http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/ michaelo's gallery of images en-us 120 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/589640

Title: AmalgaMATE
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

I really like this pose. It looks very, stern and strong, yet feminine. I tried to figure out how to retain those elements while also, doing what I do best, enhancing the image into something different. I started by sketching out various muscle masses then breaking them up into sections.

As for the name, Amalgamate means to mix two things to make them one. I see that here as being the merger between technology and humanity. And, as much as I hate to say it, you could also see this as being sexual in nature but that's a metaphor for another day.


Issue #60]]> Tue, 29 Jan 2008 11:45:51 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/683509

Yes, everyone, it is all 2D.
Photoshop creation with some very careful smudging and blurring. Model MOSH, whom I had a photoshoot with last year.

I originally decided to hold this image exclusively for my art book but I couldn't resist uploading it online. I am now very glad I did because the directors at Imagine Publishing saw it and asked to use it for the cover of their Nov. Issue


Wallpaper for you: http://www.bymichaelo.com/wallpaper3.htm]]> Fri, 10 Oct 2008 07:24:17 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/696612

This was a submission I did for a contest about humanity.

The title, 'Skin Deep' of course refers to the common phrase 'beauty is only skin deep' meaning, a beautiful face can sometimes hide an ugly inside. It is a common truth in our world and a very 'human' condition, appropriate for the contest.

I'm certainly not saying that my model here, Olya, has an ugly inside, in fact she is a very sweet and beautiful person but that beauty was an ideal opposite to the inner ugliness I wanted to show in this image. I was also sure to make her surroundings and accessories as 'sweet' as possible so that the difference between the outside and inside was clear.

What I find interesting about this image is that it can be very hard to look at. Our brains are so instilled with the image of what a face looks like that to see it split apart like this is very confusing to the eye.]]> Sat, 15 Nov 2008 01:38:26 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/562971

Title: Carve Your Own Destiny
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

I wanted to make another image with the same theme as my other work, 'Timeless Beauty.' I really like combining both sculpture and painting into one and this time I was able to add an interesting concept to it. I also like to combine tradtional themes with modern techniques. This is all Photoshop and people always find this interesting... all mouse. Well, I use my tablet for hair but that's all!


“Sculpture is the best comment that a painter can make on painting.”
~Picasso ]]> Sun, 18 Nov 2007 18:53:53 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/800940

I carry a torch for someone. It's heavy and I have to carry it alone. It's cold and it burns but it does bring me joy to know that there's someone in this world worth carrying a torch for.

This was a change of lighting styles for me. Originally I thought of making the background a big moon, but that was a little cliche so I went with a cave, which fit well with the feeling of solitude I was hoping to accomplish.]]> Sat, 29 Aug 2009 05:22:22 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/760653

Oh, just a little something I've been tinkering with in my mad science lab. Really no rhyme or reason behind it. I just started with a concept and ran with it.

It's a little racy for me but every once-in-a-while I've got to get an image like this out of my system.

With all the great reference photos I have of MOSH, it's hard to pick only one. I suppose that's why I picked two here. Even though I had to use two completely different photos, they merged together nicely.

Model: MOSH]]> Wed, 06 May 2009 14:08:00 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/724213

'A thousand places to land and he chose me'

Sort of a metaphor for those who are lucky enough to find someone in this world.]]> Thu, 29 Jan 2009 05:40:16 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/692521

Title: Trophy Wife
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

A 'trophy wife' by most definitions is a woman that a man marries only for her good looks and as a boost to his status.

This image has a similar theme to my previous image, Skin Deep, in which I've attempted to portray a negative human trait in an eye catching way. Why I've done this, I don't know. It may sound strange to you but even my conscience self sometimes feels outside of the creative loop. :/


~Because the vast majority of my work portrays physically beautiful women, you may think that I see physical beauty as important attribute in real life and that I may want a trophy wife in the future. In reality though, beauty, that lacks substance underneath it, looks good on the self but it inevitably collects dust (and wrinkles) over time. I am much more interested in the things that stand the test of time.

Model: Natasha
Moscow ]]> Wed, 05 Nov 2008 23:52:41 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/798560

Most of us are too young to remember actual wind up toys but every now and then I see the concept revived. I thought it would be interesting to see the idea with the 'winder' in the front, making the toy capable of turning on itself. ...and it's sexy too!

