Forest scene - WIP

[sprogis7]

I like the background, it looks really solid, not to sound like an asshole but dude, I think you need to lose the ghost...

[moonshake]

Lose the ghost? You mean give him a little transparency / paint it with fast and loose brush strokes or erasing it from the scene at all?

Actually, this is the background layer. What do you think?

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6974/shadoweaveronlybackc.jpg

[LogicLost]

Hey, I see nice pice of forest here, if you want to keep the ghost/guardian mayby scale him and make him comming out of water

[Razzen]

I agree with the posts above. The background is really beautiful and the ghost is a great design but having the ghost centered over the back creates a conflicting image.

It might be cool to make the picture wider, show more of the lake, and set the ghost off center.

[moonshake]

LogicLost, Razzen, thank you very much for yr. comments.

I´m still working on the background but I still don´t know what do do with the guardian guy.
Sketching the forest was really fun, but I think I must create a fairy strong/believable story to hold up the painting. Kinda lost with the main character and general composition. Any ideas?
Cheers!

[sprogis7]

try giving the ghost a different pose. Hes really stiff and static, try doing some thumbnails of different poses and compositions, maybe try to give him a different treatment? one that works better with your BG style and color palette?

[Cati]

That is a very nice background.

Because of the composition of the background There's actually less choices in placing the ghost. You have planned the whole picture into symmetrical from the beginning and that makes it more harder to change it because the picture tilts on one side as soon as you place something off center.

I suggest you add more elements to the picture. Now..this is only a suggestion and you might have other ideas but I'm just trying to give you more thoughts on how to start solving the problem: how about something like an old rotten pier closer to the viewer to create more interest and a chain or old rope descending into the water and adding a ghost rising up from the water holding the rope.

Just go into the picture and and imagine it being real. What would happen there? Frog leaping, insects buzzing - what ever comes to your mind. You don't have to draw in everything but it can help you decide what to do next.

[moonshake]

Hey Cati. I really appreciate your comments.


Because of the composition of the background There's actually less choices in placing the ghost. You have planned the whole picture into symmetrical from the beginning and that makes it more harder to change it because the picture tilts on one side as soon as you place something off center.
Totally agree with that. The composition became really hard to modify. The background turned to be the main object of interest but it´s a bit far and small. It seems that I need a main character/object on the foreground and then lead the eye to the background (...that I kinda like).

More elements / an old rotten pier - good idea... I was sketching yesterday - even totally changing the sense of the scene - trying to create a high tech ship factory, secret base of operations or something like that in order to make contrast with the mood, but who knows.
Even moving the ghost out of the center, if I can´t render it really well making a good, interesting character, it will not add value to the image at all. I´ll have to think about this.

Frog leaping, insects buzzing - both great details to add...

Thanks again for stopping by

[zimmernwuya]

you did a good job

[Scubasteve]

I agree with Cati, that you've painted yourself into a bit of a corner. I do however love the background. I would suggest restarting with a less balanced approach and really thinking about your composition. The ghost defiantly looked too defined. He needed to be more whispy. I love the brush strokes and detail of the background, I just don't think the composition is something that you can work with effectively. I still am trying to figure out how to get the lose texture looking background you used for your foliage.

[moonshake]

Hey there,
I´ve been away from home, on vacations for more than a week. -sorry for the lack of updates during these days-
After a few hours and a bunch of paint strokes to see what comes up with this piece, I´ve arrived to a sort of pirate secret place or something like that.
I´ve got rid of the ghost ( ...and really don´t know if it´s gonna fit in this environment ).
Wanted to leave an overall sketchy look and added a deeper, extended background. Maybe it´s time to look at some references for the mountains, etc.
As you may see, the composition was modified a bit, I think it´s fairy balanced and not so closed up/rigid as it was before, but as always, please feel free to tell me what you think.
Cheers!

http://img301.imageshack.us/img301/3461/shadoweaver3p.jpg

[felicitymoore]

Hey you're producing some great work! I really like both images actually - I still reckon you can keep your ghost on the first one as the others have said - scaled and not central to the composition, however just my opinion! I'm not sure what to add to the other comments: with the ghost maybe a more ephemeral/transitory feeling - less heavy/solid. Think about how the light will react with it - would it bounce/be absorbed/pass through the figure?
I think the way you've painted the foliage would work well with the ghost, and also if you're a bit stuck with where the ghost is due to the image composition, maybe think about it not being so vertical - it's shape can be anything really since it's not held in place by skin and bone!

The second image also great - I love what you've done to the far ground.

BTW I love your foliage - nice work :p

[moonshake]

Hey felicitymoore! nice to see you pal
The ghost turned to be a sort of little stone in the shoe, even if I render it well, the thing is what story I pretend to sell with him in that kind of environment.
I´m pretty happy with the foliage and the background and I´m still working on it in the meantime.
So, main character ( ghosts, animals, pirates, zombies...? ) or only nature and lost boats?
What do you think!
Cheers

[felicitymoore]

I like Cati's ideas of the rotten pier for instance and additional signs of life, the insects would be cool!

If you have time to try those sort of additions and see how it turns out - I can imagine it quite spooky that way, as if I'm thinking who's there? and where are they?!
:thumbsup:

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