3.14159 out of 10

Paul McClintock

3.14159 out of 10

3.14159 out of 10

This was recropped for the duration of the challenge. It looked kinda like this:

For the Happy challenge (whoo, I won!). Stefan Sagmeister is asking people to rate their happiness from 1 to 10, and create a portrait that illustrates this. A selection of works will be included in his upcoming “Happy Film”.

I’m baffled by this number system, but I’ve given myself a 3. Although I suppose at any given moment I may be anywhere between a 1 and a 10, I figure I should average it out a bit. Make of that what you will.

Click here to see it as a work in progress.
Click to see the process animated like magic!

Witness the evidence of my winningness:

and the prize I won.

3.14159 out of 10 belongs to the following groups:

Friends of RedBubble, International Superheroes of Drawing, Illustration and World Domination, Melbourne & Victoria and Promote Each Other Available for sale as

Greeting Cards, Canvas Prints, Framed Prints and Posters
3.14159 out of 10 by Paul McClintock
  • Gabby87

    Gabby87

    WOW…...................... THat’s so cool and nice work my friend …......
    I like the eye’s too!!
    =D

  • Simon Sherry

    Simon Sherry

    Great work – funnily enough it reminds me of the animation style I’ve seen used for through a scanner darkly. Great tonal work all round, although the sharp highlights on the shirt are maybe a little distracting (perhaps dulling them down a little would make them compete less with your eyes?). There’s a fantastic level of detail and precision on display though – if this doesn’t make the cut, I’ll be blood surprised.

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    Thanks for the comments. I see what you mean about the highlights, and although I’ve spent the last week looking so closely at this that I find it difficult to pull back and just look at the whole thing, I was somewhat aware that the neck down is not as well rendered as the rest. The neck feels a bit flat, and the shirt is a little cartooney compared to the face. In fact there are a few things I’d like to do to improve it, but I’m burnt out. I’ll put what I’ve learned while doing this one into making the next one better.

    Your suggestions are always greatly appreciated Simon. Cheers.

  • Simon Sherry

    Simon Sherry

    No worries mate – and I know exactly what you mean when it comes to working so closely on something for so long. The stuff mentioned is so minor, that it’s definitely a good move to store it in the brainbank for the next effort. BTW, I actually really dig the shift in rendering between the shirt and the rest of the pic – if anything, the sharper highlights lend it a sheen that helps it differ in a textural sense (does that make sense?). Good luck in the challenge mate – an effort to be more than proud of.

  • Russell Greenwood

    Russell Greenwood works here

    Simply amazing.

  • Damien Mason

    Damien Masoncommunity host

    Holy shit Paul, this looks amazing. You have done a terrific job, did you work closely from a photo?

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    I pretty much had a photo up on screen the whole time I was working. I wish I had two monitors, it would have made it a lot easier.

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    Hopefully one day I’ll be able to work at this level from life, or even from memory to a point. But yeah. Without a photo, I’d be lost as to how to represent the light and shadow, and especially the skin tone.

  • mimi yoon

    mimi yoon

    love your art…. self portrait… : )

  • Kitsmumma

    Kitsmumma

    This is incredible!

  • yanmos

    yanmos

    unique!

  • ellcot

    ellcot

    Fantastic work (and I did not find the shirt distracting)!

  • o0OdemocrazyO0o

    o0OdemocrazyO0o

    happy as pi niceness :D

  • Cathie Tranent

    Cathie Tranentcommunity host

    This is absolutely stunning – and I agree with Si on the highlights.

  • rubyred

    rubyred

    One of the best pieces of art I’ve seen on this site. I can see what people are saying above, but I wouldn’t change a thing. I think the balance of the areas seems to work for me. Really nice background tone too. You may have inspired me to have a go.

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    I’d love to see your take on it. You’ve got a couple of weeks before entries close. Just don’t blow me out of the water too much.

  • Lucan's Biographer

    Lucan's Biogra...

    that left eye is freakin’ me out man

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    Thanks. :P

    Believe me, I had trouble with it.

  • Tom Douce

    Tom Douce

    U have used such incredible detail to create this piece, it truly is spectacular

  • Karin Taylor

    Karin Taylorcommunity helper

    congratulations Paul, this is magnificent!

  • Nick Ford

    Nick Ford

    Inspiring stuff here Paul! Love the way you’ve handled the skin.

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    The secret to good skin is blotches.

  • nofrillsart

    nofrillsart

    Very nice work dude!

  • micklyn

    micklyn

    Absolutely amazing!!

  • Natalie Tyler

    Natalie Tylergiver of t-shirt love

    Stunning work Paul. Incredible …

  • Sorina Williams

    Sorina Williams

    Hi Paul!!...loving this!!!

