[CMH09]

Hello, I would like some opinions on this before I start rendering. Things like the sphere and the skull outline on the fact are just placeholders for now.

[Ross]

It's a very flat image and the different elements don't read together. The figure looks like he's pasted in front of a backdrop. It could be fixed if everything had consistent lighting. I don't see any artificial light sources and it looks like a cloudy day. You can easily get reference for that. It's dim light from directly overhead.

The anatomy of the figure needs work, get reference for that. And is he supposed to be holding the gold ball?

It looks like there's a jungle of giant brambles in the distance, that could use more definition, whatever it is.

The tree stump with eyes growing on it is very strange, but so is the rest of the painting, so if you can light it correctly it can work.

I'm not sure what the white strip at the horizon is, but if it is a white strip on the ground, think about repeating it so it's more clear what it is.

Try to vary the size of your brush more. If you use all the same size strokes it gets repetitive and horrible. And it always tends to look like a paint scribble, rather than whatever you're trying to paint. You can also alternate between painting negative and positive shapes.

[CMH09]

Thanks, this was very helpful.

I was trying to figure out how to place the gold ball, but the way you showed actually works for what I'm going for.

The dark figure in the backround is supposed to be an approaching storm, I just scribbled it in for reference. That white line wasn't meant to be a part of the picture, I had just left it there for now, it will be the rain/storm underneath the storm cloud.

The pillar is also supposed to be rock but I didn't define it well, I was still trying to get a feel for how I wanted to do it.

Originally Posted by Ross

It's a very flat image and the different elements don't read together. The figure looks like he's pasted in front of a backdrop. It could be fixed if everything had consistent lighting. I don't see any artificial light sources and it looks like a cloudy day. You can easily get reference for that. It's dim light from directly overhead.

The anatomy of the figure needs work, get reference for that. And is he supposed to be holding the gold ball?

It looks like there's a jungle of giant brambles in the distance, that could use more definition, whatever it is.

The tree stump with eyes growing on it is very strange, but so is the rest of the painting, so if you can light it correctly it can work.

I'm not sure what the white strip at the horizon is, but if it is a white strip on the ground, think about repeating it so it's more clear what it is.

Try to vary the size of your brush more. If you use all the same size strokes it gets repetitive and horrible. And it always tends to look like a paint scribble, rather than whatever you're trying to paint. You can also alternate between painting negative and positive shapes.


Attachment 119112

[CMH09]

Here's my current progress

[amileduan]

think you need make a background like Ross did,it looks more stereo.

[CMH09]

Yeah, I didn't want to directly copy it, but I see that I need to vary the size of the clouds and push them further back.

[Ross]

http://www.oceansbridge.com/painting...Storm_1860.jpg
http://www.thehulltruth.com/attachme...orm-711011.jpg
http://www.john-daly.com/pics/storm3.jpg
http://www.pentaxforums.com/gallery/...hing_Storm.jpg
http://wichitagalleryxii.com/wp-cont...storm_2685.jpg

You probably want a more distinct space between the bottom of the clouds and the horizon. Consider also making the clouds cut diagonally across—direct front-to-back movement is a bit harder to convey.

[CMH09]

Update. I'm working on the values for the pillar and the water right now. How can they be improved?



EDIT: Just saw your post ^ I will work on that as well

[CMH09]

Another update. Nothing major, I made the horizon more clear and I'm trying to get the water's surface and the pillar's values right. I know I need to put the reflection of the pillar onto the water underneath it.

[CMH09]

Update

[CMH09]

Haven't had much time to work on this but this week I'll be getting alot closer to finishing this. I can't figure out what I want to do with the right arm

[CMH09]

Update

[CMH09]

Update: About to wrap this one up, there are still a few areas I'd like some advice on. I can't quite figure out how to color where the pillar and the surface of the water meets. I also want to create a glossy look over the skull/face, to make it look like there is a clear surface over the skull.