[samdragon]

Ok, here is the color rough of the sketch I posted the previous thread.(need some suggestions plz)...

I purposely made myself spend no more than 30 minutes on this! I have a bad habit for overworking stuff, even in the earliest stages.

The problem is, it's just too damn boring!
I'm pretty much open to anything right now, even if it doesn't relate to the story (well as long as it's not to far out there
I thought this stage would be great stoping place to ask for more help, so let it rip



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SAMDRAGON

[Guy]

well it looks alright. i do find the cloths a little plain. need to add something to them. dont know what that would be though, just something that tells you that this is in the future i guess. (sorry if that doesnt help)and a background would be good. you were probly going to be doing that, but im just making sure.

[samdragon]

yeah, I never thought about the clothes.
Glad you pointed that out Maybe that will add some more to it. Back to photoshop
Thanks


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SAMDRAGON

[This message has been edited by samdragon (edited May 12, 2000).]

[Muzman]

looks great
I do think the left sleeve is too big, solid and tubular though. perhaps it's meant to be.

[Fred Flick Stone]

I feel the green in the shirt takes away from the mechanical glow on the face interior. And the sleeve is too tubular. Also, does the story depict a typical kid type who ends up an android? Or is there more? The typical kid clothing might not work with the image. Darker background too will help pop the character more...Great Progress...

[samdragon]

yeah, I'm reworking the clothes. I was just concerned with getting it done in 30 minutes. I'm going to start doing that more often, it keeps me from adding to much and also allows for more time to actually study the image.
The story is about people who can upgrade themselves, and this man receives an upgrade from his wife, but there are other intentions as to how the upgrade is to be used. I can't say to much, because the author doesn't want to give away the story.
These are freebee illos, for non profit organizations. Mainly just spot illustrations (but in color). Trying to build a portfolio, so I'll take what ever I can find with experience.
I'm also thinking about making the wires into fiber optics, give some nice light effects and it just looks better than the standard black cable.
yeah, I'll probably do a couple of color comps before I get settled down, they are quick to do and fun.
thanks for the info so far. I'll post another after my sinus headache goes away


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SAMDRAGON

[Mozeman]

This may not be helpful at this point, but I think you should think about a more dramatic angle of the illo, specifically a shot where we can see the guy's face and his emotions. And maybe an additional figure in the shot (his wife?) to give the image some drama.

Just a thought.

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Mozeman
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[email protected]
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[AliasMoze]

Sam,
I think Fred may have said it already, but I would try lighting the shot with blue to give it a really "cool" look. Fred's right about the green. My mind is going, "Why's he wearing a green shirt?"

Good sketch though. Keep it up!

[lotor]

I agree with Mozeman. You should try some different angles. Do lots of thumbnails before your final sketch. Also someone mentioned that you should show the mans facial features but I disagree. I feel that the idea is really good by having only a little bit showing you really add to the mystery of the piece.
....I find that when doing a piece that will intrigue people, doing a value study will greatly inhance your piece. And that is something that usually turns out better when your rushing the piece like you seem to be doing by only putting 30 minutes into the piece.
....I could really picture this piece with a lot more light coming from the kids head and reflections of the green glow on other parts of furniture around the room.
...Great piece so far though
...I am really interested to see you do some other pictures from the story.
See ya
....hope this helps

[invisyblninja]

I think it needs some kind of "cyber-like" background. Maybe some computer circutry. It has a very cool look other wise!

Russ

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"You must die... I alone am best!!!"

[spooge demon]

A prize to anyone who can find all 63 different artists and illustrators whose influence can be felt in this image. An Homage...



Samdragon, work the whole piece as one, the BG and figure are not separate things at all. That is a problem in the long run with being to rigid with basics sometimes. �I must know the physical form of what I am drawing. It is a cylinder. Therefore, I will extricate my ellipse guides from the bookshelf and proceed to properly construct my cylinder...� You get the idea. At some point you have to let go a little and let the piece talk back to you, maybe it�s neat if you play up the flatness of something somewhere (I sure did here). I remember the hand of that guy in the graveyard with the gun (micke�s fine stuff), posted here. The shapes in the hand were purposefully screwed up, elongated.

