View Full Version : Mermaid Perspective Help for some Art
Mermaid Alea
11-08-2015, 05:58 PM
Okay, so this sounds really stupid but no matter how hard I try I can't get the correct looking perspective for some artwork I am doing for a final project. In Adobe Illustrator I am making a nautical themed image that will then be turned into a 3D object. My teacher told me my original art was too flat looking and he wanted the mermaid to have more of an interesting perspective. Then he showed me a picture of a shark that was a good example of what he is looking for.
Here is the shark:
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=33945&stc=1
I have searched through tons of mermaid photos trying to find someone in this sort of perspective. I have found only maybe two photos that came a tiny bit close. Here is one of the photos that helped for the upper body, but it didn't help so much for the tail: https://www.facebook.com/MermaidKarielsWorld/photos/a.153289614687575.31025.138854966131040/1170787286271131/?type=3&permPage=1 I have tried drawing this shark's tail and putting it on the mermaid but that looks weird. I just can't seem to get that perspective of her face and upper body being close and her tail appearing to be far away like on this shark.
Does anyone know of a good reference photo for this? Or can you even draw out an example of how this sort of perspective would look on a mermaid? I might as well do my own photoshoot just to get the right photo, but I am really running out of time because this needs to be cut out in foam very soon.
mersheep
11-08-2015, 07:43 PM
I had some formal training about 35 years ago. What you are looking for is called foreshortening. This is usually done with architecture, where the vanishing points are exaggerated. Hold your hand up to your face spread out. Notice how your fingers cover the whole face. When you bring the hands and arms forward, the hands are in truth larger than the head. A lot of drawing is learning about optical illusions and sneaking them into your work.
A good way to observe this is to create a doll or an artists mannequin with a tail that moves on wire armatures. The classicists learned this using grid systems and lenses. Look up vanishing point perspective and the human form.
Mermaid Alea
11-08-2015, 08:15 PM
Okay yeah foreshortening is definitely the word for it. I have never been the best at foreshortening that is why I just need a good reference photo. I don't have time to create a mannequin.
Here is what I have so far. I think the problem was actually the fluke. It wasn't turned right until I asked my Mom and she pointed out that the fluke perspective should be altered.
33949
mersheep
11-08-2015, 08:55 PM
Here is a quick sketch, where I foreshortened the tail and enlarged the head and hand. The attempt here was to have the mermaid coming through the plane of the paper or water.
Note I gave her a corset as I need to start wearing mine again ...
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=33966&d=1447096552
malinghi
11-08-2015, 09:00 PM
Here's an evian ad that might help:
http://mernetwork.com/index/attachment.php?attachmentid=33950&stc=1
Also, there's that one shot in part of your world where she's swimming toward the surface. You could pause it anywhere in that section and it could probably work as a reference.
Mermaid Wesley
11-08-2015, 09:19 PM
You might want to look at pictures of free divers and scuba divers as well to get an idea of how things look underwater. Oh a and here
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Mermaid Wesley
11-08-2015, 09:22 PM
33952
33953
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Mermaid Alea
11-08-2015, 09:37 PM
Yay thanks everyone!! :D
I will see what my teacher says tomorrow about what I have so far. I have had to make a lot of different versions. :rolleyes:
Echidna
11-09-2015, 12:32 PM
A reason why there are not many photos with this perspective could be that foreshortening, while looking great on a shark (emphasis on gaping maw and large teeth) isn't the most flattering for a mermaid :p
Mermaids look good with long, sinuous tails that look natural, not a short, thick stump which is the result with foreshortened perspective.
Your teacher sounds about the sort (the only sort I've ever encountered in art, really) that has a set image of something in his mind that cannot be deviated from.
Mermaid Momo
11-09-2015, 03:13 PM
One thing I have to point out : When drawing your mermaid, her tail should be behind her head, Let me sketch up an example to show you
Mermaid Momo
11-09-2015, 03:44 PM
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/09/32284a867b0e05d67e147a1a6fcfe1d7.jpg
If you look closely you might be able to see the guidelines I used for the perspective.
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Azurin Luna
11-12-2015, 02:01 PM
I don't know if you still need the references, but a lot of photos from my swim in Curaao have foreshortening
http://fayola.deviantart.com/gallery/33913593/Mermaids I hope they will help :)
Adalira
11-12-2015, 06:46 PM
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/09/32284a867b0e05d67e147a1a6fcfe1d7.jpg
If you look closely you might be able to see the guidelines I used for the perspective.
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Momo, did you seriously sketch that in 30 minutes? :eyepop: If so...you have a talent there! Geez.....jealous right now :blush:
Mermaid Alea
11-13-2015, 12:31 AM
Thank you Momo!
I don't know if you still need the references, but a lot of photos from my swim in Curaao have foreshortening
http://fayola.deviantart.com/gallery/33913593/Mermaids I hope they will help :)
Thank you and by the way your fins are so cool looking!
