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Top Pixel Art - August 2010 (#1)
Having a secure supply of food would help with not worrying.
It isn't about not planning, it's about not worrying. The point I take from the parable is that the man should indeed have shared with family, friends, and neighbors, rather than hoard his wealth.
What a strange parable. Don't plan for the future in case you die before you can reap the benefits? That's fine for lilies, but humans can't photosynthesise. What about the man's family and friends; they get to enjoy the fruits of his efforts, so it's not a waste unless you consider things only worth doing if you yourself benefit. The crop was already there anyway; he was just trying to store it so it wouldn't go to waste. I guess it's supposed to be about anti-materialism, but as beings in a physical world, we have to be materialistic to *some* extent. We can't eat sunlight. Or is it a condemnation of wanting to not live hand to mouth, paycheck to paycheck? Are people not allowed to pace themselves and accrue leisure? Is it considered a lack of faith to not leave the source of your next meal to chance? How bizarre.
Nice pixel art though.
Sweet Jesus, mate.
...Literally. He looks really great, as does the rest of the piece 
dear god. this must be one of the most beautiful pieces of pixel art I've ever seen.
A pixelart piece that launches a discussion of christian parables, visual continuums and caravaggio. Is this something you just made to post on pixeljoint, or is it part of some art degree? Because if it's the former, it blows my mind.
Original 14 colours piece of art ! Few dithering, but doesn't need to. Great Work !
Like the presentation.
I'm actually glad you can justify your work when needed to, it just shows one of the reasons why you are one of the big guns on this site.
Great job cure! You are so inspiring! You have no reason to justify yourself to somebody who doesn't even have 1 art piece submitted on their part anyway, pretty obvious what your focal was.
Seriously dude, if you can't deliver critique without ending with a passive agressive jab, then don't comment.
I've got no issue with you critiquing my work, I encourage critique. But an aggressive attitude is a path that eventually leads to a ban, simple as that. Now please try to chill out, when I critique it's to help, even if I am rather blunt. I understand you feel like I attacked you, but it's healthier for the community if you let it go.
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In response to your actual critique:
The portrait is the primary focal point, the eye should be drawn there initially. It’s in a frame after all, and the outer elements like the flowers and fruit curve around it in a similar circular shape. With these two concentric rings (one real and the other implied), the eye is drawn to the center of the rings: the portrait of Jesus. I’ve also left ample negative space between the portrait and surrounding elements to allow it space to breathe, so to speak. Your eye is meant to move around the piece, of course, but where does it move to? Look at the top left. Following the bird’s tail down to the lower flowers, you’re led into a continuum with the leaves that lead you to the portrait. Follow it up instead, and you’re led around the circle to the other bird, whose tail leads the eye again to the portrait (which the bird faces). Now observe the bottom. The piles of produce reach along the sides the form borders, but also to lead the eye back up to the portrait, which is done more specifically by the vegetation on the carrot and the positioning of the eggplant.
For the visual learners:
Just a suggestion. Pick a focal point. Every element on this piece is the same size therefore I don't know what you want me to look at it. It's called design hierarchy you might want to look into it.
Just found this. So amazing all the vegetables
and the palette
I congratulate you, I hope someday mine approach this ...
thanks for the help before, now have if everything is fine ...
you're better than I was at your age, pixel everyday and it won't take long
Ive been trying to come up with a worthwhile comment for this piece for a while. im just gonna say that this is so good it makes me want to pixel every single day until i get this good. I feel like that wouldn't even work.
This is a testament to pixel pushing as a true style of art, fantasmic
I like this alot because a serves a great religious are symbolic purpose, and is a great work of art. Cure, I've seen great pieces from you, but this is just outstanding!
There are some really interesting color choices here (like the green shade on the skeleton) that I wouldn't have considered using but look very effective in this piece. Really solid work, all around!
Fabulously done. I'd not read that story before, it makes the piece that much more interesting.
Something about Jesus' hair bugs me, but as I can't put my finger on it, I shall leave it at that.
Congrats on the #, you really deserved it with this piece!
There's a comment below explaining where I stand on the topic, but for conventional purposes, yes. It isn't really relevant though, the value of the verses in no way hinges upon a belief in God.
atheism didn't stop me from making it, no reason it shouldn't keep you from being fully inspired :P
dang thats good, I think I'd be inspired even more if I wasn't atheist lolz
Even though I'm Atheist, I love the detail and the colors of the piece. Excellent job!
... Woah. The level of aesthetic integrity this piece has is amazing. I love the colors you used, and I really admire the style in which you rendered everything.
So atmospheric, its like it has its own soul...awesome job.