I am not here to confuse anyone, and if your basics are not solid, go back to them and forget what I have said until later. You can screw yourself up bad. But at some point, the work has to stop looking academic.

[n8]

hahaha...ur kidding right spooge??..
u are kidding arent ya..??....right??...

[Mozeman]

Woohoohoo. I love it.

As an artist, sometimes there's nothing more fun than being bitch-slapped into a new way of doing things.

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Mozeman
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[email protected]
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[samdragon]

Hey now, have you been talking to my figure drawing instructor? she said the exact same thing.
I'm still working on things not looking so academic. It's not an easy thing to, not for me anyway.
I'm going to try what you suggested, I just have this fear of things not looking the way they should. But as you suggested, it will certainly give it more character and life.

Thanks for the info everyone, as usual you have been a great help. I am must speechless about what spooge has said. You're right, it's alot like a bitch slap I just can't seem to break through that ridged look, but I'm working on it. Do you (spooge) have any suggestions that would help me loosen up, or break away from the academic look? Or some other artists to look at?
thanks for the help folks! Great suggestions, and as usual U R A gawd spooge!
(i'm not really sure if I want to know why you chose spoogedemon)


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SAMDRAGON

[samdragon]

oh yeah, "dell" was a nice touch! ahahahah

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SAMDRAGON

[AliasMoze]

Samdragon,
Well, I ain't no Spooge, but I've found painting to be very different than drawing. As per the request of many mentors, I started doing lots of little sketches for speed (just like you do in figure drawing). It really helps to get you loose and learn the basics.

When sketching from my head, I've seen things come out that I didn't come up with intentionally. The overlapping of strokes and whatnot sometimes suggest a hint of a shape, etc. Anyway, that's my two cents.

BTW, Spooge seems to like more indirect lighting sometimes, which really looks cool in pictures like this. Spooge, you are awesome!

[This message has been edited by AliasMoze (edited May 13, 2000).]

[spooge demon]

Geez, I didn't mean it to be that harsh...

Are you working from some reference? I think you are not to the point where you can do this stuff from your head. Get a digital camera, they are so cheap now, even one that will do 640/480. have someone take a few (many?) pics of you or someone else. It is good that you have gone this far out of your head, so you will look at the photos and *slap* your forehead.

Now the next step, don't let the reference rule you. Paint, be loose, let stuff happen, allow the image to suggest things. use the reference to help with more specific form where and if you need it.

Some of the artists who found their way into the sketch I did:

Robert Heindel, Bill Sienkiewicz, Bart Forbes, Bob Peak, Drew Struzan, Syd Mead

But as I have said before, don't look at these guys stuff to hard before you have a solid foundation. Look at the old masters. There approach to form is a lot more basic, easier to understand.

Illustrators play a lot with shape design and like to flatten out the picture plane (I did here) and it just gets confusing at first.

[samdragon]

harsh? I didn't think so. I've had instructors take sharpy markers to stuff before, now that was harsh

Syd Mead...I always forget about his stuff.
I used a sketch from my fig.drawing sketch book for this image, I have about 10 or more sketch books to go through, so there are plenty of references there.

I decided to use poser for reference this time though, I have changed the whole layout..again. takeing cues from your interpretation, and everyone elses ideas.

Are you sure you're not talking to my figure drawing instructor spooge? maybe you two have a direct link or something, I swear you are repeating everything she told me two weeks ago.
But this time, as I mentioned, i'm going to use poser for reference, that helps alot, as far as setting up a scene quickly, but it makes it harder to breakaway from what's allready there.

yeah, a digital camera would be nice, I'll have to check into that.
I'll post my progress later on tonight if it's not storming to bad here.
thanks again for the help and references.


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SAMDRAGON

[Drorak]

Well since he's upgrading himself, then I suggest you show a toolbox of some sort in the background. Maybe have it resting above him on a workbench with hardware components spread about, also include a screwdriver and maybe even a drill. If he's also upgrading his software, then have a few minature digital discs lying around too.

[Sumaleth]

Spooge:

I'd actually be -very- interested to hear what aspects of that image represent the influence of what artist. Overall I can see a certain Mead'ish feel but finding specifics is tough!

Sumaleth

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