Tough landing ahead

[kiwi123]

These sea furies are close to their home, HMS Ocean. They are returning from yet another hairy mission over Korea, having faced furious flak. There are new dangers ahead, trying to land a damaged aircraft on an aircraft carrier, the hydraulic fluid is escaping through a rupture when the flaps are lowered. Will the flaps still come down and the landing gear lock into place ?

http://kiwi123.military-meshes.com/fury/ToughLandingAhead_small.jpg

[Evan]

I love this one Kiwi...having a bit of a story really helps to give you an idea of what's happening. Very nice image!

[Buelliful]

Sweet dude! I love it.

Let's hope the real thing is as good at the Airshow (Leuchars) on Saturday!

:D

[:FI:Exec]

Buelliful - If your going to be at Leuchars this weekend.. Keep an eye out for a Mrk 18 spitfire... My father is the person flying it:rolleyes: .. At least I think he took the Mrk 18... hmm.. not sure..Anyway. any pics would be nice:p


Wiek.. Very nice mate. Love the oil leak!

[kiwi123]

Thanks guys...

Lets hope the real one on saturday doesn't develop any hydraulics problems ! Can't wait to see the beast fly for the first time. Ben, I'll try and take some pictures of your daddy, and if the weather holds as it has done for the last two days we're in for a heck of a show.

[pete.cook]

Nice image Wiek and a nice idea to add the story to your description. I've always liked your Sea Fury and welcome any chance to see you do something new with it!

The Sea Fury was at the Sunderland Air Show a few weeks ago. It was a marvelous display and that Bristol engine sounded glorious easily going through the display. I got a handful of reasonable pictures too.

[digiartist]

great to see the sea furies again Wiek, awesome render as well! 5 stars!

[Lucas]

Beautiful, I like the colours:)

[Galgot]

Superb. I love that plane.
Done the Hobbycraft 1/48 model loooong ago...

[Skyraider3D]

Love the composition on this one, and the same deep colours as your MiG pic! Good stuff mate!

[kevjon]

Great stuff Kiwi....really good sense of power and movement in the image.

The only thing I'm not keen about in the render is panel lines on the near aircraft, they look a bit wide and trenchy.

[Mirko]

w o w !! Beautiful image.
Nice visual apparition.
:salute:

[The_onion]

very very nice!

[Buelliful]

Buelliful - If your going to be at Leuchars this weekend.. Keep an eye out for a Mrk 18 spitfire... My father is the person flying it:rolleyes: .. At least I think he took the Mrk 18... hmm.. not sure..Anyway. any pics would be nice:p


Wiek.. Very nice mate. Love the oil leak!


:salute: Will do Sir!

What a cool job that would be to fly a beautiful plane like the Spitfire!

Edit- Just noticed, you said "I think he took the Mk18"? You mean he has access to more than one?!?!

(now, where did I put that jealousy smilie again?)

[franken_johan]

Great render as usually from your hands!

One thing is that the light blue color in the back of the cockpit looks way too bright. For some reason it distracts my eye a bit from the overall composition.

[:FI:Exec]

:salute: Will do Sir!

What a cool job that would be to fly a beautiful plane like the Spitfire!

Edit- Just noticed, you said "I think he took the Mk18"? You mean he has access to more than one?!?!

Yeh.. He can often be found flinging Rolls Royce's PR19 around.. As well as Mrk 16s and 14s and the odd 9... ooh. and Kennit Aviations Seafire. Its a hard life...

[Skyraider3D]

Yeh.. He can often be found flinging Rolls Royce's PR19 around.. As well as Mrk 16s and 14s and the odd 9... ooh. and Kennit Aviations Seafire. Its a hard life...STOP IT! You make me green with jealousy! :lol:


How on earth do you get into such a "hard life"?

[:FI:Exec]

15 years as a Fast-Jet RAF pilot should do it;)

[krazycolin]

great stuff.. as always... btw, whatever happened to the flak boat anim you were working on???

