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coffinberry — Uncaged

Published: 2007-01-10 18:13:37 +0000 UTC; Views: 4218; Favourites: 92; Downloads: 54
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Description If you love something, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours. If it doesn't, it never was. We do not possess anything in this world, least of all other people. We only imagine that we do. Our friends, our lovers, our spouses, even our children are not ours; they belong only to themselves. Possessive and controlling friendships and relationships can be as harmful as neglect.

Max has the capability to love. He loves his birds. They are always caged up where he knows they are safe... won't ever let them out. They are safe, they are safe. No one can kill them and they can't leave him. The aviary is their 'sanctuary'. His pretty birds, oh how he loves them. Doves with their cooing and white wings. Peacocks, the colorful proud birds. The snowy owl. Humming birds with a taste for sweetness. Herons. Love birds that are kept separate because Max is afraid that one will die and crush the other one's heart. Best to be safe and just not love at all.

Eve stays with Max for awhile. She is given a room that has one door and is only accessible from Max's bedroom. This room was Max's nursery as a baby. It was kept hidden so that no one could hurt him. Here she stays, her punishment for saying the wrong thing. She has become a doll, forced to wear pretty dresses that he brings her. The sealed window in her room is her only view outside, and the large patio is about all she sees. Sometimes Max sits outside of this window and gazes at her. She is most unhappy. How fair is it to keep something from the world?

Sometimes she is allowed out. He takes her to the aviary and he shows off his miserable caged birds. The poor things. Never allowed to fly on the wind. Kept locked up because their owner is afraid they'll get hurt. What a way to show love, eh? Let them go, Max. They'll be much happier and so will you. Let them fly free in your garden. Watch them grow, build nests, chirp and sing to you.

*My first 100% digital painting! Even the sketch was done on the tablet I learned how to make brushes and to play around with the scatter thing in the presets... very helpful when doing the dogwood tree. Ugh to make up for the sweetness here my next picture shall be the gorefest from hell.

Don't pick it apart - please don't. Don't don't don't. Let me be happy with it. It's the only picture I am happy with.
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Comments: 174

MonkeysUndles [2009-04-26 16:11:34 +0000 UTC]

Amazing!
I have to ask, is the italicized part a quote or did you make that!

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coffinberry In reply to MonkeysUndles [2009-04-26 16:14:43 +0000 UTC]

You know, it's been so long since I last looked at this that I was unsure which quote it was It is a real quote, many internet sites can't be 100% sure where it came from though.

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MonkeysUndles In reply to coffinberry [2009-04-26 22:51:48 +0000 UTC]

*grin*
Kay, just wanted to see!
'Tried to stick it in as a quote, but I couldn't fit the whole thing...

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Pixel-Spotlight [2009-02-01 15:14:13 +0000 UTC]

Fantastic piece!
I've featured it in a special anthro news article here:
[link]
Please take a look at some of the other incredible pieces of art there and the article if you enjoy it!

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coffinberry In reply to Pixel-Spotlight [2009-02-01 15:34:18 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! Funny enough, I am reworking this one right now!

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Pixel-Spotlight In reply to coffinberry [2009-02-01 15:37:57 +0000 UTC]

Ooh, really?
I can't wait to see when it's done!

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ScorpionFOX89 [2008-11-21 04:46:28 +0000 UTC]

And that is true beauty... I love it.

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koende [2008-06-23 06:20:51 +0000 UTC]

^ ^ love all the flowers... how cute.

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JTBeckett [2007-11-17 05:16:45 +0000 UTC]

Awesome! Truly wonderful...

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Twin-Earth [2007-09-30 03:43:04 +0000 UTC]

Theres not much I can say other than I love the depth each and every one of your characters has. Each picture and description just adds layers and I've enjoyed browsing through them all. This one however seems to stay stuck in my head.
The detail is just stunning beyond words. It's a pity humans are are stupid and steal because I'm sure a lot of your hard work has been scaled down and hidden beneath a water mark. I'm glad you've chosen to at least share it with deviant art.

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coffinberry In reply to Twin-Earth [2007-09-30 03:46:28 +0000 UTC]

its strange you left comment on this picture, as i have been going through and replacing my watermarked images with their originals... sadly, i had someone take images from here and my elfwood gallery, tries to pass them as their own... good for me i have such nice loyal fans who tell me

i am glad you like my characters, they're very dear to me, i've had max for 14 years...

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Twin-Earth In reply to coffinberry [2007-09-30 03:54:00 +0000 UTC]

Thats amazing my oldest is around 7 or 8 yrs, it's nice to see people who keep and work with their characters since I've seen so many just created without a purpose or story or anything and eventually just are replaced. I hope no one tries to steal any of your art, and if you do end up replacing this one with an unmarked version I'd love to see it as well.

