Christmas Card 2015 - Good neighbors 2

Griatch · **Posted:** Fri Dec 11, 2015 6:42 pm **(#1)**

(click for DA link)

The trolls of old Scandinavian folk lore were not always depicted as evil or monstrous. There are many legends of trolls peacefully trading with humans. They were also considered human's closest neighbors in the forest and hills: Keeping a good relationship with the trolls was a wise move. Trolls didn't celebrate Christmas but they liked getting gifts as much as anybody!

My Christmas Card for this year, Good neighbors 2, following my 2010 card with the concept of humans exchanging gifts with the mythical beings surrounding them. The card has already gone to print but as usual, any feedback and comments are welcome. If you like it, do consider faving it on DA, it'd highly appreciated.

An early Merry Christmas!
.
Griatch

Oregonian · **Posted:** Fri Dec 11, 2015 7:40 pm **(#2)**

Love it, love it, love it. I didn't think it would be possible for you to outdo yourself but this is simply wonderful. Gives me the smiles.

molly · **Joined:** Apr 07, 2010 **Posts:** 14182

Fantastic Griatch. I love your snow scenes very much

Pat625 · **Joined:** May 12, 2015 **Posts:** 4693

Very nice, the spirit of Christmas.

Wallace · **Posted:** Fri Dec 11, 2015 10:09 pm **(#5)**

lylejk · **Joined:** Sep 24, 2010 **Posts:** 12845

Enjoy your annual cards, Griatch. Fantastic stuff as always and thanks for sharing.

2-ton · **Posted:** Fri Dec 11, 2015 10:45 pm **(#7)**

Love it, it's is very uplifting!

sallyanne · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:16 am **(#8)**

Great as always griatch. :bigthup

dinasset · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2015 2:22 am **(#9)**

wonderful, Griatch!
Merry Christmas to you too!
thanks for sharing...

Attachment:

good_neighbours_2___christmas_card_2015_by_griatch_art-dn1.jpg [ 366.97 KiB | Viewed 3098 times ]

oldmangrumpy · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2015 2:24 am **(#10)**

Griatch - nice to see you back again; beautiful, serene image, just right for this coming Xmas season

Griatch · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2015 6:15 pm **(#11)**

Thanks for the comments people! It was a fun scene to do and took a lot of experimentation with the light.

@dinasset
An interesting effect; simplifying the volumes like this is one way to judge the balance of light and dark in the image (similar to the effect of squinting). It seems like the algorithm couldn't quite handle the troll's black hair though, flipping the hue over to green-yellow.

.
Griatch

dinasset · **Posted:** Sun Dec 13, 2015 1:03 am **(#12)**

the aim of my filter was to give a "crystallized" effect to your very nice image, stretching the colours wherever possible to limit the gray areas (the hair has a "greenish" tone...).
This is the result without stretching the colours.

Attachment:

good_neighbours_2___christmas_card_2015_by_griatch_art-dn2.jpg [ 377.54 KiB | Viewed 1653 times ]

Erisian · **Posted:** Sun Dec 13, 2015 5:55 am **(#13)**

Yet another beautiful painting Griatch. You paint snow so well.

Griatch · **Posted:** Sun Dec 13, 2015 10:08 am **(#14)**

@dinasset

I think I like this result better; ends up with a more subtle color scheme.

@Erisian

Thanks, glad you think so!
.
Griatch

Mokonafan · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2015 2:13 pm **(#15)**

hahaha that's cute. xD
I love it!

I honestly think my favorite parts are the background and the tail wrapping around the tree. I can see myself drawing something like that. xD Nice work!

Griatch · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2015 6:25 pm **(#16)**

@moko

Heh, thanks, glad you like it!
.
Griatch