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Of course....gone, but not forgotten.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
The attached image was done only for portraiture in vector format demonstration/instructional/ fair use/commentary---not for sale or profit in any form. All copyrights and trademarks belong to their respective owners of "The Crow" materials, I claim none.
[This message was edited by Crow Haven on May 04, 2002 at 20:03.]
Of course....gone, but not forgotten.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
The attached image was done only for portraiture in vector format demonstration/instructional/ fair use/commentary---not for sale or profit in any form. All copyrights and trademarks belong to their respective owners of "The Crow" materials, I claim none.
[This message was edited by Crow Haven on May 04, 2002 at 20:03.]
Maya, that is fantastic!
Soquili
This took more than 3 hours I'm afraid [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] ! I'm practicing!
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
Maya, something like that would take me more than three weeks!!!!!!! ;-)
And not turn out half as good!!
Soquili
quite a bit more than 3 hours [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] !!! Actually a couple of days, I sort of developed it gradually trying to decide what to do, etc. It's all XaraX!
You do great work--you're too modest!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
Was wondering where you've been lately [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Working on another masterpiece. Your getting really proficient at this portrait thing [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Keep em' comin' hon [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
RAMWolff [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Awesome!
Dale
Why, I’m afraid I can’t explain myself, sir, because I’m not myself, you know...
- Lewis Carroll
Maya, a great portrait. The skin tones and shading are excellent. The hair, which I think is so hard, is just great. The other aspects work well too. Super, Neil
RAMWolff, Dale and Neil!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
"...How many more times will you watch a full moon rise, perhaps 20, perhaps not even that and yet it all seems limitless..." Brandon Lee
"People once believed that when a person died, a crow carried their soul to the
land of the dead. Sometimes, something so bad happens that a terrible sadness is
carried with it. The soul can't rest. Then sometimes just sometimes, The Crow can
bring that soul back to make the wrong things right....." The Crow
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
You are making great strides. And I think you have the skin tones down pat. I am encouraged just seeing what you and others are doing.
dafipp [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
... Maya, another brilliant portrait! Yep skin tones hair, shading all excellent!
Thanks so much for sharing.
Regards
Su
the portrait is fabulous. It is expressive and beautifully rendered. In fact, it's on par with Valery's work. But there's yet more to be admired here, like that Alice Cooper dude on the left, and the Douglas Adams-esque rain god on the right, and the fabulous firebird-like crow, and, of course, the overall composition of the poster. This is a beautifully crafted work, with a masterful centrepiece.
Glen.
Dale, Su and Glen!!! I really appreciate your encouragement and very kind remarks! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] I am hoping that by my sticking my neck out and working on portraits that it will encourage others to try it too, and discover new things through the process. It's fun! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] I've learned so much from trying these and practicing. Of course Vladimyr will do a tutorial on his method, and that should add even more incentive for others to try who have an interest in portraits, or similar styles.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Wow Maya, you sure are coming out! Great work. First things that jumped out at me were the great bird, his hair, and the reflective part on his chin... all done VERY well
Steve Newport
It's certainly inspired me to have a go at a face once I can find a suitable subject. I've always steared clear of trying but perhaps it's time to give it a go.
Great work.
derek
Steve and Derek!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] I have really enjoyed working on portraits, and if I can tempt a few of you to try it out, too, I'll be very happy!!! The thing is, even if portraits aren't really a major thing for you, the process of trying it always teaches you new things that you can then use on other projects as well. It's not important if it's "realistic" or not, look at Risto's and Tao's and other faces that Derek has incorporated in his magical scenes, etc...they all "capture" the personality---you will find your own style, and they are all so interesting and wonderful!!! I'm all for doing what you do best, but also to try and expand out and learn new things...
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
.
I appreciate that--I surely hope that it will encourage others [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] !
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
Really nice Maya!
Your "painter" experience seems to be emerging in Xara. It's very nice to see how you blend the different techniques and 3 hours is an amazing time.
Bob C.
The way I phrased that early post was misinterpreted---in the following one I tried to clarify it. What I meant was that it took more than 3 hours--it took about 2 days to put it all together with the several elements to work on and then incorporate. Would have been nice to do the whole thing in just 3 hours, but that wouldn't have been possible for me to draw it all out, shade it, etc...
Thanks for your kind comments!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
That's a pretty good vector portrait there maya ... makes me want to try a realistic portrait but my therapist warned me about attempting such a task [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Actually I also like the burning crow image and the thought occured that it would be neat to make a phoenix image (sitting in a burning nest perhaps) with a different shaped bird but similar effect.
