study - photorealistic lemur

[Matt]

This looks very nice, but there are some things not fully expressed in this. The image is very flat, and although some areas stand out (eyes), the rest seems very 2D. It needs more depth.

Other than that, great work. I need to get a new Wacom sometime.

[frog]

In a way that's one of the drawbacks of working from photo reference, the shadows and highlights don't hold the detail that our eyes would see. In this case it's quite nice that it emphasises the contrast between the black and white fur, so I quite like it :)

However, I could make the lighting on the ground a little less soft and maybe that would add a little bit of extra depth... As I said before, I'm not that happy with the ground so maybe that might help improve it.

[jeroentje]

Could you put a link to your ref. pic?

[wasted weasel]

hey were you not the guy who created the photorealistic frog a while back??
amazing stuff, i don't really know what to crit on something that is photo real, i'd like ot see the ref pic too if you've got it.

how long does a project like this take you to complete anyway??

good stuff:buttrock:

[frog]

ref pic:

http://www.btinternet.com/%7Efrog01/lemur-ref.jpg


Weasel: this took me 2-3 days in whatever spare time I had. I'll probably spend another few hours on it.

[dmcgrath]

The thing I really like about the ref pic. is that fact that the lemur is looking right at us. I really think you need a little more gray hair in the white areas as well. That should help with the shading a lot. Nice work, Frog.:beer:

[LucentDreams]

its hard to tell from the small ref pis, but the fur on the forehead/brosw seems too long. I like the eytes a lot, but they don't seem to match the rest of the painting, I like the way you have painted him, but the eyes are their own sorta style compared to the rest of the picture. and just to be dlear when I say eyes I am refering specifically to the eye balls not the eye lids or any of that.

[frog]

I'm going to post an update tonight or tomorrow after a few fixes, I've had a chance to mull over the picture and look at it afresh :)

jeroentje: you asked to see the ref but no crit? :shrug:

dmcgrath: I know what you mean but I kind of like the way he's looking off into the distance in my version, I think it makes hime look cute, and a bit sad maybe.

Kaiskai: The fur is far from 100% accurate, but sometimes I go for what I think looks good rather than totally follow the ref, and sometimes I make mistakes too ;) I don't think it needs to be changed as I like it as it is. The eyes however, I see what you mean, I think maybe they're a little too saturated which makes them look less realistic, especially as the fur has no colour in it. Their brightness makes them look a bit cartoony perhaps.

thanks for posting :)

[jeroentje]

Oh, sorry Frog.

I think you are a very skilled painter, and this is very, very well executed. No crittics for the technique :)
I just personally think that just copying a photograph is not very interesting, although a good excercise. I did that in the past myself when I started painting (like 15 years ago) and I know you can learn a lot from it.

I would love to see some work of you where you take a pic as a starting point and change stuff, like perspective, concept or lighting. Keep watching the forum, we're planning another ref-painting mini-challenge somewhere next week or so, and I am very curious what you'll come up with when you decide to join us.

Like I said: it is very well done :)
Cheers, jeroentje

[frog]

Aha, I fully appreciate what you're saying about copying photographs jeroentje, but there is more to me than that :)

Working from reference such as this is a very useful technical exercise, it teaches you a lot (as does working from life obviously). Also, paintings such as this inspire me and I really enjoy doing them, I don't like 99% of the subject matter that other artists on this and other forums choose to do. This isn't meant as to be insulting, I respect other people's choices, but I don't like fantasy or sci-fi or any of that stuff. I like painting animals, I like doing characters that appeal to youth culture or fashion tastes, and other non fantasy type stuff.

I do a lot of work from ref, for me ref is crucial to accuracy. Also I am a practising (and succesful) commercial illustrator and am often commissioned to work from ref, and accuracy is very important in these cases. I did this exercise partly because I enjoy it, but partly because there is work for me in it, it is a sample I can show potential clients who are always very impressed with realism, and who don't give a damn about my use of reference :) I am updating my page in an illustrator's source book here in the UK and I wanted this as a new sample to show to commissioners.

Also, if you take a look at my website you will see that there is a great deal of variety to my work, this is just one facet of it :)

As for the mini-challenge, I will see if I have time. I am really really busy but if I can contribute I will.

:)

[dmcgrath]

yeah Frog, I can see what you mean about him looking away, I can agree with you. Now it is maybe a little more soulful and a little less animal

[jeroentje]

I hear you Frog ;)
btw, nice website. Illustrator rocks :buttrock:

[Alice]

maybe just some blur would help the dept issue? I meant something like this:
http://w1.315.telia.com/~u31515536/images/miscimages/lemur1.jpg
sry for painting on your verry beautiful and skilled painting.

[wildsheepchase]

In the reference pic, the front leg has some sharper black areas and even some purplish areas near the paw. A little more variety in your palette could help you add depth to the trouble areas. I think you've done a really good job on the face. I hope you post an update.:)

[frog]

Alice: yes definitely, I'll do just that in my next update.

Wildsheepchase: very well spotted, there is some bouncelight in the fur, I'll bear that in mind. Thanks :)

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