First Attempt at Digital Painting - Ordinary warrior

#1

This is my fantasy character.
There are many creations which show great characters, powerfull warriors, heros etc.

But I wanted to draw someone usual. Somone who just try to stay alive in some hard times.

#2

hi MarcinG,
Your proportion are on the right track.
I think the textures of the different surfaces could use more thought.
His skin seems to be made out of the same material as his body armer. You might want to look up some references of steel to learn about the way it reflects light. Consider doing various metal studies with the only goal to improve your knowledge.

#3

Thx for usefull advice.

You’r right, I haven’t seen it before, I’ll think on it.

#4

This is actually really good; I like the pose, and the anatomy is great. But, I did notice that the right leg is skinnier than the left (this is minor, I just wanted to point that out). Also, it looks like you used the burn tool for most of the shadows (if you used Photoshop). Try to avoid this tool completely and just paint the shadows instead. The burn tool gives the painting a weird dirty effect. The expression on his face looks more like a yawn than a battle cry. Curling the lips and eyebrows a bit will make him look more menacing, I think. I also agree with afkeb in terms of the textures. Perhaps look up references of battle axes and armor and see how the textures differ from each other. The last thing I would change is the background. Putting the character in a specific setting will have a greater effect on viewers. Maybe even paint some dirt and grime on him since you said that he’s trying to survive in difficult times.

I know this is your first attempt at digital painting (and you’re very good at it), so you can do whatever you want. My opinion is definitely not the best one; I’m just giving you some of my own critique and you certainly don’t have to follow it.

#5

You have the symptoms of what I call “smudge-a-titus,” where your value transitions are all kind of smudgy and soft and without and real indication of the rate of the turn of the forms (such as the differences between a soft curve and a fast curve).

Your anatomy/figure is also quite odd, such as the very vague right hand, the very wrong looking left hand, and the legs being too short. Use references. Shoot them yourself if necessary–use a tripod and a mirror or get family/friends to pose for you. Don’t guess because you currently don’t have the necessary knowledge to pull this off by working out of your head.

#6

Thx again for advices.

By the way, I drew this picture few months ago so I consider this to be finished.

But after your criticue :)…
I have decided to make some changes, because of your advice I can see that I can improve some details, which will effect on a climate.

First I’ve changed some face detailes, to make it more agressive.

I know that eyes look too calm, but i really wanted this. For me it looks like he is tired of fighting.

Next I’m going to work on metal texture, to make it older. I’ll add more demages, rust and dirt to his armor, maybe some scars…

#7

Changed helmet.
I added more blacks, dirt and more highlight. Also worked on metal texture.
And some dirt on face

#8

little pagons correction

#9

New metal texture on curias (more dirt and scratches), small chagnes on helmet and pagons.
(from your view) Left forearm is shorter, and right leg is closer and bigger.

#10

You need to stop polishing something that isn’t structurally sound. No amount of polishing is going to turn a structurally weak image into something much better. Focus on the source of the problem as I stated in my previous post. Only after you’ve solved the structural problems should you start worrying about surface polish.

#11

As I said, I considered this drawing finished, because I ended this few moths ago.

But i agree with your advices. So i decided to change some things to make it better in my opinion.

Metal texture was the worst thing in the first place for me.

I know about anatomy problems on hands, but for me its the most dificult to make them batter, so ill try to correct them later. Proportions arent perfect too, but i must say i like them like there are. I want him little unatural, he looks bit havy like this.

I agree with “smudge-a-titus”, and thats why im slowly adding some details to smugded areas.

#12

some changes on shirt, more detailes on helmet, pagons.

#13

Working on arms and hands.
More details to left hand, diffrent angle right hand, and arm. Changed muscle

I must say i got problem w right arm and forearm, it hard for me to draw proper biceps

Little changes on neck

#14

If you aren’t using proper references, you should. Take photos yourself of family/friends if you can’t find adequate references elsewhere. If you don’t know any muscular people, then go to the gym and ask someone–just be totally honest and bring a print out of your painting to show–someone will usually agree to let you take a reference photo.

Trying to fake anatomy/figure is one of the biggest and most common mistakes that beginner/intermediate artists make. Always use references, and ideally, references you shot yourself, so you can direct the model, pose, expression, and lighting to exact specifications for your needs. Adhere to that rule until you have mastered anatomy/figure as an advanced artist (and even then, you will still often need the help of references).

#15

ok i have some references

working on hands, arms, fore arms
little correction on fur

#16

detailed skirt, and leather stripes
corrected right hand i hope…?

#17

added details on left hand

#18

know left leg look better, i think.

Added detailes on metal and shoe too.

#19

Man, very good work, but the problems stated by Lunatique are there yet. Hope you get much better. :wink:

/Learning a lot here too.

#20

ok, this is my reference arms reference.

I know that on reference forearm is twisted other way, but as i tested on my hand biceps is only less tensioned.