Poor Landscape

[Sunbane]

Umm, yeah...let's see...

You have no details whatsoever in the picture, which makes it kinda uninteresting to look at. You could try to detail it more - grass strands in the foreground, trees in the background, clouds in the sky, etc. Details will usually attract attention and keep the viewer for a longer period of time.

You need to establish what lightsources you have in the scene and shade it accordingly. If that is the sun in the sky there, you would probably have very strong shadows on the hills, as well as very bright reflections in the water. Think about what the computer does when you render a scene in 3D - you will have to do similar calculations (or rather; estimations) in your head when painting.

The best advices I can give to an untrained artist, are:
A) Draw from references. Use photos or draw from life. Try not to think about what it is that you're drawing, but rather what it looks like. Think of your eyes as the camera in your 3D application: Try to evaluate what colors you see and fit them into your "render" as accurately as possible.

B) Practice, practice, practice. This is what will make the difference in the long run. An "untalented" guy who always practices will be a better artist than a "talented" guy that never practices.

C) Have fun. If you're not having fun, what's the point? =)

[timmatron]

Well I have to say that I really like it! Since you haven't painted since second grade, I can say that it does look like second grade style, but there is nothing wrong with that. (I say that maybe because I am the same way!). Your skills will grow the more you keep practicing.

My advise for this piece would be that you make the sky have more complimentary colors to the foreground. Give it some warmer colors instead of the cool blue & purplish color you have now. By adding some more yellow/red hues to the sky alone would make it so much nicer IMO.

Again, I think its very nice to look at & it reminds me of something I would see on a refrigerator door. You and I are in the same boat. I do 3d for a living but have recently been experimenting more with drawing in the daily sketch forum - you should start doing them. And I too would love to get my hands on a Wacom but using a mouse isn't too bad for beginners (& those without enough money!)

[catabolicmaster]

Thanks for the advice guys!
I agree with everything you have to say

About the scene having more detail.. I really tried with my mouse but it just doesnt work! :sad:

Shading.. I really dont know how to shade.. my 3d program does it for me
(puts shading on the list of things to learn)

I can say that it does look like second grade style I could never do that with a mouse in second grade :D


Anyway, I realized I can sketch a lot better than move the mouse so.. I'll be doing all my "practice practice practice" on paper from now on
so that when I get a tablet (which maybe never), I'll be able to draw something that will be at least as good as 3rd grade!

[catabolicmaster]

Ooh! And I got this really great idea! (which I probably will never follow up on)
I'm gonna turn this thread into my 2D journey!
All the sketches I make will go here
so that I can see how poorly I progress

[Sunbane]

That's cool. =)

I think you'll see some dramatic improvements in a short period of time, as long as you make the effort to learn. =) I've been drawing and painting since I was 4, and I still have bouts of radical improvement. ^^

[jumbo]

I like the idea of showing your progression of skills throughout this thread. I think this can be a great asset to aspiring artists who don't think they can ever get to the point of making pieces like we see on this site. It is also quite humbling to see where you were and how far you have come. From time to time I see some old pieces of mine, and think about this.

I also think it does sort of resemble a "second grade" style, but that isn't bad. It does look nice, but as you continue to develop your skills, you should experiment with new styles, find which one, (or ones), you like, and paint like that.

Not having a tablet is not a hinderance at this point. I didn't have a tablet until a couple of weeks ago, and I have been doing digital art for about four years. When I started doing landscapes, I made them much like that, only not as good.

Keep practicing. http://cgtalk.com/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif

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