Sea God Temple - Altar

[Gamerprinter]

In thinking about the Temple map contest at I.C.E. with this thread...

http://www.cartographersguild.com/sh...8405#post38405

I was thinking about creating another, improved Temple of Sargos, my Sea God. So I started by making a map object of Sargos on a pedestal altar with many sea creatures surrounding him answering his call.

I've got a thing for water, so a channel with sea water flowing through it will definitely be part of the design.

Anyway here's a 200 ppi PNG 1.6 MB file of the Altar of Sargos. I'm wondering if this design is too complicated for a top-down.

I've also attached a 3/4 view to show you what it's supposed to look like.

GP

[Sagenlicht]

I think its looking great GP

I cant see why it should be too 'complicated'.

[Steel General]

I agree, very nice GP - though the crab does kind of "disappear" in the top-down.

[Redrobes]

Its great but I think it is a bit too complicated. Can you move the dolphin and crab laterally away from the figure ? Perhaps have the dolphin angled away a bit ? Also, some good lighting/shading might make it more distinct. If its lit all uniform then its hard to make out shapes so easily. Also, cubic mapping showing through on the base - I'm sure you will fix that tho.

Edit -- actually thats a whale isnt it...

[Sigurd]

Can you make the deity ride the dolphin\whale?

That's a well understood pose. If you can carry it off with 3d render magic it will feel authentic. Failing that I'd simplify, unless you can make sure a front view is available to sort of explain things. Are you actually expecting the dolphin to float in space? It doesn't look like its resting on anything.

Man things have really changed since the heyday of MS Paint


Sigurd

[Rovingjack]

from the perspective of one who has worked at least a little in metals, All those thin parts and narrow parts and the negative space would be so hard to work out right.

If It was cast or forged in sections and then riveted or welded together then maybe (or if it's actually carved from another material and maybe cronzed over that). But Your best bet might be the lost wax casting which you get one shot at and you most definately would get a short shot from something of this size and this complex.

[Gamerprinter]

Then I'll simply it.

@ RedRobes - angling the dolphin out was one idea, and the crab was a last miniute thought...

@ Sigurd - surely I can have Sargos riding the humpback whale, but I still want some of those other fishy elements in there. The dolphin is attached at a point on its side to just at Sargos's flank beneath his arm.

@ Rovingjack - I can certainly agree with you on the likelihood that ancient greeks couldn't make this work, but then this is fantasy. Either there is a wooden Sargos, or the riveted framework inside, beneath the bronze plating.

I think simplifying is the solution, here - this was just my first go at it!

GP

[ravells]

Very nice modelling!!!

[Gamerprinter]

OK, Sargos Altar - take two!

Now its just Sargos riding his whale with the trident in the other hand, with a different texture and mapping on the pedestal. Its slightly smaller this time (presumed actual size to be 30' x 40' at 30' tall, on a 6 foot pedestal).

I think less complicated worked better for the top-down view.

I've decided to create individual bronze statues of those other sea creatures, plus a few more, at key locations around the shrine - Sargos's avatars and minions.

Additionally, I wanted to create some illustrated floor tiles depicting fish, sea creatures, sea monsters, and perhaps ships - as inlays onto stone tile. I googled for "17th century sea creature illustrations" and got this hit from a Dutch tile company with photos of 17th painted tiles. Exactly what I was looking for (not everything I wanted, but a good start.)

Dutch Tile Illustrations

I'm currently searching for illustrations I can convert to line art by tracing for some other sea creatures: octopus and squid. (some links look dead though...)

Japanese Sea Creature Art

I may have to create some of my own in a similar style to achieve the variety I need for my map design.

I want to make this grand!

Below is the altered altar!

GP

[Sigurd]

To me, the riding pose looks more realistic and believable. If that matters.


Sigurd