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Published: 2010-08-09 05:16:51 +0000 UTC; Views: 18021; Favourites: 557; Downloads: 12
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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!
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Kindly featured by and
This work has been reposted at [link]
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Comments: 303
Ihsahnity In reply to ??? [2010-08-11 05:18:19 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful and magical piece Manny !!! Great concept, great feeling of depth and great use of these rich colors
!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to Ihsahnity [2010-08-12 02:07:22 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much, dear Erik!!
I'm glad you like it... and if you ever find things that can be improved, even if it's one thing at the time, feel free to say so.
All I've learned with the time was thanks to friends that gave me advice and constructive critiques.
Again, thanks for dropping by and leaving your impressions here!!!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Ihsahnity In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-13 20:56:49 +0000 UTC]
You're most welcome dear Manny !!! I will keep my eyes open in between the busy days and try to give ya some little advices and positive critiques in the future so you can evolve more and improve yourself !!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to Ihsahnity [2010-08-14 22:44:40 +0000 UTC]
I will be very honored, dear Erik!!!
Thank you for that!
π: 0 β©: 1
Ihsahnity In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-16 13:09:35 +0000 UTC]
My pleasure Manny !!!
π: 0 β©: 0
PaperDreamerArt In reply to ??? [2010-08-10 23:54:34 +0000 UTC]
This is so beautiful! The colors are so rich and vibrant!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to PaperDreamerArt [2010-08-11 02:04:32 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much, dear Pam!
I really wanted this magical look for it!!
π: 0 β©: 1
PaperDreamerArt In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-11 14:01:13 +0000 UTC]
You're welcome!
You achieved it! I love magical fantasy!
π: 0 β©: 1
lovelife99 In reply to ??? [2010-08-10 23:32:25 +0000 UTC]
Lovely colors! Reminds me of magic and freedom.
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to lovelife99 [2010-08-11 02:02:49 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much for stopping by to say so!
π: 0 β©: 0
ebrulii In reply to ??? [2010-08-10 21:45:04 +0000 UTC]
oh sweetie this is soooo gorgeous. I love the romantic colours u used for this peace. It's a beautiful concept with a perfect colour harmony
Hope u r doing fine
missed u a lot
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to ebrulii [2010-08-11 01:57:42 +0000 UTC]
Oh, dear Ebru, how nice to see you around again! I miss your works! When are you uploading something again?
It makes me extremely happy that you liked my Unicorn ... Thank you soooo much!!
I am missing you, too... and yes, I'm fine!
How are you doing???
π: 0 β©: 1
ebrulii In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-11 17:54:28 +0000 UTC]
Hey sweetie I miss to work with my tablet, too but I don't know what to hell happens to me, I feel no inspiration
Maybe it'll change soon, I deeply hope so.
For sure I like your Unicorn, it is so delicate and charming like you.
Besides all that, I'm quite fine and I hope to recharge my creativity batteries very soon
Much love
Ebru
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to ebrulii [2010-08-12 02:11:22 +0000 UTC]
Hmmm... well... I don't want to put any pressure on you, but I'm running a contest at the group I adopted and maybe (only maybe) you might like the Childhood Memories contest.
You probably have a dear memory in your heart that you could share... ... would that inspire you?
I would SO love to see you having fun again with your tablet... and I know now how it feels to be without inspiration. That's why I really took part at this contest. It inspired me !!
I'm glad to know you are fine...please don't take to long to be back with some amazing drawing!!!
Love back to you
Manny
π: 0 β©: 0
Manwathiell In reply to Xeronik [2010-08-11 01:50:12 +0000 UTC]
It means a lot to me that you liked it enough as to come and comment!!!! I really appreciate that!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Xeronik In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-11 02:16:41 +0000 UTC]
hehe, well it is lovely ^.^ <3
π: 0 β©: 1
JonnyGoodboy In reply to ??? [2010-08-10 09:57:53 +0000 UTC]
Such a magical fantasy piece of work M,you just continue to improve no end
In Full view,so much to look at and admire,amazing job on the Unicorn,love the Mountain topped Castle and the colour are wonderful
Best of luck in the Comp M!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to JonnyGoodboy [2010-08-11 01:48:28 +0000 UTC]
Thank you, dear Jonathan!