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bratz367 [2007-08-10 03:25:07 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful. The colors are amazing. Just..Wow. I love the flowers.

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snakegirl765 [2007-07-08 06:51:06 +0000 UTC]

I like this picture a lot, and the coloring is fantastic. I'm lovin' how you colored the flowers. This is just awesome.

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coffinberry In reply to snakegirl765 [2007-07-09 04:16:54 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! For a first full tablet piece I think it came out alright! The flowers were a bitch though

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snakegirl765 In reply to coffinberry [2007-07-09 23:01:27 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome! I bet the flowers were not that fun. but they look nice tablets seem really handy, I hope I can get one soon

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Chendai [2007-03-12 03:03:35 +0000 UTC]

Set them free,
Set them free,
Set them free,
Can you not see?
The problem with them?
It stems from your guilt, and your thoughts of their death.
Dwindle not on such things, cast them aside. Run them asunder, bring down the lightning, to break those chains of thunder. Break their bonds, break the cage, set them free, can't you see, To love them, is to let them simply be.

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Poila-Invictiwerks [2007-02-05 09:45:35 +0000 UTC]

In time of Valentines?

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coffinberry In reply to Poila-Invictiwerks [2007-02-07 15:51:47 +0000 UTC]

I might do V-day picture, I dunno yet.

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SycoPink [2007-02-01 02:27:29 +0000 UTC]

i love the layers look of the tulips and how their shadows dance in them.

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coffinberry In reply to SycoPink [2007-02-02 04:07:44 +0000 UTC]

Thanks! I was going to do grass, but flowers are more fun and shadows DO dance better on them :3

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kageru-hinoryu [2007-01-25 05:20:23 +0000 UTC]

FUCKING BEAUTIFUL.

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coffinberry In reply to kageru-hinoryu [2007-01-25 05:25:32 +0000 UTC]

TANK U

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kageru-hinoryu In reply to coffinberry [2007-01-25 05:27:32 +0000 UTC]

NO PRAWBLEM *gapes a little longer*

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Dubnoreix [2007-01-25 00:12:12 +0000 UTC]

Wow, absolutely supreme! To be honest, this made my day. ^-^ Besides the picture being wonderfully detailed and digitally colored, the passage you designed kept me speechless. So moving! I love it!

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Dubnoreix [2007-01-25 00:11:19 +0000 UTC]

Wow, absolutely supreme! To be honest, this made my day. ^-^ Besides the picture being wonderfully detailed and digitally colored, the passage you designed kept me speechless. So moving! I love it!

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coffinberry In reply to Dubnoreix [2007-01-25 05:13:05 +0000 UTC]

AWW! You like the story? I am glad people are liking the parts that I am posting Thank you!

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spitzen [2007-01-23 05:19:52 +0000 UTC]

This is such a beautiful pic!! The field of tulips have a very high wow factor!!

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coffinberry In reply to spitzen [2007-01-23 05:38:27 +0000 UTC]

I am glad I settled with tulips. I was going to do lilies, but they are over used in my work :/

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coffinberry [2007-01-22 16:25:53 +0000 UTC]

Even the most putrid of characters has a soft spot. It is a tragic story though.. someday it will be finished!

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xainy [2007-01-22 13:15:55 +0000 UTC]

WTF I COMMENTED ON THIS. WHERE IS MY COMMENT. >:[
*sigh* I'll try to write it again.

I love LOVE that tree. The leaves...there are so many and they're so individual. It makes the tree look amazingly detailed and realistic. I ALWAYS ALWAYS admire the time and effort and all the fucking WORK you put into backgrounds...I never have that patience. You gave them shadows, perfect lighting, and you shaded all the tulips and EVERYTHING, it's just amazing.

I love the dove. It really does look like a photograph. I love that it's flying away, stretching its wings toward the sun. You did a lovely job on those sun rays, too. Really beautiful.

Max and Eve look so happy! We hardly ever get to see this side of Max, and it's kind of daunting, but really pleasing. No one can be all bad. I guess he's just a little misguided?
Eve looks stunning. I love her visible eye and her lips, and I adore all the light pinks you put on her all over...ears, lips, eye shadow, clothing...she looks so soft and fragile sitting amongst all those flowers with big bad Max opposite her.

The GATE! The gate is amazingly intricate and so gorgeous. I want that gate in front of my house. Your brick wall also does not disappoint. Great job with all the little details and shading in it.

Great work. luvv<3

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Fauspoot [2007-01-22 11:44:24 +0000 UTC]

At first, I thought it was drawn characters put on a photograph background.. but once I full-viewed.. Wow.. those are some amazing background skillz. O_O

And that description is beautiful.. what an interesting story.

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coffinberry In reply to Fauspoot [2007-01-22 15:18:56 +0000 UTC]

Why thank you! I used to loathe doing backgrounds and I really avoided them. I think they realyl help make a piece seem more complete though.

