Sucky sketch, much is still uncertain. Though much of the positioning is clear, there is some stuff with the moons and the (plateu?) where the ppl are embarking the ship and the cave/base entrance. When i work on an idea, i tend to work most of it in the head and try to put the most promising pieces on paper.
This piece seems to be going towards something bounty huntish…
Well… here’s more crap i spit out, i went from ordinary sniper rifle, or sumthing post-apocalyptic for a more railgun type of rifle. The mask seems to stay as is, but i lack ideas for the glass. I’ve also thought about some ships that is going to be around the scene. C&C is accepted, even if its about how i should use my wacom/brain.
I do not totaly agree on the composition of the elements in the first pic. It feesl a bit like 2 different pictures on each side of it. I do not know what will be prominent but I didnt know what element that would catch my eye, its a bit unclear.
Oh well, good luck!
cheers
/Alice
Thanks for your comment Alice, im still trying to figure out what i want to see in the scene, i think it can do with something i focused first on the right side, then going over to the left side. When i was working on the left side i had many ideas and i belive i just put it on the paper, not regarding the rest of the page. So, i think im going to fix it before its going overhand =) Thanks Alice.
(Z)
You have a good thought flow going, keep at it, there are lots of things you can work with, and remember something that many people forget : your first idea does not have to be your last, you can even wipe the board clean or just keep one element and rebuild. I do that quite often. 
Best of luck to you! :bounce:
Cons:
- My drawing skills is at -100%
(Though i can prolly get a boost of +50% from my newly invested Intuos 3)- I have never really been drawing anything under my lifetime
- “Whats line-art?”
- I refer Cursing at my programs as a “Hobby”
Haha, I feel precisly the same way.
When I look at your sketch I don’t really get a spacy feeling. Maybe you should put a space ship on the front or some robots…
On could you maybe tell the story behind the sketch? That’s always nice to know.
Anyway, good luck on the challenge. 
Hey pal. I would highly suggest you start with lots of simple things, seeing that you are new to all of this.
I would recommend reading up on these tutorials
http://www.sumaleth.com/links/
and keep on practicing. It looks like you have good ideas.
Thanks alot people, i’m currently reviewing my work and im planning to work more on my techniques and ideas. I hope im going to improve some during this contest. Though i haven’t currently got much brainpower to spit out more concepts so i’ll think i’ll do some training with my first idea and see if i can get some more concepts up during the process.
(Z)
I don’t think this image explains much, but its suposed to be ha huge stranded or landed ship as a background. There will be a focus on the character standing on some high hill overviewing the surrounding, maybe making a last check for a suitable planet or maybe checking the ship from the outside. I think i need more research for the concept for this image, but the main structure is completed. So i just need to do some more concept refining. Comments accepted.
(Z)
Ok i’ve slept upon my ideas, all i got into my head was “Nomad”, so i’m going for a nomadish space style. When i was thinking about my other conecpt i was getting the idea that they are loners, reliable and not to be messed around with. They roam the space, carrying their high technology treasures. The live in small communities counted to a couple of thousand induviduals. They stay on planets for only a short time, ranging between some decades up to some hundred years. Their cityships move between suitable planets, leaving only small marks upon their visited planet. They where last called “planet herders” by the last intergalactic emperor. It is said that the first intergalactic emperor had declined theese “nomads” to tresspass through the capital system… that system and several surounding systems does not exists at this date. I’ts said that the nomads are very friendly, as long as you follow their rituals and way of life when you visit one of their cityships. The emperor XXI once met with, what seemed to be the leader, of the nomads. A young man in the early 20’s, he said he was just talking with the united voice of their community. The eperor later said he had enjoyed the conversation with the man and commented that the young man could easier be wiser than himself. The emperor died shortly after that at an age of 784 years. To be noted, the type of politics inside the nomad community is unknown…
To be continued…
Hows that idea?
Ok, i’ve tried some colors for the background, sky color and i must say that this combination is looking to be best suited for my first concept.
(Z)
I’ve tried to get a better mood for the background, i mixed the sky colour into the sand color and i think i did manage to do something that seems to work out. Any comments on this one?