It took a lot of g blurs to get the skin looking like plastic. The bokeh effect was a custom brush.]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:09:10 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/647842

Title: Crocodile Tears
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

'Crocodile Tears' is a term used a lot in theater to describe fake crying. The expression also comes from an ancient anecdote that says crocodiles weep in order to lure in their prey."
This is s supposed to depict a model/sculpture that is so real, it is able to cry and in turn, lure the artist to her.

This image was compiled from various reference images including some photos of my own hands. All Photoshop.

I wanted to mention that I LOVE SHORT HAIR on women. I'd say it is my favorite aesthetic attribute. I know that isn't a common thing for a guy to think but I believe it takes a very beautiful and feminine face to pull it off, like you see here.]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:06:16 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/647841

Title: Soul Searching
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

I know you're in there somewhere...

I created this because it can seem at times that some people are void on the inside, and that is a hard thing to display visually but I think I found a good way here.

Created in Photoshop with various textures and organic paint brushes.]]> Sun, 29 Jun 2008 10:01:13 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/550300

Title: Pixie
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop CS2 & Painter 8

My pixie

Someone saw my image 'Dream Weaver' http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/490557/ and they told me about the work of Lori Earley http://www.loriearley.com/ whom I had never heard of before. Of course, looking through her galley inspired me to do another of a similar style.

This is a photo manipulation made with a lot of help from the liquify tool and a few color layer styles in Photoshop. I also used Painter for some blending effects for the first time in a long time.

Original image by KBMPHOTO
Permission by Ken Mathews http://kbmphoto.com/]]> Sun, 14 Oct 2007 23:51:22 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/528074

Here's an image that I've been wanting to make for a while now. I believe my style to be a combination of contemporary digital art and traditional mediums, as well as, combined fashion styles and art movements. Here, all of those elemnts are rolled into one piece that I'm very happy with.
You can probably expect to see more work like this from me.

Reference photo provided by Nick Saglimbeni www.slickforcestudio.com

Model: Nazanin Mandighomi
]]> Sun, 12 Aug 2007 03:08:36 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/517100

Title: Hex
Name: MichaelO
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

I was asked by the client to emulate something that resembled the covers of the old comic book: Conan the Barbarian. Some of those covers were done by Boris Vallejo so I had my work cut out for me. One common theme that the covers had was 'damsel in distress' and that fit well with the image I was given.


Original photo by Ray Jones


]]> Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:45:55 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/546986


A friend asked me what an ideal woman, to me, looked like. Rather than explain, I thought I'd show it.
I'm quite happy with how this turned out.

This image was created in Photoshop. Mostly using a mouse but also a tablet for the hair. I tried to paint in every color of the rainbow to portray the idealistic essence of the image. Most of the color was added after the values were in place.

Reference by nikxstock.deviantart.com]]> Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:29:00 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/679420

Title: Last Race
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

Someone one told me that in the future, when all races are merged back into one, The dominant traits that will remain are fair skin, Asian eyes, and red hair. I thought the red hair didn't really fit so I left it out of this one.

Natural paintbrushes in photoshop and a lot of blur techniques.
]]> Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:07:17 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/528421

Title: Valiant
Name: Michael Oswald
Country: USA
Software: Photoshop

I guess you could call this commission 'fan art' even though I haven't seen the movie 300. All my friends keep telling me I need to see it. I think I should too.

For those of you who don't know me, I am a freelance photo manipulator by trade. The majority of my work is a combination of painting and photomanipulation.

Original reference photo provided by: Tom Cullis
Model: Matus Valent
]]> Mon, 13 Aug 2007 03:30:10 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/490557

Character concept for a comic book company.

An extreme example of the liquify tool.]]> Sat, 28 Apr 2007 07:32:38 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/512661

Alexandria is a city on the north coast of Egypt, once controlled by the Roman Empire. The ancient part of the city is now underwater, with a few mysteries still left to uncover. Even though the city was named after a dude (Alexander the Great) I thought it to be a fitting theme for a mermaid image.

Reference photo by: Alex Gumerov See original image here: http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa34/michaeloart/IMG_6363.jpg]]> Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:59:44 +0000 http://michaelo.cgsociety.org/gallery/453209

Freedom's Edge [Life Without Wings]
The desire to be free and fly away blinds us from the beauty and happiness that already surround us]]> Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:35:27 +0000