[WIP] Yian Kut Ku

[Zettman]

Hey guys, long time no see. I'm back working on some large scale stuff...



This is what I got started on, I'm not too happy with colors - but yes they have to be that dark and oily... Here is my reference: http://image.forumfree.it/8/0/6/6/7/6/8/1321821150.jpg (I didn't do the Crest, that's breakable and therefore will be done separately... Kind of like an Equipment piece for the monster lol).


Any suggestions?

[9_6]

According to the reference imo.

Your legs and the neck are a bit too beefy and it's unclear where the wings are attached.

[StarRaven]

It's looking good so far. However, if you're just going by the creature, you can change the colors somewhat -- kut-ku is very brightly colored: http://img-cache.cdn.gaiaonline.com/ae6cab955a26697385f57b0f4d997a0d/http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b306/Zsaber12/YianKutKu.jpg

The eyes look a little like they're on top of the beak.

It's looking good so far!

[Zettman]

You're right I didn't notice that the beak and the eyebrow arc / eyes were separated... Probably due to the fact that it's the same color. @9_6 That's a very nice redrawing, I did notice he needed a more "chicken leg" style on the feet, and I let my own reference space me out on the wing attachment... It would have helped alot to sketch it out before going at it first, I usually do that phase when drawing on paper - I'll start doing it for larger scaled Pixel Art aswell from now on ^^


I'll get back on this when I find some time ^^ thanks alot for the help guys.

[Zettman]

Might have come out too saturated, so I'll edit it when I'm completely done... This is what I got so far


I hope you don't mind me using the sketch xD

[9_6]

Finish the claws and get rid of the sketch layer so there aren't a bazillion colors floating around from the AA.
Then we can talk.

[Zettman]

Cleaned, all ready sir

[9_6]

Alright first off, can we say big improvement?

Yeah, yeah I think we can do that.



It's unclear where the light comes from. Top left? Top right? Both?
I'd pick one source and try to stick to it. Too many highlights everywhere makes things look flat.

The styledither on the head doesn't quite fit.
I don't know where this thing comes from nor do I know anything beyond the references but it seems the beak thing is quite smooth so all that structure in there doesn't quite fit.

You're using too many colors that are too close to each other. Spread them values.

Oh also I forgot to correct it but you got the left foot wrong.
There needs to be more foot on the ground, I only drew the clawcircles, not the entire foot.

Keep it up. Can't wait to see what you come up with next!

[StarRaven]

Nitpick: Kut-ku is pink, not red/orange. The colors right now look... charizardy. That is totally a word.

[Zettman]

@9_6 thanks but I think you deserve most of the credit here haha. You're right about the colors, I was unsure about the light source - but I think the left foot is fine as long as it hides behind the beak, no?

As Raven said Kut Ku is actually Pink xD I started with purple, and my gradients led me astray into an orangey doom. I'll change it up next.

[Cyangmou]

I don't knew at first tha tit was a monster from Monster hunter, but as I recoginized that I searched myself some references.

The main problem is here that as well forms as color aren't really fitting together with the creature concept. I don't know your reference (link isn't working) but the proportions were also off.

I'd suggest that you should start with correcting some colors and create a palette which is interconnected in the whole image to get a homogen color look. then you should look carefully how the whole thing is looking, I don't played the game so I had only the rough imagination of some pictures.

As long as your proportions and your basic forms and colors aren't right you shouldn't start with detailing the stuff. Work at first sloppy and refine always the picture as a whole, this brings usually a better result than detailing part for part. Of course if you are fine enough you'll have to give each part the final touch.

I also played a bit more with the light. Its obviously coming from the left side now. I also added here and there some reflections from the ground and I also did a bit more with the wings.

I don't detailed anything yet, the head was done with a bit more attention, but it's just an tip in which diraction you could go.

It's also rather big for a pixel art piece. Maybe it'd be a good idea to study some good pixel art revs.

Here is a suggestion for some important changes while staying pretty near to your version.

[Zettman]

So much work for a piece I probably won't be using in the game xD since it's too big proportions wise. I will though, out of principle, finish this and correctly reshade as previously posted. The palette above looks perfect, even if you haven't played the game you got it right on the first try lol.

I haven't tackled a "big monster" pixel in a while, I forgot the steps as to what to detail first / last, this reminded me how to do things the right way though, thanks.

- Going to finish the Kut Ku -

[9_6]

Well if it's too large then make it smaller while you don't yet have much detail to destroy from resizing.

Also,

What is with the head of that thing?
It looks different in every bloody reference you look up.

[Zettman]

Yeah it's because they change him up in every Monster Hunter (there's like 6+ MH versions) lol