Pixelation

Critique => Pixel Art => Topic started by: Generic on March 31, 2007, 01:55:34 am

Title: Iso Building Complex
Post by: Generic on March 31, 2007, 01:55:34 am
I'm pretty unfamiliar with the isometric style and thought I'd do a piece to get some practice. The colors are pretty boring, just the basic rectangles to begin with for now. Oh and I think a lot of the shading may be off because I'm not really sure where to go with it, but I thought I'd give it a try. Constructive criticism and edits are very welcomed and will be appreciated. I need a lot of help with this, so fire away.
(Sorry for the white background, it's temporary until the building is complete)

(http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/8233/futuristic3ca6.png)
Title: Re: Iso Building Complex
Post by: Sharm on March 31, 2007, 06:34:23 pm
Windows are usually inset, not sticking out from the structure.  Switch the light and dark, and that'll fix it.  Why are there only big windows on the front, and small windows on the side?  I'd mix it up a little, so it looked like they're all part of one building.  Something about the bottom of the elevator shaft looks jumbled.  I don't think the shadows are right.  The wall should cast a shadow on the bottom of the shaft, and the elevator should cast a shadow somewhere.  There's a part in the back bottom corner where the windows line up with the windows on the wall in front, but not with the wall it's on.  The left side is being held up by pillars, but not the right.  It looks a little unstable.  Speaking of pillars, how is it flush with the front on the bottom, but not on the upper floors?   Somehow your perspective got skewed.  You should probably keep the spacing of the pillars even as well.  The front one is much farther forward.  Some of your shadows are only being cast from the front of the object, mostly roof elements, the back should be casting a shadow too.  Shadows don't usually layer unless there are multiple light sources.  If it's already in shadow, it won't cast one.  I like the colors, keep at it.
Title: Re: Iso Building Complex
Post by: JJ Naas on March 31, 2007, 10:17:29 pm
Reminds me of the wonders of constructivist architecture. (http://www.pictureninja.com/pages/norway/square-building-oslo.jpg) The pool is a nice touch, but there seems to be a 10 meter fall into the water. One would think those wide flat yellow areas would've been put to use somehow.. how about adding some greenery?
Title: Re: Iso Building Complex
Post by: poingo on April 01, 2007, 09:08:20 pm
I really like the design of the building, although it does need much more polishing.  Most of my crits have already been mentioned, so the only other thing is that the long rectangular windows on the elevator side look like air vents, because they are outset from the wall.  Also, the shadows of those pillars are unnecessary, because the wall is blocking the sunlight, so there wouldn't be a shadow anyway.
Title: Re: Iso Building Complex
Post by: ndchristie on April 02, 2007, 01:16:01 pm
Try to think of buildings as being objects unto themselves, with massive shapes and forms.  this feels like it was put together with blocks with no real sense of how large buildings are.  The beveled edges of your windows for example - at this scale, you'ld never see window ledges.  The pillars and pool walls are another thing - very chunky considering the scale.

Look around at buildings.  Typically the macroforms are very simple while it is the detailings that count.  Even a massive, complicated and beautiful building like St. Peter's Basilica (http://www.cs.utah.edu/~bigler/pictures/europe2002/italy/st%20peter's%20basilica.jpg) has simple large shapes with incredible smaller forms and details.

Think about how you want to texture a piece, and how you want all of the forms to interact and flow together and on what scale.  Erector Set buildings will always have an underwhelming and awkward quality to them.
Title: Re: Iso Building Complex
Post by: Generic on April 02, 2007, 11:48:55 pm
Thanks for all of the crits and advice everyone. I just wanted to say I won't be coming back for a few months so I won't have a chance to post any progress of this but that doesn't mean I won't just leave your advice. Thanks for the help everyone  :).
Title: Re: Iso Building Complex
Post by: Icedemon on April 03, 2007, 01:01:41 am
its funky, it kinda reminds me of like a jail... the windos could be interpreted as vents.. but good, nonetheless, good...