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DrewGreen — System Malfunction
Published: 2008-08-07 07:04:04 +0000 UTC; Views: 4123; Favourites: 49; Downloads: 79
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Description
The title of this piece is "System Malfunction," though it actually represents #43 on the 100 Word List: "Dying."She's supposed to be a robot that has been...sabotaged perhaps. The oil from the hole in her head dripped down into her eye (causing it to become black and cloudy). The pink heart is supposed to be her central control system or something to that effect. And of course, who doesn't love the classic "Freakshow6 jump suit?" ;D
I'm not going to put a mature content filter on this because it doesn't technically depict blood, but if anyone thinks that I should, feel free to let me know and I will.
This image was actually not originally made for the 100 Word List. Some of you may know that I have been battling a somewhat unconventional art block, and I decided to get back into the swing of things with this. I was just sketching the other night, and I decided I liked her and that I'd carry her into the vector stage, not completely sure what I would do with her once she got there.
I freely admit that this isn't a masterpiece. I failed to capture a sense of urgency that comes with a system malfunction ("no keyboard has been detected, please press F1 to continue.") or the knowledge that one is about to die. Also, the sketch itself conveyed a more lifeless look in her face that didn't seem to go over so well in vectors, I'm sad to say. I'm very particular about being as perfect as I can in the vector workspace, but there are some sloppy lines here. Thankfully, the eye is meant to blend those lines for those of you who are not looking too closely. Finally, by my standards and usual subject matters, this image is very generic.
It's not all bad, though. I don't hate the image. In fact, I quite like it. I just wanted you to know where I'm coming from, and what the purpose of this piece is. It's little more than a means to lube the creative gears in my head that have been oh-so-rusty for the past weeks.
I posted a journal a little while ago asking for advice on how to help with this strange art block variation, and you all gave wonderful tips! It was 's advice, however, that I subconsciously followed:
"I think I can relate to how you described your feelings, I've felt that kind of block a lot this summer. I just think too much I need to create something original and meaningful, a picture that has an "idea" or a "thing" that gives it a soul, of a sort...I just suggest you to draw whatever feels nice and not to worry about ideas or imagination."
Anyway, I thought I'd give credit where credit is due and thank her for the advice that pertained to this particular image.
Hope you guys like! Let me know what you think in the comments section.
Sketched in Adobe Photoshop CS, vectored in Adobe Illustrator CS. About 5 hours total. Image (c) me, Andrew T. Green, please don't steal and be a general internet troll, or else I'll dip you into the bog of eternal stench.
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Comments: 27
Very nice drawing!
But She really look like to Jill in RE5 in black suit
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Thanks! To be fair, this image predates that game by at least a year.
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it's a very nice piece!I also quite like it!and now I think I wanna do one of those pic. challenge things!
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You definitely should take on the 100 Word Challenge. I've been incredibly slow at tackling it, but it's still an interesting experience.
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i started today!I finished #1 and #45!
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i like it, but i really want to see the sketch now
do u have it up?
can u put it up?
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Perhaps eventually if I remember. Respond to this comment to remind me and I'll see what I can do! (the sketch isn't anything fabulous, of course...)
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thats ok
i think i'll like it
when should i remind you?
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I like it, it's great! It definitely conveys Dying, to me at least.
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Thanks! Glad you enjoy it.
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Great to see that you popped a deviation out of your rutt!
I very much enjoy this piece, Good work!
It may seem generic to you now, but as you move forward, you'll look back at this piece and realize that it was a somewhat milestone of you getting back into your savvy.
But I can't help but look at it and think of that one scene in X-men [can't remember which one] where Wolverine and that other Wolverine-clawed lady have that battle and she ends up dying and that metal pours out of her eyes and stuff..
I suppose that really has no relation, .. but you know.. I think like a psycho after all ;D
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It would be very hard for me to forget that scene. It's a very cool fight scene, if you ask me. However, it wasn't in my head while making this image, but I can definitely see what you mean. ;D
Glad you like it!
