Dog in front of a Japanese house

[Formic-Acid]

Hmmm, for now I'll just say that you need to pick a light source.
At this stage I have no idea where the light is coming from when I look at it.

[TrenchcoatPixie]

Ditto on the light source tip, also - that kimono reads more as a bath robe to me. >.>

Can you please resize this while you're at it, so we can view without scrolling?

[Goemon]

I appreciate the comments from both of you. I added more shading to one side of the dog to define a light source a bit better. What do you think?

Any other comments or feedback is most welcome. Thanks


http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/9763/dogscene2nv1.jpg

[EndoTouch]

Bring some colour into the wall for balance maybe? or desaturate the robe.

[CybrGfx]

Bring up your overall gamma. It's too dark, too saturated, too high-key contrast.

Your light source must be a flashlight to illuminate one foot so brightly, while leaving everything else in the scene so dark. Since this appears to be outdoors, that's about the only logical explanation for this dank setting.

~C

[Goemon]

Thanks for all the comments. I worked on de-saturating the colors and adjusting the background. Hopefully they are working together a bit better and the lighting is becoming more logical and balanced. Again Feedback and comments are greatly appreciated.

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/4485/dogscene3zh3.jpg
(http://img73.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dogscene3zh3.jpg)

[CybrGfx]

MUCH better on the background.
But the highlights on the dog are still too bright. You have the surroundings now looking like an overcast day, with general ambient light, no direct sunlight shining down. Except on the dog.

You can't have it both ways. Either there is bright light shining down at that angle on everything not roofed or covered, or everything is bathed in ambient light, including the dog.

Otherwise, it's looking pretty good.

~C

[Goemon]

Just adding another update. I made a more direct light source, didn't initially intend for it to be a night scene, but its been a good lesson about defining lighting early on and not letting a piece guide you. I did something very silly and saved it out at low res, I have a previous version, but its many versions back, maybe its an opportunity to go different direction with the lighting in the older file. Comments and critiques most welcome.

http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/3923/toshio2ib6.jpg

[CybrGfx]

BINGO!

Now you have proper illumination and shadows, pretty much across the board. (There need to be some shadows, because his arms are folded...)

Although it has changed somewhat from your start, it is much more visually coherent, and the viewer's eyes can simply appreciate the image, rather than stop to ponder the inconsistencies.

You have also had a lesson in one of THE most important skills you NEED to develop, if you EVER want to be really good at art ~ or anything else, once you truly learn the lesson. And that lesson was to THINK. Good art seldom to never "just happens" from "a doodle." GOOD art is THOUGHT of, and then made manifest.

Just a few minutes thought BEFORE you start, to establish What you want to draw (your Focal POINT), Who you want the image to appeal to (generally, Men aren't that into flowers, and women like to see more than breasts and big hair...), When and Where you want it to be happening (Your Light Source[s], shadows, and values), and Why the viewer should care (visual flow and impact).

I once read that thought is the most important aspect of painting, and over the years, have found it true every single time. But the only way to learn this is to have to do it "the hard way" a few times, reworking a piece until you become somewhat weary of it. Eventually, this "pre-draw" think-through will become a habit, and you will find your creativity taking a great leap in speed and confidence. But like any skill, the only way to get good at it, is to regularly practice doing it...

~C

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