WIP: Furry dancer... Need help!

[Vertigo-zero]

After not pushing any pixels for a while, I got bored and tried it again...
I found out I still suck at lighting and stuff  so please help 
As you can see c&c's are welcome, edits also by the way 

Vertigo

[dragonrc]

It's pillowshaded now, you did pick a lightsource but you shouldn't use it only against the outlines but a bit more to the middle like on the breasts.

It doesn't look very furry, maby this image (made by fool) will help out a bit if you want to make it more furry:

[Meta|Fox]

"Furry" is referring to a style of anime which humanises animals in usually a suggestive or sexual manner. Unless tastefully and skillfully done (which is very rare), it's a style I dislike with a passion... Furry might also be referring too any form of Anthropomorphic Creation though (like the cats in that play... you know the one, cats).
though in this case its the former... Down with furrys!

anyway

the picture itself suffers from some bad light source (only really catching the edges in the way you have is making it look flat) and to an extent, is pillowshaded. I cant really put to words how to fix this (as its a intuitive thing that comes with practise) so I'll try to do an edit to illustrate my point (edit: bah too busy to do a half decent one sorry, hope some one else can ^_^)

[Rox]

Well, that was certainly an unbiased and accurate description of the "furry" concept. I hate to do this here and now, but it goes more like this:

A "furry" can either refer to an anthropomorphic character, like the dancer here, or my avatar. Or, it can refer to a person who likes having to do with furries, such as one who roleplays as an anthro online (hi), one who regularly draws anthropomorphic characters (hi), someone who favors cartoons and games with "toon animals" (hi), and so on. A large part of the furry scene focuses on art and socializing, and yes, there's a shitload of suggestive and sexual art out there, but it is a minority when looking at the whole scene. I'd actually think the clean:dirty ratio is similar to the art in the non-furry part of the world. In any case, more often than not "furry" means anthropomorphic when talking about characters, and a lifestyle geared toward socializing with others in the scene and drawing/looking at art, when talking about people. Such as myself.

Yeah, I can't even draw human heads any longer. I'm a bit ashamed of that, but I don't like drawing humans anyhow, so it doesn't get in the way. I really don't see how that could possibly trigger someone to use the words "down with furrys". In fact, if you've "usually" seen furry being used in a sexual manner, I suspect you've really only seen the parts of the scene that people so love to just dig up from its context and post around on the web and trigger extensive use of words such as "freak", "sicko", and similar. I don't mind people doing that. They're right. But I do mind when it makes people believe that's all the word furry stands for.


Now for art: First thing that strikes me is that the anatomy and shading style is VERY close to what my art looked like when I joined the pixel art community. Meaning there are many things that are, in theory, fully correct, but it still doesn't look very interesting. My first suggestion would be to study anatomy more, because while I don't mind cylindrical arms and legs, a piece like this really needs some curves and shapes for it to look good. There's also things to be said about the shading and choice of palette, but I'll leave that for later.

[Meta|Fox]

Well, that was certainly an unbiased and accurate description of the "furry" concept. I hate to do this here and now, but it goes more like this:

A "furry" can either refer to an anthropomorphic character, like the dancer here, or my avatar. Or, it can refer to a person who likes having to do with furries, such as one who roleplays as an anthro online (hi), one who regularly draws anthropomorphic characters (hi), someone who favors cartoons and games with "toon animals" (hi), and so on. A large part of the furry scene focuses on art and socializing, and yes, there's a shitload of suggestive and sexual art out there, but it is a minority when looking at the whole scene. I'd actually think the clean:dirty ratio is similar to the art in the non-furry part of the world. In any case, more often than not "furry" means anthropomorphic when talking about characters, and a lifestyle geared toward socializing with others in the scene and drawing/looking at art, when talking about people. Such as myself.

Yeah, I can't even draw human heads any longer. I'm a bit ashamed of that, but I don't like drawing humans anyhow, so it doesn't get in the way. I really don't see how that could possibly trigger someone to use the words "down with furrys". In fact, if you've "usually" seen furry being used in a sexual manner, I suspect you've really only seen the parts of the scene that people so love to just dig up from its context and post around on the web and trigger extensive use of words such as "freak", "sicko", and similar. I don't mind people doing that. They're right. But I do mind when it makes people believe that's all the word furry stands for.


Now for art: First thing that strikes me is that the anatomy and shading style is VERY close to what my art looked like when I joined the pixel art community. Meaning there are many things that are, in theory, fully correct, but it still doesn't look very interesting. My first suggestion would be to study anatomy more, because while I don't mind cylindrical arms and legs, a piece like this really needs some curves and shapes for it to look good. There's also things to be said about the shading and choice of palette, but I'll leave that for later.

Actually after the "tastefully and skillfully done" comment I was going to put your avatar as an example (but couldn't remember your name so decided not too) still, the fact remains that I, personally, dislike furrys. I'm not sure why but I dislike them but something about the very nature of them bugs me. maybe it is biased and and inaccurate but it is my opinion none the less. deal. (for clarification when i said "down with furrys" i was referring to the first example of what i thought furrys where, not Anthropomorphic characters in general)

I will however apologize for the over generalization on my part, sorry, twas stupid. infact, i probably shouldn't have posted my opinion on it at all, this isn't really the place and i dont want to turn this thread into and argument of opinions.

[Vertigo-zero]

LOL looks like I started a hate/love discussion about furries anyway thanks for all your tips and im going to work on it right now

[Vertigo-zero]

Here is a small update:
Outline are a little furry now
Used some more shadow to repair some of the pillow shading
(Like shadows under arms, ears etc.)
Added more colour to the cloud



keep posting you C&C's!
(and your opinion about furries if you like  )
Vertigo

[digitaldust]

Two can play at that game, Rox.