  • Soxy Fleming

    Soxy Fleming

    just beautiful…and for a rating of pi I think you look pretty good!

  • Pip Gerard

    Pip Gerard

    I’m completely blown away by this one!! truly inspiring!! Got my vote without a shadow of a doubt!!

  • gottheshot

    gottheshot

    I was looking at the Nat Portrait Gallery BP Portrait Gallery and they have a style called Photorealistic. Their work is sooooooooo real – one takes it to be a photo and thats the end. But no – they were paintings, but they had no SOUL or PERSONALITY. Your ‘border’ between paint and photo real is PERFECTION.
    The 3D quality, the replicated lighting, the eyes and nose and of course whole face are OUT OF THIS WORLD. SUPERB. Last thing – tee shirt texture and folds are FAB – the fold which goes onto the collar. Times up – stop typin’ :o)

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    Thanks for your comments. I looked up the BP gallery, and the stuff there is amazing. Some are photorealistic, but others are quite different.

    This one for instance.

    I’ve been really inspired by Jenny Saville’s paintings. Her style is at once almost photorealistic and yet messy. It appears rushed, but she captures light and colour so accurately. I feel like I’m years, perhaps decades away from that level… she makes it look like she isn’t even trying. Maybe one day.

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    Jenny Saville

  • gottheshot

    gottheshot

    I like the kid with the bobble hat and the Korean man. The girl with the pegs on her hair – nah. I like the woman asleep on the sofa painting – FAB.
    10 / 10 for 3.1415926535 8979323846 2643383279 5028841971 6939937510 5820974944 ( I copied it from a search in case you thought I had a good IQ :o))
    I totally agree with your comment on J Saville’s work – the appearance of ‘how fast can I paint this’ and then the underlying skill of light and dark.

  • gottheshot

    gottheshot

    Thank you for taking the time to have a look at the BP Portraits – it is a cool courtesy to read that you took the time, Kind regards, P.

  • Deborah Milligan

    Deborah Milligan

    sweet paul!

  • practicecactus

    practicecactus

    I feel so sexually confused, what with the big eyes and full lips. ;P

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    It’s the feminine nature of my youthful beard that’s throwing you off.

  • Tordo

    Tordo

    Nice work, I like the background too, I think in this case placing something there could had been just a distraction from the portrait.

  • Tania Rose

    Tania Rose

    Paul, i really LOVE this piece. Thanks also for sharing the close-ups :)

  • vrangnarr

    vrangnarr

    mad skill!

  • Atomic-Dolphin

    Atomic-Dolphin

    very nice! but are you going to crop this so it fits the template?

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    It’s pretty close to the template. But I’ve been thinking about cropping it so it’s exact. I’d just hate to lose part of it to cropping.

  • sjem ©

    sjem ©

    awesome.

  • Jo O'Brien

    Jo O'Briencommunity ambassador

    Fuck, amazing work Paul.

  • Jo O'Brien

    Jo O'Briencommunity ambassador

    pardon my language, but holy crap, I am utterly bowled over by this. You just keep outdoing yourself

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    Ahhh… that made me laugh. Nice save on the potty mouth, potty mouth! :D

  • nico .

    nico .

    i admire your art very much, paul !

  • Tom Douce

    Tom Douce

    just voted for u mate!

  • Jo O'Brien

    Jo O'Briencommunity ambassador

    I just wanted to come back and say again that I think this is wonderful.

    That is all.

  • transmute

    transmute

    Great stuff

  • tandoor

    tandoor

    Super work.

  • 1through9

    1through9

    fantastic level of detail! well done

  • Troy Evans

    Troy Evansdoctor of weird

    Paul, this is extraordinary.

  • Karin Taylor

    Karin Taylorcommunity helper

    Paul, let me be the first to congratulate you !!!!
    on winning the Happy Challenge…you had my vote!
    as well as a lot of others…but it was you who inspired me to create something specially… i am so happy for you today!

  • Soxy Fleming

    Soxy Fleming

    you did it Paul!

  • Damien Mason

    Damien Masoncommunity host

    Congratulations Paul! A very well deserved win!

  • o0OdemocrazyO0o

    o0OdemocrazyO0o

    CONGRATS!
    like the Pi ref too :D

  • Mui-Ling Teh

    Mui-Ling Teh

    Well done, congratulations!

  • parmi

    parmi

    Congrats mate, what a huge challenge to win!

  • mimi yoon

    mimi yoon

    congratulations, paul…. i knew you’d win…. voted for you… :D

  • Johdie Fairweather

    Johdie Fairwea...

    Congrats! Had my vote. I love this.

