[seavvolf]

looking for a critique to help further my skills (:

[ecanhoj]

I like your works dude. It's really eye catching when I see it in thumbnail because you choose the colors well. I think you should emphasis more into details like cloth folds and more detailed background..

[GaryBedell]

This looks good so far. A few things I see.

1.The textures on his clothing, skin, and fire are all the same. Pay attention to surface treatment and how your lighting interacts with it.

2. Give your line/strokes direction. Besides the fire, I see a lot of different flows and strokes going in different directions which in turn makes the illustration a bit muddy.

3.Details. Show a bit more love to the costume design and character's physical appearance. make him stand out. Before you start try to do 4-6 silhouettes and pick from there. This allows your character to have an interesting shape (which you'll build on later)

4. Dead space. Sometimes its okay to do this so this is mostly opinion. to the characters right (our left) I see a warrior hidden. Is he suppose to be hidden? If not, you should bring him out maybe add some trees or mountains.

5. Color. Hmm all I can really say is try to be a bit more vibrant with some things (i.e. the fire and it's lighting) also while working in color check your values. Convert the image to black and white to see if your illustration is just as powerful as it would be with color.

that is all

Keep up the good work

[seavvolf]

Hey thanks for all the great feedback! Its really helped me out. Here is my latest update.

[GaryBedell]

Wow that really pops. You can really see the difference now. I think you can push the image even further. great work. i'll be keeping up with this until you're finished for sure.

[donovanvaldes]

Hi Seavvolf,

I'll have to disagree slightly with Gary Bedell on one point regarding the second image: while the fire pops nicely, the figure suddenly does not (when compared to the first). I do enjoy the richness of the costume color in the second, but I prefer the value contrast between FG and BG in the first. Just food for thought.


Either way, If this were my piece, here are a few things I might try:

- To clear up any muddiness, try cleaning up your fg figure's silhouette using a hard edge in places not obscured by fog.

- I agree with the earlier remarks about line quality and brushstroke. Try using cleaner, more confident strokes and shapes when painting the inner details.

- Keep your lightsources in mind. Make sure your lighting consistently reflects the source. For example, considering the position of the moon, the highlights on his hood and shoulder should be more intense, and perhaps not at all down towards his legs. Perhaps there is moonlight reflecting off the ground plane, however. Likewise w the flame sword near the ground. There should be an intense spot near the sword, with dramatic fall off.

- Don't be afraid to look at some photo-ref to paint the flame. Right now it feels arbitrary and a bit forced.

Good luck!

[seavvolf]

Hey thanks for the great feedback! Here's my newest version