[Alpha_Meta]

I've finally managed to get a painting pretty close to photo-real, if you step back a bit to where the lack of detail doesn't show. I'd like to get it the rest of the way to photo-real, or beyond photo-real I guess since cameras have their own limitations. I might be able to do it on my own, but a little help from the pro's never hurt

Here's what I got so far -



I used this gal for reference -



I think the colors are pretty much there (no sampling either! Sorry, I get giddy when I actually improve!) although the face could use a bit more punch to compete with the blue of her cape. I've thought about changing the blue but I like it the way it is and I'd rather do something to give the face more impact than to give the cape less impact. I'm sure a sufficiently skilled artist could do it, so I'm going to try to push up to that level.

Any suggestions?

[Alpha_Meta]

Let me go ahead and say that this is not traced and no colors were sampled from the original photo. It's all done by eyeball.

[Max]

Looks very good to me.
more sharpness on some parts maybe
nice job Alpha!!
Keep it up

[genesisnocturnal]

I'd say the only thing that needs a little more detail is the ear. It strikes me that there's this huge space of flesh where in reality would probably have something there. Take a look at long animals with long ears perhaps, cats, dogs, rabbits? And if those don't suite your fancy, try envisioning a human ear, elongated?

Just my 2 cents,
- G
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[Nendil]

::ponders...:: Oh! I know what seems weird about the clothing - it's not picking up color from the surrounding surfaces. The very white collar, especially, would probably have some skin tone and that strong, saturated blue reflected onto it. Also, you might shine onto it some of that pale blue-ish highlight that can be seen on the face and hair. These things will probably help it blend into the scene better.

Also, I don't know if you noticed, but the edge of the collar is a lot more crisp than, say, the contour of the face. Maybe try blending it in a bit more so it doesn't seem so artificial - right now it's kind of "jaggy" at reduced resolution.

Overall a very successful work! I want to be able to paint photo-real like that some day...
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[Alpha_Meta]

I haven't gotten to parts like the ears or collar yet. They're still in the stand-in stage.

[Alpha_Meta]

[Dryfire]

whoah, thats quite awesome indeed, very realistic. I think the bottom of the collar should be tapered out a bit more. It looks to me right now that she has a really long and skinny neck. That may just be my opinoin, or how you wanted it too look. Other than that, its looking pretty great!
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[The Real Mark]

WOW such an improvement from the first one - how long have you been painting digitally? - also did you start with digital painting or trad painting?

[Alpha_Meta]

Dryfire - No doubt the neck is too long. I've moved the jaw line up a few times but I haven't done anything to shorten up the neck to match. I really need to do that.

The Real Mark - I've been painting for about 3 years. It's been real hard to pick up, I've spent a lot of time with line art and hatching but very little with shading.

I've only painted digitally.

[The Real Mark]

Awesome - how did you get that sharpness in the first couple of pictures, the pixelated sharpness in the hair?> - just a brush you made? - also do you use photoshop?

[_JD_]

Did you just simply trace bitmap the original photo to get that first picture?

[helltaxi]

looks to me like you painted over the photo?
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[Alpha_Meta]

The Real Mark - It's Photoshop. I used the pencil tool on the hair strands. It's one of the standard brushes.

_JD_ - No, it was done by eye.

helltaxi - Good! But I didn't!