[ceenda]

detail:




This was basically an attempt to simulate those old oil portraits you get in the galleries but via digital means. About halfway through I realised that I'd messed up the lighting and that the composition was way too crowded (the axe being something of a last minute add-in). Also, the colours for the different materials don't blend together at all, as my colour technique is very bad.

Any crits would be greatly recieved.

Oh, there's a black and white version here: http://www.arkiruthis.f9.co.uk/painting_blacknwhite.jpg

[ May 25, 2002: Message edited by: ceenda ]

[pixelsoldier]

Hey ceenda,

I really enjoy your work. This one doesn't tend to sit well with me though. I feel uncomfortable looking at it.

I think the speckled background really detracts from the figure. It all seems very "busy". It also enters shadow VERY abruptly. I don't even register the dark area on the bottom of the wall as a shadow, but as the actual paintjob on the wall.

In my opinion, a somewhat "rough", painterly background would work really well. I immediately think of Sedone's work when trying to come up with a visual example of what I'm talking about. His backgrounds have a really elegant simplicity to them that I think might work really well with this figure.

Just my two cents. I really do think you rock.

[jasonN]

Hey Ceenda, I really love all your work, this one is really good too. I especially like the face area.
One thing that sticks out for me is the fact that the dog seems overly lit. Everything else that low in your painting (such as the legs) is either in shadow or very subtly lit, but the dog is lit as though the primary lightsource was purely shining on it.

I would either tone down the dog or brighten up the lower areas such as the mans legs to make a more consistent lighting scheme.

Hope this didn't come off as condescending or rude as that was the last thing I wanted. Just my 2 cents.

[ceenda]

Thanks for the comments guys.

Yeah, that background was kinda screaming "RRRRAAAAARRGGHH", so I've taken it out for the time being and I'll put something better in. Yep, big fan of Sedone's work, so hopefully he won't mind me borrowing a few background ideas.

Also, I realised that the Axe wasn't casting a shadow, so put something in quickly to ground it a bit more. Might tone the lighting on the dog down a bit too.

[sfr]

Looks pretty good, and I really like the motif! This guy and his dog have some personality

But if you're going for that old portrait look, I think there's way too much sharply-edged pure black though, it gives this a very digital look. Also the drop shadow on the axe isn't very successful at the moment, it makes the axe look like a Photoshop layer.

But otherwise I really like the colours, the red on his suit and the coppery shine on the axe are simple yet attractive and elegant.

Saffron

[DickCheese]

Sweet!
I really like this but I see some lighting problems. There are lot's of very dark areas that are facing the light sorce but are still cast in shadows. The background is illuminated from this light source but some elements of the character are still in shadow.
For example, wouldn't the axe handle and hair have some light cast on it?

Just my observations.