[krazycolin]

and i think that for the better you get the more difficult it should be to get a header...

[Art 111]

Another excellent work!!!

[Spinner]

Yes. That is a good example of why it's always the first site to open every morning.
Thanks Kiwi, its great. Brings memories of when Oz had them and a carrier too.
Interesting composition. It strongly challenges the old lower edge picture is down paradyn and that forces the viewer to take a 'good look'. That slight shift in the viewers attention focuses on and is rewarded by the detail throughout the whole work. This image just oozes quality and attention by the artist.

[jkbon]

Very nice one Kiwi.

[Skyraider3D]

15 years as a Fast-Jet RAF pilot should do it;)Darn, there goes my chance at a "hard life"... bad eyes and too old now... :cry:

[Buelliful]

Yeh.. He can often be found flinging Rolls Royce's PR19 around.. As well as Mrk 16s and 14s and the odd 9... ooh. and Kennit Aviations Seafire. Its a hard life...

I managed to catch your Dad's display early on in the day. (Jealous mode ON)
That is a lovely aeroplane. I took a few photo's but my camera doesn't have a very good zoom level so most are poor quality.

I did get this one though! :)

[:FI:Exec]

Brilliant pic! I have forwarded it to his work e:mail so he should get it in the morning... Not that his Ego needed any more stroking;)

[Nils]

Great render Kiwi, I have always loved the lines of the Fury, her brutality well hidden behind a
charming exterior :)

BTW
FI:Exec deserves beeing in the headers just for beeing this lucky guy's son :)

[gery]

excelent work kiwi...

[mrys]

Not much to say. Fantastic plane, fantastic image. Congratulations, mate!

[Skyraider3D]

Welcome to the Header

[digiartist]

good to see you back on the header mate:)

[kiwi123]

Thank you thank you !! It's been ages...

[Cirric]

Nice work Kiwi! That's one of my favorite models - and that pic is excellent!

[Buelliful]

Congrats Wiek! You deserve a header with that! :salute:

[Lukem]

There has been a discussion as to why digital art can't be classed as fine art. Then I see this and ask why?

Fantastic image!

[Skyraider3D]

There has been a discussion as to why digital art can't be classed as fine art. Then I see this and ask why?
There have been too many discussions like that, unfortunately, and they're usually started by ill-informed people :)
Tools are tools, skills are skills. Don't confuse them ;) Too many ill-informed people think that digital tools automatically gives the user skills/talent. Without the artist's skills or talent, tools are worthless, no matter if they're digital or not. I am sure Wiek could be a great painter or sculptor too. Hell, he might even be able to dance! :lol:

[krazycolin]

so true... i have many hammers... and no nails to speak of... so sad.....

[Spinner]

Do you feel...
driven?

Oh, btw. I have some spare tongs.
I could lend them and you could go at your modelling...

[digiartist]

I think this piece of art really demonstrates how stupid people's prejudice towards digital art is. This is a high quality aviation painting regardless of media.

[jiverson]

Great job Kiwi!
The only thing that would make it better is to have the carrier in the background.

I agree that 3d digital media seems to get less respect these days. I think the problem is it's too easy to sample backgrounds and such and you don't have to learn how to draw in perspective.... Don't get me wrong, I know that it requires a high degree of skill to build a realistic 3d model and create a convincing image.

But what happens when the day comes when you can buy a really great 3d model of any plane, tank or ship for cheap? We've seen "screen-shot" art from flight sims. What happens when that is taken to the next level? Where will the digital artist have an "edge" then? Will it come down to the artists vision and ability to arrange and light a scene? I don't know, but I think things will continue to get more interesting in that regard.

BTW, if someone puts down your 3d art, just ask them "Well, do you know how to do that?"

[kiwi123]

Great job Kiwi!
The only thing that would make it better is to have the carrier in the background.

