Background Blitz - Mystic's House - WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

[GreenBeams]

@ Sinsin, Amélie & OUXX - the more the merrier!

I'm working on an entry now but it won't be voteable when the time comes. I just want to join in and take part!!

[Eric]

Readimix in the US

Ew! I've never heard him called this before.

[Grundislav]

[imgzoom]http://i.imgur.com/H6gc7Ou.png[/imgzoom]

Fortune teller? Witch? Someone spooky lives here.

[Snarky]

Nice, Grundislav!

I have an idea, and if I can find the time I'll try to enter.

[selmiak]

grundislav, I'm intrigued and drawn into your piece already,the mood is captivating, my imagination is going wild and painting corpses against the windows in the upper floor and so already, what do you have in mind what is happening in there? please add some indications of levitating ppl or dancing ppls and plz add some imgzoomz.

[GreenBeams]

Ah, Grundislav, excellent stuff! I'm imagining a Professor Slocombe type of character here. All occult libraries, elderly retainers and a working knowledge of a very deadly martial art. Frail, he looks, but this is just a ruse.. a RUSE!!! it is He who walks the borders 'twixt this world and the the next, pausing only for fine sherry and Turkish cigarettes!

OK, so i got a little carried away but a fantastic picture will do that - Great work! 

[jwalt]

Decided a kiva might qualify as a Mystic's House. Searching Google Images led me to this:



More set decorator than artist, here. Bryce render. Landscapes from Bryce, cave and "kiva" from Anim8or, naked lady from DAZ Studio. Background image of Milky Way is from Kit Peak National Observatory.

The specific Google image search that prompted this was "false kiva canyonlands." It, indeed, looks to be a mystical place.

[Cassiebsg]

Nice jwalt!!! 

Mine is done (sorta off), but having some trouble rendering a final picture... it's taking ages! 
At this rate we'll reach the deadline and my computer still has only rendered two thirds of the picture. 
(think I'll drop quality, if I can find the right setting for it!)

EDIT: Never underestimate a short tutorial/tips... Seems to be looking decent, and now it says: Remaining 03:44:32.54! 

EDIT 2: Not perfect, but it'll do for now. 
It's my first night scene!  Though I am a bit sad my design gets lost in this lighting... but what gains in "mood" is worth the loss, IMHO... 

[GreenBeams]

Looks like CG's represented in force this month! Nice imagineering skills, jwalt and liking the creepy, uber modern design, Cassiebsg

Prizes have now been added and apologies for the hold up.

[Ykni]

Ok, I think this must be it.
[imgzoom]http://img14.deviantart.net/67c5/i/2015/139/d/c/mystic_shut_by_ykni-d8ty841.png[/imgzoom]

[[delete}]

Truely wonderful, Ykni. I can see me friskily running between these old oaks and needle trees - and we'll meet on this light-flooded clearing, in a forest full of magic.

[Dropped Monocle Games]

Fantastic idea for a theme!
I'm not sure if this allowed but I have taken this chance to go back to an old background that fits with the theme and see how much I have improved
so here is that old one from Witchy Woo (you may remember it)


and here is what I have gotten so far from remaking it, I'll update this as I go!




Larger version



so again, I'm not sure if this is allowed to enter and I'm not worried if its not, just wanted to have a go at this

[Cassiebsg]

Can't see why not, even if it's a remake, it's still a new BG made from scratch.   

[GreenBeams]

Just to join in:



Ah, that's fantastic, Sox! Really nice linework. I can see a huge amount of improvement here too

Excellent hidewaay, Ykni, too! Love the work you did on the foreground spruce/pine/doodad/tree.

[Anke]

One Mad Woman Productions proudly presents:


Life Ain't Easy These Days - Fortune Telling in Modern Times

[imgzoom]http://fs1.directupload.net/images/150520/8hz4v5m5.png[/imgzoom]

Also known as "Life Without Perspective", because it went out of the window. Still standing in the rain and waiting for it's rescue, the poor thing.
Sadly the lighting is a mess, but I've spent too much time on this already.

Despite its flaws I'm quite happy with this picture. This is my very first background. Gained a lot of experience - and a few gray hairs as well.

[Ykni]

Thank you for the compliments Amélie and Greenbeams. I had so much fun making this background.
These contest are a really great thing. It's so nice to see all these different styles, there is so much I can learn from the other entries.

[Daniel Thomas]

Here's my entry

Some Gypsy'ish person living in a wagon'ish object placed at some swamp'ish location

[Mandle]

All great entries but I just gotta say:

HOLY CRAP THAT GYPSY WAGON ONE IS GORGEOUS!!!

[JudasFm]

My entry...



Witch Sally has lived in her little house for as long as anyone can remember and is always willing to help lost travelers. The water around her place is fairly shallow - at least in places - but the waterfall beyond the house is very high She added the steps after one too many visitors fell off the giant platypus that her house is built on.

Sally used to have the traditional chicken-legged hut, but found out too late that chickens aren't particularly good at swimming, hence her enchanting a platypus to grow to the size she needed to build on it, which also makes it too big and heavy to be swept away by the current.  The platypus itself is in a state of magical suspension, needing neither food nor water, nor, luckily, oxygen.  Sally makes sure to give it nice dreams

She also makes sure no would-be trophy hunters get anywhere near it, and is always watching. 

Don't believe me? Take a closer look at the door

[GreenBeams]

Fantastic work, Anke. Already want to play it!

Aw, JudasFM, i love that story =D So much so that i'd buy it and not pretend that i had kids or anything to the shop assisstant who'd be giving me my change with a knowing look. Right, i love kid's picture books, they're great.. it's out now and i'm not ashamed!!

Daniel Thomas - i was hoping you'd show up again and am loving the return of the AGS background stalwarts. Fantastic, talent hemorrhaging entry, sir!