As usual, I had so much fun doing this and it makes me very happy that you like it!
You know as I do how difficult it is to win a contest, there are real talented artists here at dA... I did it because the title inspired me...and to prove that Unicorns DO exist!!
P.D. But thanks for the wishes, anyway!!!
π: 0 β©: 0
MadeByRona In reply to ??? [2010-08-10 06:10:36 +0000 UTC]
Wonderful work, very nice!
Good luck in the contest
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to MadeByRona [2010-08-11 01:45:25 +0000 UTC]
Thank you so much, dear Rona!!!
It's nice when our works are liked!!!
π: 0 β©: 1
MadeByRona In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-11 04:51:33 +0000 UTC]
My pleasure dear Manny
π: 0 β©: 0
WendiJo129 In reply to ??? [2010-08-10 03:20:15 +0000 UTC]
It's very beautiful. I love the colors and detail.
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to WendiJo129 [2010-08-11 01:36:09 +0000 UTC]
I appreciate your stopping by to comment !
So glad you liked it!!
π: 0 β©: 0
Manwathiell In reply to cocoawolf [2010-08-11 01:35:39 +0000 UTC]
Thank you, you're very kind!!
π: 0 β©: 0
spoofdecator In reply to ??? [2010-08-09 22:06:15 +0000 UTC]
I love this Manny!! hope that you tell me your secret on how to make such cool colors in the foiliage
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to spoofdecator [2010-08-11 01:35:08 +0000 UTC]
Hahaha!
No secret, plain PS tools:
Image/Adjustments/ and then I play around with Color Balance, Hue/Saturation and Exposure until I get a result I like...
Sometimes I use Variations, but I didn't use that tool on this work.
Thank you, dear Tera!!
π: 0 β©: 1
spoofdecator In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-12 08:15:56 +0000 UTC]
yqw! Manny! nice to know I am not the only one who is random in ps..lol
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to spoofdecator [2010-08-13 04:03:27 +0000 UTC]
By random you mean....that you never have exact steps?
Then, I'm absolutely random !
I even forget some tools sometimes. Since I work very seldom, I keep
forgetting that I can use i.e. the dodge tool or the burn tool...
and of course, having CS2 doesn't make it too easy hahaha!
π: 0 β©: 1
spoofdecator In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-16 23:15:29 +0000 UTC]
hahaha! yesssss! I have a special folder for how to now! my memory sux
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to spoofdecator [2010-08-17 01:15:25 +0000 UTC]
You do ????
That is GREAT!
I should do that hahaha!
π: 0 β©: 1
spoofdecator In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-17 04:45:22 +0000 UTC]
yes...just use font to create your own guidelines with every cool technique you createmake a larger window and slide over work, then write on larger window all you did
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to spoofdecator [2010-08-18 21:57:10 +0000 UTC]
You just described a mini tutorial hahaha!
ItΒ΄s a good idea!
π: 0 β©: 1
CSnyder In reply to ??? [2010-08-09 21:07:49 +0000 UTC]
magical indeed, very lovely dear
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to CSnyder [2010-08-11 01:32:15 +0000 UTC]
Thank you, dear Chris!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to frenchfox [2010-08-11 01:32:00 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much !!!
So glad you liked it!
π: 0 β©: 0
Sophia-Christina In reply to ??? [2010-08-09 18:22:34 +0000 UTC]
Very magical indeed love the colors
π: 0 β©: 1
Manwathiell In reply to Sophia-Christina [2010-08-09 19:12:14 +0000 UTC]
Thank you very much!!
π: 0 β©: 1
Sophia-Christina In reply to Manwathiell [2010-08-09 19:34:08 +0000 UTC]
you are very welcome
π: 0 β©: 1
Uzelena In reply to ??? [2010-08-09 18:08:51 +0000 UTC]
Very beautiful work! much liked! The Unicorns bring happiness!
Thank you, for use my photo..
π: 0 β©: 1
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