Believe me, I tried. Couldn't find a composition that was satisfactory to do that. I agree it would have added to the image if it had been in view. But in the end the choice was between what you see now, or a horrible composition with a carrier visible.

Interesting discussion people ! Thanks for all those who look at my work with appreciation, makes it worth the effort. As for the discussion about 3d art, here goes....


I agree that 3d digital media seems to get less respect these days. I think the problem is it's too easy to sample backgrounds and such and you don't have to learn how to draw in perspective....

It never had much respect to begin with, same as photography at the start. I remember my early days when an illustrator would paint on some highlights with an airbrush so they could sell it as airbrush art (early 90s). The client was under the impression that computer visualisation was a matter of pushing a button for it is the computer that calculates the image. That vision hasn't changed that much. A lot of people are scared of what they do not understand.


Don't get me wrong, I know that it requires a high degree of skill to build a realistic 3d model and create a convincing image.

But what happens when the day comes when you can buy a really great 3d model of any plane, tank or ship for cheap? We've seen "screen-shot" art from flight sims. What happens when that is taken to the next level? Where will the digital artist have an "edge" then? Will it come down to the artists vision and ability to arrange and light a scene? I don't know, but I think things will continue to get more interesting in that regard.


It is a different skill, building a good model and making a convincing image. Being a good photographer doesn't mean you are a great set builder. I have been skilled as a modeller a long time before I could do good images.

People doing great screenshot art are a rare sight, the ones that can do it definitely have artistic ability. They have an eye for composition, color and postprocessing. But to be honest, to me it does feel like "cheating", they lack a lot of skill that good 3d artists have/require. Same as a painter overpainting a photograph. Sure, it takes skill to do it well.

If it makes them happy to do it, why complain ? As long as they don't proclaim they have the same skills as a 3d artist doing it all him/herself.

I have heard throughout my career that I am not an artist because I use a computer as a tool and didn't have formal education in the arts. Those are usually people who went to artschool or a film academy (I work with a lot of those). Well, if they want to create artyfarty stuff that does nothing for me, thats their choice, doesn't make them a better artist, just makes it harder for them to get a real job and make money. (makes me remember the time when people who had been slagging off my game cutscenes work for over a year actually stole it so they could apply for work when they were laid off :eek:)

I was trained as an industrial designer, have had drawing classes, figure drawing, product presentation with pencil, markers, etc. Oh yes, sorry, I should be ashamed of being a Master of Science in construction engineering, marketing and ergonomics as well...bad boy...surely you can not be an artist if you know how to calculate torsion stresses or can write a business plan :lol:

My short answer to those people is: you are a pathetic fool

My 2 cents anyway.

[jiverson]

Wow, you are a talented guy!!
Great discussion! I appreciate your comments.

Funny, when I was in college years ago, there were 2 groups - the "fine art" students and us graphic designers that actually wanted to eventually get a job and make a living...

[kiwi123]

This week I received some showreels from students who have graduated as best of class from art schools here in the UK....almost made me cry. Just a wasted couple of years and a lot of money spent, making things that nobody wants to see at a horrible quality level. As a graduate pointed out to me, she would have been better off buying a pc for the money and just learn herself.

[Spinner]

"I was trained as an industrial designer, have had drawing classes, figure drawing, product presentation with pencil, markers, etc. Oh yes, sorry, I should be ashamed of being a Master of Science in construction engineering, marketing and ergonomics as well...bad boy...surely you can not be an artist if you know how to calculate torsion stresses or can write a business plan."

And anyone with a bit of a rounded education can see the result through your work.
I've heard all the 'art' bulls..twang. Many years helping out in my families' gallery has led me to where I could symultaneously sell a polaroid of a dog poo laden shoe as 'art' and follow an arguement that the aprentice system in old master's shops created 'product' not 'art'.
Still, I'd pay more for the rembrandt, than the polaroid, myself. lol.

