http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/ thaldir's gallery of images en-us 120 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/644652

A portrait I painted as a gift for my wife's birthday, that is today.

This is her character in a homebrew campaign, Nimhelith, an Elf archer who has been hideously scarred by a spell and hides the damage under an half-mask.
Nimhelith has kept us company for a few years, it was high time that she got her own portrait.

As usual, comments are welcome]]> Thu, 19 Jun 2008 18:13:51 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/591514

At long last something got out of non-disclosure...

Sinja is one of the characters of Topia World, A CCG/computer game aimed to children by Light Con Media, a Danish company.

Topia World has been launched in Denmark on February the First and will be present at Nurnberg Toy Fair later this month, it will also be launched in the US within this year.

This young lady is featured in issue 29 of Imagine FX, and will be included in Exposè 6.]]> Sun, 03 Feb 2008 08:58:15 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/596558

This work was originally made for Ellen Million's Portrait Adoption, a site where ready-made portraits character are available for sale.

As such, according to contract I could show her only in small size and with a watermark (not many chances that your 'exclusive-use character portrait' is still exclusive after being shown un-watermarked on the net, sadly).

I've been of two minds after her inclusion in Exotique 3 and now I've decided to take her down from Portrait Adoption to be able to turn her into a bigger size portfolio piece.
So here she comes... ]]> Sun, 17 Feb 2008 09:59:15 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/640408

Here comes the third in the series, Water. Once again body-type, colors and texture are meant to give a sense of the element, without obvious add-ons (ok, the elemental glyphs are there too, but how many people recognize them on the spot?)

Next and last will be Fire, in a little while, since I've a couple of things to take care of, first.]]> Sun, 08 Jun 2008 07:35:58 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/638144

She is the second in a group of four Zeron works representing the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water. I tried to give them different body-shapes according to how I visualize the element, so Air is definitely longer-limbed and lighter-looking than Earth.

Comments and critiques are, as always, very much appreciated and will be kept in mind for this one and the other pieces in the series.

Sorry for those of you who received multiple notices of a new piece being posted, There was some trouble with images not being saved and at first I thought it was me, so I deleted and uploaded multiple times...]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2008 08:30:50 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/635255

This one had been posted a couple of hours ago, but comments by Nekomouse and Coyotes had me doing a few small revisions, and so I decided to delete the old one and repost.

She is first in a group of four Zeron works representing the four classical elements: Earth, Air, Fire and Water, each one's body type will be linked to how I visualize the element, so Earth is somewhat bigger boned and wider-hipped that is fashionable nowadays, that is fully intended (although now she is a bit less stocky than earlier, after Coyotes' comment).

Comments and critiques are very much appreciated and will be kept in mind for this one and the other pieces in the series. ]]> Sun, 25 May 2008 14:39:44 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/630401

My entry for the Uplift Universe CG Challenge (not directly inspired, nor in any way related to mr. Brin's books), made in Painter and Photoshop .
Here's the story:

Fatamorgana

After a long time the answer to 'Is there other sentient life in the universe?' has come, and Earth doesn't like the answer.

The Zeron are here, they are high energy, featureless shape-shifters. More than that, much like lichen they are the fusion of two species, to produce a new Zeron an 'energy seed' has to combine with another being, and humans have the highest compatibility.
Are they 'evil conquerors'? Would it be right to condemn them to extinction? Is there another solution?

These human maquis aren't concerned with
philosophical dilemmas, they believe they are fighting for human survival. Often, though, things aren't how they look. ]]> Sun, 11 May 2008 19:14:39 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/602918

Commissioned work through Portrait Adoption.

Sahiba is an up-and-coming Sith apprentice, she has recently entered the academy on Korriban and is already one to be reckoned with.

Sahiba the character is property of its creator, portrait shown unwatermarked with the client's permission. ]]> Sun, 02 Mar 2008 08:19:45 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/599792

Card art for FFG's Living Card Game 'A Game of Thrones'. 'Banner of the North' was painted this Summer, but game reorganization delayed the batch of cards that was to be the next expansion.

FYI, this card isn't in the current chapter pack (will be out in July), but NDA has been lifted 'cause the illustration has been used as promo.]]> Sun, 24 Feb 2008 09:17:48 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/575714

Iris is the first in a planned series devoted to minor goddesses in the Greek and Roman pantheon.

There will be two constants: all will be nudes with a classical feel and all will wear masks.

Nudes because they were a great element of classical statuary and masks because often, in many traditions the divinity is perceived as 'hidden' or presents itself under disguise.

Iris was the goddess of the rainbow and messenger /cup bearer of the gods (sharing duties with Hermes and Hebe), has no specific myths of her own.

Here is a detail

]]> Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:36:44 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/612573

Another commissioned work of Sahiba and Illado teamed up.
The two complement each other well, he excelling in combat (both with the light saber and bare-handed) and she being a prime mind-bender. They are also rather protective of each other, so it isn't advisable to cross either one, s some other apprentices discovered at their expense.