Thank you everyone for your advise, photos, and awesome perspective drawings. My teacher approved my design (finally). I was starting to regret not choosing something simple to do. One girl just had a few simple flowers and he approved it right away but with mine he wanted me to keep working on it. :rolleyes: I was ahead of the class because I had my image already done in the 3D program but then with all of the corrections I was told to do I am now a bit behind everyone so hopefully tomorrow I can do a lot of work and get caught up.
malinghi
11-13-2015, 12:51 AM
I really like this thread. The photos and drawings are so interesting. It actually reminds me about these mermaid sketch sessions a friend of mine organized. It was really fun.
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Luna Dreamtide
11-13-2015, 01:44 AM
http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/09/32284a867b0e05d67e147a1a6fcfe1d7.jpg
If you look closely you might be able to see the guidelines I used for the perspective.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Momo, that is gorgeous. Foreshortening is one thing I struggle with in my art.
Luna Dreamtide
11-13-2015, 01:46 AM
I don't know if you still need the references, but a lot of photos from my swim in Curaao have foreshortening
http://fayola.deviantart.com/gallery/33913593/Mermaids I hope they will help :)
Can we also mention what a pretty mermaid Azurin is! :) lovely photos.
Azurin Luna
11-17-2015, 02:36 AM
Can we also mention what a pretty mermaid Azurin is! :) lovely photos.
:$ Aww, thank you
Mermaid Alea
11-18-2015, 08:52 PM
Here is an update on my artwork:
So today I finished making it into a 3D object in sketchup. Then I had to run a program called Solid Inspector 2 to see if there were any errors in my model. After going from around 50 something errors to fixing it up so that it had zero errors, my teacher walks up, looks at my finished model, and tells me that there are a few areas that are too detailed and small for the machine drill bit to create. :jawdrop: He saw me making the art from the beginning and had me re-work it until he approved it, and now he tells me it is TOO detailed for the machine! He could have easily seen that and said something before I did all that work. I don't know why he didn't tell me that sooner before I spent all that time turning it into 3d. He acted like it would be simple for me to tone down the detail and re-draw some areas, but the thing is I am not so good at drawing in 3d space. I can draw it flat and then turn it 3d easily, but what I have to do here is going to be tricky for me.
So as much as I liked my mermaid's hair, that has to be simplified more and some other areas have to be simplified, etc.
Eventually I will show you all some more pics and I will definitely have to show a photo of the finished cut out foam piece. Hopefully it won't be too long before I get to cut it out. :rolleyes:
Azurin Luna
11-19-2015, 02:46 AM
That stinks that he didn't tell you earlier about the level of detail :(
*huggles* I'm sure the end result will be nice anyway :D
Mermaid Alea
11-19-2015, 11:39 AM
Thanks for the huggles! Luckily this is my last assignment in that class. I just need to be careful because the end of the semester is quickly approaching.
PearlieMae
11-19-2015, 12:55 PM
If you're outputting it to a 3D device, don't you have to have it from several angles, or is it being carved in bas relief out of the foam?
Mermaid Alea
11-20-2015, 12:22 AM
This is the old art that will not be used but I will use it here as an example:
34154
The above is a screenshot of the 3d model in sketchup. What I did is I first drew my design in Adobe Illustrator and then imported that image into Sketchup. Using mainly the arch tool and some of the pencil tool, I traced all of my lines in the artwork. Once I traced everything and all the tracing was closed off by having a face (basically the grey area) I was able to start extruding parts of the drawing to turn it into a 3D object. From here you export this as some other kind of file (I forgot the extension) and then my teacher takes it and puts it on the computer that is connected to the CNC machine and uses Rhino to set up the model for the machine. The way I watched him set it up is he made a 3d block of foam on that computer, then dragged my model into the bottom center of the foam model. He said that the machine will carve out the designs and cut around the border of the shape. The new design isn't as weird looking as this older one. I can't open the new design on my sketchup because I have the free version and I did the new model on the school's pro version.
I have probably sounded confusing because I refer to it as 3d printing, when really in this case it is subtractive and not additive.
Oh and if you are asking about it being 3D for real as in real modeling, yeah I would have liked to have done that but knowing how bad I am with 3D I know it would be a nightmare. My teacher showed me how to round out the shell...What a nightmare!
Azurin Luna
11-20-2015, 02:04 AM
Oh! I have done that too. I worked with a 2 axes CNC machine first and then our school upgraded to a 3 axes version, which made it possible to do alot more different things. I only used wood and MDF though, as I was in carpentry school
Mermaid Alea
12-08-2015, 10:29 PM
Okay I already had my final critique for my foam cut. I will show you the photos of my final soon...I took some photos but they took some nice professional photos at school so I will also show those when they come in.
For now you all can see one of my other projects. It is a short animation titled "Bait".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ro1vx-yIcIw
Mermaid Wesley
12-08-2015, 10:44 PM
Cute!
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