I love working with talented artists.

Matt Dangler and I have been collaborating on the creation of artwork for the cover of my new DVD "Striper Islands". Over the last several weeks I've watched this incredible artist bring my concept to life.

Matt is considering offering this image as both high quality prints and t-shirts.

What do you think of the image?

Would you be interested in it as either a print or on the back of a quality shirt?

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Mike

:wave:

Nicely done, Mike...:kewl:

Brings to mind the classic cover art of Field and Stream

looks ok Mike but those lips stand out
add some glasses and it reminds me of Mr. Lippet :hidin:
I love the background

Slip,

The lips stand out because of the forced perspective and the fact that she wants to suck on your Pikie. Ohhhh, that doesn't sound good...but that's why she's cruising the surface.

The face was pretty much a true to life rendition from an actual photo of a striper up close and personal.

Mike

looks ok Mike but those lips stand out...


I dunno, Slip - her full lips....the bright eyes and ample proportions...:heybaby:

Arghhhh...my pants are getting tight....

Slip,

The lips stand out because of the forced perspective and the fact that she wants to suck on your Pikie. Ohhhh, that doesn't sound good...but that's why she's cruising the surface.

The face was pretty much a true to life rendition from an actual photo of a striper up close and personal.

Mike

I figured it was based on one of your shots

can we mount a mini video camera on a pikie, and get some video of that? that would be cool.

that pick on a t-shirt would be nice

Angelic Jolie disguised as a striper - still looks good.

Absolutely "BOOTIFULL", Go with it and yes I want a print ( artist's proof!!)


Wait, one change add a single surfcaster on the rocks in the distance!!

Wow! Beautiful work! Only change I would make is put the Cuttyhunk Fishing Club in the background!:drool: I do love the lighthouse though! Is that a real existing lighthouse Mike?

Is that a real existing lighthouse Mike?


Your SB.com membership should be revoked!!!!!!!!!!!:smash:

( http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.block-island.net/images/jaki-lighthouse.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.block-island.net/&usg=__tRsRHO5vqWhKROEh3GBWnwhuKeo=&h=333&w=500&sz=44&hl=en&start=7&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=SoGs9pjZDTtylM:&tbnh=87&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dblock%2BIsland%2Blight%26hl%3Den%26sa fe%3Doff%26rls%3Dcom.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox%26rlz%3D1I7GCNV_en%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1 )

______________

I think it looks pretty nice!

Is that a real existing lighthouse Mike?

Let's start a thread to see how many guesses it will take Larry to name the lighthouse. If it takes more than 2, his membership to sb.com can then be revoked.....:fishslap:


Ooooops, I see a hint was already posted.

:agree:

I would guess Block but alas....I have not been......yet!:drool:

Guess I can stay...just say Sandmans post. Hey how would I know if I have never been? Would you guys who have never been to Cutty know what Gosnold Tower looks like?

Let's start a thread to see how many guesses it will take Larry to name the lighthouse. If it takes more than 2, his membership to sb.com can then be revoked.....:fishslap:



The punishment should not be to revoke membership but to suspend BigFish posting privileges for 10 days...anything longer might cause his lovely wife real pain!!!!!:smash::smash:

Patrick would you know the Pyramids if you had never seen them??? Not everyone has been to Block Island kiddies! I love the artwork....its amazing!

Patrick would you know the Pyramids if you had never seen them??? Not everyone has been to Block Island kiddies! I love the artwork....its amazing!


Sounds Like a great reason for a Road Trip!!!!

Eveyone coming the Canal is going to Block next Summer!!!!!!!!!

Good magazine cover art also - SWS pays pretty well for a cover - I don't think they retain the rights

Good magazine cover art also - SWS pays pretty well for a cover - I don't think they retain the rights

Joe, I'm going to hate to muck up the image with the text overlay for the DVD cover but the picture layout goes beyond the rule of thirds to account for the space necessary for the title and limited description of the content; that's why your keen eye felt it would make a good mag cover.

