Wasteland Clan WIP

#1

Good day to you guys. I’m working on a illustration/concept art for my portfolio, I’m taking some time to do it. The next step would be adding two characters on top of the bus, scouting to the area on the right. Before I jump into it, I’d like to know if you have any advice for me in color theory, to make this look better before it’s even finished, of course, any other comments and critics are welcome, I’m open to get better in all areas, not just color smile emoticon Have a great sunday. PS - Long story short, it’s a post apocalyptic house for a faction of only kids.

Truck

Kids

PS. - I couldn’t really figure out how to preview the images directly on this post, sorry!

#2

The concept and the gritty style are really nice. I love the theme of children in a dark post apocalyptic world. I think your universe has a lot of potential.

For what I think you could improve:

Your colors aren’t varied enough, nothing really pops out. The shadows aren’t contrasted enough so it’s hard to tell stuff apart and it’s a bit drab. It also flattens your image because the planes aren’t clearly defined, they kind of all smoothly fade into one another (if that makes sense). It doesn’t give the feeling that your scene and characters exist in a 3D space. There are endless tutorials on the interwebs you can check for that.

Cheers!

#3

Hey Lens-Pitt! Thanks a lot for dropping by and offering critic, you’re right on the money. I will try to maybe light up the light bulbs to add a bit more shinyness to the picture as well as work the shadows and contrasts more!

#4

Some WIP on the truck!

#5

There are two main issues I’m seeing right off the bat.

  1. Your brushwork is homogenized, using all thick oil paint styled brushwork, and that does not work well when you need to clarify different surface properties such as metal, sand, fabric, skin, wood, plastic, foliage, etc. You need to learn to diversify the type of brushes you use and how to customize the various brush parameters so you can convey different surface types convincingly.

  2. You are hiding a lot of weaknesses with what you perceive to be “painterly brushwork.” Your forms are vague and inaccurate and lack clear sense of volume and mass, and your lighting is half-guessed diffused approach with no real understanding of how light and shadow really works and how the different surface types respond to light.

Those are issues you need to work on systematically, like how musicians practice scales and chords repeatedly. You need to do a lot of drawing and painting exercises that specifically target those weaknesses. You might want to head over to the Art Techniques & Theories subforum (linked below in my signature), where I have posted many helpful information regarding how to plan your artistic development with the most effective strategy so you don’t waste time running around in circles or become a victim of bad habits.

#6

Thank you for the comment. Unfortunately, I do not have that kind of money, to spend on such courses. My current life economics do not allow me. :confused:

#7

You can still learn a lot by simply reading all the sticky threads in the Art T&T subforum and utilize all the tips posted in them on how to develop effectively as an artist. You can also ask me any questions you have by posting them there as well.

#8

Thank you, I will watch those forums closely :slight_smile: You’re right, there are some things I need to work on, but I’ll get there!