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Turuk
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Turuk »

Mefisto wrote:An explanation.
While it does prove your point, I do not know that using a statue with irregular proportions is your best reference. ;)


I think that you could argue that a noble would not mind wiping his sword on his cape. While it seems a bit low-brow for them, they also have the money to easily replace a cape, and it is likely to be cut, torn or dirty from any battle that may have just happened. Thus rendering it fit for the trash heap in their minds anyways.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Skizzaltix »

I was thinking that... But I was also thinking that he might be wearing an expensive cape ;)
Mefisto wrote:An explanation.
I would have thought that he'd need to be wearing tighter trousers for that to come into play.
But as I said, you're free to ignore it :)
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Re: Some sketches

Post by LordBob »

The colour scheme has improved (though it still carries eye-burning levels of saturation :lol2: ), I rather like how it all works together.

Unfortunately, I still find his left forearm a lot longer than his right. Check your image, I think there's roughly the length of a fist between the two. This could easily be changed by moving his left hand further down the blade & forearm. As far as I'm concerned, I'd really like to see this solved before you start shading. But then you're the artist, do what you feel is best.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Mefisto »

I couldn't find what was wrong with this arm. Just now I realized that imagined the right elbow far too left. I forgot that the elbow joint is not a mathematical point and it has to fill some space and that it is seen from certain angle, not perpendicular. So the rignt forearm looked longer in my eyes and I gave the same lenght to the left forearm. Well, now I know why it looked wrong. It won't be dificult to fix it. Unfortunately I have already begun shading but the arm will require only a minor correction.

The saturation is a matter of monitor calibration, on my laptop the colours aren't so vivid. No worries, the last phase will be casting overall shadow so I will desaturate whole picture.

Right now the fencer looks like this:
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Re: Some sketches

Post by mnewton1 »

NIce, why did you use that pattern for his jacket?
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Sgt. Groovy
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Sgt. Groovy »

The saturation is a matter of monitor calibration
Not really, every colour in the picture can be expressed in absolute HSV-values, and in your image the S (saturation) of many colours go to 60%-80%, even to full 100% in some places. If your image doesn't look vivid to you, then the problem is with your monitor.

In the real world, you can consider 50% saturation as the baseline for "bright" colours, anything that goes significantly beyond that is supersaturated. In the Wesnoth world where there are no chemically synthesized "neon" pigments, such colours are rare.
No worries, the last phase will be casting overall shadow so I will desaturate whole picture.
Actually, even though it sounds counterintuitive, it's not shadows but lights that desaturate (as a general rule). The issue has been discussed in length in this thread.

I'll wait for your shading before more criticism, but be aware that lots of desaturation should take place.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Skizzaltix »

Looking good!
Though, is it just me, or does that one tear on his shirt look a little lonely? Maybe another on one arm? Up to you :hmm:
mnewton1 wrote:why did you use that pattern for his jacket?
...Why not?
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Mefisto
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Mefisto »

Sorry, I should have been more precise. Of course it is a matter of my monitor calibration. The colours don't look excessively saturated for me but I will fix them to be more eyes friendly.

About the light and shadow - point taken.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by kitty »

apart from the eyesoreing colours your shading doesn't seem to follow an unified lightsource... you really need to establish one in order to create depth and form. skip all those fancy patterns and just use one dark and one light shade of your base colour and try to give him depth by doing that. when those work you can start shading and blending and adding fx - but you need a solid fundament.
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Mefisto
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Mefisto »

Thanks for comment. It appeared that I wanted to be too quick. I will take some time before I'll post something new, but no worries, the progress is going on. I just need to find more references and practice shading.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by Mefisto »

One more incarnation of Fencer.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by scienceguy8 »

While I'm no artist, and I'm sure the real artists on this board will probably find one or two faults my untrained eyes missed, his mustache blends in with his upper lip, making it hard to see that there is a mustache there.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by thespaceinvader »

It still feels a little flat - something's still up with the lightsource. I can't work out exactly what, though. I'll consider it, and get back to you. I think part of the issue is a lack of contrast.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by LordBob »

Same as TSI, I find him flat. I think this is because your shadows lack depth and your light source is still unclear. More contrast between light and shadow would help.

Also, I can't help finding his head a little small.
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Re: Some sketches

Post by thespaceinvader »

Now that you mention it, his head also sits very high up...

Keep up the good work - with a bit of effort, you can get this looking really nice.
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