FPS Inspiration.

Believe it or not, this painting was inspired by a computer game. This was back when Half-Life 2 had just come out, in 2004 to be precise, (or, alternatively, when I was playing it for the umpteenth time), and I was completely taken by its visual look and atmosphere.

Here is a lovely screenshot from the game:

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My painting was actually inspired by an add-on to the game, Half-Life 2: the Lost Coast. It is a map that was dropped out of the game, which doesn't mean it isn't a great map. The map takes place in a small fishing village located in a small bay, and up on a hill there is a really nice little chapel.

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The windows in my painting and the light coming from them were pretty much inspired by this lovely view, and look totally pathetic and drab compared to the original. The whole game is non-stop eye candy, so if you're into FPS games, you should definitely try it.

Actually, the second episode has just come out, and I ordered it online. I can't wait to get to play it on my laptop which doesn't even support it with any but impossibly low graphics settings!

Experimenting with techniques.

Here's another picture done on plywood.

Even though this 'person' looks kinda weird, I really like the way I used pink to create the impression of light coming from the left. It makes me think of twilight. And the unfinished look is nice sometimes, you know, when you don't try to make the transitions from light to shadow as smooth as possible, but leave it a little rugged, as if it was hastily done. Which it probably actually was, but that's beside the point. I know painters who don't paint hastily, they just make it look like they did.

I'm talking about the way Van Gogh painted. Well, actually I think he did have a sort of maniacal way of wielding his brush... Which is why he sadly wasn't appreciated in his time. I'm not very interested in the subject-matters in his paintings, but I really like his technique. Take this one, for example (go here if you don't see the picture: http://www.abm-enterprises.net/artgall2/vangogh_skull_cigarette.jpg):

Some of the vertebrae of the neck are painted with a single brush stroke (or it's made to look like it). And the effects of light are created with very few strokes overall. Amazing. Plus, this is the most interesting of his works, actually I'm dubious about whether this really is by Van Gogh. It's too witty. Too amusing. Wasn't he depressed most of the time? Anguished and tormented like all good artists?

If only I could really paint like this - I dont' think I'm talented enough to get everything right the first time. But I'm not a big believer of talent as a concept; I think you can achieve nearly anything if you practise hard enough and long enough. No, it's not wishful thinking at all!