King Arthur’s Castle – Knights of the Round Table

You may be under the impression that the Fantasy Artist, would be confined by their “choice of techniques” – especially with regard to the location, of their Fantasy Realm.  Yet, when it comes to Tales of Fantasy – can it be seen, that this not entirely true 🙂  Even more so, when that Fantasy Realm – is that of King Arthur, and his Knights of the Round Table:

King Arthur – and his Knights of Camelot

I feel that this artist, has decided to “play with us”.  First:  in terms of perspective.  This Fantasy scene exhibits the behaviour of a one point perspective – as everything tends towards the Castle Gate.  Yet, as we shall see, it is not quite as simple as that!  For the Walls of this Castle, appear to be curved (except for around the base of the Gate Pillars).  If we assume that the bottom of the Gate Pillars are a “base line” (with an Anchor Point at either end), then it seems to me – that this Fantasy artist, has chosen to “mix in” a Fish Eye Perspective. Yet, as we shall see, it is not quite as simple as that!  For the curved perspective lines appear to “sweep in”, from the top right of the drawing (which does not meet the definition of a standard Fish Eye Perspective [which would be more like a ball, with it’s lines “sweeping” the other way]).  Thus, do we have a Fantasy artist making use of techniques (the altered Fish Eye Perspective), within a Fantasy Realm that you might not expect – that of King Arthur, and his Kingdom of the Land (as opposed to the Sea).  Second:  In terms of location.  The foreground parts of this Fantasy scene, appear to be of the Dark.  There’s Mountainous Rocks, with jagged edges.  There’s hard of Ice, with slippery slopes.  There’s swirling winds, with blizzard Snow.  Whilst the background parts of this Fantasy art, appear to be of the Light.  There’s Castle Spires, with whitened Walls.  There’s Towering Structures, with Glowing Gleam.  There’s Spheres of Moon, with turquoise Haze.  Which when taken together, feels as though this Castle (and it’s Knights) are “Braced against the Dark”.  Perhaps this Castle and it’s Knights, have been besieged for months – and have chosen to, ride out against the Dark?  Third:  In terms of “pun”.  When the Fish Eye Perspective, and the Light against Dark theme are “taken together”; do I find the concept of a Round Table.  The curvature of the Castle, is akin to the “longer edge” – of Arthur’s Round Table.  The fight between Light and Dark, is akin to the “never ending cycle” – of the Knights of the Round Table.  Finally:  it’s just possible, that this Kingdom has travelled in Time – as it seems as though the lighter sky, has been overlaid in “Moon Time” (especially at the central top of the image [tending towards the turquoise Haze]).

Castle Atlantis – Sea Dragons of Atlantis – Part Two

When a Fantasy Artist decides to “live within” the realms of an Underwater City, do we find that it is not just their choice of perspective, that can be used to “bring magic” – to their Underwater Scene.  For when that Underwater City goes by the name of Atlantis; does the Fantasy Artist, also have access to a range of artists techniques – that only enhance the magic, that’s found within their Fantasy Realm:

Castle Atlantis – Ideal for Undersea Effects!

First:  the challenge of being underwater itself.  Objects that are viewed underwater – just “look different”.  The primary reason for this, is the fact that light behaves differently underwater (than it does on land).  When light enters water (from the surface), it bends – and becomes distorted.  Granted, Atlantis may be at the bottom of the sea bed – but it’s light is still different to that of the surface.  To help represent this, many artist’s choose to model Underwater Caustics – the projection of (surface) light onto a “ground plane”.  Here the “ground plane” is the sea bed, and the caustics are those aquamarine highlights 🙂  In other words, those “little aquamarine squiggles”.  Second:  the ability to play with reality.  Within this artwork, has the artist decided to play with the Sea Life of their Underwater Scene.  First, there is that sea life that we would expect – the shoal of Fish, and the Jellyfish.  Second, there is the sea life that we would not expect (other than perhaps of Atlantis) – the two Sea Dragons 🙂  By featuring two such diverse groups of sea life, does the artist “seed” an important idea:  that Atlantis herself, whilst within the Realms of Fantasy, is still based upon “some measure” of reality (which only serves to make it more believable).  Thus, does this shoal of Fish, “sweep” you into Atlantis – the Undersea Kingdom, of these Fantasy Sea Dragons!  Third:  the artist’s use of layering.  Constructing a scene like this, would be impossible without the use of layers – as there’s just “too much going on”, for any single layer, “to cope with”.  Granted, we can easily see the layers that have been used for blending (such as the layer of aquamarine over the “white” Castle).  But harder to see, is the fact that layering has also been used – to play with perspectives!  For me, both the Sea Dragons and the largest Jellyfish, are as if they have no perspective at all.  The same is also true for the Sea Cliffs and Corals, on both the bottom-left, and bottom-right of this artwork.  Why has the artist done this?  For one “very clever” reason:  to limit the distortion of the Fish Eye Perspective, as it tends towards the extremities of the artwork; which in doing so, only helps to “lead you in” – to this Fantasy Scene 🙂

Eastern Castle – Chinese Water Dragon

When talking of “balance” within artwork, does the term not only refer to the “weights” of various areas within the artwork (such as it’s ability to pull on your eyes); but also to the techniques that have been used to construct that artwork.  Within this Fantasy Realm, do I find the use of three such artist’s techniques, that also happen to be in balance – with each other:

A Chinese Water Dragon – that Snakes through Perspective and Layer!

