Eve Of The War
http://www.focusgaming.co.uk/eveofthewar/

Morning Everyone.
http://www.focusgaming.co.uk/eveofthewar/viewtopic.php?f=21&t=418
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Author:  Klaatu [ Tue May 17, 2005 9:45 am ]
Post subject:  Morning Everyone.

Hi , I'm from England. I work in Advertising, I've loved the War of the Worlds for many years (In all it's versions) but especially the original book.
I'm 49! Oh dear!

It's great to be here and communicate with like minded people.

I really like to look at all the different interpretations of the book by artists from all over the world.

I wish someone would compile all of these images into a big "coffee table" book.

I'm sure it would sell pretty well.

Nice to be here!

Author:  eveofthewar [ Tue May 17, 2005 11:57 am ]
Post subject: 

Hi Klaatu

Welcome to the forum!

We have all ages here, so don't worry!!!

Any problems, let me know

Author:  Klaatu [ Tue May 17, 2005 12:04 pm ]
Post subject: 

Thanks Lee, Welcome much appreciated.

Author:  Slick2097 [ Tue May 17, 2005 12:08 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hey there,

My name is Stephen, I am a Systems Administrator for an ISP here in the UK. I'm 27 (28 next month). I got into war of the worlds through the jeff wayne album when I was 12. I'm most looking forward to the CGI film in 2007/8.

Ste.

Author:  eveofthewar [ Tue May 17, 2005 1:37 pm ]
Post subject: 

Slick2097 wrote:
Hey there,

My name is Stephen, I am a Systems Administrator for an ISP here in the UK. I'm 27 (28 next month). I got into war of the worlds through the jeff wayne album when I was 12. I'm most looking forward to the CGI film in 2007/8.

Ste.


You don't work for eclipse ISP do you? I'm just down the road from them :mrgreen:

Author:  Slick2097 [ Tue May 17, 2005 3:02 pm ]
Post subject: 

Nope, VIA NET.WORKS matey, well whats left of them :?

We're in the process of being sold to claranet so we shall see what happens.

Ste.

Author:  eveofthewar [ Tue May 17, 2005 3:45 pm ]
Post subject: 

Slick2097 wrote:
Nope, VIA NET.WORKS matey, well whats left of them :?

We're in the process of being sold to claranet so we shall see what happens.

Ste.


Ok mate. Well, good luck with the move to Claranet

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Tue May 17, 2005 8:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Morning Everyone.

Klaatu wrote:
I'm 49! Oh dear!

I wish someone would compile all of these images into a big "coffee table" book.

I'm sure it would sell pretty well.

Hi "Klaatu" and welcome to the forum, especialy from me, as at 41 I am no longer the oldest member here \:D/
Your idea for a coffee table book sounds great, although it would mean contacting a lot of artists to get their permission :( it would be great though.

Author:  Klaatu [ Wed May 18, 2005 8:25 am ]
Post subject:  Lonesome Crow

Thanks for the welcome Peter,

I love your paintings by the way,

Yeah, I realise that it would take a lot of time and energy to get permission for the book from all the relevant artists...but as you say it would be great.
Especially, if part of the illustrated book included the full story too.

I'm a fan of Astronomical art (Chesley Bonestell, David Hardy etc.)
and I have several compilation books of various artists, so I know it can be done.

I'm sure a publisher that would have thought of such a book to be released at the same time as the movie would have "cleaned up".

Too late now though !

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Thu May 19, 2005 12:31 am ]
Post subject: 

Well it's not too late, it could still happen [-o< and I'm sure this is one of the best places to hear about it, if it does.

I like David Hardy's work. have you seen Bob Eggleton's astronomical stuff? he has influenced my pictures a lot, although lately he seems only to paint dragons 8-[

Author:  Klaatu [ Thu May 19, 2005 8:10 am ]
Post subject: 

Morning Peter,
Yeah, I know Bob Eggletons work...He's excellent.

I've been fortunate enough to have met David Hardy on a couple of occasions(Many years ago).

I do believe he doesn't do much these days , though I may be wrong.

