ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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I have to say that using electronic tools to create art definately has its advantages compared to the traditional methods I've used for years. Here is the result of my work and my first piece of "real" space art!
Celestial Jewels
Enjoy!
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
Edited by ForgottenMObject (02/28/05 09:04 PM)
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Star*Hopper
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/02/05
Posts: 919
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I've said the same thing dozens of times since first acquiring PaintShop Pro! Setup was one thing, but cleaning up, 'maintenance', & stowing everything away again after a painting session was a royal pain to me, and I hated that part of it. Click Save, click Exit, & walk away....what's not to like about that?!? ~8)
~S*H
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Disobey Giant
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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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It is also a lot easier to create spheres for planets, backgrounds full of countless stars, and other such effects using electronic tools than using traditional paints. No way can I fit an airbrush studio in my apartment!
Yep, that and being able to stop half way through, save it, and come back later really helps, too!
Did you like the picture?
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
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Star*Hopper
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/02/05
Posts: 919
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Yeah - the nebular backgrounding was some nice work. But geez please don't ask me about likes & dislikes - I tend to be very critical, especially of my own work (& that's why it remains hidden away for the most part! *LOL*)....and I know that being so tends to 'hurt feelings'. If I like something, I'll say so....but you know the old thing mom taught about "If you can't say something nice...." Mom was a very wise person! *grin*
I'm aware in this digital stuff that some things you just don't always have control over. And please, don't take that the wrong way. I tend to use a lot of gradient shading....and that comes off really badly in a lot of monitors. For example, that 'Reply' image of mine looks very nice on my desktop....but looks gawdawful on this laptop! Anyway, that played a large part in the reason I 'throttled back' in my digital art production....just not completely satisfied with my results. I'm my own worst critic! *grin*
~Star*Hopper
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Disobey Giant
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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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Okay, that's cool!
There's still some blending that needs to be done on the final star background to get rid of the corona effects around the stars and such, and there's a few other things I want to fix, but I just wanted to post it since I was happy to be able to produce much of anything for a first-shot at this stuff.
I know what you mean by being critical of one's own work. Is any artist every completely happy with their own work? Perhaps not - and that's why we keep creating new things.
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
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Star*Hopper
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 02/02/05
Posts: 919
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That's a good way to consider it! ~8)
I sometimes wish I didn't know "so much" about the technical aspects of art. While it does help you gain an appreciation, it can also be highly distractive from the pure pleasure one can find in it. (BTW - long-time watercolorist here, so you'll perhaps now know whereof I speak!)
~S*H
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Disobey Giant
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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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Watercolors - oh, boy... I paint in acrylics, and I have to respect anyone who can use watercolors effectively. I was the master of making mud with them, and that's about it! I used them a bit back in school, but eventually settled on acrylic paints since they were easier for me to use and didn't have all the fun chemicals involved that one finds with oil paints.
Anyway, I updated the painting a bit, cleaning up some places where there were awful looking brush strokes (don't know how that happened... I am just new with the tools, I guess.) and cut back a bit on the star glare. It's not perfect, but it is fun!
Take care!
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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Cleaned up the stars to get rid of artifacts around them - they didn't blend well into the surrounding nebula and the nebula itself was strangely dark close to the stars. I am gradually getting better at this, but I've only been doing this type of art for less than a month!
Here's the updated link:
Celestial Jewels
Hope this works!
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
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Thick_asa_Planck
Dark Sky Hunter
Reged: 09/04/04
Posts: 3341
Loc: UK
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Yet another great image - does anyone ever post bad images on this forum? 
Alex
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It is often commonplace to leave the notation ambiguous - Anonymous
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Joad
Wordsmith
Reged: 03/22/05
Posts: 11923
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Quote:
Cleaned up the stars to get rid of artifacts around them - they didn't blend well into the surrounding nebula and the nebula itself was strangely dark close to the stars. I am gradually getting better at this, but I've only been doing this type of art for less than a month!
Here's the updated link:
Celestial Jewels
Hope this works!
Hi, this is my first visit to the AstroArt forum. The first thing that struck me as I looked at "Celestial Jewels" was its impressionistic resemblance to the starlight effect of Van Gogh's famous "Starry Night" (without the planet, of course). Then I got a flash of El Greco's "View of Toledo" (if that's the right title) for some reason.
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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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You know, I never thought of that, but now that you mention it, there is a definate similarity. I made the stars in that image somewhat impressionistic - brighter than they would normally be if seen from space - to add to the drama.
Wow - that is really cool!
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Hey Joad...welcome to the artist's sector! Nice work Matthew! I don't recall you telling me what software you used, but for space scenes (on a budget), you might want to look into Universe 2.0 for backgrounds, and download free trial version of Terragen (or get Bryce)...take a cruise over to where my gallery is over at www.renderosity.com and check out the Bryce and Terragen galleries! You have all that artistic talent, and I think with the right tools in your hands, you will really blossom!
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orionthehunters
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/29/05
Posts: 1972
Loc: england
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Wonderfull Image and comes complete with originality Matthew.
James
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Cloudy Nights Astro Art Moderator.
Astro Chat - Co Admin
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http://www.freewebs.com/astroartuk/
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ForgottenMObject
Post Laureate
Reged: 09/11/04
Posts: 3585
Loc: Maryland, US
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Thanks for the info and the link to Renderosity!
The software I use currently is Photoshop Elements (can do almost everything Photoshop can do, at least with regard to space art) and the free version of Terragen, though I hope the full version comes out soon.
Glad you folks have enjoyed these pictures as I have enjoyed yours!
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Matthew
IDA member
XT8i, 10x50 binoculars, lots of eyepieces
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