[g:tech]

Hi guys!

Well, I've gotten to the point where I had no choice but to start to learn how to draw backgrounds. Most of my art is cartoony / anime inspired, and most of the backgrounds in these types of cartoons are done with watercolor. Sooooo, I fired up painter and drew the background with watercolors, and then did the character in Photoshop.

Anyway, I really need some feedback on the background (and the rest of the image, of course), since its the first time I've attempted one. Does it look good? I know there are some perspective problems with the character, but that was simply the result of poor planning. I'm especially interested in "the trees, grass, or dirt, would look better if..." or "I like how such-and-such looks" so I can get an idea of what I did right, and what I should keep working on.

Anyway, enough blabbing, and on to the image. My ultimate goal is to get my art to look like a DVD freeze-frame in a cartoon



Hope you guys enjoy! I had fun doing the pic... it was a major learning experience!

Thanks,
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[Matt Elder]

This image is really cool and I like the way it is coming along. I really like the dirt track in the middle and how it is overlyn by the grass. What I don't find 100% believeable is the way the grass slopes upwards. There is an issue there but I can't quite put my finger on it.

The trees are something that are standing out in my mind. I think the first reason is the way you've drawn them on the left is slightly different to that on the right. I can understand that they are meant to be in the background and won't be that prominate. I don't think the style of drawing an outline of the foliage works well when the grass in the foreground is defined using colour only and not outline.

I really like the flames coming out of the 'scooter' at the back. However something just isn't geling well with a painted background, an outlined character and a cross with the flame - it is part of the character yet not outlined. The dust being brought up is part of the character and outlined. With the dust, it needs to have some fine particles as at the moment, it just seems a little bit flat.

Keep it up and I look forward to seeing more of these.

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See ya on da flip side
Matt
http://www.mattelder.com

[Isric]

That looks REALLY good.

[El Caseron]

Yeah, I like it. But it doesn't look like it belongs to the picture. The scooter just seems to be copied in... perhaps you should try to reflect your normal style in the background. I mean, the character looks anime and the background like taken from "Benjamin Bl�mchen"...( if you don't know Benjamin Bl�mchen it's a comic figure for very small kids. And the coulours in that comic look a bit too paradise like.) Maybe making a bit darker?

Just a suggestion

[Delucubus]

I love your style man. That's Tank right? I can't wait till you do a comic or something with him.

[g:tech]

Matt: Wow! Thanks for one of the most quality crits I've gotten. Your feedback is exactly the stuff I'm looking for. Looking at my pic with the things you mentioned, I really agree with everything you point out. I'm going to take into account all of this with my next image.

Isric: Thanks!! I love your stuff, man. It's great to hear positive feedback from you.

El Caseron: I agree. It doesn't blend just right. Almost, but not quite. I looked up Benjamin, and my background does kinda look like his stuff As for the colors, I know they're a bit idealistic / paradise-like, but that's the sort of feel that I want with this world I'm creating. You may kill me for admitting this, but the Pokemon cartoon is a big influence with my art. I looked at several screen caps and tried to match some of the colors and techniques. I like the feel of the cartoon... happy and lighthearted Heavy stuff is all good, but it's just not for me!

Delucubus: Dude! You remembered Tank!! *surge of happines* Yup, that's him alright, speeding around on a prototype scooter that he built

Anyone else have anything to add? I really gotta nail down the rough spots so I can get better with each image. If you spot anything you really like or see anything that sticks out as odd.... PLEASE point it out!

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[Zenzuke]

Wow, cool stuff you do, g:tech. The only drawbacks are the trees on the left and the strange pose of the guy. BTW, How the hell you get SO clean and precise lines with the tablet?

[EviLToYLeT]

*nod* really nice style. Looks like its..digimon? But anyway,you replicated the style pretty well. Except, the only thing I think you need to do is maybe blur out the background to emphasize the speed on the thing... because that's waht they do in anime.

[TheMilkMan]

Hey man that looks good for your first background. Matt said it all but it still looks good and in a true anime you would not notice the flaws it would be moving to fast and the attention would be on the character.

I would say in fact that outside of the few flaws ..this background is perfect for a homemade animation..have you ever thought about doing it. I am trying my hand right now and I am loving it and it is helping my art skills grow greatly. I think if you have the time you should try it and use background like this just to keep people in the enviroment. You might want to try using flash for making your animation cells you can even use it's colring tool to do your flat character shading. Anyways something to think about...good luck and keep working hard

[Silico]

hellz yeah!! awesome job g:tech, my fellow Oregonian... there's bout 4 of us on here now -- sparrow, g:tech, me, and some other guy i forget...

cool!! that style's really funky, love the way the guy looks back at us! seems like the path ends really weird to me for some reason though, i dunno think it's just me though. hrmmm keep up these cool drawings G!!

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`~*Silico

[El Caseron]

Hey g:

It's ok if you like those colours. Just didn't know if it was supposed to look like this.

I like more brownish and reddish colours. Paradise is also cool though, I guess. Pokemon are not, belive me

But "It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you are not."

[Matt Elder]

thanks g:tech. it's nice when people acknowledge the fact you've taken time to post something and it was 'worthwhile'.

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See ya on da flip side
Matt
http://www.mattelder.com

[This message has been edited by Matt Elder (edited December 01, 2000).]

[sprout]

Very impressed, I love everything about this picture, I am in shock that this is your first background image... very very good, keep it up, and keep drawing!

sprout -- the leader stinky poo


[This message has been edited by sprout (edited December 01, 2000).]