[samdragon]

Ok, here is where i'm at now with this image.
I thought this was a good stage to stop and get some more input on it. I should finish it in a day or two, between other projects.
I'm up for all and any comments so far.
Thanks for the help you guys gave before, You where great and it helped alot! Keep em coming

[samdragon]

hrmm... After reading Fred's post about the use of photography as reference, as well as the many many many others, I thought i would post the photograph i used for this image.
As you can see the only thing i used was the form. I kept some of the lighting on some areas, but over all it's different. I'm not going into the photographic effects and all, but that's a really crappy print.
I had to use what was laying around my apartment for the pens and stuff, so those where painting in photoshop while I held them in my hand.
From this photograph I did about 20 or so thumbnails with different positions, different lighting, different armor etc, I finally left the pose the same and decided on some armor. All the photograph did was give me something to work with, kinda like a jumping point. But drawing from life is so much better, the next image I do will be based from a live model, when it's done I'll post it and compair and constrast the two to show the difference.
oh yeah..here the image...uh..that's not my gut, uh..that's a um...lens effect yeah..something was on the lens and made my gut really big..hehehe

[lotor]

Sure now you have photo reference. But you didn't use it enough.

You totally change the light source. This is very difficult to do successfully.

The light source is what gives a piece the most amount of realism.

You should also get photo ref. for the background from the same light source.

And what is with those strange dots floating around the guys body?

[proximo]

My thoughts on it is that i like the pic, i like the way it is comming and out and think it will be tight when its done , just a few things i saw .. the black pen behind the guy the tip looks a litte bent,, and the chrome paint brush infront of him looks a little off also , when i say off i mean like it looks bent in a way .. anyhow just my thoughts .. later all ..

[Jaymo]

quote:

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Originally posted by lotor:
Sure now you have photo reference. But you didn't use it enough.
You totally change the light source. This is very difficult to do successfully.

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Eh?! Wasn't that what samdragon just said? Read his post....sure it's difficult to make up the light without reference, but why not practice?

quote:

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Originally posted by lotor:
And what is with those strange dots floating around the guys body?

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Lemme guess....he was to lazy to create swatches for his custom palette?

Samdragon: Nice pic so far!

[spooge demon]

Mister Dragon,

Wow, I remember when you wrote me when I posted stuff on aol. And now you are graduating! Congrats...

I think the overall composition needs improvement.

I apologize for it being CRAPPY because I did it in PS 6 and I can't get used to it fast enough. My shapes are clumsy cause of the brush palette disaster. You really gotta squint to see this one.

Think in terms of positive and negative abstract shapes (they do exist) instead of a simple roster of objects to be wheeled in and around. You have many positive shapes surrounded by oceans of negative space. They should be on a more equal footing.

My sketch follows old illustrator and comic conventions, but they still work.






[This message has been edited by spooge demon (edited October 17, 2000).]

[Rick]

The composition is good, I agree with Spooge Demon, but I think it would be stronger if you could see your subjects face. That way you could show the mood that your going for.

[samdragon]

hahaha, you still remember those days spooge? When I used to accuse you of doing everything with 3d apps..ahahah
yeah, I do like your pose more. I keep getting caught up in the details and trying to tackle things that i don't understand and totally forget about my over all image.

yeah, i'm too lazy to use my color swatches, I like putting colors on the canvas because I can see how they react with my background, I can also over lap the colors with each other to get some nice neutral tones when they are needed.
ahahah, (proximo) yeah the tips and all the equipment is meant to be bent and beat up, but they are too shiney right now to look beat up. So I can see why you don't like that, the body of the pens should be more "junked"

I really like the angles in your rough spooge, very nice, I think i'll have to go for something like that now that I see it.
and back we go to the drawing board

Something else i've noticed is that I tend to work with large empty spaces and then crop them in once I'm done. I keep hearing those words drumming in my ears "leave space for text!" I'm sure I'll break that habbit soon.
Thanks folks I'll show you the final when it's done and grab some more good tips from all of ya..