Ronin WIP

[Memorial-Strife]

The textures look good, I like the flying dragon at the top.
But his helmet seems t be off, the sides are too narrow on the center, when they're usually more round-ish. Here are some pics I think may better illustrate what I'm trying to say:

http://www.japanese-helmets.com/12_plate_gold_helmet/12_plate_gold_helmet_back.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/publicdetective/2152105776/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15703244@N00/373275850/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffhaberman/435645412/

Notice how the sides are wider.

I hope this helps.

[ajinak]

The textures look good, I like the flying dragon at the top.
But his helmet seems t be off, the sides are too narrow on the center, when they're usually more round-ish. Here are some pics I think may better illustrate what I'm trying to say:

http://www.japanese-helmets.com/12_plate_gold_helmet/12_plate_gold_helmet_back.jpg

http://www.flickr.com/photos/publicdetective/2152105776/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15703244@N00/373275850/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geoffhaberman/435645412/

Notice how the sides are wider.

I hope this helps.

Yes, I know exactly what you mean.. this is because I'm a lot influenced by the greek mytology that I was drawing before, so the helmet was made this narrow intentionaly.. I'm afraid it should change the mood of the painting so I'll leave it this way now - but I swear I'll keep it in my mind for the next time ;)

However there is still a wrong perspective to correct - the line on the back of the helmet, which is too bright and in a wrong direction, and also those metal things on the top are somehow indirect.. hope it looks better as soon as I fix it

Thanks for the pictures! :) I'll learn from them before another "samurai painting"

[ajinak]

Finally some time to think and work.. the background is definitely not finished, but I got this idea and I think the composition is somehow less flat.. I've been planning some stars from the begining, but not this much.. I'll see what I can do with it

One more thing - I must admit I'm starting to hate this too much detailed work (when I'm still not good enough to make it properly), so I'll focus first to learn the technique and find my own style in the future.. I hope one day it will be clearly recognizable :) now each picture is something completely different..


http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/734/roninprocgxxxyz3.jpg

[ajinak]

Seems like I love to change the most important things all the time :)
I was thinking a lot about the main idea of this picture and it was still missing.. and the parts of the picture weren't working together.. then I found the eyes too disturbing - their expression wasn't clear (at least I think so) and they were badly made.. so for this time I decided to close them (and I'm learning how to paint eyes well, in other quick pics)


it's just a rough sketch to see how it works, I'll make them properly when I have time enough..

if you have any comments or crits, I'd apreaciate that ;) it's the biggest thing I've been working on recently and I'm just affraid that all the time I've spent on it will run to waste..:scream:

http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/6851/closed2xx8.jpg

[ajinak]

small update.. still working on...

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/7575/procgocitq7.jpg

[ajinak]

update... I'm a little worried about the background.. I like the texture on the right, but I have to find some way how to connect it with the rest.. and during the re-installation of the photoshop I lost all my custom brushes about a week ago - not sure if I can create this one again, but I'll try..

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2985/roninexpprocgtalkzx0.jpg

[Firerbert]

I really think you need to explore the form of the face and all other objects before moving any further with this piece. You have a great idea here. Right now it looks really flat. There are two parts to this.
First, you have clearly defined every single possible item visible with your line work. Part of what makes objects convincing is the lack of definition. Detailed by shadow, etc. Your forms have almost no perspective to them. Your curves and line work are very nice, but none of them really conform together. It is almost like each line makes its own shape and then that is it.
Second, there is no real sense of the light source and with the background being night, the brightness you have here with your color palette is not working well. You will need to shift everything to a cooler area if you are going to stay with a background such as you have so far. Right now it looks like he walked into a rock quarry and someone from 2008 shined a spotlight right on his face. This has really flattened out the image as the shadow definition that would be used to help define your forms has washed everything out. You can bring these forms back to life, but you need to reinvestigate them as a whole before you do. It has also taken away from the idea behind the composition as a light that bright in that color for that time period would have to be doc brown in the deloran.
Just take one step at a time. First, reorganize a composition. Study your forms and block them out. Large overall shapes gradually getting smaller and then lead into how your line work will define those forms. Do not erase during this whole process until after you have started bringing in your curves. After that, start figuring out your lighting setup in conjunction with your background. It's all about slowly working in each step to where you don't have to step back as far to get a good result.

[ajinak]

Firerbert: thanks a lot, this was really helpful! Now I understand why I just couldn't make the entrance exams to an art school half and year ago - I had problems to listen to the critics and simply didn't improve any skills at all.. it's getting better now, I hope - at least with the listening and learning :)
Problems with background, source of light, flatness, perspective - I've heard that many times recently (not only about this picture), so I'll try to do my best to make it better..
Well, my pictures are sometimes a little surreal, so the night sky wasn't meant first as a real surrounding and the source of light was supposed to be the sword (kind of illustration more than strictly realistic scene), but now it looks strange, that's true..
I started working on some shadows to give it some space and make the parts work more together and I'll see what can I do..
I'll remember what you said - but I'm sure it still won't be perfect this time and I'll move to another picture as soon as this doesn't have so many mistakes, because I'm working on it so long, almost got stuck and it's not good :) I have to practise on smaller things, this was maybe too ambicious for the very begining with the digital painting :blush:

Anyway, thanks a lot again :thumbsup: and sorry for my english.. I hope I can bring some better update soon

[Firerbert]

I totally understand how working on a piece for too long can become very cumbersome. At this point, my suggesstion was re-working the entire piece as a whole. However, I would agree with you if you want to wrap it up and move on to something else. I don't feel it was too ambitious a piece by any means. That is the only way you will ever improve your skills. If you don't push yourself and try new things, you will never get better. I am glad you can take crits well. Lots of people take years to learn how to manage critiques. I think that is why a lot of people on forums don't offer them up. They'll just get a response by someone with their own opinion that doesn't want to change their work. They just wanted to hear how great their wip was. So the fact that you took this to heart is really good. Let me know when you start your next piece, I would love to assist you along the way as best I can.

[ajinak]

Firerbert: well, it is a bit cumbersome.. but fortunately I'm still far from giving it up :)

So here is an update for today.. I was working on the stars (still very rough) and after your advice I started thinking about the light and flatness and made some changes on the helmet (considering some light source is in front of him, just to give some direction to the shadows and lights, at least I can practise it) , increased the shadows to give it some space and changed the 'silver' things to some kind of 'bronze' (I think I'll use that colour also on the sleeves) - I was surprised when I realized that less is more this time and the rest of the 'silver' works better now :) and I finally got rid of that strange light on his nose.. hope it's getting better

well, maybe I'll find some time tomorrow to continue.. I hope so..

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9250/roninadviceprocg2op9.jpg

[ajinak]

Well, it's finally finished :) check it in the gallery, if you want >> (http://forums.cgsociety.org/showthread.php?f=133&t=640820)

There are still some mistakes, but I just had to start something new.. in two weeks I'll have my exams finished (hopefully) and I'm going to work on some personal pictures, I have some ideas, so no more contests :)

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