Although "Striper Islands" is going to deal with Cutty, The Elizabeth chain, MV, Long Island and many tiny islands like Seal Rock, Gooseberry, Cormorant, Brenton Reef (a striper island at low tide), I originally wanted a generic island background, but the more I thought about it, the more I just knew it needed some sort of a 'grounding' landmark. We took a little artistic license and moved the lighthouse back to the edge of the cliff and presto you have a signpost for Block Island's SE corner.

For those that have fished under the shadow of the cliffs the lighthouse obviously pigeonholes the location, but for those that haven't, it serves the original purpose of appearing to be a generic lighthouse -- Is that Montauk Point? Gay Head? Beavertail? The DVD will answer those questions and many more...from an above and below water perspective...just as depicted by the cover artwork.

Check out Matt Dangler's artwork, he is one amazing artist and although he's a dedicated and obsessive surf fisherman his only marine art is this cover and an equally impressive roosterfish attacking a plug piece we also collaborated on. I'll post that as well.

too skinny looks like a barracuda

I like it for a t-shirt...I'd buy one

technique- A plus..
Im with throwing timber though... only thing that strikes out at me is that the fish is a slender 'racer'.. Give that girl a gut!

Focus on the beauty of the fish...not the size.

The picture gets my vote................

Mike asked for constructive criticism not accolades.

I am with Vic and Eben. I think artistically it is beautiful and would make a great T-shirt, mag cover, print, etc.
Perhaps that's what a Striper looks like swimming when you are in the water with her but I too would like to see her broader in the hips

It's very nice as is, probably not worth commenting on until I saw the complete layout with titles and text.

-spence

nice work

Perhaps I should have pointed out that she's a 21st Century striper, sure she's a thoroughbred that's lean and mean, but she's also 68" long :) The next DVD will feature a big flat slob on the bottom with lobster claws hanging out of her mouth.

We really do appreciate the honest feedback and that's what we were looking for. I think once you see the finished work with text overlay you'll dig her dimensions more.

I kind of like the octomom lips.:uhuh:

He is definitely talented...

My critique? It does look like it's waiting for an overlay though, and that's why I wouldn't want it on a shirt. Too much empty space and straight lines, but hold your tongue Mike...I do understand why.

In my perfect world, I would like to see the water-top a bit more active, (a few white caps)...tough to make her shoulders any wider at that angle, and the girth can get lost in the color of the ocean bottom but I would extend it downward a wee bit, and yes....pull a little back on the lips, not the thickness, but the length...I'd also place a few large boulders back on shore...The coloring is pretty, and I LOVE the EYE!!

O.K....I'll shove my pencil back up my :bshake: now.

what was the medium??? paint? colored pencil? Enhanced on computer?

I'm assuming that people that think the lips are too big have not used a fisheye/ wide angle lens before...

Exaggerated perspective photos are always more interesting compositionally than a sideways shot... as well as diagonals...

Design 101

I think the size of the lips is fine, a big fish has big lips. If I was to be picky I might want the tone made a little more neutral.

-spence

Mike,
I like it but if your looking for constructive criticism, she looks like she is posing for the camera, not a natural shot.

If I was to be picky I might want the tone made a little more neutral.

-spence

First impression was that I thought the color was too yellow/brown like after a fish has been in the cooler. Looked at some of your website videos and thought they were a nice silver/blue.

Like proportions and everything else.

As soon as my other computer comes back on line I'll share the "head shot" that was taken of a live fish, in somewhat more bronze colored water than perhaps we're use to in RI (it was close to the CT river) which accounts for the golden hue. I was using a Nikon 12 - 24 mm wide angle lens. The photo was corrected for any lens distortion (minimal on that fantastic piece of glass) so any barrel distortion was completely removed. I think you'll find the painting, which was done as oil on masonite, is extremely realistic given the forced perspective of the fish to the viewer and that was done for impact -- after all there is a bit of artistic freedom that is used in any fish painting, illustration or cartoon. From a marketing perspective I wanted my trademark 'Fish_Eye' view to stop traffic and grab attention.

Believe me I'm/we are very interested in the feedback and we thank you for it.

I'm investing heavily in some terrific new technology that will allow me to take both photos and HD video in extremely low light. I promise you images of stripers the likes of which the world has never seen and I'm dead set on turning them into prints and t-shirts...oh, and mind blowing DVDs.

Mike

I would buy a print.