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Good! Even though the way I was describing it, was a bit awkward and not really descriptive, I'm glad you understood. XD
But you're not one that wouldn't something I'd say haha.
And yes, VERY cool fight scene =3
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Dying a robotic death is a fitting way to describe one way of "dying"
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I think it's all in the eyebrows for this piece. Good work!
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Interesting way to look at it, I suppose. ;D
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Yeah, that came out kind of weird...
I meant that the eyebrows convey exactly the perfect emotion for this piece... even though she's an android.
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Yeah, I know. I just thought it was interesting. And you're right, the eyebrows definitely mean a lot in any image involving a human (or anything with eyebrows, I suppose).
I should illustrate a living eyebrow with little legs and feet. It'll be the most important image since the last supper. ;D
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I understand where you're coming from with you feeling there is no sense of urgency as there usually is with a computer crashing (I actually had a virus on my computer at work this morning and ran all the way to the computer lab for help haha). I do like your idea of using a a robot, something not normally associated with life, as your object for 'dying.' This I thought was very creative and not your typical 'wilted flower' picture.
Also, the lack of urgency doesn't really bother me in this piece. For me, when I look at it my eye travels slowly down the picture and it takes in all the elements of the robot woman dying, or malfunctioning (the oil/blood, cloudy lifeless eyes, her stance, etc), and it has a sort of dark feeling to it.
Overall I think this gives off a very different vibe from what youre art usually makes me feel. I'm happy to see you trying something different and working through your art block instead of doing nothing (like I usually do 
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This comment really means a lot to me. I'm glad to see people are getting different things from the image, even from what I got from it. It's really fascinating, and it also makes me happy to know that you (or anyone, for that matter) like it.
I try to avoid images that are too cliche. The "wilted flower" or "slit wrists" emo kind of image is trite and bothersome. And while the word "Dying" wasn't initially in my head when I drew it, I'm glad to know the interpretation is at least somewhat different.
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You've never been a cliche sort of artist, which I highly enjoy. You're always super creative with everything you do, whether you know it or not!! I always like your art, and it's not just because you're my friend it's because you're a very talented artist and I'll always envy your skills. Keep it up and keep me jealous Andrew!
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Aw, thanks! Don't be jealous, though. Just keep practicing.
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This is the impression I get before reading your comment, Freakshow6. It may be generic, but everyone interprets art in their own way. This isn't a 'critque', since I'm not giving any sign that you need to improve on anything... this is more of an analyzation that a student in the arts could give if not given any background on a piece beforehand. Common art exercise that could be an interesting/fresh view for the artist (being you).
The low chest and white hair give an impression of 'old age', while the simple background text "system malfunction" with a monotone feel gives off a technoglical vibe (which fits with the piece's name). The thin figure, small mouth, and the blank stare of her remaining left eye looks... anorexic. The heart tattoo, it would normally be considered a 'healthy' pink, appears shattered and defunct.
Bleeding nose: Could be a sign of an aneurysm or drug abuse.
Hole in head: Looks as though a bullet pierced her flesh... metaphor?
Right eye: The fact her left eye is blinded is symbolic of satan having won out in a mental struggle, something evil having taken control of this person, or somehow affected her life in a very dramatic way. The right eye, having been blown out, represents that she's no longer able to see the light. She's been tainted... and she'll never be able to see the 'light' again.
I see a change in humanity, with old traditions being tossed away in favor of the 'future'. The blush in her cheeks seem to be a struggle to hang onto life, since she's dying... The death knoll is ringing, but she's internally taking her time, as if she's at piece with dying but still sad about it. Depressed... A black death shrouding her... blach, that's it. Hope you found this somewhat entertaining on how some outsiders could see this.
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That's definitely an interesting and detailed interpretation of the image, certainly an unexpected comment but fun to read, nonetheless. Thank you for the in-depth commentary on the image! It's always nice to know what someone thinks of an image upon first glance.
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