Garden of The Gods

Early Works

I f someone back in 1999 had told me that I'd spend half of the new millennium creating this kind of art I wouldn't have believed them - but, a year and nearly 200 images later I'm beginning to think there might be something in it! These are some of my early pieces: these days I've a few more plug-ins to hand and a lot more practice, but I think these still stand up to inspection fairly well.

I hope you agree!

Regrets

This was only my second submission to the abmx-h group and my first montage - thanks to encouragement and a comment from Hubbe that was along the lines of: 'Post a few more. You'll get addicted.'

He was right.

As Time goes by

This was my third! A pensive Xena considers the way the Gabrielle has changed over several seasons. This was really just an experiment - but I liked the way that border turned out.
Borders were to become somewhat of a trade mark for me...

A god with brooding presence.

Kevin Smith's superb portrayal of the God of War has also inspired some amazing art work.

The Sword of War

Including some of mine!
To be honest, most of the reason these images look so good is the quality of the original scans and screen captures from which they've been assembled. There are some brilliant (and very patient) people who produce high quality source images in the abmx-h group.Without that, these artworks would be a lot harder to do - and a lot less satisfying to produce. So - thanks guys.

Armageddon Now

This was my first piece inspired by a specific episode. Ares was definitely in the middle of events but, no matter where I put him, he just didn't seem to fit into the picture. I guess he just objected to not taking centre stage - a role reserved for the hapless hero of the story, caught up a desperate race to ensure that his best friend survived to celebrate his first birthday.

And this was a thank you present for Mike Quick, who provided most of the screencaps for that 'Armageddon Now' montage. It's also a portrait of Xena's nemesis - who makes a very striking goddess.

Speaking of whom ...

The abmx-h group got into a lively discussion over the content of what should and shouldn't be posted: this was my comment on the exchanges that were flying back and forth.

(The exchanges got quite heated in places ...)

And this was one of my contributions to the debate!

(The other - 'At the Beach' - can be found in the Poster area of the Gift Shop ...)

'The guys tried hard not to pay too much attention when Xena and Gabrielle joined them in the Jacuzzi'

Meanwhile, back at the party ...

This was an early attempt to construct an action montage, which I think worked out pretty well in the end. Pictures of Gabrielle were easy to find. Pictures of her in motion seemed to be a lot harder to locate.
The later seasons have brought her fighting skills to the foreground and provided a few more dynamic images to play with - but for me this picture still sums up the battling bard in all her determined glory.

'We came to dance.
Making moves from a passion play,
The ties that bind us just slip away' ...

A few more action images put to good use. Note the border - and the signature button, which I had just developed.

And while we're quoting song lyrics ...

A montage of images from 'Forget me not'

Joxer's Dream

Another early peice (note the absence of my button!). I generally try to use only images that have actually appeared on screen, but in this case the background is a photo I took of Hana bay on Maui - it gave me just the textures I wanted.

Tis better ...

The Xena images are fun to do, but the Legendary Journeys hold the greater significance for me - and I'm always pleased when I manage to produce something that does my love of the series justice. This is an early attempt - a pensive son of Zeus contemplating his lost loves.

And this is his best friend - renowned hunter, dauntless hero and bardic heartthrob...

By the time I produced this one, I was a lot more confident in both my subject and my software.
From here, I went on to tackle far more ambitious peices.

Many of which are on display elsewhere in the Garden ...