HOME | DD

Published: 2010-08-09 05:16:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 18021; Favourites: 557; Downloads: 12
Redirect to original
Description
This was my entry for the "10 Commandments of Deviousness" contest - [link]Winners shown here: [link]
Magic is everywhere. In Nature, in Love,
in Friendship, in Smiles.
It is part of every beautiful thing and experience.
It also exists in the Hearts, Souls and Minds of men and women that perceive it and believe in it.
They are, like I am, the Keepers of Magic and Magical Creatures. Only we can see them!
And that is why some people state
that "Unicorns & Magic do not exist".
To prove it, I opened the "Secret Gate" that I keep
to show you a hidden place,
where an Unicorn runs free, surrounded by Magic!
Do you BELIEVE in Unicorns & Magic?
CREDITS
Horse
~Jello88 -
Horn
~PSauburnchick12 - [link]
Backgrounds
*AshenSorrow -
~SephirothXer0-Stock -
*phatpuppy -
=Rezzan -
Castle
~UmbraDeNoapte-Stock - [link]
Leaves & Flowers, tree to the right:
purchased to *Paintedonmysoul @ [link] - Item Nr. 1417
Flowers, tree to the left and near river:
*Sammykaye1sStamps - [link]
Leaves, tree to the left & Flowers bottom left:
!lisaolson9293 - [link]
Owl:
*steppelandstock - [link]
Flowers at riverside:
~Uzelena - [link]
Grasses far on the pond:
*moonchild-ljilja - [link]
Lotus:
~Siluan-stock - [link]
Waterlilys:
*Drezdany-stocks - [link]
Brushes:
*redheadstock - [link]
*frozenstocks - purchased - [link]
~LoRdaNdRe - [link]
Thank you for providing the stocks that made it possible
for me to create this work!
Creation:
Details [link] and [link]
Process:
It all started when I saw that there was a challenge to prove the existance of Unicorns and Magic...
My friends know that I believe in Magic and Unicorns and Fairies and Elves and in all magical creatures! They have filled my life with joy and happiness since I was a little girl.
So I found a beautiful horse first and worked ours extracting the background and smudging the hair. Then I searched for a Unicorn Horn and changed it's shape a bit, and the color. I had the first background that would lead the landscape (the trees you see with leaves now, are the original trees in the first background). The other backgrounds were combined to provide light (a lot of them was masked), and the one with the trees I loved to add the magical forest of legends.
I enhanced colors with new layers and painting over them, using Gaussian Blur and Screen properties.
Then I added the water and masked everything but the pond you see.
Then I placed the flowers to the left, used one leaf to create all the leaves to the left and then started working with very tiny parts of the purchased flower to create the branches to the right.
The tools I used the most were to change colors (color balance and Hue) and exposure. Even yellow flowers were used (changing the hue).
The lotus were extracted and new flowers were placed, removing the others with the clone tool.
At the beginning I had a lady watching the scene, but I finally removed it. Some other details were also changed.
In sum, I did not count how many layers I had on the work, but there were many (imagine only creating the leaves of the trees, flower by flower in little pieces! It's all threaded flowers!! And then, matching and balancing each ...
It was nice to get inspired again after such a long time without having any ideas to work on
And - as usual - should you want to know anything about how I did something, feel free to ask. I'll be happy to help!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kindly featured by and
This work has been reposted at [link]
Related content
Comments: 303
georgexu94 In reply to ??? [2010-08-15 07:44:59 +0000 UTC]
It's nice, I bet you'll win!
If not first place second place!
According to Morrie: "What's wrong with number two?"
Oh, just asking, it's nice and I think it would be nice if there is a daytime magic like this, please show this place in daytime. Thanks!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to georgexu94 [2010-08-15 18:12:40 +0000 UTC]
I appreciate your wishes!
I don't enter contests thinking I'll win, but more for the challenge and the fun of it. After having taken part on some I already know the chances are small haha!
There are very good artists at dA and everyone has it's specific point of view and art style... I was so inspired by the title, though...to prove that Unicorns DO exist!!
Even an honorable mention would be great, you know? What you and I like must not necessarily be what the judges like or what they find is best...
I'll take your request into consideration about the daytime, but I can't promise that I can do that. When I create, it's pure inspiration... and I don't think I can repeat it with daylight !
π: 0 β©: 0
georgexu94 In reply to ??? [2010-08-14 12:23:25 +0000 UTC]
I BELIEVE IN UNICORNS AND MAGIC!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to georgexu94 [2010-08-14 22:36:24 +0000 UTC]
π: 0 β©: 1
georgexu94 In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-15 05:48:28 +0000 UTC]
Of coure.