David K ... www.dkingdesign.com http://www.dkingdesign.com/stuff/signature.jpg
That would be a cool project David! Will you do one perhaps??? I love your paintings and your new site design...I even found some crows in your paintings! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] Especially liked that. If you decide not to do a phoenix maybe I'll try it. The symbolism and story of the phoenix is interesting.
Thanks!!!
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
Well we can both do a phoenix ...as the last I checked I didn't have a copyright on that particular mythical bird ( just keep away from the Roc as I have the rights to that until 2008 [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] )
<< speaking of which here's something I just now learned about the Roc in a search ... astronomy related http://www.heavens-above.com/myth.as...TZ=CET&con=Cyg >>>
I was searching for phoenix images and one of the first I found was at the address below ... pretty neat
http://www.geocities.com/DougieKING/images/phoenix.gif found at http://www.geocities.com/DougieKING/illustration.htm
Notice the name ...hehe [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
About crows .... I have included tons of crows in paintings, usually small ones in leafless trees
David K ... www.dkingdesign.com http://www.dkingdesign.com/stuff/signature.jpg
YUP, Marvel Comics group ended up taking Jean Grey, AKA Marvel Girl and she became a light and dark version of the Phoenix. The light version wore a cool Green and Gold costume and the Dark version wore an even cooler version in Red and Gold and when she flew there was this glorious Phoenix bird that was like her aura.
I have posted a version of her that I did years ago for a friend of mine, this is a print out from Kinkos, he has the original. I took the image into XaraX and added a Marvel Copyright and my info too.
Enjoy [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Seeing her again makes me long to do comics again!!! But I know that I do best by doing singular pieces not 22 page comic books!!
RAMWolff [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Love your illustration RAMWolff!!! You might be interested to know that I have the comics also, but possibly there was an earlier series of the Phoenix as mine are from the mid '90's and, as are stashed away, I can't get to them now to check, but your image looks very much like those designs so it may be the same series. You did a wonderful job on it!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Thanks, David, for granting the permission to do a Phoenix also [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] !!! I'll try to come up with something, it will be a fun project working with the fire effects again. I loved the info link to Cygnus and the mythology. Always so interesting--the stories surrounding the constellations--very colorful imagery within them. Could be more inspirations for projects! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] The one you did of "Corvus" not too long ago is one of my favorites!
Pretty wild you found a phoenix image from a "Doug King"...could you be related???? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] Cool!
Thanks guys!
RAMWolff---why not post your excellent Phoenix painting in the Gallery???? I know others would love to see it and a lot of them will miss it in this thread as they won't expect it here. It's great and you really ought to!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
... portrait, Maya. Makes me want to try a realistic one too, but I'm afraid that my brain would implode.
I wish I had your patience!
RAMWolff - you obviously have a great deal of patience too! Fantastic work!
Risto
risto@ristoklint.com
Visit my web site!
Good to hear from you!!! I think my head imploded long ago [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] so now it just doesn't matter what happens [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] ! I'm not particularly patient, I don't think, but this guy was rather "easy on the eyes" [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] so it wasn't very torturing working on it. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
Back to phoenix research...
Thanks for the compliment, but I only posted it because she's a Phoenix, even if she is a comic book character. But she was done all by hand, a painting I did. Nothing to do with computer graphics, well except that I added the black border and the title, the copyright info, but that's it [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
I still think that in many ways there's no beating a hand done piece.
Oh...FYI: She is completely original. The character design is copyrighted but the drawing and painting is from my imagination.
The symbols in the right hand corner are (looks like a planet) are the Sun, Moon and Rising of the man I did the painting for, name's Mark, an Aries!!
I just may post it Maya, not a bad idea, thanks for the Kadoos, hope it inspires you or David to do a Phoenix.
Hell maybe I'll do one as soon as this Angel is finished........... [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_mad.gif[/img] (wings are still a hassle, not happy with any design so far and I've only got a month to go, cripes [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] )
RAMWolff [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
I'm sure you'll get the wings figured out in time! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Some info on the myth of the Phoenix---
The Phoenix in Myth
[The Roman poet] Ovid tells the story of the Phoenix as follows: 'Most beings spring from other individuals; but there is a certain kind which reproduces itself. The Assyrians call it the Phoenix. It does not live on fruit or flowers, but on frankincense and odoriferous gums. When it has lived five hundred years, it builds itself a nest in the branches of an oak, or on the top of a palm tree. In this it collects cinnamon and spikenard, and myrrh, and of these materials builds a pile on which it deposits itself, and dying, breathes out its last breath amidst odors.
