[R0gi]

Hello all,

I have just got painter and I have been struggling with layers, selections, transparency and masks (painter is so confusing at the moment). I have spent about a week working on the attached pic and have reached the point that I dont know what to do next.

Please crit and suggest anything.



used a sketch ref from a book and shaded from my mind.

I think that:

It needs more contrast? more highlight?
the background is awfull and needs to be ditched, looking for inspiration.
Colours? I am unsure about colours as I am colourblind and any subtle colouring is a problem for me.

Thanks in advance

Tony.
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[faeklone]

I don't know much about apinter, so I can't help you there, but I can help you with the anatomicial problems. I always start figure drwings with a quick sketch at the skeletal level. I make a circle for the head, circle for pelvis, and circles for the various joints in the body. This usually gives me the correct feel and looseness that a body should have. It also tells me where I'm making things too short or too long.

Unfortunately, since you didn't work with reference you had to make everything up. That requires a large knowledge on the human figure, how it works, moves and displaces weight. But let's start from the top of the head and work our way down.

The head needs to be brought down slightly, it's too high. The right shoulder is a bit too low, and the indication of the armpit is a little too curved outward. The neck is too wide. It's just about a good angle on the left, but on the right it should head down a bit more, just due to how those muscles move at that angle. And I would get rid of that shadow of the spine on her neck, there's too many muscles back there to create that shadow.

The left arm is out of joint. If you draw a circle at her shoulder, and another one at her elbow, connect them with lines, the arm should line up with those lines. Also the elbow is easier rendered with a couple of parrelel lines parelel to the direction of the arm. The hand needs work as it looks out of joint too. A hand out flat is nearly a flat plane. All the work done to render the wrist has ruined the rest of the hand.

There's too much space to see the breast under her arm, but that could be due to the overdeveloped armpit area due to the black to make the shadow. The right shoulder blade needs a companion, and additional, less dfined shadows. The spine is Curved in real life, you have a straight one that wouldn't exist in real life. Pull the bottom of the spine more to the left and it will alighn it self correctly. The right arm also get's too fat in relation to where it is in the overall sceme of things. Again, it could be the shadow interfering. The waist needs to be about halfway between where it is now and the line for the butt dimple. The hip curve where the butt becomes the leg should happen at the bottom of the butt curve.

last of all, the legs are all out of proportion to the rest of the body. They have the same length as the arms when in reality, they're alot longer. I like how they're rendered, it will look better, however, if you figure out how to stretch them out longer.

That's my say. If you don't get what I'm trying to say, or would like an overpaint ot show you what I'm trying to say, just ask.

[Radiance]

well, my above question really is the starting point for all my own artwork. but it seems you just started painting a nude, and then stranded now that the nude is 'finished'.

think of a scenery where she may be in, and let that be your background.
i'm thinking of the 'bathing beauty' concept:
replace that table by a big rock, make her stand in shallow water, and have a splendid waterfall in the background with all the majesty of mother nature
does that help?

great painting,
cheers!

[R0gi]

Thanks very much for this help, it's really appreciated.

I'm going to try drawing a manaqin(sp?) figure over the painting I have and correct the proportions as you have suggested (I have also had a look at one of the Loomis books) and I will probably paint this from srcatch then. I'm also going to try a beach scene for the background. It may take a while as I am not a fast worker.

I would be very grateful for a overpaint Faeklone, so I can compare with my new proportions.

Roll on the weekend!

Thanks again.

Tony.
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[dontfallin]

its beautiful

[faeklone]

Well, I played with the figure in photoshop, tried to see if I could stretch things. Also played with the colouring a bit, so this is more like a sketch, bit hopefully it's helpful.

[acidcrys]

I wouldn't take faeklone's advice to heart - the suggestion is a more standard "beauty based" body in my opinion...

when I first looked at your image.. I saw it as frumpy, pleasantly plump.. old woman.. Some people have shorter legs - and for that thought in mind.. your legs are pretty much fine.. The one thing I notice is mainly her entire right side .. is incredibly flat and uncurved.. the shoulder needs a bit more width and roundness to it.. Curve in a bit for the hip area.. and add a little roundness to the right butt cheek. I would also suggest making the arms a little tiny bit thicker.. The spine is also a bit off .. and also I believe the breast would fall a bit higher on the torso


heres a ref to help a bit with shading:
http://www.fineart.sk/anatomy4artist17.jpg
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[Andy`Ba]

I agree with acidcrys. The proportions of the woman on your image are OK if its a plump, short woman.
It looks more like old fashion women.
Although it seems that something is wrong with feet proportions.
I would make the right foot a bit smaller.
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