[Steven Stahlberg]

Scanned sketch in Photoshop... color comes later. A story goes with it, in case you're wondering, but it's not a real 'project', just doodling. Could become a contest entry though, so any feedback welcomed.

[jr]

great to see you posting again steven.
ah nothing like naked girls murdering.
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[neff]

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[AndyT]

Wow! Love it!

It looks a little as if the murdering girl has a beard though.
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[[Armadon]]

Excellent work Steven as usual.
I really love the composition. Nice stuff.
The mood and the characters are very slick
well done[/u]
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Feed the Homeless to the Hungry

[Steven Stahlberg]

Thanks for the feedback, here's a new version:

[Pringle]

Hey Mr.Stahlberg,
I don't really have any critique as it seems you know were your going
with this piece. One question though, how did you make the wallpaper in the
background? did you make a tile and then paste it onto the wall or is it painted
freehand?

Very nice work btw
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[henrik]

Great work Steven,

I like your values, it's sort of flat but it is intentional, so no comment there. Only one thing bothres me, the girl holding the knife, her left hip does not wrap properly, making it look flat. I'd take down the lighter value.
Oh, and the knife has this dark spot in the middle, making it look kinda funky...perhaps make the whole knife brighter as it's a main focal point.
Ok, that was two things, my bad.

Again, cool stuff. Keep it up.
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[faeklone]

just a couple of things that look odd to me.

Well, actually it's all in the same area. It's the torso of the figure with the sword. You have some nice greyscale going on there, but overall that area looks kinda flat. Maybe a bit more shadow in the groin area, and a bit more reflected light from the thigh hitting the abs. Second is that is she's that skinny, shouldn't you be able to see a bit more ribs, or at least the muscles that og over the ribs? IN fact, I can't see a ribcage at all in this figure until you get to about the arm pits. And the light hitting the torso feels wrong if it's the same light that's hitting the leg.

Other than that I love this picture and hope to see it when you finally feel that you're finished with it.

[Petri.J]

WHOOO!! COOL LOL XO X)

[Petri.J]

Who did that newbie comment over there! Oh.. Well, someone should drag them behind barn, and shoot them in the neck. *waves fist and runs away*

Anyway.. As mensioned before, the hip (both sides) doesn't wrap properly, or at least it doesn't look like it would, that hip was the first thing in the picture that cought my eye. And second thing is, that the whole image looks a bit flat. Though that might get fixed when you add colors.
Anyway, looks very good so far.

[Ylla]

i dig the wallpaper man
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"We spend all of our lives going out of our minds..." ~ Live

[Steven Stahlberg]

Good feedback, thanks! Here's a colored version I did, before I read this feedback. I'll work on this some more tomorrow.

The wallpaper is a little tile by William Morris I found on the internet.

[-HoodZ-]

*gasp*

lovely as always steven

[Steven Stahlberg]

Thanks!
I broke down and decided to use some reference (that I shot myself), I think it helps. (Not done yet.)

[Lunatique]

Nonono. Your original figure was more dynamic and expressed a lot more in terms of body language--it's the same reason that comic book art is always more dynamic than photos--because it's been injected with a uniqueness that reality can't touch. I much prefer the non-photo referenced version. The face, the hunch in the shoulders, the angle of the raised elbow..etc are all more dynamic than the latest version.

Another thing is, ever since I saw the sketch, I imagined to be a lot darker and more atmospheric. Here's what I'm talking about:



Excuse the sloppy job. I used a mouse since my Wacom just died on me. Elena broke it by jacking it into the wall socket without using a voltage converter first. Bad wifey! Now I have excuse to buy a shiny new Wacom! BTW, is it cheaper/faster for me to get a new one through Optidigit? If not, where in KL is the best place to buy a new one? I need one ASAP, but I'll bike to work to snag the one at work for this weekend. . ..

[The Real Mark]

LOL - this is a great thread! I can't believe I get to talk to you guys (over the forum)

My 2cents would be to have the victims arm on the killers right arm maybe?? to show a slight struggle? - then again her left arm would more likely be trying to wake up her partner next to her in bed.

great work!

EDIT: - also yes I agree with the lighting lunatique. I would seem to think it would be in the dead of the night, and maybe the only light there would be a maybe some moonlight.

EDIT2: With the two different positions of the attacker, I like both of them, the more dynamic one is good and more of a revenge-full one, and the other one is more like a precise execusion of murder. heh, just my thoughts, they both work for me, it depends on how you want the character to come across

[Yah]

I would have to agree with Lunatique (apart from the darkening of the image). The original was definitely more dynamic, more sinister. IMHO the right leg looked better in the original pics, too. But really, who am I to critique? Damn wonderful stuff...Steven, you are a genius!

[run]

these are perfect pictures.beyond imagination!
regards

[Steven Stahlberg]

Great feeback! I'll backtrack a little on the pose, and make it darker.

Your Wacom - haha, I've broken one that way too. I was in the USA, but still managed to do it, by plugging it into a converter when it didn't need one... I got a new one from Wacom, cause it was recently purchased. But I guess yours isn't new... About your questions, I'm not really sure, and since it's Chinese New Year here there's no one I can ask. Unless I call Alain, call me if you don't have his handphone number.

[Steven Stahlberg]

New version:

[chip_artz]

I agree with Luna, it was more dynamic but i guess u wanted realism either way it's coming alon GREAT.

[Sno]

Looks great -- but for some reason the lightest part of the curtians is where my eye is draw to first, not the people. Could just be me... the picture is beautiful reguardless.

[Renovak]

Yeah, it does look great, but something about the arm being raised throws me off a little... Can't say what, though.

[Steven Stahlberg]

New version:

[ceenda]

Steven: No crits from me, I think it's great. One question though, how did you do the colouring stage? Do you do it on a multiply layer?

Reminds me of the Dutch master techniques where they do glazes over a black and white version.

[StylesDavis]

...the drapery... !!

great work!
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[Ragnarok]

I've been following this thread since it began and the pic just keeps getting better
There's something that bugs me, though. The left leg looks dirty, I'd prefer it more smooth.
Also the raised arm has too much muscle showing imo. Being fairies I'll expect a softer skin. Just a matter of taste
The curtain and the new background look fabolous.
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Seigetsu

[Renovak]

I love the background! And the curtain/drapes are exquisite!

[Steven Stahlberg]

Thanks! Another update coming soon.
I did the color like this:
1. Select large chunks with roughly the same local color. This step is easier if you use many different layers.
2. Colorize each one in a suitable basic color. (In Hue/Saturation.)
3. Now you can very easily use Color Balance - mainly the Shadows and the Highlights, not the Midtones - to make a difference between the darker tones and the lighter tones within each big color block.
4. Use a brush with Color mode to adjust it even more.
5. After that, it's just normal painting.