Without magic, there is no seasons of wonder, an example is Spring
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to ??? [2010-08-13 10:27:27 +0000 UTC]
Looks like we have similar views of the colour of magic.(pink and purple.)Your looks like a beeter done than mine.Almost 3D(how did you do that ?!?!?)And,well,they could meet.At late twilight
Luck to you,too .
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to kit7en [2010-08-14 04:07:22 +0000 UTC]
Hey hello!!! Thanks for dropping by!!
You know, if you really love manipulations, you have a great future ahead!
As I said, you did a very good work there with the moon and the wings,
good stock resources chosen!!
I really don't know how to answer your question on how I did this... I must
have used like... over 200 layers on this one (sorted in groups). If you check
my comments, at the bottom you can see the evolution and how items were placed
(it's not every single step, but shots of the evolution of the work).
What I can tell is that I worked quite a lot on the horse first. Cutting it
took me a lot of time, and I used a lot of smudging for the hairs of the neck
and for the tail (I didn't know that it would be partly covered later).
What you call 3D might be the colors selected (I think) because I don't do 3D
nor know much about it. I worked mostly with different Adjustments (Color Balance,
Exposure, Hue/Saturation) changing them until I found the colors I liked.
And this for every single layer!
I didn't use sharpness here because of the tones used. I tried, but it would look
toooo sharp and I didn't want that.
Probably having the horse near the viewer (and having worked so much on the details
of the hair) might have added to what you call 3D...
Believe me, I haven't done so many works, nor do I have much time to experience;
what you find in my gallery is all I've done. I try to work clean (no blurry edges,
every single stock piece I use is perfectly prepared as if it was a tube)...
And I used no texture or light in front of the horse, allowing for more clarity yet...
Not sure if this clarifies a bit, I hope it does... I'm no pro! Just me having fun
... and really fan of magic!
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-14 08:38:25 +0000 UTC]
That makes two of us And no,not the horse.Mostly the flowers create the paint effect.And I will look you gallery.Not Pro
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-15 07:20:48 +0000 UTC]
I wish I could write looooong comments like yours
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to kit7en [2010-08-15 21:42:40 +0000 UTC]
I wish I could keep them shorter hahahaha!
I'm always behind due to that!
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-16 09:25:51 +0000 UTC]
why ?!! it's always a pleasure to see a long comment
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to kit7en [2010-08-16 18:35:54 +0000 UTC]
Because my watch grows and grows and grows...
I use lots of time on each comment (my native language
is Spanish )...
But I canΒ΄t help it... I usually comment when I like
something much!!
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-16 19:42:37 +0000 UTC]
So do I but my imagination isn't that rich,I can write only dry comments .Too bad for me .And my native laguage isn't english - it's Bulgarian.
This looks like a chat .
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to kit7en [2010-08-17 00:59:31 +0000 UTC]
You will see... if you read and practise, you will
soon be able to write what you feel...
Sometimes (very seldome, due to lack of time) I search for
words on the internet dictionary. That helps find the missing
words.
Yes, this seems a chat hahaha!
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-17 10:10:36 +0000 UTC]
read ?!?!?! I've read so much that ...nevermind. ten years english - still can't say what I think
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-19 09:07:02 +0000 UTC]
I wish it was that funny
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to kit7en [2010-08-19 19:22:03 +0000 UTC]
Well, itΒ΄s better to find the fun in it so you wonΒ΄t
be depressed !!!
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-19 19:36:50 +0000 UTC]
Writing is always fun.
But I'm not depressed.Last time I was in bad mood and I started photoshop,I "created" something weird,called "circles".You can see it in my gallery ( why the hell did I publish it ?!?!) .Too late....
When I'm in a good mood,well(...the god of Death,again in my gallery).But that was long ago.I'm totally out of ideas
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to kit7en [2010-08-24 22:16:29 +0000 UTC]
Well, the colors of Circles are extremely gorgeous to
represent a bad mood!! How did you do those? With some
swirl brush? ItΒ΄s a very original idea and I faved it !
If you are out of ideas, donΒ΄t feel pushed or anything,
but I adopted a group some months ago that you may like to
check. What we do is host contests only. The idea is to
provide inspiration (and yes, there are interesting prizes, too).
And... we accept old works also, which I released 2 days ago as
something new (and will be copied by many very soon haha!).
The group is and the only thing you
really need to do is read the rules (we donΒ΄t have strange rules,
just a limit of 500 words for literature and then the normal dA
rules about crediting and such, besides placing the name of
the contest and our icon).
And browsing contests can be a good thing for you to do if you
are out of ideas. I personally love when I get inspired (which is
not often!!)
π: 0 β©: 1
kit7en In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-25 08:01:28 +0000 UTC]
Thank you,and I will join and participate.