Its so sad to see people worshiping Jesuses death,they should be praising his teachings. Everywhere you go you hear Jesus DIED for our sins, lets read the gospel of some other guy, give us money because Jesus DIED for our sins,its like an cult of worshiping the murder of Jesus, I dont know what kind of god modern christians worship, but God surely isnt hating, murdering, egoistic, commanding and wrathfull. He loves us, gave us home, gave us immortality wich is our soul and mainly FREE WILL...but that kind of God doesnt evoke fear in peoples heart,so they cannot be controlled easily. Bible was twisted so many times, it was rewritten, destroyed utterlly and its original form is long forgotten in the depth of time. He died because people didnt want to grasp the truth...we killed our own messiah...we killed son of god and are proud of it...im so sickened, we killed in the name of God, we did the most foul things that could ever be done, we murder our own kin, slaughter for vanity and after all of that, like an perfect father he is, he will forgive us, but not without punishment, like a perfect father taking care of his kids. As one wise man once said : "People lose faith in God when he doesnt succumb to their wim." surely he know much more whats good for you than you yourself, its like spoiling children, it leads only to the wrong way or people ask why such bad things happen in the world, its not because of God, its because of us, our actions, we define future, we make things happen, so next time dont ask where is God when bad things happen ask yourself how can I stop this from happening or how could you avoided it, why it happened to you As they say vanitas vanitatum.
Well I'd certainly disagree with all of that, but to each his own.
I've responded via pm, as I think that's more suitable for a theological discussion. I don't plan on doing any more long-winded rants in the comments :)
Oh... I guess thats not bad. It is always hard to tell people about God or Christ because I cant explain it. It's a bond that I cant really describe. I know that many people get angry or start to troll at me for that fact but to be honest, I don't care. I really do believe that Jesus was raised from the dead and is the son of God because he really has changed my life. By believing in him I got cured from schicophrenia, my dad left smoking and drinking, my brother got healed from savantism and so mutch more. I feel really sad for you though. I do believe in a heaven. Many people say that believing in a God is a wais of time, but think about it. If I spend my time here worshiping god, and I'm wrong, then I get to spend my what, 60/70/50 years on this earth with that belief. But If those other people are wrong and I'm not then I get to live happily both here AND for eternity. I really hope to see you in heaven.
And choose your side. God said that he dislikes people who are lukewarm(no offence man.)
(sorry if I misspelled something.)
@antymattar: Not exactly. I think Jesus was a man born through natural means, who performed no miracles, but was not dishonest or misquoted when he said to be "one with the Father". I'm as much an atheist as I am a theist, in that I think the argument is over a straw-man idea of God. I think Jesus preached a universal truth to a Jewish audience, and wasn't the one-and-only this-or-that. I like the gospels (Thomas more than John) and some stuff by Christian mystics, but on the whole I disagree with most modern Christian theology.
@BruceJuice: Blessed are the cheesemakers.
Very nice. Beautifully pixelled, with some interesting shading techniques on the fruit. The skeleton is really impressive, too - really realistic. Awesome job.
Thanks a lot, cure! I should try and suck info from people here more often, I guess...
In regards to the title...I can't help but think about the part in The Life of Brian where Brian tries to tell a parable, starting off with the phrase, "Consider the lillies..." "What, what do lillies have to do with anything?"
Ahh...good stuff, good stuff
The pixel art is very nice too.
Series thesis:
-In America, Western culture mixes with the philosophy of Jesus. The beliefs of these systems are often diametrically opposed, and Amero-Christianity, a Frankenstein's monster of sorts, is the result.
Thesis of this piece:
-Amero-Christianity holds to both Greed and Giving, interweaving God with Mammon.
- Western concept: Accumulation of wealth. Jesus concept: Dispersion of wealth.
Meaning of top: (Consider the Lilies)
- Representation of the attitude of Jesus.
- Material goods themselves are not bad, nor owning them- but striving for them.
Moral: Anxious pursuit of goods and wealth creates suffering.
Meaning of bottom: (Parable of the Rich Fool)
- Representation of the attitude of Western culture.
- Good fortune struck, and the man chose to use it for capitalist gain (Greed) rather than selfless compassion (Giving).
Moral: A man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.
Meaning of center: (Render unto Caesar)
-Showcases the paradoxical mixture of the two concepts: Prosperity theology. The contrasting symbols of Jesus and the American dollar mean to create intentional dissonance.
He had that, and then some. Enough that he tore down his overflowing storehouses to build larger ones. Enough that many more people other than himself could eat rather than worry, and still leave him with his usual harvest. And if he shares his wealth, who is to say the kindness would not be repayed by his community were he to fall on hard times.
I get what you're saying though, and I agree that not giving a thought for the future while you frolick like a flower child is not a winning strategy.