The City of Marduran (picture)

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The City of Marduran (picture)

« on: 25 February 2013, 08:07:46 »

Whenever I come upon a port city I am never sure what I am in for. As I approach Marduran it appears like a mix of unsavory scum and wealth. The worst kind of city. Like putting a tuxedo on a goat. Underneath, it is still a goat.

I best be careful here.

Marduran

Comments Welcome

P.S. I took some liberties with the Temple of Grothar on the hill. I felt it needed for this dramatic setting. I imagine the temple is a "U" shape with the wings decribed in the entry at the tip of the "U" and the dome at the curve.


« Last Edit: 02 March 2013, 23:43:48 by Artimidor Federkiel »	Logged

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Ta`lia of the Seven Jewels

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #1 on: 25 February 2013, 08:13:08 »

Huuhu, a study in brown hues!

Nice - is the description really so awful? I think I will avoid it.. Aren't you afraid to spoil your colours? Why didn't the egg you use go off?

Needs some contrast? A point where the eye can rest? The sky is a bit brown.

Too tired to say something useful tonight!


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Grunok the Exile

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #2 on: 25 February 2013, 15:01:40 »

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeeeeee oh my goodness, it's more fantastical and dramatic than I ever imagined. The hulk-roofs and glittery oyster-shell cladding are all there, and the murkiness of the city in the distance gives the feeling of some parts being hospitable, with others less so. It really has the feeling of a barely-civilised ex-pirate's port. Fantastic, Seeker. I'm absolutely thrilled. I feel like you've taken my description and built upon it to make it something better than either of us (well, me at least) could have come up with alone. pet

I like the sky brown, but I agree with Talia in regard to having something to focus on. At the moment my eye is drawn to the archway under the Temple, and the building on the far left. You might be able to find a quick fix for this, but an option which springs to my mind would be to extend the picture a little more to the left, and maybe put a (rotting?) sign on the far-left building which says something like "Customhouse Marduran" or "Pay Your Arrival Tax" or something equally unhospitable.

Having said that, I just viewed the picture in a smaller window to see how it would look nestled in the entry, and I think where the eye rests might not be so much of a problem in that format. So maybe take my thoughts as more of an option than any sort of strong suggestion.

A somewhat unsettling picture for a "goat" of a city. Hehe.


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Ta`lia of the Seven Jewels

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #3 on: 25 February 2013, 18:03:37 »

Darn, I have been tired! I looked only at the left half of the picture as it shows when you click on it without using the option to see the whole painting. Looked for that temple of Grothar and could not find it. Oh dear.

Now I will have a closer look!

Edit:
Alright! It's a little masterpiece and though I still need to get used to the dark brown clouds it looks much better with the lighter horizon to the right than before. *puts her head in the sand to not be seen* It looks a bit as if the picture has lost the former brighter colour though, like an old photograph, but you might have intended this and it might fit to Marduran. Those green trees are good to look at!

One proposal: Put in the right top corner a bird or something flying to prolong that diagonal line running through the pillar the temple sits on.

How long did it take you to do it, Seeker? All these speedpainters around let me feel a bit out of place..


« Last Edit: 25 February 2013, 18:16:51 by Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels »	Logged

Artimidor Federkiel

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #4 on: 26 February 2013, 04:57:47 »

Ah, those nitpickers with their tiny details! lol

Personally, when I opened the picture I saw nothing less than a highly dramatic masterpiece, exceptionally well done, truly epic! There are even people climbing up the stairs, on the docks and visible further back, so the town also looks alive

I also love the colours, which help to capture the flair of the town in a very special way. A lot of colour isn't necessarily better - I think it's highly effective that way and I just love it! What is really super-cool is the way the Grothar temple is depicted, as this clearly adds character to the town, makes it a very unique, recognizable landmark. Well, a Grothar priest leads quite a dangerous life up there, though... *hehe* But when talking about Marduran we now get a clear picture in our head, and that's what creating places is all about - that it's not a generic town like others, but one that stands on its own. Bravo, Seeker, breathtaking piece, which also will make a fantabulastic wallpaper I'm sure

Aura +1 of course! Exquisite stuff, tremendously beautiful! thumbup

Note on integration: Super-long pictures often create a bit of a problem when placing them on the page, so we might make two picture of this one maybe - the right and the left part - and integrate them on different parts of the entry, both linking to the complete pic. And the wallpaper version of course will also show the whole thing. (If that's alright we you...)

