July 2016 Challenge: Harlasea

[snodsy]

Really nice, like how your mountains turn into cliffs and plateau, that's something I've been trying to work on. The sea blue seems a little too much? not sure what. Those mountains in the background are awesome and the way you snaked the ridges draws the eye right too them, nice job again.

[Josiah VE]

Wow, breathtaking. I actually love the bright sapphire sea, but I wouldn't mind seeing what it looked like a tad bit less vibrant, as long as it still stays true to the description.

[ThomasR]

Breathtaking ! I love how the sea makes the underwater spikes appear. It's a beauty !

[ladiestorm]

Wow, J. I believe this is the first time ever seen your process! This map is going to be a favorite of mine, I can already tell. I especially LOVE the dragon!!! And the way you blend your colors and textures together....simply spectacular.

[J.Edward]

This really is gorgeous.... buuuuut...

(and now I'm about to get lynched by the entire CG community, so I'm already getting my running shoes on...)

Do you think the sea might look better if it wasn't quite so intense? Sapphires are variable in colour, some are even pink, (but I think a pink ocean on this particular map would look dreadful).

I just think the intensity of the ocean tends to blind me to all the very beautiful and much more subtle drawing work - the very lovely art of the land.

OK - I'm running!

Haha, I am no different than anyone else
Advice is still advice I looked up sapphires and they were all REALLY blue, so I went with it.
But it is strong. I'll see what I can do.

Really nice, like how your mountains turn into cliffs and plateau, that's something I've been trying to work on. The sea blue seems a little too much? not sure what. Those mountains in the background are awesome and the way you snaked the ridges draws the eye right too them, nice job again.

Thanks snodsy Yeah, I try to do lots of terrain changes and transitions. Some work better than others.

Wow, breathtaking. I actually love the bright sapphire sea, but I wouldn't mind seeing what it looked like a tad bit less vibrant, as long as it still stays true to the description.

I like the blue too , but I can see how it is really strong, so I'll see what can be done.

Breathtaking ! I live how the sea makes the underwater spikes appear. It's a beauty !

Thanks Thomas I had done the shards as more yellow/gold... but it just looked wrong, so went more grey.
Plus, the shards have lost their power... so I thought maybe grey would be like drained shards.

Wow, J. I believe this is the first time ever seen your process! This map is going to be a favorite of mine, I can already tell. I especially LOVE the dragon!!! And the way you blend your colors and textures together....simply spectacular.

Thank ladiestorm [do you prefer just Storm?]
I'm surprised you haven't seen any of the other wips. Haerlech and Bourmout are usually the ones people see first.
Well, wips are fun to do, when you have time to posts updates.
I still may change the dragons colors some. Some one else thought it was a bit dull colored.
It still needs light/shadow, and the fire light glow on it. Fire still has to be done up properly.
The trees still need their highlights and shadows too.
Still more to see in the progress shots.

[J.Edward]

Here's a change to the sea... less intense.
Let me know whether this works, or if it is now too drab.
### LATEST WIP ###
Harlasea - Grymnar 01a sample14.jpg

[Mouse]

I found some nice blue ones for you

220px-SaphirSynthetique.jpg 220px-Yogo2783_Close_crop.jpgGeschliffener_blauer_Saphir.jpgStar-Saphire.jpg220px-1szafir_Madagaskar.jpg

I also discovered that what American's call pink sapphires are actually called rubies anywhere else. (shrugs)

Edit: Ha- ha - ninja'd

Edit 2: I think it looks better now

Edite 3: Oh yes - better give credit - all images from Wikipedia

[Josiah VE]

I think it's perfect now!

[Abu Lafia]

Amazing work John! I love how the grassland is smoothly creeping up the wonderfully detailed rocks. The coloring is once again superb. I prefer the latest version of the blue, but i think my slight nitpicky feeling about the blue stems more from the contrast of the sea-blue with the less saturated greyish blue you used for the dragon (which is an absolute stunner btw! ).

[Ilanthar]

This is just insanely fabulous!! Poor humans, the Wyvern is really scary .

I'm not gonna add much and admire it for a while .