Intelligent Plant Written on August 5, 2009, by Zack.
Hey everyone, time for a progress report! Today, we’ll look at a project I’ve been working on for the past few weeks, an illustration for an art challenge held amongst the artists at my office. The theme for this month’s challenge is “Intelligent Plant.” With nothing other than that to go on, I decided to illustrate the most obvious idea: tree versus lumberjack.
As you can see, the first rendition of the illustration was heavy on the mortal combat, light on subtlety. The next attempt was better, made everything more whimsical: the lumberjack is now just confused as to where his axe is, and the tree as a sentient being (emphasis on “ent.” You’re welcome) who uses his abilities in a sneaky, rather than violent, fashion. But I thought the face of the tree could’ve been more… tree-y. Branch for a nose, moss for eyebrows, yes, now we’re getting somewheres.
Now for the composition. I had the basic idea of what I wanted the tree to look like, and the layout (vertically oriented, to get the branches into the scene), but there was still a ways to go. I decided that there’s no reason a mythical, magical tree-being shouldn’t be as comfortable in the stereotypical fairy tale past as in the modern day, so I swapped out the lumberjack’s axe for a chainsaw, updated his clothing, and dropped them in the middle of a future housing development. Around this time, I realized the top part of the image would go to waste if I only had branches up there, so I added some birds and squirrels up there on the branches, all peeved the lumberjack is trying to destroy their home to make room for new homes. Both the idea and the image were evolving, but I couldn’t help but think it could all be better still. So I took one more crack at the tree design and composition:
Nailed it! Now the tree looks way more like a tree and less like a human; a creepy and otherworldly tree, sure, but a tree nonetheless. I also moved the chainsaw up a bit so it could be circled in the branches and create a line of focus between it and the lumberjack, a line of focus that just happens to pass over the face of the tree. Now get get some reference images for the various aspects of and execute a full-sized sketch of the final illustration.
And that’s where it currently stands. What do you guys think?
Also, what do you guys think of this progress report business? Interesting? Boring? Stupid and boring and for losers and I’m a loser? Lemme know!
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I’m not just saying this because you convinced me to buy that tumbler yesterday and I’m still thankful for it… this looks incredible. I like that the tree is less overtly humanized but still, if you gaze into his/her face for a few seconds all of the sudden it’s there lookin all nasty. I dig it.
more progress reports!
I really like watching the project evolve, makes me feel more involved than your previous sketches. I love the conflict of home, both want the space and are fighting for it. The tree still evokes a spirit but its more natural, I really like it.
Keep it up!
I enjoy the progress report. Seeing a process is amazing and inspiring. I also really like the cat in the tree. Have you ever youtube’d hungry kittens? Its a good way to start the day.
I’m not just saying this because I’m contractually obligated, but I definitely like the progress report! It adds a depth of perspective for your readers, allowing us to watch your sketches move from an idea to execution.
Also, love the douglas squirrel and the spotted owl!
Thanks guys! And Amber and Zach, thanks for reminding me that I wanted to list all the animals in the tree. To the left we’ve got the Spotted Owl, House Finch (same exact bird as in my recent gnome painting, in fact) and a crow. To the right, Dougie the Douglas Squirrel (recently met him camping), a banditry of Black-capped Chickdees, and a Steller’s Jay. And right in the middle is a marten, one of Amber’s new favorite animals (cute as a cat, but more weaselly).
Hey — late to the party. Surfacing from zine work and checking out blogs again.
I love the progress reports. Gives me a greater appreciation for the tremendous amount of work you put in. And I’m a big fan of this end result. Clever without being heavy-handed.
A marten?! Have you guys been reading Inkheart? That book is the first place I ever heard of martens.
As for the drawing, I agree with Leah — I like that the tree’s badness doesn’t jump out immediately, but gets more menacing the longer you look. The spidery branch holding the chainsaw is awesome! Overall, it leaves me with a quite a different feeling than the initial sketch where the tree has a deranged jack-o-lantern face. I imagine that the marten knows something but isn’t about to tell … befitting a marten, if the nasty one in Inkheart is accurate.
Thanks, V-ron! And Melissa, Amber and I learned about martens from the Planet Earth documentary series. We both thought they were adorable at first, but then one of’em ate a squirrel! Amber was fine, but I was absolutely livid.
For the record, the marten pictured lives off berries and sunbeams, never harming another living being.
These drawings rock – I can’t wait to see them coloured in and completed – love the crumbly style of that tree
I like the progress report and I like the final product, but I miss the face. I wish you had done the illustrations for the books I read Claire… maybe they are *trying* to make it look like it was done by a child?
Hey, both the illustration and the progress reports are great!I love both, but I definitely love the picture more being let into the world of zack and the process of how this illustration came about. I can’t help but wonder if part of the stern look the tree is giving is due to the fact that not only does the logger intend to cut down this beautiful oak forest. But he also intends to do it without chaps, gloves or safety glasses.I guess disregard for the earth and diregard for the self go hand in hand.
Alex – Thanks a bunch! And anyone wanting to read up on contemporary illustration would do well to visit Alex’s site, Ape on the Moon: http://apeonthemoon.com
Liza – Danke! And I agree that some illustrators should be sent back to art school to learn how to hold a paintbrush. Many illustrators chose a more simple way of rendering a scene in order to focus on some other aspect of the piece children would be more enthralled by; colors, line quality, the overall energy of the image, etc. But some just plain suck out loud.
Dan Dirty Dan Construction Man Dan – Glad you like the progress report! And thank you for pointing out the lack of safety gear the lumberjack has worn in his attempt to fell the tree. Unfortunately, when you speak of goggles, chaps and gloves, I believe you’re thinking of the accoutrements of a CANADIAN logger, not a 100% freedom-loving AMERICAN lumberjack who eschews all precautionary measures and usually wields the chainsaw with his teeth when he’s not mowing down trees with his semi-automatic rifle. You see your mistake now, oui?
In all seriousness, none of the reference images I found showed the loggers wearing anything you mentioned. I suppose I shouldn’t have gotten all my references from http://www.futuremaimedloggersofamerica.com
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