@Grunok: So... Inspired enough to get the Crazy Woman Pass done? Or do some more work on Chrondra? grin


« Last Edit: 26 February 2013, 04:59:42 by Artimidor Federkiel »	Logged

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #5 on: 26 February 2013, 12:03:52 »

Talia- I am glad you found the big picture. I was concerned for a minute. I like your ideas for the birds. The color was chosen based on the description Grunok gave me offline of the mood she wanted to reflect in the city. The muted colors give it an old timey feel as well. As for the length of time to paint this one. Well this took me a while. I could have done 5 of those Pale Mushroom Pics in the amount of time it took to do this one. I am not nearly as speedy as those artist you are seeing on Deviant Art. I am nowhere in that league.

Grunok- most excellent. As always my biggest concern is pleasing the author. I am so glad you like it. Well your entry was wonderful and the help you gave on the side really helped to get the feel for the city. I can make the change you suggest. Not a problem there. I'll tell you the funnest thing was trying to figure out those Hulk Roofs. Boats hulls turned upside down for roofs, very interesting idea. Oh and I expect you to be sufficiently inspired now for your other works in progress.

Art- Thank you for taking the time to write such gracious feedback. As far as the formatting. I fully understand your point. Depending on the subject I like to draw the pics in a wide format because it makes for nice backgrounds and screensavers on my own computer. So when I choose to make the picture like this please feel free to integrate it however you see best. I don't expect it to be used any specific way. The picture is quite large, so feel free to get some closeups if you like.


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Grunok the Exile

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #6 on: 26 February 2013, 14:12:11 »

Chrondra is still in very much in progress, I promise! I'm working away at it every week - it just takes a while when you have 8600 words and a billion entries which tie into it... I'm trying to "keep it simple" so that the entry is readable and not too massive, too. It's still a challenge but not as daunting as it was a few years ago. That picture, on the other hand... >_< Still a struggle. It's in my mind though!


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Ta`lia of the Seven Jewels

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #7 on: 26 February 2013, 17:06:05 »

All those details (houses!) cannot be drawn/painted in a speedy way like a 'plain' landscape and that the pillar with the temple looks right in the context of the town was surely not an easy task either! Seeker, you always have to imagine a paragraph of praise before my critics

Quote

I'll tell you the funnest thing was trying to figure out those Hulk Roofs. Boats hulls turned upside down for roofs, very interesting idea.

Well, Marduran is in Manthria and has an Avenorrian origin. (special features)


« Last Edit: 26 February 2013, 17:09:09 by Ta'lia of the Seven Jewels »	Logged

Artimidor Federkiel

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #8 on: 26 February 2013, 20:22:55 »

A close-up of the hulk roofs can be used in the Avennorian entry then as well


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Ta`lia of the Seven Jewels

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #9 on: 28 February 2013, 04:23:22 »

Yes, thought so too!

Seeker, sorry, I eat my words about your brown sky...

Look here


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Seeker

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #10 on: 28 February 2013, 13:04:58 »

I am sorry Talia but it is too late. My fragile artistic ego is damaged beyond repair. cry

However if you were to mail me some homemade cookies or something that might help. grin

Seeker sneaks away before Talia can see the mischievous grin creeping on his face.


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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #11 on: 28 February 2013, 14:49:54 »

Oh Seeker, I fear I can only send some virtuel ones except you mail me your shipping address. (I have sent cheese to Faugar already, why not cakes also?)

These ones would not ship, I'm afraid, you need to imagine them eating.

Chocolate or
Blueberry or
Halloween or better
banana?? grin


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Coren FrozenZephyr

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Re: The City of Marduran (picture)

« Reply #12 on: 03 March 2013, 03:49:58 »


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The City of Marduran (picture)