Dolf Veenvliet writes:
It took me 6 months (well I took a break to do Sintel), but it's finally finished. The Sentry is a still image I started working on before I joined the Sintel team. So all in all it took me more than 6 months to find the time to finish it. I’m glad I did!
It was technically challenging because it has nearly 3500 telescopes in it, and over 1000 birds in the background.
There's more details on my site plus a bigger version of the image, and the .blend is there as well (creative commons attribution). I might also post something extra there with some images from earlier in the process.
I'm hoping to have the image printed 125cm wide (4 feetish) for an exhibit in november.
12 Comments
Great still, and good name! ;)
Congrats for finishing this, impressive numbers and good artwork! I have to admit that i don't get it, but maybe i don't have to. (?)
It's beauuuuuuuutifuuuul...
Nice composition. It is sure to make an impact at the exhibition.
What's special about this Image?
The special thing about the image, is its ability to separate people who can see what is special about it, from those who will never get it.
It would be nice if there's any special explanation about the picture. It's like looking into Picasso's
Hey everyone,
Thanks for posting my piece Bart, that really makes my day!
I've had a bunch of questions about this work, and some critique as well... which is great, because that at least means it does something! A fun detail I see in the critique I've been getting on multiple websites is that the things people mention are nearly all focussed on choices I consciously made. For instance, the Meerkat being so static/symmetrical, or there being no textures on any of the telescopes. Those were things I did purposely, realism was not my goal at all.
A little explanation may be in order... it's basically a "surrealist" work...
The Meerkat has a very human trait, it stands on it's hind legs to survey the surroundings. This does something to us... us people... it's one of the main factors why a lot of us find them cute or can identify with them. The work is a play on that. Strengthening/exaggerating that similarity by giving the creature binoculars.
Then taking it into a somewhat post apocalyptic environment (the birds add to that feel)... Perhaps the message is somewhat sci-fi as in... if we're gone for long enough, will they pick up our leftovers and use them? The hills are filled with telescopes to link back to the binoculars. And red lenses... well... it makes them something other than lenses (think eyes lighting up in a dark forest)... But it's also just a graphical thing... now they make a nice contrasting pattern that well... I rather like.
There isn't 1 clear message in the work... it's mostly a "play" on ideas.
No idea if that helps anyone, but that was a large chunk of the things that I considered during the making.
SURICATO!!!!! xD I was doing a meerkat, but I never finished it... ._."
I didn't like the animal or it's lights, but the atmosphere ( in the detailed picture ) is on another level !!!!
MAGNIFICENT
nice work
imo the bg could be even more misty and therefor less visible. it might make the fg stand out more. or you could add lots and lots of layers behind the last to make the scene a part of something a lot bigger.
but great work! the character especially is real well done
@ Chrome Monkey
"The special thing about the image, is its ability to separate people who can see what is special about it, from those who will never get it."
Well, I probably belong to those who will never get it...
A beautiful picture. It is relatively rare to see Blender (or any CG) images that don't aim for either a cartoony or realistic look. It is great that you have played with different ideas to create something that intrigues the viewer (well, me at least) and invites a closer look.
Personally, I love the very convincing meerkat and its regal pose. I also love the blurry birds and the shape they make. The telescopes with the red are worth staring at on their own, as they draw the eye around looking for familiar shapes. Even the sky is nicely done, with a good, heroic glow behind the meerkat and some pleasing colours.
All good. Very, very good. Thanks for sharing.