[Jakub Sporek]

Hi!
I'm new to this forum and also new to digital painting... here is my first attempt on painting whole scene.
I know there are a lot of issues but I think u can find some issues of which I don't have a clue... So if u'd be so kind to tell me what should I improve...

Thanks
-Jakub

[Jakub Sporek]

nobody has anything to say? :/

[faeklone]

Well, it's done well, and looks kewl, however I would ask, why is he running in mid air, like a cartoon character, is that meant? Other things I would have a problem with are the flat colour job on all of the surfaces, and the window being used a light source. The widnow seems to be confounding problems, not helping solve them. And did you realize that using the shadin you did, you gave your character a pot belly?

Also might want to consider composition: Why was this the best place to view this particular scne from, is there a better, albeit more challenging way? IS this the most dynamic shot that I can get/want? Etc.

[Jakub Sporek]

First of all thanks for critique!
So... I have to explain things a little bit. I was sketching my first whole character in motion and did't want to achieve any specific motion (like running, jupming or whatever...). I was just sketching and I got this... so I sketched a scene for him and he is meant to be jumping from behind the corner... I know it isn't good, but at the moment nothing else crossed my mind

-To the surfaces: I'll play with it more... it's just first stage.
-To the window: I don't know what exactly do u mean by it... Someone already told me that the light shouldn't lit the surface right next to the wall (make there some shadow) and he was right.... but do you mean anything else? Please tell me...
-To the belly: yes, I want him to have a belly... and I'm proud on how it turned out after shading
-To the composition: well... don't know. I think there are definitely better and more dynamic angles of view... but I can't change it anymore. I had to repaint the whole image... (or if you know something to add or remove to achieve better composition, tell me). I have to think about composition in my futute paintings. Thanks.

So thank you again and if you (or anybody) have some ideas on how to improve it, I'd be grateful!

[Jakub Sporek]

Well... here is some progress... what do you think?

[faeklone]

nice way to look at things, flip it. That trick work really well, and I think really added to the piece. The main thing I want to say involves your light sources. You have the moon, and the window, or a light inside the window. The moon is several million miles away and so all light hitting buildings etc. will be from a stright line basicially. What I'm trying to say is some of the buildings that have light should actually be black because they're really in the shadow of the moon. And since it's a dark night, make all your shadows dark black, and not much of a gradation. THe light in the window acts in a similar way, but more spreadfocus. Figure out where the window should be casting a shadow when it comes to the figure, and not give the figure any of the yellow lighting in those areas. That was the main thing I was trying to get at when it came to the window.

I think your best bet with the moon light is to use it as a black or whit thing. IT's either getting light, and you'll see it strongly, or else it isn't. The light from the window is the main lihgt that will haelp you to define your figure.

Also just thougth of this, when you run, usually it's the opposite arm and leg going at the same time. So your right leg and left arm are going forward as the other two linbs are going backwards. I think that is part of why the figure looks strained in this picture. A couple of other anatomicial notes I just caught: On the outside of the calf, the leg usually curves a bit outward to accomidate the muscles of the calf. Also for some reason, the hip ont he left hand side of the picture look dislocated. Maybe erase all of the leg you can see above the knee, and then extend the crotch down a bit. The arm on the left hand side also bugs me, but I think it's due to the position of the arm. It also could be that the gun looks like it's pointed up, when the hand except for the trigger finger look like they're pointed in the same direction as the forearm.

[Jakub Sporek]

Well... again: thank you for your advices.
I've started to change the lighting from the moon... just the background buildings and the character...
But I feel like I'm loosing details... So before I continue I'd like to hear your oppinion...
What do you think? Am I on the right track or not?

[faeklone]

I think you're on the right track with shading, and detail wise, what's more important here, the figure or the background. Although the background forma and integral part of the whole, it's the figure outside the window that you want to be put on display.

Anyway, it seems to be going good, keep it going.