[Rorsh]

started as a speed sketch, ended up spending an hour & 1/2 on it.

r.

[mjmcchesney]

Nice job, Rorshach. It's nice to see you trying different techniques and refining your skills in each new piece you do.

Overall, I like it. The composition may not be the most exciting, and the dullness on the far left detracts from the far right. It doesn't really push into the skaarj, but rather sits there. An abrupt value change that blends to those of the skaarj would perhaps help fix this.

Another thing is edge definition. Throughout the upper torso, all edges are defined more or less the same way. There aren't really any exciting hard edges or very soft, subtle soft edges. You started doing this at the bottom near the pelvis/thighs. But you've lost a few too many edges--form is difficult to read from it. Try to focus edges so they accent the areas you want the viewer to see first. Lose the edges where you don't want as much emphasis so as to frame those areas that have high definition and acuteness.

Also, the underlighting on the figure doesn't really correspond to the groundfog lighting. It looks like he's supposed to be more backlit, but then he has only the brownish hue on the underside of your forms, suggesting it's underneath him. Perhaps adjust that a little so the viewer knows where the illumination is coming from (it looks like it's supposed to be coming from top right (fill-bluish white) and behind (panel-brownish yellow).

Good job, though. I like it a lot. You're progressing very quickly in terms of illustration. =] I look forward to your next piece.

-Marc

[Rorsh]

thanks for the feedback JM.

I agree with all your points, I am trying hard to break out of my old style and
get some composition skills back.

I'll get there eventually.

r.

[visualsiege]

good points. the only thing I would add is that the arms and the orange areas of the armor don't seem to be defined as much as they could be in terms of shape. some highlights and a few shadows would help. great pic, though I would expect nothing less from the infamous Rorshach.

[Rorsh]

yeah ive spent too long on defining material reliefs again. I'm really trying to break this bad habit ive picked up from skinning.

im confident with material relief but not with the whole edge definition ( when?!?) and
lighting process yet.

working my way up to painting a skaarj vs izarian fight, want to get better control of my painting first though.

r.

[Moose]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rorsh:
I'm really trying to break this bad habit ive picked up from skinning.

---

hehe, even though im not as experienced as you, i agree... and im trying to get myself out of that mindset too...

i dig the painting, but i think the background is lacking comapared to the depth mr skaarj has. i do really love the splattery type stuff you've got goin on at the bottom there, it really gives a dirty feel to that area. i dont think i like the "dreads" too much though, heh they looks a bit too much like a comb-over than a them sweeping back over its head.

he truely looks like he wouldn't take any flak (heh no pun intended there... sorry :\) from any lowly human or other punkass.

i dig it though. i also'd like to say i really dug that one speed painting thing you did in one of the speed threads... the one of the dude and the gun? heh yeah, i like that style, maybe you could mix these 2? just a thought.

[ March 20, 2002: Message edited by: Moose ]

[Cos]

Hey Rorsch, I like how your paintings been developing. This is looking pretty cool imo, strong pose and mood.

I think the main prob was its just a little flat and lacking a definite light source. All the diffferent surface shapes in the armour gives you alot to play with..

Had a go at a paintover, just trying to bring the forms out some more. Don't think I made the most out of them either but pretty tired, so best I could do. I'll post it as a link as not to slow your thread down too much. Hope somethings helpful with it.

[Cos]

doh! forgot the link.. heh
http://www.tbns.net/coskoniotis/rorschrepaint.jpg

[Rorsh]

moose: yeah the background is pretty lacklustre, another weakness from skinning, too much focus on character , not enough on setting.

cos: cheers, that makes things much clearer.
Its more obvious how the right arm in particular was killing the sense of a real light source.

r.

[TossMonkey]

Wow, cool. Rorshach the skinner looking for art tips...

Mind you, with all the prefab rust textures in paint proggy's these days I guess its a lot different in technique... heh, I learned a few good tips off your tut's.

Anyway, nice painting, Skaarj could look a bit meaner though (show a bit of teeth), and maybe the nose is a bit erm... cute? :P

Still, its helluva lot better than my sketches