In short words: Anthropomorphism is making virtually anything humanlike. From animals to cacti to aeroplanes. The sex debate is THAAAAAAAAAATaway.

Vertigo:

The posing really bothered me quite a lot, as it looks very awkward and not "dancer"-ly. And since i'm horrible with verbal critique, I did an asstastic 10 minute notepad sketch that hopefully will teach you at least a little bit about bodily dynamics.




To the mods: I apologize DEARLY for lineart, and not pixel editing. VERY VERY SORRY. Don't hurt me. ;_;

[Vertigo-zero]

You've got quite a point there Anyway indeed my dancer ain't dancing, but that wasnt my goal. But that doesnt mean Im not inspired by your drawing! Ill certainly try a more dynamic pose right after this That was coming up anyway because I keep making boring pixel-art. Ill let you know

[9_6]

She doesn't look very feminine and the pose also is a bit weird.
The limbs are... tubes.
I deciced to go the way of the helm and made a (crappy) photoshop edit to suggest a pose:

[Vertigo-zero]

WOW, You make me feel like crap  You guys are way too good... Ill start over now and try to do it better, Ill take your image as example...

Edit:
Update! Far from finished but its just to see what im doing now...

[Vertigo-zero]

OMG just noticed one of her legs was way too short (starting from the knee)

[9_6]

Good improvemet on the pose but we aren't done with the basics yet.
Let's go back a few steps and point some issues in your lineart out:



The main things that stroke my eyes were her right leg which is too chubby, her left leg isn't bent, the foot looks like it's not touching the ground and her fingers are too bold and don't look very feminine because of that.

[Vertigo-zero]

Cool, that helped me a lot! here are the new and old version to compare
-
They are all minor changes but it sure looks better now! (the right one is the new one )

List of changes: Nose, Hands, Foot, Eye, Hips, Leg, Face, Boob... inspect them all plz 9_6
Vertigo

[sharprm]

It looks to me like she is wafting around and smelling her own farts. What are those clouds? Can you make them red or something?

[9_6]

The lineart should be all right now.
I've still found some minor mistakes in it (the left boob, the foot, the leg and some other minor things) but it's okay now.
On to colouring.



The first thing I have noticed was that smoke which you just slapped over the figure and then lowering the alpha value.
Don't do that.
It turns your 8 colors into 36.
Pixeling is all about doing everything by hand so don't use alpha lavers.

The second thing are the colours.
The ramps are pretty dull. You should experiment with hue shifting.
In my example I put in some blues and reds to make the colours look more interesting.

The last thing is the shading.
You leave large portions of the character at one solid colour.
Expand the dark areas a bit to give the character more volume.
If you're doing that you could also try dithering to make the colour gradients appear more smooth.
You could also try to colorize the outlines, black outlines aren't always a good thing.

[Vertigo-zero]

Ok thanks! You are really a great help will start on it right away 

Edit: Update!

Is this kinda what you meant?
I chose these colours so that I can make a sunset background or sometinhg later on...
Dont know about how to dothe clouds yet though 

Edit: Change of plans! Im throwing these clouds in the trash-can
but I dont want the same kind of cloud as you did as example...  Ill just test a bit to
get some good-looking clouds without getting too much colours in the image.

help is still welcome... and needed!

[Vertigo-zero]

Another update:

Keep help coming

And another update:

[ndchristie]

Dancing is about flow and motion, this piece doesnt really have any of these from the start and doesnt gain much in the edits.  It is off-balance, but instead of adding motion to it, it just feels...off.  The forms are blocky, not like any dancers i know who are pretty much always very lithe petite as a result of the lfiestyle.

heres something more along the lines of what i'd suggest for this pose:


but i would really suggest that you nix this pose and try something altogether different.  A pose like this isn't going to have nearly as much motion as if you were to draw the character moving (the current pose is a pause after what would be a very nice move to show)

[Vertigo-zero]

Wow thanks ill keep this in mind for my new projects, Ill finish this one with this pose but your completely right... Its not diserving the title "Dancer" now. Was planning to do more dynamic poses anyway so all the sketches here are great thanks! 

[Vertigo-zero]

Another update:

Was working on the clouds etc. nothing new on the furry itself I think...

[Helm]

Sadly I agree with Adarias and I had started a similar edit before giving up half-way. I think you should call this done and start on something new, focusing on motion study, center of gravity and human anatomy if you want to improve on the points this one lacks.

[Vertigo-zero]

Yeah I know, will probably finish this background and then start something more dynamic... Will try to do a LOT of study to make that one (even) better. Still this piece was ok to learn from..

[Souly]

will probably finish this background and then start something more dynamic...

I'd say dn't try and do anything "more dynamic" since this thing lacks many things.
As helm has pointed out.

[Vertigo-zero]

thanks I am going to study a lot of it this and next month Just couldnt leave this unfinished so this is my last version:

Has been a great learning process to me

Vertigo

[Rox]

Respectable final product. And yes, I'm only saying that because it's evolved to something much more complex than my first pieces did. I do like the concept, the colors and how you managed to make the cloth thing actually look like some cloth thing.

[Vertigo-zero]

Haha thanks Rox I also thought it ended up quite well, and as a great study for me... Even did the cloth without any help!  Wasnt too experienced with that so im kind of proud lol

[Wakka]

The clouds are a little gradient, but good, noneoftheless.

[largemann]

I really like how you've done the sun and the water. Nice touch.
Something irks me about the sky and clouds, but I can't put my finger on what it is.

Hope your next project turns out even better! 

[Vertigo-zero]

Thanks!  And welcome at the forums! (Since you have only two posts)

[largemann]

Haha, thanks!

I was a member way back in the day, but I stumbled upon these forums again and thought I'd start pixeling again.
It's been a while, so I consider myself new again.