"This week I received some showreels from students who have graduated as best of class from art schools here in the UK....almost made me cry. Just a wasted couple of years and a lot of money spent, making things that nobody wants to see at a horrible quality level. As a graduate pointed out to me, she would have been better off buying a pc for the money and just learn herself."

Guess theres the downside to a user pays education system. The debate continues over at CGTalk, where I see both graduates with technique but no creativity and self-taught with glaring faults in perspective or lighting or whatever was the area they found boring and avoided.

I feel that making a living and making art in any form are two different things. CGI seems to be in the stage where there's big money being made off selling the dream to the hopefull. In agriculture, the next stage is normally a crash as the market can't support all the newcomers.

[Gadzooks]

Is that Flat Eric?

[kiwi123]

Yup, have a big one in my car, stuck on the inside of the window as well (if my son doesn't rip it off)

[Gadzooks]

Chilling with Flat!!

[charglerode]

This week I received some showreels from students who have graduated as best of class from art schools here in the UK....almost made me cry. Just a wasted couple of years and a lot of money spent, making things that nobody wants to see at a horrible quality level. As a graduate pointed out to me, she would have been better off buying a pc for the money and just learn herself.

I have a similar story. I was formally educated at a "prestigious" art school here in the states. Campuses all over the country and high tuition so I assumed they were worth it. 3 Years later I graduated and made it out into the real world. Now before I go any further I would like to say that this(digital art) is my passion. I was always up until the early hours of the morning every day teaching myself something new, expanding my knowledge, practicing my skills. I always found myself far ahead of my classmates and I couldn't figure out why, I'm not that smart.

Then, as I got further into my education I realized that I know more about some things than my instructors did. My instructors had to actually let me choose harder assignments for myself in order to learn anything. By the time I finally graduated and left I realized that most everthing I know, I taught myself, yet I'm still stuck paying out over $45,000 in school loans to a school that taught me almost nothing.

Now, I'm not bitter nor do I hold a grudge against this school. I have a wonderful job working for the largest video game producer in North America. What got me the job were my skills that I had acquired on all those sleepless nights tinkering. However, it was only my degree from an art school that made them initially consider me.

This is for anybody who is currently enrolled in an art school or thinking about enrolling in an art school. Art schools are not bad. They can teach you skills you need to be successful. The instructors will usually be glad to assist you if you wish to go above and beyond what the class covers. You only get from the school what you put in. If you just follow the class and never push yourself beyond that, then you are SCREWED! Colleges only offer degrees, some will actually teach you some skills. However, most of it comes down to you. If you want to be successful, then you must be willing to push yourself to the limit. You only get better with time and practice. And trust me, there's no school that can help you with that. Any school that boasts they can teach you the skills you need to be an artist in 6 months or a year, in full of crap. Ask any of the REALLY talented people here like Kiwi or Skyraider and ask them how long they've been honing their craft and I guarantee it's a lot longer than 6 months.

MORAL OF THE STORY:
No matter what school or what field you go into, it all comes down to you. You only get what you put in.

[Skyraider3D]

Ask any of the REALLY talented people here like Kiwi or Skyraider and ask them how long they've been honing their craft and I guarantee it's a lot longer than 6 months.No need to make me blush now :D
Well let me tell you... I started 3D in 1997 (Corel Motion 3D of everything) but didn't get into MAX until a couple of years later. All self taught till then. In 2000 I got a job as a 3D artist with a games company and learnt loads!
But that's just the 3D side. I've been drawing planes since I could walk or not much after, done some painting in my teens and perhaps slightly less relevant have been photographing planes with SLR camera since 1993.
My education? Aeronautical engineering. And trust me, there's not much creative about that!!! :lol:
I do feel I could have benefitted from an art education, I must say. Just look at guys like CaptFlushGarden! They're not only super talented but have all the necessary background as well. At least I can sort of justify my education, as it does help me rendering planes and it will guarantee me of a half decent job even if nobody in the world will be interested in aviation art anymore.