I actually saw his original "Thunderchild" illustration at an exhibition.
It looks far better than it does in print.

I'm sorry for the delay in answering your Question Peter, but I only have access to a computer during office hours Mon-Fri.

Have you done any "Astronomical" stuff yourself?

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Thu May 19, 2005 11:36 pm ]
Post subject: 

Only as weird fantasy stuff or background to a main scene, like the one below.

I have seen two different versions of Hardy's Thunder Child, I think one was a privately commissioned piece. but I've only seen prints :(

Author:  Klaatu [ Fri May 20, 2005 8:34 am ]
Post subject: 

I would have loved to have contacted Chesley Bonestell in the 70's when I had the chance (He was in his 90's then!!!).
I never got around to it and it's been one of my regrets.
He really was the Master of Astronmical art

I like your painting Peter, What project was it done for?

Image

One of mne I did over 20 years ago!!
Unfortunately it's only a copy of a copy, so the quality isn't too good.

Author:  eveofthewar [ Fri May 20, 2005 8:57 am ]
Post subject: 

Klaatu wrote:
I would have loved to have contacted Chesley Bonestell in the 70's when I had the chance (He was in his 90's then!!!).
I never got around to it and it's been one of my regrets.
He really was the Master of Astronmical art

I like your painting Peter, What project was it done for?


Piccy not working? If you email it to me, I can edit your post if you want?

Author:  Loz [ Fri May 20, 2005 12:06 pm ]
Post subject: 

Great picture Lonesome! :mrgreen:

Author:  Klaatu [ Mon May 23, 2005 5:15 pm ]
Post subject: 

Hi Peter...Sorry about the delay in answering, I don't have unlimited access to a computer. I've only just got access.

I like your painting , How long did it take you?

The Titan painting was painted many years ago in Gouache.
It was done for a friend of mine who used to work in the Space Industry,
His name is Douglas Arnold, and from time to time he appears on the Sky at Night.

I'll try and get a better copy of it if I can...This one is not very good.

The original painting was about A3 in size...The rocks used to drive me mad.

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Mon May 23, 2005 10:55 pm ]
Post subject: 

Klaatu wrote:
How long did it take you?


I am a slow painter. that is why I painted the background scenes first, so all I had to do was add the main characters.
So working at weekends and in the evenings, an A2 picture like this would take 4 or 5 days and I hate working to a deadline (ask the guys on the forum, my picture, formally known as "The Thunder Child" took over 2 months) that's why I never took it up as a career.

Looking at your sky, I see you use an airbrush, which make did you use? and did you ever have problems spraying Gouache? I could never get the hang of it, it was always blocking up the nozel and then it would spit out a huge glob of paint, so I used to use acrylic inks.

Quote:
The rocks used to drive me mad.


It was worth it, they look great :wink:

Author:  Klaatu [ Tue May 24, 2005 8:16 am ]
Post subject: 

Your "Thunderchild " painting looks Fantastic Peter, But I know what you mean about having a lot of patience.
Sometimes I start an illustration and reach a point of no return, Meaning , I get fed up looking at the same image but have spent so much time on it that ...I just have to keep going until it's finished.

The Titan painting (if I remember correctly ) took me about 60 hours or so.

The airbrush I used at the time was a double action" CONOPOIS"
They where a small independent airbrush company, I don't know if they are still in business.

Airbrushes are very annoying to use I agree(Especially changing needles)

The one I have now doesn't have a needle!!.

Anyway , I'm in the very early stages of learning to use a computer(Photoshop)...It's not what I'm familiar with at all.

I'll try and dig a few more samples out to display here.

How was your "Thunderchild" illustration done Peter?

It's very impressive.

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Tue May 24, 2005 8:36 pm ]
Post subject: 

Klaatu wrote:
How was your "Thunderchild" illustration done Peter?


In about 600 to 700 layers in 'Paint Shop Pro' :shock: I think you can do the same thing in 'Photoshop' :mrgreen:
You create an image (a fighting machine) and save it as a floating, unmerged layer create another image (the ship) and save it the same way then you create a background picture (sea sky and a bit of land) and lay your saved images on top and arrange as appropriate like a collage. the great thing about this is, if you make a mistake #-o you don't have to start over again, [-o< you can just delete the inappropriate layer, or change it's colour or whatever. \:D/
Sharp eyed observers may have noticed the fighting machines on the eveofthewar website and forum logos are the same as the ones from the "TC" picture. just with a different background.

