Pixelation

Critique => 2D & 3D => Topic started by: TheShard1994 on May 28, 2011, 12:54:50 pm

Title: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: TheShard1994 on May 28, 2011, 12:54:50 pm
Hey,
At the moment I'm practicing my portraiting skills, and after a few portraits I came up with this portrait. I wanted to color it in a cool style, so it would look semi-realistic. I've already started blocking out colors and adding 1 layer of shading, I just want to know if the shading is right, and maybe tips on what to do next ;)
(http://img827.imageshack.us/img827/7610/portraitrubydrawing.png)

Thanks for your help,
Lorenzo
Title: Re: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: DtFM on May 28, 2011, 02:15:40 pm
How realistic do you want the proportions to be? The head is way too big for that body.
Title: Re: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: TheShard1994 on May 28, 2011, 03:42:29 pm
Well this was the original sketch:
(http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2808/portraitruby.png)

In which the boobs were way too big, neck too thin, shoulders too small and her hat was too high
Title: Re: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: StaticSails on May 28, 2011, 09:28:39 pm
The original sketch is better really.
I think the biggest problem is the lack of highlights. Everything is one color with one single shade. There's nothing in between and no highlights.
The combination of highlights and shadows really help describe form.

Do you have any references?
You might want to get some then.
Title: Re: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: TheShard1994 on May 28, 2011, 09:39:37 pm
I know. As I already states, I just started blocking out the colors and added a single layer of shading to each color. Wanted to know if the shading was alright so I could continue without having to hear the shading's wrong later on.
Title: Re: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: StaticSails on May 28, 2011, 10:03:38 pm
I know. As I already states, I just started blocking out the colors and added a single layer of shading to each color. Wanted to know if the shading was alright so I could continue without having to hear the shading's wrong later on.
I don't really agree with that type of thinking. When I do paintings in photoshop I accept the fact that the shading isn't going to be right at first. Don't waste time trying to get things perfect in the beginning. Have things make sense and have the composition (and anatomy) work. After that then you pretty much start correction things until you're done.
Shading and highlighting really shouldn't be two different steps. They are harmonious! I hope that's a word.

I hope you bump up the contrast as you go, the shading on the skin seems... weak.

Shoulders should probably be a bit wider, just a little. or a smaller head.
Title: Re: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: st0ven on May 29, 2011, 12:52:46 am
Hey man - if you want to practice ive got a bit of a work flow example to show you that might help you out a bit.

I see you started with a sketch which is good. It appears however that this very early stage is where you really need to concentrate on practicing. basically youre not going to get any portrait right by just luck if your sketch isnt accurate. I should know i suffer from this pitfall ALL the freaking time.

Im not a master of anatomy but i did do a sketch edit of a girl with roughly the same features that you were going for. I came up with something like this.

(http://www.spriteart.com/edit/shard_portrait_sketch.jpg)

Again if youre trying to practice this step is actually one that can be the most time consuming.

Now from here, im going to just use some black and white values to show you how quick building up some form can be.

(http://www.spriteart.com/edit/shard_portrait_sketch1.jpg)
(http://www.spriteart.com/edit/shard_portrait_sketch2.jpg)

From here Im just going to use a multiply layer and some hard/soft brush work. nothing really detailed, just try to keep it loose.

(http://www.spriteart.com/edit/shard_portrait_sketch3.jpg)

now some dimension the other way with some whites on a separate layer.

(http://www.spriteart.com/edit/shard_portrait_sketch4.jpg)

From here you can build up your image with more detail using similar practices and it makes production not only faster, but more loose as well, as youre not having to worry about repainting something youve messed up. its very hard to paint things with perfect detail on the first pass IMO, so let the build up help you decide shapes and form as they present themselves. Note that shes not really finished or at all perfect but you can get a decent read for where the portrait could develop from here.

If youre wondering, the sketch took me more time than the other steps combined by far.

This should work when using color as well. I know it sounds kind of lame, but if you want to practice, first try practicing with black and white so you can practice your values once youre able to get your form in B&W then you can go charge forth more confidently doing something similar with color. Your art skills will also improve overall id think (i know its helped me a lot).

hope you find this somewhat useful. good luck with your practice.
Title: Re: [Portrait]Girl - Ruby
Post by: TheShard1994 on May 29, 2011, 11:26:32 am
Arrrgh! Thanks a lot man! Great crits ^^

Well I had already shaded it on paper before(with the wrong anatomy), but I'm not sure if the shading was correct
(http://img840.imageshack.us/img840/4940/portraitrubyshaded.png)


So for now, you'd say I have to try to give it volume with black and white first? Will do  :y: