Mushroom Abduction

Chip Valecek

Here is the cleaned up sketch. I am going to try and push myself to do something different this month on how I go about painting it. I watched a few of Matt Dixon videos I purchased awhile ago and I love the feel he gets with his paintings. In case you are not familiar with him you can see some of his stuff here https://www.mattdixon.co.uk/ Anyway his style is completely opposite of how I usually work.

Miriam

@chip-valecek
Thanks for sharing the link. I really like his "Transmissions" style!
I like the change you made to the space ships. They look much bigger now.

bnewman

@chip-valecek Looks cool man. I love Matt Dixon's style. Can't wait to see how you get on. Lots of funky light sources here. Quite the challenge you've set yourself! Critique-wise, the big alien feels a bit stiff to me. That's an awkward way to eat don't you think? I would be down on one knee and maybe not twisting my head so much, but hey, I'm only human.

TessaW

Oh cool, thanks for the link to Matt Dixon's site. His stuff is really cool and will be going in my artist bookmarks. Can't wait to see how you use some of his techniques.

Chip Valecek

I found he shares more on his instagram https://www.instagram.com/mattdixonart - He makes it look so easy in his videos to pull off this look, however I am struggling. I even created my own brush that I enjoy using just hard for me to stay so loose at first when I have always kept it tight. Hopefully I can share the value piece soon.

Chip Valecek

Following the steps of Matt Dixon, work on one layer and block in your values. So here is that. Need to tweak the values a little, but his next step is to tone the piece flatten it all and set it to multiple and add colors below. Then flatten again to pull it all together. I sure hope it all works out. I already put in tons of time. Going to sit on this for the weekend since its going to be like 100 out here and relax in the pool. Let me know if something is wrong or not working.

TessaW

@chip-valecek I suggest darkening the occlusion shadows a bit on the foreground area. I also feel like it looks a bit awkward where the mushroom meets the alien's back. I wonder if you just added another white spot on the mushroom there, if it would resolve that issue?

Miriam

@Chip-Valecek I agree with @tessaw, the mushroom behind the big alien is bothering me where they overlap as well.
I didn't notice this before, but the top of mushroom in the front is bigger on left side than on the right, & the one in the background behind it is slightly bigger on the left side as well. This isn't necessarily a problem, but I thought I'd point it out in case you did want them to be more symmetrical.

Chip Valecek

So I decided to go with a more psychedelic feel so i added in lighting that will come from the bottom and top spots. I also added a new spot on the mushroom by the Alien. @TessaW as far as the occlusion shadows, that will be punched in more when I do the color render. @Miriam you are correct as I wanted everything to be uneven. Thanks for the great feedback everyone. Onto color this week.

TessaW

I like this latest version!

Chip Valecek

Got all the color in and now I will sit on it for a few days before I submit. Any thing that needs to be tweaked or crits are welcome. FYI not to much mind altering drugs were used to complete this.

Heather Boyd

This may be just me but I find it unusual that the colour of the aliens lights would be the same as the lights glowing from the mushroom houses. As aliens are alien/foriegn from the mushroom planet, not that aliens have to be so different but keeping them the same colours seems counter productive. There is a small yellow mushroom in the middle ground and it seems to be the only one. I know your almost finished and its coming together well. You are further than me. This week I will cram in mine. Idea set just not sure what medium.

I do quite like the purple glowing veins on the front mushroom, that is very sticking. And I really love the star light and how the ship lights and mushroom lights twinkle.

=)@Chip-Valecek

Chip Valecek

@heather-boyd good catch on the yellow mushroom. I will get that fixed up. It might be hard for me to change the UFO lights. This is the first time I am trying to paint on one layer. I might be able to select and change the hue on them. I will see what I can do. Maybe since there are so many cool colors I can introduce a warm color. I will see what I can do. Thanks for the feedback.

holleywilliamson

@chip-valecek i think we are losing the silhouette of the alien. Your original value black and white version was a darker figure on a lighter background. Maybe lighten up the background?

lei

Heya, yes I have to agree with @holleywilliamson about the alien in the colour version vs the b/w... does the Alien need to be green at all (too 'normal' for an alien)?

Chip Valecek

@holleywilliamson and @lei thanks for the feedback. I lighted the background to make the alien pop and then I messed around with colors. I like both but not sure which one would read better. So I am putting out a vote....

Option A:

Option B:

I sorta like the alien in Option B but not married to the UFO lights. Thoughts?

Chip Valecek

I went with a combo of both that I was happy with.

lei

@chip-valecek yay cool!!! Yes sorry I wanted to reply earlier but work got in the way. I like the alien with the new colour way, it’s like he has intentionally camouflaged himself to be like the mushrooms, so he can catch his... snacks.... Somehow he pops more too!