[Cicinimo]

Well, not THAT giant. I finally got my scanner working, so I thought I would scan my latest work. This first one was all drawn yesterday, in pencil, and the second one was drawn tuesday, in ink. No reference for either. C&C always appreciated. Enjoy!






I debated if I should post in WIP, since they're pencils and pens. But I figure theres more traffic through here, and I've got a better shot at eeking some replies...

[feebsaint]

You have a great style developing here! Keep at your pencil skills. I can't help but say that, as a slave to the pencil god.

Also, although your inks are clean, they fall short of your pencils. You have a fine battle scene inked there, but there is no contrast.... and there needs to be contrast. I would have guessed this was your plan, but since you posted in: Finished Work, I thought it wise to bring up.

The trees in the background, for instance, could bear to be made black silhouettes. The castle too. Varying the lineweight is extremely important, too. Use heavier lines in heavily shadowed places. For example, the top of an arm would have a thinner line, to represent light on it, and a heavier line under the arm, to indicate both shadow, and supportive weight.

The biceps of these guys are too long... attaching into the forearm (well, at least on the arm to our far left). Another anatomy issue, is their heads. The dude on our left has a stretched head, while the fella to the right is sporting a squished melon.

I have a couple of more critiques to offer, but please don't get me wrong... these are strong drawings, and you should be proud. More than anything, I'm delivering a 'heads-up' for future drawings you may be working on.

The pencilled swordsman has a few noticeable problems... he has too long of a head (stretched long vertically), and he has ultrathin fingers. The legs are drawn, in perspective, too far forward, as if he were cut in half, and under his cloak, his legs were pulled at least a foot forward. See the leg on the far right? It's going straight up into where there's no chance of a hip being.

At the angle that leg is traveling upward... to make it correct, you would literally have to move it so far left, that the knee would be behind the sword. In fact... if the sword were his leg, it would still be too far forward... the angle is the same, and it is still not going to be back far enough to hook in with the hip.

Solid style, though, man... Sorry I went on so long... if I had known I'd be typing this long, I would have simply drawn a 'fix' of that leg, and be done with it. If you don't understand where I'm coming from, and would like me to still do the 'fix,' let me know, and I'll do that. Have a good one, fella. Catch you soon.

[Isric]

Wow Mr. Feebsaint, you must have a lot of time on your hands, or your just a prolific writer in the dealings of art. Your tips have been inspirational to me, I'm learning along with everyone else.

Cicinimo: You've got a good line base, and I would love to see what you can do with color. Color changes an image almost 180 degrees, and it looks like you've left all the options open. It'll be good to see the finished art (here in the finished gallery)

[feebsaint]

Isric... you have the BALLS to compliment me?? Man.... you absolutely ROCK. "Mr. Feebsaint," indeed. I should address you as "Sire," or "Your Highness."

Dude, it's true that I'm spending a ton of time here... but it's only because I have huge deadlines. The more I'm in a crunch, the more I find myself in places, doing things, that I shouldn't. I'm amazed that you find any inspiration from my comments.

As far as I'm concerned, you don't need anything from me, that you already have yourself... Cicinimo... sorry to use this thread like this... but I gotta say this here, to keep it in context.

Your raw talent floors me. I still struggle to do colors and such, and you seem to be able to 'fart' them out. Your natural approach to life is astonishing, and I love every damned piece you have on your website (which is in my favorites, as of 2 minutes ago).

I'll have to catch up with you in another post... I've never seen you before, and now I'm practically breathless, from your work. Kudos, man, and thanks for the ultimate compliment of saying YOU are learning from ME.

Cicinimo... he's right, of course, about color changing the thing 100%... hell, take a gander at his site... you'll see what I mean. Good luck, and I hope this turns out great.

*blanket statement* I've been shelling out a bunch of advice lately... like I'm some authority... but I'm really teaching myself, and reminding myself of principles when I do that. I'm also using this place as a means of socializing... been working so many damned hours, that I don't ever see people, or have a life... in this crunch, this place is a god-send.*/blanket statment*

[Cicinimo]

Thanks feebsaint, I understand what your saying. Theres no need to make some drawings for me. Infact, after I mow today and do some of my other household chores (grrrr to parents) I think I'll work on it a bit more. Its great to get a long reply. Oh, and I dont mind you adressing someone else in my thread; I'm not a selfish kinda guy .

