[ElfGirlKimmy]

First of all... HI EVERYONE!!! I'm new here, and this is my first post.

From what I've seen of this place, I think I might like it here.

This is a work in progress I wouldn't mind some feedback on. It's done with Photoshop 8 CS and an optical mouse. This particular piece has a ref. photo I'm working from.

Any comments/crits would be helpful, positive or negative.



Thanks everyone.
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[Lunchtimemama]

That is amazing work with a mouse! Esp. her hair. The skin quality is convincingly subtle too. I am the furthest thing from an expert, but the lighting feels just a bit flat. Maybe you're going for a slightly surreal tone (particularly with that monochromatic background), but I would like to see more defining values. It might not be how the ref looks, but poetic license is one of the artist's best tools. I'm feeling the need for more shadow under his eyebrow, on her face under him, and perhaps some highlights on his forehead for depth. Anything you could do to wetten the lips would add some character too. Again, just some casual observations. This is seriously very good, and I'm just amazed that you did it with a mouse! Thanks for sharing it with us and keep up the good work man.

[faeklone]

Lunchtimemama is right. The picture is flat. I see that it's a work in progress, but so much deatil for so little dpeth is a little disconcerting at this stage in the picture. Bring out more depth using complimentary colours, or even a bit of blue in the shadows. Quit using black at a low tranparency. It's not helping with the picture. Make the joining of their lips black, like a line seperating the two of them. That will make it feel more like they are actually toucning instead of floating on top of one another. The hair isn't bad, but could use some work. Same as everything else, define the volume through value, and then add details. Last of all, decide on a background. The whole picture should work in harmony with the background, so a flat colour as the background sin't going to help it any.
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[faeklone]

Lunchtimemama is right. The picture is flat. I see that it's a work in progress, but so much deatil for so little dpeth is a little disconcerting at this stage in the picture. Bring out more depth using complimentary colours, or even a bit of blue in the shadows. Quit using black at a low tranparency. It's not helping with the picture. Make the joining of their lips black, like a line seperating the two of them. That will make it feel more like they are actually toucning instead of floating on top of one another. The hair isn't bad, but could use some work. Same as everything else, define the volume through value, and then add details. Last of all, decide on a background. The whole picture should work in harmony with the background, so a flat colour as the background sin't going to help it any.
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"It's not the tools you use but how you use them that counts."

[ElfGirlKimmy]

There -will- be a background. I just haven't gotten that far and never work on white after I have the basic idea down because it sucks the details out of an image.

And I haven't been using low-transparency black as much as you'd like to think - I'd say half of the shadows are blue or darker browns. I guess its just too subtle.

But I will try to bring more depth into the picture with both your guys' suggestions. I'm a self-taught artist, so I haven't really been taught what colors will add more depth to skin. It's something I've been struggling with for awhile, and the learning process has been slow.
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[ElfGirlKimmy]

Okay, I worked the skin some. Does it look better now? Worse? Does it need more work? If so, where/what/how? Hehe. :-�

Still need to finish his jacket and shirt. Not sure how to improve the hair at all.

Also, I'm struggling with ideas for a background. Any suggestions?



Thanks for taking time to view/critique my stuff, I really do appreciate it.

.Kimmy.
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[EviLToYLeT]

hi elfgirlkimmy,

the girl is very well drawn i must say... and with an optical mouse!

For the guy, some thing thats bothering me a bit is the neck area. it doesn't seem properly foreshortened. The adams apple area is a bit confusing for me. I can tell people are trying to kiss at an angle , but the implication isn't quite there. Perhaps reshading the chin and below area would help?

good luck !
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[faeklone]

Here's an overpaint I did, I obviously had too much time on my hands, and it's more painterly then I think you're looking for, but the painterly can be refined.

The background was a picture I got off of google and then used photoshop to fool with, used filters and then went at it myself with the blend tool.


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[ElfGirlKimmy]

Thanks for all your input faeklone. Some of it is really really helpful, some of it I just don't agree with, lol. I don't like how your "improvements" on the guy changed his whole face/chin/neck shape.... I'm staying truer to the ref photo than I usually do with art pieces, mainly because its me and my boyfriend, and I want it to acually look like us when it's done. Here's the ref, if you're curious:

http://xs13.xs.to/pics/05044/TavKimRef.jpg

The main thing I'm really intent on changing at this point is the background. I've been working the faces some more too, but not enough for me to post it again, lol.

Again thanks a ton, you really are a big help. I love and hate art forums. They challenge me to improve and frustrate the hell out me, hehe.
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[faeklone]

yEha, I was thinking about pulling the paintover that I did just due to the fact that after I had posted it I read the whole thread over again and realized you said there was a photo reference. SO therefore I apoligize for doing that overpaint without seeing the photo-reference first.

That being sadi, looking at the refence tells me that hopefully on your latest versions you've been hitting the values a little more extrememly to give it more of a 3D feel. the only thing I can comment on without seeing your latest version is that her sull is a littletoo short. If you measure the one in the picture, it's about the same length as her face.

HOpe this becomes less frustrating to you and more of a learning experience. I am always here for help if you need it and you can stand it.
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"It's not the tools you use but how you use them that counts."

[ElfGirlKimmy]

Okay, I started on the background (despite the fact that his shirt and coat are still incomplete) aaannnnd.... all I really have to say say is, I have no idea how to paint trees. ;_;

I looked for tutorials n stuff, but didn't reeally find anything. Any help anyone could give me would be appreciated. I kind of like the softness of the background foliage, I just don't know what to do about those closer trees. >.<

When its eventually complete, hopefully it will remotely resemble France's Pont Du Gard.


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