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Oli_D · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2001 4:48 am

I been working on a beachy scene and have reached the point where I need to add all the little touches to bring it to life.

My thoughts were sparkles on the water, reflections, and some object on the right hand side. This hasn't been planned, i just got carried away with a doodle!!

The problem I have with lots of my work is that it tends to look too plastic, too digital!!

Does anyone have any suggestions/crits for this pic or advice on brushes perhaps to get away from the plastic look. I know it's asking quite a lot!!

Anyway what do you think so far?

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Oli_D
www.grayscales.com

SoMK · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2001 9:07 am

I see what you mean.. Using smudge tool easily blurs the colours and turns the pict into a blobby thing of dripping paint.
Imho, your pict lacks transparencies and reflection..For example, the water, as it's clear enough to show the light colour of sand underneath should react at the proximity of the cliff. The sun should play on the waves. the cliff, cast shadows...
Light on this kind of resort is usually really harsh *says the one with the Margarita*, in your pict, the weather seems cloudy.
That will teach you showing me picts like this one when I'm still burried under the snow *:p*

Just my 2 cts... or their equivalent in local booze.

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SoMK -----
Either way, you get your dog back. (Veterinary-taxidermist motto)

dogfood · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2001 12:51 pm

I've beeen staring at this pic for a little while trying to work out the persprective (I'm not sure if the bottom of the rock looks quite right in relation to the horizon) when I realized I don't know where the sun is(other than 2/3 out from the galactic core)! I just can't make out the shadow logic (but then, I'm a bit of a loser). I agree that some water highlights would brighten things up (ooo, sparklies...).

[This message has been edited by dogfood (edited April 10, 2001).]

Mike · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2001 5:11 pm

maybe in the rocks, it's the constant level of detail that might be throw people off too. if you lose detail as it is further away it would help

EviLToYLeT · Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2001 6:20 pm

Looks good. The horizon line.. that's a bit too straight. Hrmm.. I'm not sure what it's supposed to be like.. so can't help you there. maybe someone else can

anyway, dogfood has an extremely good point, the rocks maintain too much detail. You need to dull down the detail in some areas and allow the viewer to focus his eyes somewhere. The rocks are lacking a depth as well.

-Tepox- · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2001 2:37 am

You have nice start here. I made quick paint-over. Hope you don't mind. I don't know do you want to add some waves but I did. I tried to give some depht with the waves. I also add some warmer colors to the cliff (I over did the fog accidently). Softened some edges of the cliff too.

Oli_D · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2001 8:02 am

Thanks for all your advice - I definitely agree that the cliff needs less definition as it recedes, a point made clearer by Tepox's alterations, so thanks for that.

I'll go away now and try to incorporate some of this.

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Oli_D
www.grayscales.com

hipmix · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2001 9:39 am

hey i had this idea for your pic.
Maybe a big wave scalling down as the perspective fade...
i think it will ad a mood to your scene...
i dont know!its a 2 second thing...
First time i ever painted over someone else artwork!!!!!!
im sorry !!!! tell me what you think

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www.pascalbeaulieu.homestead.com

Ben Barker · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2001 2:30 pm

I have a problem with the depth cues. The rock is obviously very large, since it has little trees and things on it. That would mean the beach is hundreds of feet long.

The beach and water seem to have a size corresponding with a viewpoint standing right on the beach. The cliff and horizon make it seem that the viewer is hundreds of feet in the air. I can see the top of the cliff, so I can't be standing on the beach.

I would expect the jungle to come up almost to the edge of the beach. Also, in that case, the water would get deeper quicker, and the shelf would be more abrupt.
The farther cliff would be bluer, because of haze. As would the horizon when seen from this height.

So, either fix the cliff, or fix everything besides the cliff, because the messages I am getting from those two elements contradict one another. I think this is what is bugging people.

Mike · Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2001 9:52 pm

here's my go at it. i basically changed the shape of the rocks on the left to give it more depth and made the shadows cooler. i tried to do what ben barker said about atmospheric perspective. I curved the horizon a bit, but the sharpness of it looks funny to me.

please forgive the quick 15min sketch

Oli_D · Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2001 12:44 am

That's great Mike!

I always thought that the cliff looked a little out of place compared to the rest but couldn't put my finger on it.

The high viewpoint and exagerrated curvature of the horizon makes for a really interesting piece - I may try that for the repaint.

Thanks to everyone for you comments.

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Oli_D
www.grayscales.com