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View Full Version : Looking for some guidance

azaraphale
08-26-2006, 08:25 PM
Hello,
I'm new to this great site as well as to digital art. My background is photography, but I've decided to try and mix media in order to expand on my portfolio. The work below has taken me a few days to get to this stage. I'd reckon its about 40% done. I've never painted anything in my life before, am using CS2 and a tablet and was wondering if any of the artists on here could let me know if I'm on the right track. I think I've still a lot of work to do on the tentacles, as well as better shading on the wings. the background is getting to me - I'm thinking that the image need some story behind it - I was originally going to have a misty woods scene in the background, however I'm toying with the idea of a burning village or something a little more dramatic. Any suggestions to how add some extra story perspective and as to how to paint would be appreciated :D.

Thanks in advance

Zarahttp://www.glendar.co.uk/Image1.jpg
TimonQ
08-27-2006, 12:58 AM
I'm not really sure a background is really needed for this. The lighting seems already well established, so there's that to consider when placing her in an environment. Plus, being just a dark void can also be just as dramatic, especially with such a demonic looking character. She doesn't seem to be doing anything that would necessitate an environment, so I don't think leaving it out really takes anything away. And she is quite striking and taking up a good portion of the canvas, so I don't know if, compositionally, there's much utility in a background. The negative space is pretty nice, it gives the piece a nice feel.

Technically you seem to be heading in the right direction quite proficiently. I can only point out some obvious wip things your probably already working on. The skin vein/growth/root things from the wing to the shoulder is overlapping her hair. I'm not really sure what the tentacles are supposed to be yet. What are they made up of? Hair? Anything else? Are they organic skin wrapped things growing out of her head? Are they supposed to be wafting in the wind or are they being held up under their own strength?
Since they're probably the most alien element in this piece (even more than the wings) they might fall under the most scrutiny, but seeing how well done the more finished areas are (face and wing) I'm sure you'll be fine.
azaraphale
08-27-2006, 12:38 PM
Thanks for the reply - its really appreciated. Its a steep learning curve, but much fun. I've still a fair amount of detal that I want to put into the hair and stings - they're along the lines of scorpion tails that come from the back of her head and are part of her hair structure and are sort of self sustaining - not wind driven. I was wondering if the colours are a bit muted - mainly because of my brush technique I think and my non use of colour pallettes :D
I may try a vignette rather than a background - just something to emphasise her a little more. Thanks again - much appreciated.
PaczeMoj
08-27-2006, 05:01 PM
What a beautiful face! I didn't even notice that she had wings and tentacles, for the longest time.

By the way, how did you create the texture on her wings: small brush by hand?

My only suggestions are:

a) The image is much heavier and brighter on the left side, so perhaps a background could somehow help balance that.

b) The hair falling over her shoulder looks flat, like a tattoo.
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