The Blind Tree

I had started this piece back in 2004, worked on it sporadically in 2006 and 2008, and came across it again today. I said to myself I would not let it go until I could call it finished. :)

Photoshop, Artrage, Painter. Originating from a small pencil sketch.
Available as a print from deviantART.

Some early (2004-2006) progress can be found at this CGSociety thread.

Details (there's a ton of them):

Look back

Semi-quick portrait practice; Photoshop, about 3 hours altogether.

Reference from 0:42 in this video.

Not too happy about it, though. I wanted a starker, sharper look. I am also torn about the reds in the upper background.

Steps here:

Passage North

My first painting of the year. :)

Looks like I'm still sticking to watercolour-like effects. A definite nod goes to Stephanie Pui-Mun Law in this case: the patterns remind me a lot of her work. Another recent influence, I think, was the art of The Secret of Kells: again, gorgeous watercolour work. It's a medium I like very much but am intimidated to try out due to the messy, randomised approach I have in my paintings.

Photoshop, about 2h. Reference from a photo I took in Ioannina in November 2010.

Progress shots follow: I started with a radial gradient (yellow-to purple greys). Then I blocked in the mountains, put in a textured layer, drew some weeds and the boat, added some more mist-like patterns, defined the weeds; some curves adjustments, extra subtle texture layers and noise came in between.