[Gecko]

Now if you could just tell me whether this looks better or worse than my other recent pics. I honestly don't know... i guess its not all that different, even though I've spent some time lately trying out different approaches to build detail (or illusion of it) and where to put it. I think this has influence coming from socar myles's site. Also, more practise on local lightsources.
The mushroom is magical, look how quickly it's fulfilling the lone mantis's dream of having a friend.



and janne.... well.. just keep your mouth shut about this will ya :P

[EviLToYLeT]

In my opinion, it looks worse. I liked it better when you used the big strokes and brushes.... as opposed to the tiny small sketchy ones used all over this piece. Maybe you were trying to get some .. texture to it, but gah. Doesnt work for me.

[burn0ut]

looks dope, i really dig the treebark and all,
one thing, i think the rock should be bigger,and that ledge? i think its a ledge, well the edge of it id think should get larger as it comes closer to tha viewer,
i dunno it might be the perspective of the rock or something, just something around there doesnt fit!@*(

sorry if i dont know what im talkin about

[KiNgStiNg]

ok...i LOVE the moody this image creates and the meaning i can put to it.......but it deserves touch ups

[Bg]

No words this time, just an overpaint =)


[edit] it's getting too late, forgot the IMG tag...

[ May 24, 2001: Message edited by: Bg ]

[Cicinimo]

I personally prefer this technique. Colors and mood are great. But like some of the others have mentioned, I think you could improve your shapes. To me the mushrooms is a little strange in shape, as is the rock. Still, really cool.

[Gimbal8]

To me this is on par with your other stuff, but just using a different style. The long thin brushstrokes look really cool in some areas. Can't say I like them on the mushroom though. But the edge of that rock..well..rocks. I love it. I guess the top portion of the rock that fades off in the distance could use some minor reworking.

I'd really like to see this style mixed with some larger brush strokes as well. The thin brush strokes make for exellent sense of detail but not everything requires it.

Overall a very cool image.

[Dryfire]

Hey, I don't think you should have too prove which of your images is the best or whatever style, I personally like them all. They all have your 'touch' which is great. The atmosphere in this one is really nice, and colors are great too like usual... I can't decide

[Staff Sarge]

Cool. Maybe somewhat dark, but cool. Sky could be brighter, lit by moon? Just a thought, but this goes perfectly as a practice on local lightsources.

[waylon]

I like it. The smaller brush strokes work well on pretty much everything but the mushroom. And the clouds look great. Although, if you're practicing adding detail in specific places and leaving it out in others, you probably could have simplified the rock forms a whole lot and still gotten away with a successful picture.

Oh, and the lighter patch underneath the rock face looks pretty strange, considering it's lighter than any of the other rocks, is blurrier, and isn't made up of lots of small strokes.

[Socar MYLES]

This is REALLY nice! I especially like the sad, bowed-head praying mantis on the mushroom, and the way you've done the tree-bark. It's good to see you trying out new styles and techniques, and I think this is an excellent piece.

Just a couple of small crits--hope you don't mind:
1. The sky could perhaps benefit from a little more colour. Not much--just a few yellowish highlights under the clouds, as though from a setting sun, maybe, and a few hints of deeper green or blue to add depth to it.
2. The bottom right-hand corner--what's going on there? I can't quite tell if that's water, or a cliff falling off into nothingness.

Overall, though, great atmosphere...and I'm glad my site gave you ideas.

[janne]

mmm... mushrooms.
magical mushrooms...
mmm... uh, what? shut up? damn.


it's great pic though. but i'm missing that sweet bounce light... even when it's a night setting like that, shouldn't that sky cast at least a little ambient light to the surroundings?

janne.

[Rinaldo]

I love it=)

The narative element adds a lot, and it's probably why I like this so much. It's definitly one of my favorites you've done.
I think the way you're "suggesting" the detail is working really well.
Just a thought: one thing that I've always noticed about your stuff is that you use a lot of small and hard strokes. useing some larger empty areas with softer edges in places might add contrast to the stroke style. which might in turn make things look better. but I dunno, this seems to work fine as is.


Jeeez, I need to paint more. everyone is way ahead of me=/

[S4Sb]

I love the new approac�h. I think it looks way cooler. But I also think that bigger brushes would accelerate the learning effect. Well, that's what you told me with your 500 paintings project. And that'S what's Spooge tells us and still does. I agree in most points with waylon, thinking that a mixture of both would be the best.

Perspective is fine. The rock looks cool with tiny brushes. and the lightning is ok as well. Imho

[Collosimo]

Hey that rock in the foreground, it.... well it ROCKS.

Really nice colour and detail on that rock, very interesting, very textured part of the drawing, it looks similar to an expensive stone, or mineral.. nice.

Cool painting overall.. I like the narrative as Rinaldo called it, and the atmosphere. It's thick with atmosphere..

Good work.

[Gecko]

eviltoylet good to see not everyone likes this better, I kind of like some parts of my old paintings :):)

burnout, sorry i just dont see what is so wrong in it. now that i look again it does look a little funny, but not sure what actually makes it that way..

kingsting: agk, what kind of touch ups might you be talking about? :Q

bg: i agree with the sky part, but still dont see why there should be more rocks. I think it's starting to look like the 'camera' was tilting.

cicinimo, thanks, this calls for more painting outside. i agree with the shapes being somewhat half-assed :)


"To me this is on par with your other stuff, but just using a different style. *snip* ...this style mixed with some larger brush strokes as well. The thin brush strokes make
for exellent sense of detail but not everything requires it."

Yes!

im starting to see why the mushroom sucks.. the thin strokes with high contrast makes the material all wrong. it should be a lot smoother and somewhat translucent with the light poking through the hat.

dryfire: you're right, i guess it was a stupid question :)

socar:

I think the sky should stay bluish, maybe more saturation & brightness would help. The yellow is kind of reserved for the lantern and midground. Or that's what i think anyway :Q
the righthand side is supposed to be cliff. I thought about water at one point too. Guess it ended up looking like neither. :P


jannne yeah more light would help. Painting at almost complete darkness is not a good idea either, it seems.

rinaldo i agree completely with you. Look, i tried using softer brushes on the sky!! woohoo :]
and yeah, you need to paint & post lots more.

s4sb you are all too right. i promise to tone down with the detailed parts once i've practised different materials enough :)
I don't see much wrong in the perspective either. Could be blind though.

collo, thank you :)

here, have some biggie brush stuff :P
trying out colors, don't worry, i dont consider them finished pieces :]

[Dives]

That is great.. but i think the rock and the other stuff near the edge is too sketchy.. maybe you could make them stick out more..

[Icannon]

wow! fantastic colors in these last two.
the first image i liked too, but only when i brought it into ps and turned the brightness up. i couldnt see most of the forms - think my monitor is just too dark?