Isric, thanks for the color tip. I can only hope to be as skilled as you in three years . One thing thats kind of bad for me is my lack of a tablet. Still, I've made some color art on the computer. But for now, if you want to see what I can do with color, check out some of these: http://gnarg.slackworks.com/MTimages/jhenna%20small%20copy.jpg http://gnarg.slackworks.com/MTimages/darkman2corrected.jpg http://gnarg.slackworks.com/MTimages/marker2.jpg http://gnarg.slackworks.com/MTimages/wallet.jpg http://gnarg.slackworks.com/MTimages/pencil.jpg http://gnarg.slackworks.com/MTimages/ma%5C%27sface1.jpg http://gnarg.slackworks.com/MTimages/man%20in%20car.jpg

Thats pretty much everything I've painted in photoshop since I got the program (other than little design-type graphics) I didnt have a reference for the first two. Anyways, if anybody has time to go and check them out, feedback on those would be good too.

[Cicinimo]

*bump* Can I maybe, pretty please, get a few more replies? Aspiring artists like me need a little feedback from some of you guys that have already made it . Its hard to improve when I dont hear whats wrong . I'm not trying to be greedy or anything...

[Cicinimo]

grrr, double post

[ June 23, 2001: Message edited by: Cicinimo ]

[Icannon]

i'll second what feebs said and bump your thread up while i'm at it ;]

[feebsaint]

Cicinimo... You're links to your colors reinforce my statement that you have a strong style. You are probably rather young, and quite probably better at color than I was at your age, so any critique from here on out, take with a grain of salt.

There are too many images for me to go through them all, and say what I would like... but, on the whole, you're kinda going haywire with your colors and values... it would be best, if you picked a point of interest on a piece, and make everything play second fiddle to it. Some examples: Arranging the layout so that the flow of objects point to it, or draw attention to it (it, being the point of interest). Have the point of interest be sporting both the darkest darks, and the lightest lights (contrast). 'Play down' or 'mute' the rest of the colors, in non-essential parts of your paintings.

Also... try not to 'over-do' your colors... you variate so much, it's rather impossible to find a consistent theme... even in a chaotic painting, there should be a solid hue, richness, or value... these works of yours, on the whole, appear to be showing no sense of visual design... they sort of seem to 'let the chips fall as they may.'

I saw this painting Todd Lockwood did, that is a great example of this. Check it out.

Notice how he draws attention to the three figures at the center of the painting... the wings of the dragon form a V that points you to his head... the dragon's head is sporting, by far, the highest amounts of contrast on the rest of his body. That contrast is repeated in the upper portions of both the man, and the woman... The wings of the dragon aren't the focal point, so they fall back and are more 'smeared' than his head... the values are played way down, too... the strongest hues are in his face. The same thing that is happening with the dragon wings (and tail), is happening with the cloak of the humans. Even the rock they all stand on has it's focal point, which quickly falls out of detail, as it moves away from the central point of interest.

Again, with the dragon wings, notice how the bottom of the wings, also draw you to the grouping at the center.. the dragon's raised foot better completes the "V" formation of this piece... even the clouds are repeating the theme.

These are all very important rules, and need to be explored, for a bona-fide career in what you're apparently bent on persuing. Good luck to you. You really do have the raw talent... it's only a matter of practice, and really thinking about what you're doing, as you go on through your life as an artist.

[Cicinimo]

Thanks feebsaint. Your comments are GREATLY appreciated. Yes, I am relatively young (15) but your comments are worth far more that that. I've seen your work. You're awesome. That bit about making the center of interest having the highest contrast; I havent heard that, thats very useful. Some of the other things you mentioned are similar to feedback I've been getting from other sources. I've heard to use a triangle, of sorts, for the overall composition. For example, having three extreme points to the painting, and have everything lead into the focal point. I'm studying that dragon picture and taking into account what you said. Thanks so much.