http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/ mercuralis's gallery of images en-us 120 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/698855

Originally created for a contest at Pixelbrush.net, this image is a reimagining of Jean Leon Gerome's classic painting "The Pelt Merchant of Cairo".

The idea behind the contest was to take a painting by one of the Old Masters and reinterpret it. I did not win... but I may have reinterpreted TOO much. This still remains one of my favorite paintings. ]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:09:12 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/698854

One of my favorite personal pieces, depicting a spirit of the swamp, a dragonfly fairy, and various Florida swamp animals.

Painted in Corel Painter X with various references used for the animals (no direct copies). ]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:06:06 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/698853

Portrait of Alice in Wonderland's infamous queen.

Since this made it into Exotique I figured I probably ought to update and add it here.]]> Thu, 20 Nov 2008 05:03:34 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/591676

This image has been a two month labor of love. I started it in December, got horribly frustrated with it after a week or so, and put it away for a bit. I worked on it off and on at the beginning of January, but finally pulled it out and finished it in the last few days.

This has been my most challenging and most complicated painting to date. I wanted to really make the painting sensual, and give the viewer the feeling that they could reach in and touch the various textures and elements in it. I looked at a lot of old master paintings for the feeling of old world decadence.

Figure is referenced from this image: http://linzstock.deviantart.com/art/Dark-Moods-10-69724986

Most of the textures here are hand made, though I borrowed one or two from http://www.cgtextures.com/

This is a record breaker. It tops out at around 90 layers in Painter. (hooray for new computers!)
]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:48:12 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/591675

Corel Painter IX
Some reference used for hands and background, all else is from my imagination.

Hopefully this image will be January in the 2009 calender I'm working on. Overall I'm very pleased with how this turned out. I've been trying to paint this character now for two years.
]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:42:12 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/591674

Mistletoe is a forest guardian (and fellow Capricorn), who enjoys long walks in the woods, snowy days, and seducing women lucky enough to get caught under his antlers. During the rest of the year, his tattoo changes to match the seasons, budding in spring, growing leaves throughout the summer, and shedding them in the fall.

Yes, the roots go down much farther than just his waistband.

Painted in just about a day and half in Painter IX.
I used two of the lovely ~LinzStock's images for reference: [http://linzstock.deviantart.com/art/Taylor-Tree-Mobster-03-61847423 and [http://linzstock.deviantart.com/art/Elven-Taylor-85-60270877] (although really I only borrowed the pants and something of the angle of the face in the other).]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:38:19 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/591672

Corel Painter IX
(some photobrush work for textures on the gown, thank heavens ice storms are good for something, eh?)

Pose referenced from this image: http://mizzd-stock.deviantart.com/art/Masquerade-The-Nightbird-1-51567425

]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:35:08 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/591670

Hamlet, Shakespeare's tragic prince of Denmark.

I was really reaching for that "Something rotten" feeling, and a hint of Hamlet's premeditated madness and quest for vengance.

Painter IX.
Between 8-9 hours

Some reference used for the skull and for "Hamlet's Castle" in background]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:30:09 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/591669

Painted in Corel Painter IX.

Pose referenced partially from this image: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/59642115/ by
http://linzstock.deviantart.com/ I also glanced through some of her ship photos to figure out what a ship deck *might* look like from that angle.

I suspect, in real life, there'd be far more rope.]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 22:26:10 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/402835

Portfolio Project #1
Painter IX with some touchups in Photoshop

I've been trying to steer away from my comfort zone lately, and attack projects that are both challenging and portfolio building. This is one of those. I've never been good with landscapes, or trees--but I'm very pleased with the results on this one.

I was trying for a bookcover layout, with room for title text and spine text, and back cover text, but still trying to keep it with a cohesive feel and a solid composition.

Still not sure if I managed that, but I'm mostly pleased with the results here.

I've set out more project assignments, like this, for myself for the future. Next, I'm going after architecture and multiple figures.

Please, feel free to critique this. I appreciate it when people point out the strengths of a piece as well as the weaknesses. Helps me to know where I'm going right.]]> Sat, 09 Sep 2006 01:34:32 +0000 http://mercuralis.cgsociety.org/gallery/402803

Done in Painter IX, with a few touchups in Photoshop

There's a T.S. Eliot poem called Preludes that was running through my head while I was painting this, and it really influenced the title, as well as the content:

"I am moved by fancies that are curled
around these images, and cling:
the notion of some infinitely gentle
infinitely suffering thing."

I had set out to push my boundaries for realism in portraiture, and to work on incorporating more textural detail in clothing. Several things here I hadn't attempted before: the feathers on her collar, the lace of her dress. I've been studying other artists I admire, trying to figure out how they do it.

I also spent a lot of time tweaking the facial features, which started out very strong and almost harsh, and gradually softened the more I worked on it. I try to make my characters as different as I can, but I feel as though they're often very similar. This one does feel more like more of a departure from that.

I'm open to critique, and if anyone has any tips or pointers or knows where I can find a good tutorial on painting lace, please, pass it along. ]]> Fri, 08 Sep 2006 23:15:42 +0000