[GG]

I've enjoyed many of the thoughtful (and not so thoughtful) crits I've seen here. I really need some. I feel I'm on the verge of losing control of this image in the color area. The light is indirect and about noonish. I could use any other crits as well. Thanks for looking. -Guy




[ September 12, 2002: Message edited by: GG ]

[Torstein Nordstrand]

I think the colouring hangs together, and I do not see you losing control at all.

To create interest in your focal areas (the face, the medallion), You can add more contrast via sharpness/detail/saturation/colour variation. Also, if we are to spend time looking at the medallion, maybe you could make it more interesting designwise. It's a bit formless right now, more work!

Other than that the picture looks good, I think it conveys a sombre mood without being depressing.

[EviLToYLeT]

Well, I think the problem with this piece is that all the texturing .. is just so similar if not the same on all the parts of the painting. For example, the little necklace bronze piece .. i'd imagine it to be shinier and sharper, reflect something.. however, you seem to have murked it up with the same blot blot blot technique.
the face and hand are looking good however .. maybe just try getting different textures on their respective errors. (ie. the sleeve and the .. cuff should be different)


Mmmmm... well if all else fails, just take a step back and work on it a week from now... and the blatant errors will come out at you.

[GG]

Thanks for the great observations guys. I'm on it!

[Torstein Nordstrand]

Be sure to post it, friend

[GG]

I've worked some on the crits. The blotchy parts are mostly my left-over sketch which I'm still ironing out. The medallion I think, still needs work or a total redo, maybe with a ref next time.


[ September 13, 2002: Message edited by: GG ]

[cptoonz]

Hiya'

well, you have recieved some solid C&C here, and I do not feel qualified to crit you, essentially, so I will post merely my observations, and leave it at that. I like both pics. Interestingly, with the flip I see two different women...I don't know why, I just do. There is a harsh, stark simplicity to the first that is very appealling and compelling. I cannot quantify that (at all)...or qualify it anymore so. Anyway, I like the revision, as well...but she looks different, as I said... for what that's worth -probably what you paid for it Anyway, nice work. Keep postin'.

[Torstein Nordstrand]

I think you've definitely taken it further. I'm very much into studying focus/selective detailing/composition right now, so bear with me. I can't seem to comment on anything anything else. :P

When you deliberately add focus to a part of the picture, that Focal Point must be correct, because the viewer will spend much of his/her time looking at that point, right? Also, the FPs must also make our eyes travel across the picture. Right now I feel stuck going back and fourth between the face(eyes) and the medallion. Maybe you could add some more detailing to let's say the sleeve or something? Or the shoulder? Or maybe just a bold stroke there, that went completely the other direction? Or a stroke with a complimentary colour? Brom does that alot. Also, you might want to add some saturation variety to that red undergarment, it really pops too much forward now, I think.

Anyway, these are just things I am especially interested in at the moment, and thoughts you might want to consider. I really like the way you've done your loose strokes up to now, btw. I'll be waiting for an update

[ September 14, 2002: Message edited by: Torstein Nordstrand ]

[GG]

cptoonz, actually the "look" I liked, I captured very early on in the sketching process, and then proceeded to slowly destroy it in the painting process. I'm not unhappy with it now, but I definately need to learn how to preserve what's good while trying to improve.

Torstein, I agree with everything you've said, I wish I had put more consideration in those areas before I got this much further along. I may have opened up the composition with more background depth, though the trees need work. At this point they seem to stagnate somewhere between to unclear, or too clear. I may have to take some advice here and put it down for a week.

[Max]

I love it.
Yes,..LOVE it!!!
Reminds me of these baldur's gate concept art - paitings.

I am a fan of this style.

[GG]

That's interesting Max, it's the second time someone said that. And thanks for the compliment.

[ September 15, 2002: Message edited by: GG ]

[cptoonz]

GG,

Well, I understand exactly where you are coming from. I empathize in that my initial concept and sketch (often spontaneous and unhibited) are what I want, and yet, when I move to follow through, I lose it. If I ever fix this problem for myself, I will let you know!

Anyway, the final image is excellent. You seem to have "pulled it back", if you will Great work and keep it up!

[Lunatique]

It's Looking really good.

My suggestion would be to make whatever blue you have in there a lot more saturated. Right now, you have one key color and it's getting a bit monochromatic. The snow everywhere would reflect the sky, and there would probably be some fairly saturated blues bounced onto the girl. Even if by laws of physics the blues shouldn't really show up, it's still visually more interesting to have them. I would take visual priority over scientific correctness any day.

[GG]

The thoughts on adding contrasting blues and the medalllion are very helpful. I'll be working on that. Thanks.

[ahw]

I like
I think the only obvious problem with the picture is the medallion.
It almost perfectly at a golden point, it's contrasting on the red coat, and it's shiny in opposition with the shadows of the coat.

And yet there seem to be something wrong, I think it's the perspective.
I dunno why but I think it should be tilting the other way. Or maybe it's the shadowing ?

Other than that, I love it ! There is a very nice feeling, all the colours seem to blend in and give an autumn/sunny winter feeling to the scene.
If you decide to rework the trees behind, I would be careful not to add too much shadows and details, I feel it would clutter the overall picture and kill the nice balance you have there.
Maybe make it a tad bit more blue to accentuate the depth effect and contrast with the character and the trunk ?

"Baldur's gatesque", yeah, that's a very nice compliment, and very appropriate !