met her on the internet and never seen her in person.

other people's identical endorfin-related relations are ones of paedophilia, necrophilia, animalism, or whatever.

no relation between the two. I just stated the common source whence they stem.

:)

plus; thinking people exist the world over.

Kathy

01-02-02, 05:07 PM

You could fertilize an orange grove. I swear to god.

cneofotistos

01-02-02, 05:12 PM

well, some people might try, my good friend :)

el_pix

01-02-02, 05:15 PM

woo, imagine, all this started with an unborn cupid, which is a pretty good metaphor for innocence, purity, LOVE (just wanted to use caps too).

when i mentioned this *you end up talking about sex* thing, i wasnt explicitly talking about any fluids or endorphines, needless to say, that i forgot to mention a wealth of different values, like (*fill in what ever suits your state of mind, be it money, food, honor or fun*).
well, depends whom you're talking to.

gathering all the greek i ever learned:
*katalaveno tipota* and quoting good ol' magritte:

ceci n'est pas une pipe.

Smiles

01-02-02, 07:10 PM

cneofotistos,
I tend to look at pictures before reading. <Time consuming but a personal preference>
When I first viewed it. I, smiled and thought....... a miracle of life :). After reading the conversation, I looked again...... Smiled and thought....... a miracle of life :). You sure have a way of using ZBrush and letting it speak! Weather I agree with it or not :)

drjjwow

01-03-02, 12:45 AM

wow you have hit something pretty big here... and i would like to add my 2 scents to this conversation... christos.. i believe that art is in ones head... if you can see it,feel it,smell it, taste it, image it, invent it....than it becomes art... maybe not global art,something that everybody can relate it to art, but in ones mind where it becomes art only to that person...there i added to this post i feel better now..lol...