Strange looking calm robot soldier

[leveler50]

I made this just for fun and for personal use. This is based on a character concept that I've drawn a few years ago.



And if this could be made better somehow, tips would be appreciated. The colours are not selected by me because I suck with colour palettes.

[leveler50]

I'm not sure, whether the red is the best colour for it?

[DracoDragon42]

I dont get it, i dont know what it is, or from what view so... some clarification would be nice.

[0xDB]

This is based on a character concept that I've drawn a few years ago. [..] And yes, of course if this could be made better somehow, tips would be appreciated.

You would need to show the original concept to enable us to form a judgement on how close the pixel version comes to that (and to point out what could be better about the concept).

From what I can see I think it is supposed to be a side view (almost profile) of some futuristic battle armor (similar to the Silencer from 'Crusader: No Remorse' or a Space Marine from WH40K perhaps?). I think it's an ok start but the volumes could be much more clearly defined. It appears like stuff kind of lumps into each other which could be a flaw already present in the original concept.

[leveler50]

Here's the original concept:



Yes, in the pixel drawing it could be like a futuristic battle armour, just like in the Crusader: No Remorse.

[leveler50]

Perhaps with just a little bit milder colours:

[Pixelnick]

The detail gets lost in the top part of the helmet - what  is that supposed to be? Perhaps it needs to look substantially different from the main section. More like a helmet's crest?

[0xDB]

I think the main problem is the lack of structure in the original concept. It's all flat shapes. Without strongly defining the volumes first it is not possible to imagine light and shadow accurately.

In your pixel version you are implying some volume by the lighter and darker areas but it does not appear to match up with the contours.

To fix that, make a stronger concept first. Draw a side view, a front view (and maybe even top and bottom views) and after that make a construction for the pose you want to render. That should help you work out the volumes before you try to illuminate them and will lead to a much more defined and more coherent result. Don't cheat, don't wing it. Designing the different views first and going through that whole process will give you a better understanding and insight into what you're trying to render afterwards.

[leveler50]

I think that the character needs some more masculine and common-looking features, because it looked so strange and not appealing. That's why I added some gladiator looks to it:

[MysteryMeat]

At first glance I wouldn't peg him as calm, more "Haunted."
I think it's the shading around the eyes that's doing it, gives them a sort of "sunken in" appearance.

[0xDB]

I can believe that creating front and side views of the concept character would give a better feeling of the character. I could also just give light and shadow to the original concept character, and work from that.

Nah, you can't "just do" that. I mean, with a lot of practice and focused studies where you have gone through the meticulous construction or with a lot of life drawing practice, you might get to a level of skill where you can, but currently, you can not. So... do your self and your progress a favor and do the constructions of different views before you try to light and shade. You will otherwise have no clue how to accurately illuminate your objects. If you wing it in the concept you will run into the same issues that you run into when you try to wing it in the pixelled version.

The issue is a lack of understanding/idea of the structure/volumes of what you're trying to render and without a strong concept, good construction, you will not be able to gain that much needed understanding for a final rendering.