The characters are property of their creators.]]> Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:29:04 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/571019

After the comment by Dianae on the first version of this piece I reworked the girl to make her body sharper, as suggested (thank you!).

Being definitely happy with the result, I tried to edit the original post to show the new version, after a few unsuccessful attempts I gave up and decided to cancel the old image and resubmit altogether.]]> Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:43:56 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/543672

This is my entry for the XXI CG Society Challenge. An old idea I toyed with for quite a while but was never put on paper (or HD) until now.

Like most of my digital work it is made in Painter and Photoshop.
A detailed step-by-step can be seen in my Challenge thread at http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=225&t=510872 .

The original file is 4960 X 2835 px, here are some details at around 50 % (some a bit more, some a bit less).



Grenadier



Sniper



Scout



Nerdy and Contenders



Gladiators]]> Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:15:05 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/593882

Another of my cards for Topia World by Light Con Media.

This is Paja, from Hearts Island, she had been described to me as a good-hearted, somewhat seductive human woman.

As usual Painter and Photoshop.

As a curiosity, specifications asked for each part of the paintings to be whole and full so that background and character could be used separately, what you don't see is there too... ]]> Sun, 10 Feb 2008 08:04:20 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/538380

This portrait was commissioned by a friend, a member of our roleplaying group whose most-beloved setting is The Lord of the Rings RPG (tm).

Naturally, the rohirric feeling was a must here, but instead of relying mostly on the trilogy or the role-playing material I decided to go to the sources. Eothreth accessories are (more or less loosely) based on museum Longobard pieces ( the real-life Longobards were an horse-culture, and probably one of the sources for professor Tolkien's Rohirrim)

Here are a few details:



Chainmail and cloak



Sword and brooch



And the helm.

As usual, base in Painter, detailing in Photoshop.]]> Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:27:26 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/624433

Another commissioned portrait of an RPG character.

Indali'nazli is a product of rapid evolution from the Sunset Moth of Madagascar, hence the peculiar colors and the somewhat 'out of propotion' features .

The character is property of miss Key Saint Jude, shown unwatermarked by client's permission.]]> Wed, 23 Apr 2008 20:30:15 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/526835

Another piece that was created for Portrait Adoption (hence size and watermark) and was submitted for Exotique 3 ( this one didn't get in, but I still like her ;-) )

Pirates aren't really a passion of mine, but I enjoyed very much The Curse of the Black Pearl when I, at last, saw it, and this piece was born from that enjoyement.

Base in Painter, refining in Photoshop.]]> Wed, 08 Aug 2007 11:21:32 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/519818

Another matte, a day-for-night piece that was born out of a visit to the Buon Consiglio Castle in Trento (northern Italy)

Reference photos posted in my WIP thread:

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?p=4529808#post4529808

I wanted a chance to combine ancient elements with futuristic ones, in a 'suspended-time' sort of feeling, a waitng moment before something happens. What? This is for the viewer to decide.

I see this piece set in the same parallel universe (or multiverse) where 'Fugue' takes place, more will certainly follow. ]]> Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:44:20 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/515283

After quite some time drooling over the fantastic matte paintings I see around here I decided to take the plunge.

...and here it is my attempt. I thought I would like to play on the idea of evasion and escape : from everyday life, from the 'prison' of crowded cities...from whatever seems appropriate to you.

FYI: the statue is not a Buddha (is based on a Sumerian statue), and the piece hasn't ( in my intention) any references to religion or belief.

All references are posted in my matte WIP thread

http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=196&t=510423]]> Fri, 06 Jul 2007 06:48:16 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/470338

Commissioned work (as usual through Portrait Adoption) shown here without the Portrait Adoption watermark by the client's permission. Use as character portrait exclusive to the client, other rights belong to the author.
The client requested a classical-inspired portrait, with a rather Tudor style in outfit and general character look and feel.
This is my first piece combining a Painter base with Photoshop detailing, and I really think it will become standard practice for me to use both.

As usual, comments are welcome.]]> Sun, 04 Mar 2007 17:27:18 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/500179

Thanks to the suggestions I received here (and very special thanks to RicoD, you're great, man!), I decided to take down the earlier version of this piece, work on it some more and post the revised version.

Lesson of the day: *never* skip the WIP forum...

And so the Succubus and her pet Hellound come again: the gate has been moved slightly, so that isn't full center on the dog's head and he's got some stronger highlights.

Note: the out-of-focus background is fully intentional, I did not want the piece to have the same level of detail all over.

]]> Fri, 25 May 2007 12:45:11 +0000 http://thaldir.cgsociety.org/gallery/462432

I'm aiming for a rather eerie feeling here.

These three are Zeron, symbiotic aliens, the result of the combination of an energy life-form with a humanoid. The resulting aliens are monochromatic and featurless (they speak by means of color vibration) but are also able to shape-shift into 'almost' normal looking humans.

The girl in the middle is a just transformed red Zeron.

As usual for me, made in Photoshop with a wacom tablet
]]> Sun, 11 Feb 2007 16:16:25 +0000