(Z)
I like that background, better feel of horizon… good sun feeling… gives you a good feeling of a calm so far…
ZuraK. I would suggest to you that you go get some books on values,color, perspective and study them throughout the whole contest. I think you will find that you will improve greatly. Creating artworks is frustrating Without knowlegde of the basic concepts. Here’s some some stuff I wrote that might help you.
It was awfully hard learning for me at the beginning because everything seemed so complicated,frustrating, and all I wanted to do was create cool artworks. It’s not easy work, but if you study hard I have no doubt that you will improve greatly. Good luck
Take some drawing classes so that you become familiar with the basics of drawing. Break down everything you see into simple shapes and colors.
A good technique that doesnt require drawing tools is drawing everything you see in your mind. An example of this would be spending the 3 minutes drawing things around you as you wait for the bus. Figure out what colors and values are right, study little lighting details, and try to pick up anything that will help you further your skills. At first this technique may seem strange but it does help if you constantly use it.
Stop by your local library and pick up some books on drawing and anything you would like to draw. If you want to draw robots get books on trains, cars, anything mechanical. Draw the parts you want to add into your designs many times, over and over again until you can draw them without looking at references. Everything becomes a lot easier if you have a practice routine. Try to figure out a way to practice everyday, maybe 20 minutes in the morning and 20 minutes after work. And dont just spend the 20 minutes drawing anything, Draw from life or pictures. Copying things is the best way to learn. During the weeks days stick to your routine, then on weekends draw whatever you like. Its not bad to draw things from your mind and be creative but for practice have a routine that you always go through. You might start out with 30 minutes of figure study then take an hour break and spend one hour doing a speed painting from a photo, then spend 30 minutes drawing from life, whatever works.
By learning how real life things work it will be easier to create your own imaginary designs. Be sure to practice all the time but not late at night because you wont remember anything you learned that day if you dont get some sleep. The main things you want to practice everyday are perspective, value, color, and design. Dont worry about having the latest art supplies; a 25 cent ballpoint pen or number 2 pencil will work fine. If you only have ten minutes a day to practice, spend those ten minutes drawing things around you such as a cup or building. When doing life drawings dont worry about getting any details in, just get the main shape, values, and perspective right. A good way of not seeing the details is squint a couple times while drawing. Draw everything and anything.
Here are some resources that have helped me.
Perspective:
Drawing ellipses: http://www.drawthrough.com/tutorials/ellipses.html
Spherical perspective : http://www.treeshark.com/Persptut.html
Perspective tutorial :http://www.drawthrough.com/tutorials/index.html
Perspective tutorial : http://daphne.palomar.edu/design/space2.html
Perspective tutorials : http://www.teamgt.com/ft-tutes.htm
Color and value:
Skin tones : http://www.gfxartist.com/features/tutorials/14030
Skin tones 2 : http://www.gfxartist.com/features/tutorials/14033
Color vs. Value : http://www.digitalartform.com/values.htm
Color theory :
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17837
Specatular, radiosity, ect: http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15745
lighting (Radiosity saturation ) http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=3148
Photoshop tips:
hot keys and short cuts : http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=22985
Argh! I really suck at composition, i’ve done some drawings i dont think i should post em until i get something more interesting/nicer. Btw, Chris, thanks for the links, i haven’t got any time to read them more carefully but i have checked em quickly. They seem to contain really good information, i liked the information about perspective, maybe becouse its my weakness =P
Anyway, im currently focusing on the character, since its going to cover much in the scene i think i need to focus more on it. The problem is going to be getting the lightning correactly, since i plan on having a sunset in the background and a sunrise behind the “camera view”.
(Z)
Ok, i changed the stance and the view of the character so i can draw more easily. It seems to be alot easier to draw when you got some more reference points, head body etc. Not much from the original concept have changed, though the background is still under planning. I will probably add a background that will be static as soon as i have got my mind upon what i want to go for.
(Z)
They are sailing the stars forever. This is something… uhm, abstract? I was thinking a planet at top left corner, a nebula to the right, and the ship in the middle. C&C are welcome.
(Z)
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