http://chingwa.cgsociety.org/gallery/ chingwa's gallery of images en-us 120 http://chingwa.cgsociety.org/gallery/448647

detail view:


This painting was completed completely in Photoshop and is inspired by a japanese ghost story. This particular story has a few different versions to it, but I will retell the version I have come to know best. This was inspired after a visit to Himeji castle in Japan which actually has this same well preserved there to this day...
.
Many years ago the prominent family of Aoyama took up residence at Himeji castle. The aoyama family was descended from an old clan and they had passed down through the generations 10 ancient dishes emblazoned with the family crest.
.
It came to be that the lord of the house of Aoyama had become flirtatious with one of the servant girls; Okiku. They became lovers, but because of their differing classes their illicit romance was not to be. When Okiku pleaded with her lover to run away with her and marry, he refused and spurned her. In her grief Okiku took one of the aoyama plates and smashed it to pieces.
.
Furious at her crime, Lord Aoyama stole away with Okiku one night into the lower garden. There he struck Okiku over the head and through her body down the well, where she died.
.
Even today the spirit of Okiku haunts the well... rising in the dead of night to walk around the periphery, counting as she goes the number of plates. 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7.. 8.. 9.... but before she reaches the final plate she lets out a blood curdling scream and dissappears into the nightly mists...
.
...or so they say.]]> Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:14:13 +0000 http://chingwa.cgsociety.org/gallery/375762

It's always handy to carry a plasma sword when you're interplanetary cave spelunking, as you never know what might pop out from the mists around you. The light beacon on her back is so she won't get seperated from the rest of her group. Having 3 light sources in this piece was a great challenge, and gave me the opportunity to stretch my painting skills. Painted in photoshop.]]> Fri, 30 Jun 2006 02:01:06 +0000 http://chingwa.cgsociety.org/gallery/374591

Traditional Japanese subjects are a recurring theme in my work. The traditional paper lanterns are emotionally connected to the figure, reflecting the immediacy of her thoughts... in this case... DANGER! I don't speak French, but the title has a nice exotic feel which I like for this. Painted in Photoshop.]]> Tue, 27 Jun 2006 04:58:22 +0000 http://chingwa.cgsociety.org/gallery/357130

"A lone woman walks across Sanjo Bashi in the dead of night... but she is not alone...."

I drew inspiration from my travels around Japan. I walked across the depicted bridge in Kyoto, and was inspired to create a mythical painting based on the setting. It is set during Kyoto's O-bon festival, where beacons are set on fire in the mountains around the city to usher safe passage for the dead. I love the mood in this painting, the darkness and composition.]]> Sat, 13 May 2006 18:07:33 +0000 http://chingwa.cgsociety.org/gallery/357125

"She wakes up and finds herself on the cold floor, free from her watery prison! But are these men her liberators or her captors?!"

I love building paintings that are a little bit vague, where the viewer can interpret the action in different ways. I was trying to convey an expression of uncertainty on her face. She is uneasy, unsure of what will happen to her next.]]> Sat, 13 May 2006 18:03:33 +0000