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mattvogt · junior member Member # Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

Here's my initial sketch:

and a study of a cowboy:

It's an assignment from Iain McCaig. The outline is basically a vampire with a western genre twist.... bonus points if the vampire is not a villain but a good guy hahaha!

I will post more studies and compositional sketches before work on final begins. Any comments would be much obliged!

Thanks for viewing,
Matt Vogt

Ranath · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:57 am

I would make the first pics composition more dynamic. Put the camera lower so we see the werewolf more from below. Might be more powerful.

mattvogt · junior member Member # Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

Thanks for your advice Ranath! I tried to push the angle a bit lower but I still need a cowboy hunter freaking out hahaha. Everything's a bit closer and the composition has a couple pointers -> the bear's leg pointing at cowboy, jagged rocks, cowboy looking, and the values of the moon.

So far I still think I didn't push the angle enough. I'll rework the rocks, bottom left, to give it more depth! phew when the directors ask for another camera angle... it really pushes your awareness of 3D

the misses:

Some further venturing into the unknown... I think some moonlight/rock/bear studies will ensure success

Of course I don't mind elaborating on the fact that I've been working with Iain McCaig. I mentioned that on some other forums and no one ever bothered to ask - good call man! Basically another online community (http://pixelcorps.com) hosted two courses by Iain. One, a drawing bootcamp in which we studied roughly 10 elements that make up a good drawing. The other course was a concept design and visual storytelling workshop in which we tackle 10 of the utmost visually challenging dilemmas known to man. The above is one of them. I'll ask when the next courses will run and let you know. I give them both my seal of approval Wink

Thanks again and more to come - keep in touch!

mattvogt · junior member Member # Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

S'more related study!

In case you're wondering why my vampire image isn't being touched at the moment:

Ranath · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2007 5:02 am

nice work! Good faces. I would try to separate my foreground, midground and background more in environment pieces. Right now you basically have just sky and one element in your scenery. The werewolf piece improved, I think, I'd still do something about the pose of that werewolf - seems like it's dancing if you look at legs.

But yeah, thanks for the information about that class, you just became my best friend.. I'm so there if they ever have another course.

mattvogt · junior member Member # Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 30

Ranath, thanks a bunch for your such solid critiques! I took what you said to heart regarding fg/mg/bg elements. Might have to push it more. Alas! Those legs went through many changes..... I'm still waivering on them.. more to come!

ps: good to have another best friend! Iain will catching up around end of month. I'll ask when the next batch runs! Also, I'll be reworking many of the 10 challenges he's given and will be posting WIPS here. As I always say... more to come Wink

Trying a new method of going from value to colour:

Bear Study:

An Update:

The support I've received has been awesome. Thank you