From the body of the parent bird, a young Phoenix issues forth, destined to live as long a life as its predecessor. When this has grown up and gained sufficient strength, it lifts its nest from the tree (its own cradle and its parent's sepulchre), and carries it to the city of Heliopolis in Egypt, and deposits it in the temple of the Sun.'
from Bulfinch's Mythology.
Also--
The phoenix bird symbolizes immortality, resurrection and life after death. In ancient Greek and Egyptian mythology, it is associated with the sun god.
According to the Greeks, the bird lives in Arabia, near a cool well. Every morning at dawn, the sun god would stop his chariot to listen to the bird sing a beautiful song while it bathed in the well.
Only one phoenix exists at a time. When the bird felt its death was near, every 500 to 1,461 years, it would build a nest of aromatic wood and set it on fire. The bird then was consumed by the flames.
A new phoenix sprang forth from the pyre. In Egypt, it was usually depicted as a heron, but in the classic literature as a peacock or an eagle.
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
Thanks for the info
You know this sounds like an interesting challenge for all to try [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] .... make a phoenix ( I assume in it's state of burning as the rest of it's life may have been a tad boring in comparison [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] )
Thanks for the info ... that city Heliopolis must be a greek word based on Helios (greek god of the sun ). I'd be curious what the Egyptian name for it was or was it called that by them too (no doubt based on their word for their sun diety).
David K ... www.dkingdesign.com http://www.dkingdesign.com/stuff/signature.jpg
The name of the phoenix in Egyptian is "Bennu" and this bird played a very prominent part in mythology, but the texts do not bear out the extraordinary assertions which have been made about it by classical writers.
All these fabulous stories are the result of misunderstandings of the Egyptian myth which declared that the rerewed morning sun rose in the form of a Bennu, and the belief which declared that this bird was the soul of Ra and also the lining symbol of Osiris, and that it came forth from the very heart of the god. The sanctuary of the Bennu was the sanctuary of Ra and Osiris, and was called Het Benben, i.e., the "House of the Obelisk," and remembering this is easy to understand the passages in the Book of the Dead, "I go in like the "Hawk , and I come forth like the Bennu, the Morning Star {i.e., "the planet Venus} of Ra " {xii. 2]; "I am the Bennu, which is in "Heliopolis" {Xvii.27}, and the scholion on this passage expressely informs us that the Bennu is Osiris.---Marie Parsons
From Complete Temples of Ancient Egypt by Richard Wilkinson---One of the three major cities of ancient Egypt, after Thebes and Memphis, Heliopolis, "city of the sun" in Greek, was situated in the area of Tell Hisn on the northwestern outskirts of modern Cairo. The ancient Egyptian name was Iunu, or iwnw, meaning pillar. Today it is largely covered by the suburbs of Cairo at el-Matariya and Tell Hisn. It is not situated on the bank of the Nile, but lay inland, to the west of the river, and was connected thereto by an ancient canal. Heliopolis, or On in Coptic, was the capital of the 13th Lower Egyptian nome. By the time of the Old Kingdom, the city was a center of astronomy as reflected in the title of its high priest, wr-m3w, "Chief of Observers" or "Greatest of Seers. This title was held by Imhotep during the 3rd Dynasty reign of King Djoser Netjerikhet, and dates earlier to the reign of Khasekhemwy in the second dynasty. Iunu/Heliopolis also had a reputation for learning and theological speculation, which it retained into Graeco-Roman times. Much of that learning centered on the role of the sun in creation, and maintenance of the world and in the persons of the gods Atum and Ra-Horakhty, whose temples must have graced the city. One of the earliest, richest, and most influential of theological traditions, centered in Iunu, was summarized in the concept of the Ennead, the group of nine gods that embodied the creative source and chief forces of the universe (though this number was not always nine; at some times it was as few as five, and other times as many as twenty or more; and often, the traditional Ennead includes a tenth god, Horus the Elder). By the beginning of the Old Kingdom that system had been formulated into a coherent philosophy, and it dominated Egyptian thought for the next three thousand years. Creation was viewed as an evolutionary process. However, it was recorded in typical Egyptian metaphors of birth rather than in abstract scientific or philosophical terminology. The Egyptians were aware that there had been a time when nothing was in existence, no sky, no earth, no humanity; the gods had not yet been born, nor had death yet existed (ref Pyramid Text Utterance 571, sect 1466). A source of creation was necessary in this nothingness. To the Egyptians, creation was an act of generation. Since they had an annual act of generation close to them in the Inundation of the Nile, they thought of the ultimate source of all created being as being the "primeval waters." Out of those waters, the god Atum arose. Pyramid Text Utterance 600 records this theology: Atum-Kheprer, you have come to be high on the hill, you have arisen on the Benben stone in the mansion of the Benu-bird in Heliopolis, you spat out Shu, you expectorated Tefnut, and you put your two arms around them as the arms of a ka-symbol, so that your ka might be in them. …O great Ennead which is in Heliopolis-Atum, Shu, Tefnut, Geb, Nut, Osiris, Isis, Set, Nephthys---children of Atum, extend his heart to his child, the king, in your name of Nine Bows. Benu Bird The benu-bird, or heron, figured prominently in paintings and reliefs throughout Dynastic history, as seen in the example of a bird in the solar barque from the tomb of Irynefer, Thebes, or in the example of the bird perched on a capstone from the Papyrus of Nakht, 18-19th Dynasty.
