[WIP] Alien-Bird

[Dex]

inspired by a friend of mine's drawing, this is what I have so far. c+c please.

Also, I'm still working on the c64 one, but I'm sorta taking a break to do this. 

[Dex]

update, getting some help from Josiah on where to place shadows etc

[Jakten]

I acctually prefer the neck on the original piece. The second one looks like a random placement of bumps but the first looks more like he has actual muscle mass. The wing is looking alot nicer though

[Dex]

I acctually prefer the neck on the original piece. The second one looks like a random placement of bumps but the first looks more like he has actual muscle mass. The wing is looking alot nicer though

The mouth/snout would shadow it, but I've added a little bit in this update. I also tried to make the fur more...furry.

[Dex]

getting there

[Dex]

background drafting

[Dex]

comments are scarce these days

luckily I have pixel artists on AIM and such to critique 

anyways, update, added some hills

[Cow]

Hmm, I don't know what you were going for regarding the bird's texture, it looks more like wood to me than anything else. The textures on the mountain are the same way. I like the clouds, but they contribute to the overall clutteredness of the composition. I don't think you were thinking of composition from the first step, so right now the background appears to be random detail put behind the alien-bird to fill the canvas rather than something that's contributing to the piece in a positive way. Having a setting rather than just a floating picture is nice, but there's no 'interaction' here, the bird feels plastered on top and disconnected from his environment.

[Dex]

...any suggestions as how to fix that?

I also don't see how the bird looks like wood. The first version, maybe, but here I just don't see it.

[Larwick]

The way the bird's lips are right against the edge of the canvas is distressing - i'd suggest making the canvas larger to fit the bird in appropriately.

[Dex]

Do you think that would help the scene look less cluttered as Cow said? I think it might work. I'm also open to suggestions on how to make the grassy hills in the background more...grassy.

[$ymbol]

I have a suggestion for the eye-



I made this before you killed a color, but same idea.


About the texturing, you've pretty much shaded everything the same way; with bloches and dithering. Maybe if you gave the hills a more soft texture, and make the bird have feathers (At least, I'm assuming that he has feathers in the first place) it'll be better.

[Dex]

It's more fur than feathers, as according to the artist who drew him. The only feathers are around the mouth and on the wings, for some reason.

A softer hill texture? I'll try it. Examples would help, though.

[Dex]

Cow made a nice edit, trying to do stuff the way he showed me.

Any better?

[Dex]

A small update. Mostly work done on the clouds and the bird. 

[Souly]

Saw this on facebook graffiti, reminded me of this if it were shaven and had goblin ears.

Still got some cleaning up on the clouds near the neck but I'd say they're looking pretty good.
You've also got some grey on the outline of his eye.
Wondering if you're going to apply that to the feathers, or if it's just a stray pixel

Really liking this though.

[Corinthian Baby]

i like the composition on the earlier version better. It looks like he's gonna reach over and kiss the frame. In the new one it it more centered. Maybe you could also try moving him to the right and have him like looking across the landscape.

[Dex]

...why would he be trying to kiss the frame? o.O
I could move him a bit, though, maybe I'll try it!

Also, Souly, thanks. I'll be sure to work on those few things you pointed out.

[Dex]

Badassbill is giving me some pointers on how to do the grass. Any tips?

[Blick]

The teeth are what's bothering me with this. They're flat, uniform, and the bottom row is verging on being pillow shaded. Gaps, irregularities and the like would add more interest to it.

Suggestion:


Otherwise, this is coming along very nicely. The texture of the feathers especially.

[Dex]

I hope this helps. I didn't want to go for scary, sharp teeth, because he's supposed to look sort of like an idiot. Haha. I really appreciate your comments, Blick. Thanks!

[Dex]

Josiah told me to darken the grass to draw more attention to the focus of the piece. I prefer it, but who knows! Updates on the grass, too.

[Raytheon]

i'm hatin' the hills but lovin' the bird

the hills just look bland and boring compared to the rest of the piece but i really love the detail of the bird, the clouds, and how you fixed the mouth (though i think it'd look better if they were a bit more broken)

[Opacus]

Josiah told me to darken the grass to draw more attention to the focus of the piece. I prefer it, but who knows! Updates on the grass, too.

Well, the bird is darker then the grass. So I actually think it worked better when the grass was lighter.

[Dex]

Josiah told me to darken the grass to draw more attention to the focus of the piece. I prefer it, but who knows! Updates on the grass, too.

Well, the bird is darker then the grass. So I actually think it worked better when the grass was lighter.

I don't know... I've grown to like the darker, more down-to-earth hue, but I'll play with it. Thanks for the comment. In the meantime...



Some updates yay

[Dex]

http://pixeljoint.com/pixelart/36981.htm

grew tired of this, sosooooo