You like the story? It is a small teeny tiny part of a huge one I am working on at the moment. Rise and fall of a selfish brat dictator.

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Fauspoot In reply to coffinberry [2007-01-23 17:53:21 +0000 UTC]

Indeed, I feel the same way about backgrounds. I've never focused on making 'em, heheh. x: Even though they're an important part of art.

I do like the story. :3 I think the symbolism you use is really strong and interesting.. trying to protect so much that it actually becomes harmful.

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deathxdoor [2007-01-18 05:38:50 +0000 UTC]

I can't believe I fucking missed this.
I'm so upset right now I want to chop my hands off for clearing this from my messages without even noticing.
This is simply outstanding, and amazing, I can't even find words to describe this.
The whole thing is immensively 3-dimensional I could walk right into it. Seriously, this is like one of those amazing pieces of works you see in art books. It's like something out of a major motion picture. In fact it reminds me A LOT of the music videos the Gorillaz produces.
The backstory is simply wonderful and heartwarming as well. Your characters are so deep in personailty and the way they interact with each other. I wish I could fave this 7 times.

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coffinberry In reply to deathxdoor [2007-01-22 15:21:07 +0000 UTC]

It's alright, many people do not comment.

I work a lot on their personalities and how they react with each other. I've been doing it for a looong time. I want to make a successful story someday.

Thank you for commenting, though!

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deathxdoor In reply to coffinberry [2007-01-24 05:05:17 +0000 UTC]

im sorry, i know how it is too when only 6-8 people comment... i mean i could at least get a "cool" or "nice work!" from all my watchers(that are alive and/or not clubs)

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coffinberry In reply to deathxdoor [2007-01-24 05:08:25 +0000 UTC]

Ya no kidding... I've got a lot of watchers and I always know the people who will comment and such... ya'lls my heroes. XD I always check yer devs first, too XD

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deathxdoor In reply to coffinberry [2007-01-24 05:11:58 +0000 UTC]

Same here, hehe

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sushikitten [2007-01-18 02:07:38 +0000 UTC]

Beautiful. I love love LOVE the flowers, omg.

The artist's comment is awesome too...."awesome" is probably not the most appropriate word I could have used here but I like my awesome dammit.

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coffinberry In reply to sushikitten [2007-01-22 15:21:59 +0000 UTC]

You can use awesome :3

The flowers sucked... I did make them into a brush because of my hand issues, but I also added light sources to each. damn. one.

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sushikitten In reply to coffinberry [2007-02-01 01:36:29 +0000 UTC]

Well, I still think they look good :3

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SavvyPanda [2007-01-17 23:09:57 +0000 UTC]

Oh honey, this is so gorgeous. I love the story that goes with it, and the setting is just so...beautiful and peaceful and serene. I love the looks on both their faces. I got all sappy and stupid when I first looked at this and read your thing, too. ;; *is a cheeseball* I think you did and amazing job on the bg, and I love how the whole thing kinda looks like a 3-D diorama, with like the tulips being different cut out pieces of paper, staggered at different closenesses to the view, with Max and Eve placed in between them, and then the wall and the tree at the far back. Ugh, I'm so bad at explaining this, I hope you get what I mean. )X But I really do like this, and I've been meaning to comment on it since it showed up in my message center. <33

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coffinberry In reply to SavvyPanda [2007-01-22 15:53:39 +0000 UTC]

Diorama? Good word! Looks like it could be that!

Sappy story yes, the whole story is tragic. This part would probably be the nicest and most peaceful of the whole story.

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SavvyPanda In reply to coffinberry [2007-01-22 22:06:00 +0000 UTC]

YES, that is a good word for it. X) YOU UNDERSTOOD WHAT I WAS BABBLING ABOUT, yayes. *flaily*

I'm kinda getting that impression. I like it, though. <: I have a huge soft spot for tragic stories, especially ones involving sexy chubby hyena men in military uniforms...what?

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coffinberry In reply to SavvyPanda [2007-01-24 05:10:11 +0000 UTC]

OMG REALLY

then you will love this story ;3

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SavvyPanda In reply to coffinberry [2007-01-25 02:38:51 +0000 UTC]

AND I DO. 8D You need to post ALL KINDS OF LINKS when you get it rolling, if you haven't already. *bouncebounce* <33

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LadyFiszi [2007-01-17 15:37:17 +0000 UTC]

Ah pink flowers, butterflies... where is the blood?

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coffinberry In reply to LadyFiszi [2007-01-19 04:49:05 +0000 UTC]

blood is coming soon to a devation near you.

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hachi-x-blurry [2007-01-17 15:21:55 +0000 UTC]

i love the lighting (you probably have heard that 20584587389579376983576 times already)


XD

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