Rather interesting stuff I thought...
Perhaps when the phoenix postings are up others will try their hand at the firebird image!
[img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] That would be cool with all the different styles!!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---Maya
(another bit referring to the phoenix in other guises)
The Bird of Paradise,
the holy swan of song!
On the car of Thespis he sat
in the guise of a chattering raven,
and flapped his black wings,
smeared with the lees of wine;
over the sounding harp of Iceland
swept the swan's red beak;
on Shakespeare's shoulder he sat
in the guise of Odin's raven,
and whispered in the poet's ear
“Immortality!”
and at the minstrels' feast he fluttered
through the halls of the Wartburg.
by Hans Christian Andersen
Woah [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] ...ask a little question and ... watch out [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Thanks for all the info ...
David K ... www.dkingdesign.com http://www.dkingdesign.com/stuff/signature.jpg
Whoa! Major effort there RAMWolff, very nice.
Bob C.
there you go [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] ! There was tons more, also on the Chinese version, you're lucky I stopped there! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] On to the artwork--- [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
Woah [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img] is right. You go girlfriend. That is allot of information and if anyone can't get a glimmer of inspiration from reading all of that, then, well, no apparent imagination I'm afraid.
There is one other visual example that was so overwhelming for me to see.....Walt Disneys Fantasia 2000, the last segment. It is prime example of the living, dying, and rising from the ashes beautifully done. I was in tears by the time that little piece was finished. Astouding beauty that tells of life, death and every thing in between.
Rent it, watch it and be inspired. I wanted to paint, draw and meditate all at the same time after watching that.
Just a little sharing [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
RAMWolff [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
Well, I was thinking that if anyone else was wondering about the myth of the phoenix and maybe contemplating doing an image also, that it might be interesting to know how it came about, it's origin and how other cultures have tried to depict it. The symbolism is really widespread and speaks to many beliefs.
I'm a stickler for detail I'm afraid [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] and I like to find out about things in depth.
You know, I've never seen "Fantasia", never even been to Disneyland. I used to occasionally watch some Disney stuff on the tube when I was a kid and saw "The Nine Lives of Tomasina" and "Bambi" of course [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] . You can laugh if you want, but I just loved the art animation in "Bambi" (too cute!). I think my favorite Disney TV film was "The Scarecrow of Romney Marsh", or whatever it was called. I'll try to see "Fantasia" sometime! Thanks for suggesting it [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] .
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya
... phoenix woman picture RAMWolff! I like the way the hair blends into the fire. I didn't realise you did comic book illustration, it would be nice to see some more of your work, perhaps also posted in the Gallery. Good stuff!
The phoenix idea does sound like a good one for a challenge, I look forward to seeing the results.
Thanks for all the info Maya, love reading about this sort of thing, mythology and whatnot.
Regards
Su
You won't regret the rental, you may even want a copy for yourself after seeing it. There is also a segment in there about flying killer whales that will make you go "Ooooo and Ahhhhh" and then shed a tear or two. It's an amazing effort. There is also a tribute to Hirschfeld that is SO right one, it's increadible. But that last segment is so touching to the heart and soul and I know you well enough to know you would love it and watch it over and over again. It's stunning. TRUST ME!!
Thanks so much Su for the compliement. Thanks for noticing one of the details that I personally love. The hair flowing into the Phoenix is so cool to me too [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Thanks to everyone else that likes the piece [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img] It's an old favorite of mine, time to put it in a frame and hang it on the south wall (element of fire direction), yup that's got to be done!!
RAMWolff [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
I will take your word for it that it's well worth getting and I'll see if I can order it! It really sounds fantastic!!! [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
Well, I managed today to do a phoenix version. Not sure where to post it as David's is in the other Gallery...but it probably has a better chance in this one to perhaps encourage others to join in and create one too if they want...hmmmmm. As this one is done with XaraX maybe it'd be better to post it in this gallery.
Ok!!! I'm off to post it--- [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img]
---As The Crow Flies!---
Maya