Author:  Klaatu [ Wed May 25, 2005 9:04 am ]
Post subject: 

Can you elaborate a bit more on "CREATE AN IMAGE"...

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Thu May 26, 2005 1:26 am ]
Post subject: 

Klaatu wrote:
Can you elaborate a bit more on "CREATE AN IMAGE"...


8-[ Well first I usually start with a pencil drawing I scan into 'Paint Shop Pro' , then lay over this a layer the appropriate colour (greyish brown in the case of the fighting machine) it's a good idea to save this colour If you are going to create several separate parts for the same image (the fighting machine was made in about 15 - 20 separate parts The body, the hood, the legs and so on) anyway where was I, oh yes, make this layer slightly transparent, (this is done with the layer opacity slider in the layers palette box, remember to return it to 100% when the picture is finised) so you can see the drawing through. then useing the airbrush tool paint in highlights and shadows (Its a good idea to create separate transparent layers for highlights and shadows, keep them separate so you can increase or decrease the intensity without affecting the other) when you have finished painting you nead to cut it out (I find the freehand tool set to point to point with 1% feather is best, it reduces that blocky pixelly effect and helps blend your layers together) remember to return the opacity slider to 100%, delete the pencil drawing layer, merge "all visible layers" (do not merge "all layers flatten") and save.

It's as simple as that :a103: I've been useing PSP for six years now and i'm still finding new tools and effects.

Author:  Klaatu [ Thu May 26, 2005 9:21 am ]
Post subject: 

Thanks very much for that fascinating tutorial Peter.
I've only been using Photoshop for a couple of months so I still have a lot to learn.
There's a couple of my illustrations in the gallery (George Jones).
As you can see I've been drawing black line art and then colouring them up in photoshop.
It tends to make the illustrations look very " comicy".
It's a style that I'm happy with at present, but I'd love to try the technique you've described.

I'm also going to try and "sculpt" a martian out of super sculpy...should be fun!.
PS do you use a "tablet" ?...Surely you can't do your brilliant illustrations just using a mouse.

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Thu May 26, 2005 10:48 pm ]
Post subject: 

Oh' they're yours are they? I saw them first on the Dream Works site a while back. I like the way the whole body twists as the machine turns.
The style reminded me of Berni Wrightsons stuff from the early 70s especially the one with the skeletons.
Quote:
PS do you use a "tablet" ?...Surely you can't do your brilliant illustrations just using a mouse.


It's all done with Mr mouse, I do have a tablet, but I could never get the hang of it. and only did one picture I was realy happy with, but I could have done it quicker with the mouse. so I put it away.

I've not heard of super sculpy so I just checked it out on the net. sounds like good stuff. you'll have to let us see the end result when you've done.
I use Milliput for small sulptures and papier mache for large ones. I've developed my own recipe for papier mache that makes it similar to clay to work with and sets as hard as wood.

Author:  Lonesome Crow [ Fri May 27, 2005 1:17 am ]
Post subject: 

Here's the picture I did with the tablet. it was just a test piece, done for fun.

Author:  Klaatu [ Fri May 27, 2005 10:07 am ]
Post subject: 

That eye looks great ...I've never used a tablet although I would like to try one.
The guy who did the great fan film(Green Martian) on this site is a good friend of mine . We get together over a few pints on a Sunday evening and rant on about WOTW and other such nonsense...Well he uses a monitor that you actually draw onto...How good is that? The monitor just lies flat on your desk!!!
It's the nearest you can get to virtual paper.
They're very expensive though.

I am a Bernie Wrightson fan..His B/W line work is brilliant,
Have you ever seen his illustrated "Frankenstein" book?

I have a copy and the illustrations are stunning.


As for sculpting , check out this site.(And the links) Amazing stuff.
http://www.sculptorscorner.goregoregore.com/

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