"Desert Encounter" by Sara Melissa Bean

Oh the horror! This looks very dangerous for the poor rider. He is about to loose his seat. Revolver or no, he is terrified. Well, who wouldn't. (Shudders)

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "

Thanks very much -- it does indeed look like a dark day for our humble hero. (hehe)"

Love the texture of that monster! Beautifully done!

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thanks so much!"

I would NOT want to walk into anything like that out in the street... I mean, his hat totally freaks me out! Lol, naw. But the monster is pretty creepy. It kinda looks like it would be saying: "A-booga-booga-booga!"...

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Lol!
Thanks so much for the entertaining comment, and I quite agree...the lizard has quite the 'oogabooga!' expression with his little raised arms! "

Oh, I love this picture! The colors are great and the idea is... well, fantastic!
Somehow it has a feel of a story for me; something like the rider is running from some ganger, some gang is chasing him, and now then he's driven into the heart of the waterless desert, and just as he thinks that now he's in the situation that can't be worse... Oogabooga! )
I'd like to se him as a winner, but the poor fella loosing his seat and surely will be a lunch for the desert monster soon... Though his horse probably has a good chase to escape while the monster will be dealing with it's master.

Great picture, one of my new favorites!

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thank you so much!

I'm glad that this seems to have a story (like the old saying "A picture is worth a thousand words") -- in my imagination, every artwork tells some sort of story!

...and you never know, this guy is pretty resourceful...maybe he'll manage to get away!

Thank you again!"

I was just browsing through the plugs, and this really jumped out at me. I usually don't comment, but I love this picture! The monter is phenomenal, he looks like a real creature, everything about him is so well done. I also like the way you did the earth. The colors are rich and shifting, giving the picture that vibrant feel of heat. I know you wanted some constructive criticism, which is just great! That is how we improve as artists. Everyone loves a kind comment, but I find it frustrating when my comments fill up with praise and no advice to be found. What struck me is that the horse seems to be balancing on its tail like a kangaroo, because of its shape and because the tail appears as one solid object, instead of being comopsed of several strands. Another thing bothering me is the background. There really isn't one, because it has no depth. Foreground and background are only defined by the placement of the characters. I'm not sure if I communicated that very well. I suggest doing an online picture search on monument valley for reference. I hope that was in someway helpful. I have been through your gallery before and loved it, you are exceedingly talented! Well I better go check out your other new additions before I run out of time.

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thanks very much! I appreciate the comments and the criticism alike. I agree that the background is flattish; I've been slacking off on my landscapes lately (in favor of doing more detailed monsters and other creatures).

Your criticism was indeed helpful and I'll try to use a little more care in painting my backgrounds in the future! Thanks again. "

For some reason this reminds me of Childe Roland. The creature is well executed and totally real. Great work!

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thank you! This is in fact loosely based on Stephen King's Dark Tower series, which is in turn based on that poem. "

Crazy. I love the original concept! It makes me shudder.

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thanks, I appreciate it. "

Oh Wow another great and unique piece!!! Bravo! and its so funny. A cowboy thats neat. I love the backround. To make it more stunning try adding more shadow. Great job again^^

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thanks very much; I'm glad you enjoyed this one. "

This is charming, i love the snake creatures face.

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thank you. "

Whoo scary! You did an awesome job with this. I love the monster thing.

Sara Melissa Bean replies: "Thanks! I’m fond of that monster fellow. "