  • Jo O'Brien

    Jo O'Briencommunity ambassador

    Fuck Yeah! Brilliant result. So well deserved.

  • titus

    titus

    Spot on. You must be a 10 at the moment. Great work and well deserved.

  • Paul McClintock

    Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper

    Wowsers! Thanks everyone! A lot of people voted! And a lot of my favourites made it to the top ten!

  • aglaia

    aglaia

    congratulations paul. ;-) xox

  • yanmos

    yanmos

    Congrats Paul!!

  • rubyred

    rubyred

    Great result, well done Paul.

  • Soxy Fleming

    Soxy Fleming

    yeah Paul you’re not allowed to be 3.14159 after this!

  • Laura Kelk

    Laura Kelk

    Congratulations on your Happy win. x

  • Sticky Flower

    Sticky Flower

    Congrats!:-)

  • LouJay

    LouJay

    Well done on your very deserved win!

  • Natalie Tyler

    Natalie Tylergiver of t-shirt love

    Congrats Paul. This is a stunning portrait and it totally deserved the winning spot :)

  • Pip Gerard

    Pip Gerard

    I’m not at all surprised by this win Paul… I would have been completely surprised had you not to tell the truth. Congrats on a truly well deserved win!! this portrait is outstanding. Can only imagine the time you put into it. Hope you’re on cloud nine and downing lots of brewsky’s in celebration!! : )

  • webbie

    webbie

    Congratulations For Winning the Top Ten of the Happy Challenge ,awsome job :)

  • PPPhotoArt

    PPPhotoArt

    wow stunning portrait work
    congrats on homepage

  • jemimalovesbigted

    jemimalovesbigted

    Congratulations Paul, totally deserved win. this is a fantastic piece of work.

  • chelsgus

    chelsgus

    1! well deserved.

  • CapturedByKylie

    CapturedByKylie

    Congratulations on having your self portrait featured on the Red Bubble “Happy Challenge” home page.
    September 30th 2009.

  • taiche

    taiche

    Congratulations on your Home Page Feature – may your good luck continue!

  • Chris Wahl

    Chris Wahl

    Congrats Paul! Well deserved.

  • PJ Ryan

    PJ Ryan

    this image really caught my eye on the homepage, congratulations :)

  • nishagandhi

    nishagandhi

    wow and congrats

  • Colleen Milburn

    Colleen Milburn

    HUGE congrats, Paul – a well deserved win :)))

  • Deborah Milligan

    Deborah Milligan

    hey paul. congratulations on the win, and congratulations on the home page feature! You are an exceptional artist :-)

  • Sanne Thijs

    Sanne Thijs

    Congrats on the homepagefeature!

  • Gogo Korogiannou

    Gogo Korogiannou

    Congratulations!!!

  • DebbieSteer

    DebbieSteer

    congrats on home page…. you have talent….............

  • AnitaInverarity

    AnitaInverarity

    Congrats on Win Paul- Awesome work !!! and the Homepage Feature too, they look great up there xx

  • Faizan Qureshi

    Faizan QureshiAll Rounder

    Definitely the most deserving winner!

  • janewiebenga

    janewiebenga

    Congratulations on ‘homepage’ feature. I love what you have created. The eyes look directly at you. Lots of thoughts in your head. : )

  • bronbennie

    bronbennie

    Absolute perfection, you are so gifted in your abilities! Thanks for what you do :)

  • mimi yoon

    mimi yoon

    congratulations, paul, for all kinds of features and for winning….. : )

  • Jordan Busson

    Jordan Busson

    you won! viva!

  • blucy

    blucy

    Very very COOL !!!, I voted for you :)
    Hopefully your 3.14159 of happiness out of 10 has now increased with all these lovely comments, congrats at being very very talented :)

  • Jan Timmons

    Jan Timmons

    Pi is a happy number, and I admire your creativity.

  • Adam Regester

    Adam Regester

    Brilliant ! ... and congratulations ! Well deserved !

  • wutz4tea

    wutz4tea

    You are Brilliant!!

  • Stephanie Smith

    Stephanie Smith

    Congratulations Paul! A very well deserved win, this portrait has SO much going for it!

  • Kimberly Daigle

    Kimberly Daigle

    fantastic piece, congratulations on the challenge win

  • limerick

    limerick

    Awesome portrait!

  • Fazrul Arhan

    Fazrul Arhan

    This is really good..great self -portrait !!

  • Cat Leonard

    Cat Leonard

    I found this in ‘Australian artist’ magazine, it’s how I found out about this ‘RedBubble”site.

  • Paul McClintockZuul, the Gatekeeper replied

    Hey that’s awesome! Thanks for taking the time to look me up!

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