π: 0 β©: 2
Manwathiell In reply to kit7en [2010-08-25 19:33:55 +0000 UTC]
I'll be glad to have you on board!
π: 0 β©: 0
kit7en In reply to kit7en [2010-08-25 08:08:55 +0000 UTC]
And for the circles,there were colors and filters,and colors and filters and ...No special brushes or other.Just color spots and filters
π: 0 β©: 0
HaruNiji In reply to ??? [2010-08-13 08:47:50 +0000 UTC]
I really love is piece :fait: it's so magical and dreamy I love overall tone and atmosphere and your care for details like the waterlilies ( haha you know I am crazy about those
) you did a great job with hues/tone and shadows/highlights well done
.
The words you added are magical themselves .
Have a wonderful day dear Manwathiell
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to HaruNiji [2010-08-14 04:10:40 +0000 UTC]
Thank you, dear Rabea!!!
Oh yes... when I work on a scenery I imagine myself there and I try to place
every little detail that I would love to see. Darkness depresses me while bright
colors make me happy, so I tried to share my vision of a fantasy magical scene
You read my words? That is so kind of you, dear Rabea!
I really appreciate that !!!
Have a wonderful week-end yourself!
π: 0 β©: 0
steppelandstock In reply to ??? [2010-08-12 18:51:12 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful fantasy work!
Thanks for using my stock! A thumb and link to your work will be added to the stock description
π: 0 β©: 2
Manwathiell In reply to steppelandstock [2010-08-13 02:56:13 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much!
I actually rented this owl from you. It's my favorite owl stock, the colors and her sleepy look is so awesome!
π: 0 β©: 1
steppelandstock In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-13 05:30:45 +0000 UTC]
I love it that you love it!
π: 0 β©: 0
steppelandstock In reply to steppelandstock [2010-08-12 18:52:57 +0000 UTC]
- wanted to add: I love the colours so much, and the soft pink glow of the leaves, flowers and water... very pretty!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to steppelandstock [2010-08-13 02:58:09 +0000 UTC]
You are very kind, it makes me very happy that you enjoyed it
And without promises, I really think about using your owl as main subject on a manipulation. I'm just waiting for the right elements to show up. So don't be surprised if I use it again!!
π: 0 β©: 1
steppelandstock In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-13 05:30:16 +0000 UTC]
Would be great
π: 0 β©: 1
PaintedOnMySoul In reply to ??? [2010-08-12 12:20:19 +0000 UTC]
look at all the wonderful stock you've used to create this beautiful piece! Outstanding work, Manny! It's simply gorgeous!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to PaintedOnMySoul [2010-08-13 02:54:53 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much, dear Kat, yours is one of them!!
π: 0 β©: 0
Pieces-Of-My-Heart In reply to ??? [2010-08-12 09:27:10 +0000 UTC]
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to Pieces-Of-My-Heart [2010-08-13 02:47:50 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much for coming and saying so!!
I visited your gallery (I'm there on another tab) and I saw "The Meeting of the Unicorns"... I'll comment there!!
π: 0 β©: 1
VeroniCake In reply to ??? [2010-08-12 07:02:14 +0000 UTC]
This is a very nice entry, im in this contest too. Good Luck to you!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to VeroniCake [2010-08-13 02:44:11 +0000 UTC]
I saw your work, it's very soft and peaceful...!
Good luck to you, too!!!!
π: 0 β©: 0
Aseamlessbonds In reply to ??? [2010-08-11 20:19:49 +0000 UTC]
So Beautiful Manny! Good Luck in the contest Sweetie!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to Aseamlessbonds [2010-08-12 02:08:29 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much, Delice!
π: 0 β©: 1
Aseamlessbonds In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-13 23:00:46 +0000 UTC]
You're very welcome Manny!
π: 0 β©: 0
Catgel In reply to ??? [2010-08-11 13:13:44 +0000 UTC]
It is beautiful sweetie ! I love it & in my fave colors too purple & blue Pandora colors ! & i will watch you here manny now i have found you hehehe ! be proud this is lovely the blending is lovely !
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to Catgel [2010-08-12 02:08:14 +0000 UTC]
Thank you Skya!!
So glad you like the palette... it's like my colors in some way... I end making everything blue and purple!
π: 0 β©: 1
Catgel In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-13 12:49:12 +0000 UTC]
Haha yes sweetie i always love blue & purple ! like this one i made my own purple & pink flourescent styles on photoshop ! I had never done it before hehe [link] & this had my most faves ever i think hehehe !
Darling also when you need me for any journals or features or points just let me know ok !
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to Catgel [2010-08-14 22:44:16 +0000 UTC]
I need to go see that !!!
(yes, I'll let you know!!)
π: 0 β©: 0
<= Prev | | Next =>