First:  comes the artist’s use of layering.  This Dragon’s head is on a layer by itself – right at the very front (the foreground).  As the Dragon’s neck begins to fade, do we encounter interaction with the foremost castle spire (it passes behind it).  As the Dragon’s tail begins to “snake”, do we encounter interaction with the aft/right-most castle spires (it both overlaps, and passes behind them).  And yet, is this Dragon’s tail not quite as simple as that – for at each “dragon level”, has the artist decided to match the lighting in that area (as to avoid an unbalanced scene).  Second:  comes the artist’s use of perspective.  This Eastern Castle makes use of a three-point perspective (the third vanishing point being found – when you extend a line upwards from the apex of each tower).  If we also extend that line downwards, do we find that these towers share a relationship with their foundations:  it’s hard to imagine the towers being “at home” on any other rock formation!  And yet, is this three-point perspective not as simple as that.  The third vanishing point, has been used to “pull you into the scene” – particularly upwards (whilst also interacting with the Dragon’s tail [especially in terms of scaling]).  I also feel that there’s a relationship between the Dragon, and the other two vanishing points.  The left-most vanishing point, causes the left-most castle “opening faces” to be at the same “angle” as the Dragon’s neck.  The effect is further enhanced, by the use of similar shading in this area (both the Dragon’s neck, and the castle’s “opening faces” go from dark to light, with the light being intensified on the top-right).  The right-most vanishing point, causes the right-most castle “uniform faces” to be at the same “angle” as the Dragon’s face (achieved through clever shading on the whitened rock [just above that cloud]).  Thus, is this three-point perspective, very powerful indeed!  Third:  comes the artist’s interpretation of the Fantasy itself.  When I look at this Dragon, do I think of the Element of Water 🙂  The artist has chosen their colours wisely – the Dragon’s aquamarine is of Water.  The artist has chosen their details cleverly – the Dragon’s scales are of Water (akin to a fish’s scales).  The artist has also chosen their highlights carefully – the collection of “white flecks” (towards the bottom of the artwork), are as if they are Water Spray (especially on the bottom right).  When these three techniques are taken together – do I find:  that the Element of Water, Snakes through these Towers, Cascading to the Depths, Amongst the Hills, Bringing the Magic of Water – to this Fantasy Scene 🙂

Cinderella’s Castle – Fairyland’s Realm

Within the Realms of Fairyland, do we find that an artist’s choice of background – can be just as important, as the artist’s choice of Castle 🙂  Perhaps then, there’s no more worthy subject, in the Realms of Fairyland – than that of Cinderella‘s!  In this Fantasy scene, do we find a Fantasy blend, that’s just-right for a Princess:

Cinderella’s Castle – in Fairyland

I love the way that this artwork, speaks one theme to me – just meant to be!  The castle itself, makes use of detail, on the lower parts of it’s walls (the individual bricks).  And yet, on the upper parts of the castle – has the Fantasy Artist, decided against such high levels of detail:  preferring to “blend and omit” instead.  Indeed, do I find this to be – a good example of an artist’s ability, to bring focus to their artwork.  In doing so, does the artist help to capture, “what you would expect to see” in the real world – atmospherics.  This Fantasy artwork, also appears to be a mix of both two-point, and one-point perspective.  The two-point, is used upon Cinderella’s Castle; whilst the one-point, is used upon the Fantasy background.  In doing so, does the artist help “pull you into” – the centre of the scene 🙂  This “pull you in” effect, is also present upon the lanterns (on the left), and also upon – the leftmost path, and the river.  At first glance, would it seem that the background, makes use of many different colours (for it’s flowers), which indeed it does.  And yet, at the same time – does the background, seem “balanced“.  I feel that this has been achieved, through the artist’s clever use of shadowing; or at the very least, through the fact that the colour black, is ever present, upon the background (in subtle blends).  I also feel, that the rainbow has been included, to bring balance to the right-hand-side of the castle.  This idea, is also further repeated – upon the two large trees:  one on the left (pink), and one on the right (green).  Except here, is the balance brought, to the “height of the scene”.  The artist has also added, a “little twist” in the form of Tinker Bell, who I feel – helps bring light, to the upper parts of the castle (on the left-hand-side).  Again, do we encounter the concept of balance (as both Tinker Bell, and the castle “light” – are the same colour).  Thus, has this artist, brought plenty of Magic, to their Kingdom 🙂