Robo_Crane

Robo_Crane, Anzel Rossouw, 2013

Robo_Crane is a 2D artwork consisting of a crane bird that has been integrated with mechanical pieces, that lives within the tree tops where the sunlight breaks through the leaves. This artwork was created using Adobe Photoshop. Robo_Crane was meant to be just an inspirational wallpaper for my desktop computer. So that every time I would look at it, it would give me inspiration and hope. I wanted to create a artwork that would bring across my personality, something that would be me in a sense; my style. This artwork turned out to be exactly what I was looking for; it is creating the exact effect that I wanted to create; inspiration.

Robo_Crane, Initial sketch

The image, Robo_Crane, Initial sketch, on the left is the base for the artwork; so the concept sketch for the idea that I had. The sketch was originally done on a plain grey background, but I decided to add a frame and some shading to the background to make it look more interesting.

This one just started off with this line that I drew out of frustration and so my imagination ran off with this idea of creating a mechanical bird; it kind of just started flowing into something amazing.
Once I had a really good solid base I needed to get some details right, such as how the mechanical parts would look like or whether the bird's proportions were correct.

So I started looking at reference images of the different types of cranes that you get as well as their anatomy, in order to gain a really good perspective on how they work and how sections fit together. I looked at how their beaks looked in particular, how it would fit together with his head and I had to consider how I would incorporate those mechanical pieces. For that I looked at machinery with similar capabilities and functionality. Getting ideas about what kind of hinges and other metal pieces would work as well as how wires would fit in. On the neck of the bird I have incorporated some sort of armoury and the feathers on the head turned out to be more metal like than organic.

Robo_Crane, Colour block out 

So once I've fully created the base of the image and I was sure that I was happy with it, I had to start looking at the colour scheme that I would be using. So far through my artworks I haven't really been very versatile when it came to the use of colour. Choosing the colour was quite difficult. The first colour scheme that I considered using was one where I would use very vibrant colours that would be bright and colourful and this meant the use of colours such as reds, yellows, greens, blues; the usual tropical bird colours. The other colour scheme that I had in mind was the one shown in the image, Robo_Crane, Colour block out; the one I eventually used. Pinks, peach colours, purples, a orangey reddish colour that would work quite well with the peachy colours as well as blues to fit into those purples. I had to be careful as to where I would use the colours so that the image would have a good flow throughout the whole canvas. Through using the orange colour next to the blues; I was creating some contrast where I added this warm and cold colour together.

The next step was to add shading to the very flat block out colours that I have used in, Robo_Crane, Colour block out; where it illustrates the colour scheme. On the left I have included an image to illustrate the artwork once I have finished all the shading.

Robo_Crane, Shading

When it comes to shading, you have to know where the source of your light is in order to determine where you would make use of lighter shading as well as the darker shading. Consider what the fall off of the light would look like on your image. You also have to think about what shape you are using. The light would look very different on a flat surface as opposed to a rounded shape. These are the types of things I never use to consider. Once you think about these things shading becomes  so much easier and you have a much better result, this could also help with creating a more realistic artwork or you are just simply able to create the effect that you are aiming at.

For most shading work that I did, I just took a lighter shade of the colour that I was using, for where the light was shining on the section that I was shading, and the darker shade of my colour for the places where I would find shadows; where the light is does not really shine as bright as well as the places where there was a fall off of the light. I also had to consider the colour of my light as well and how that would affect the colour of my lighter shading. The colour of my environment also effected my shading as well as how the base colour would appear as the leaves around the bird would also contribute some light and would therefore effect the colour.

Robo_Crane, Effects

Looking at Robo_Crane, Shading, I decided that the colours looked way too washed out, so I then added some effects that would make the colour brighter and stand out more. I added some levels in Photoshop to bring those colours out more so that the colours wouldn't look as washed out and almost pale in a sense. Looking at the image on the left, Robo_Crane, Effects, you can see how this have made a huge impact. Especially when I considered on what effect that the bright sun light would have on the whole image. How the leaves around the bird would be more illuminated and how everything should be brighter. The image just looks so much more beautiful and way more vibrant. It feels so much more inspiring and uplifting than what it looked like before in the image Robo_Crane, Shading.

I wanted the background to reflect on the bird itself; a place where he would belong. Above in the tree tops of the forest just seemed so fitting. Even though the bird is integrated with mechanical parts, he is more organic than mechanical. The tree tops is a place where he belongs and where he feels inspired. This is his home.

So far this is my absolute favourite piece of 2D digital art. This artwork reminds me that I am capable of so much more; looking at previous art works and comparing it to this artwork shows me progress. To me this artwork symbolizes strength, peace and beauty. Every time I look at this image, I feel inspired and that is what I wanted to create; that feeling of inspiration. When I look at this artwork I want it to reflect my style of painting. It needed to be something that is truly mine.