Opinion on Char

[Pixeled_Midget]

Hey guyz im pretty new to the whole pixel art scene, i used to do it about 3 or 4 years ago, but mostly basic heads and bad weapons. Just wondering if you could give any tips on the structure and shading of my Grim Reaper, Took me about 5 hours, but i changed the shading about 4 times before i was happy.

[Terley]

The grim reaper is a popular choice amung new pixelers, as you can get away with almost anything anatomic,  It's as if the robe is a short cut from actually having to draw a body, and a hood to make it so you don't have to draw a face. 

My advice would do something more interesting, anyone can draw a robe with two red eyes and a... big sideways knife..? Try another angle, closer up or focusing on his face, hinting the skeleton face in the shadowed hood. This character is flat straight with the viewer as if you've just drawn half the body and flipped it over to finish the other side.. It's very boring IMO..

But im in a halloween mood (probably cus im tryin to make up for halloween before I go on holiday on the 27th  ), so I do like that you've got into the halloween spirit too  , I'd suggest you look up lots of references for inspiration (you're word for the day). if you're not naturally filled with it (like helm or Kennethfejer are for instance) you must look for it.

some cool pics for example are;
http://img.freeforumzone.it/upload/735066_grim_reaper.jpg
http://www.hadishi.com/Devil_Creations/grim_reaper.jpg
http://www.textfiles.com/artscene/mirrors/GRAPE-DEMO-ARCHIVE/graphism/rs/razorback/razorback-the_grim_reaper.png

see, these are actually inspiring me as we speak 

[Pixeled_Midget]

Lol i actually only did the grim reaper because a friend told me too.  But you are right i lack inspiriation.  I am forever trying to think of something to pixel.  The second link u gave is awsome! Gives a whole differant perspective of a grim reaper.  I know the hands on this suck, i cant do them yet, but its all a learning curve, i shall get there in the end.  I have already spent 13 hours non-stop pixeling. So i hope i can at least produce something reasonable by the end of the week.

p.s i liked the.. "knife"

[THE KAPPTIN]

A good way to get inspiration is to go in the activities/challenges section of this forum, or another forum. I've done that a few times now.

now.

[rabidbaboy]

The shading doesn't give away a definite lightsource, it's as if you randomly sprayed the shades - I'm not saying that's what you did, but it's what it looks like, especially the grays, and especially on the robe and the blade of the scythe. A lightsource must be kept in mind, and so must the form of the object.

Welcome to Pixelation.

[Pixeled_Midget]

yeah i new i wasnt giving him a light source when i first started, and i know it is needed badly... i figure it might be easier to start a new guy from scratch, ima try make him sit down with one knee bent or sumthing, so he actually has legs, maybe put both arms on scyth swinging it with his body slighlty twisting, should give him some actuall dimension....

[Terley]

yeah i new i wasnt giving him a light source when i first started, and i know it is needed badly... i figure it might be easier to start a new guy from scratch, ima try make him sit down with one knee bent or sumthing, so he actually has legs, maybe put both arms on scyth swinging it with his body slighlty twisting, should give him some actuall dimension....

Thats it! its called a scyth  , luckily I found out before I looked like an idiot  ....

im glad your taking in the comments, I hate seeing people say things like yeah yeah I'll consider your comments (for the distant future), you seem willing to learn, thats great 

I also lack inspiration, a lot of the time.. I working towards being an professional animator, so my ideas are usually story based, not necisserily an 'image'.

goodluck with whatever you decide to do 

[Pixeled_Midget]

Thanks Terley, im not doing this for any career reason, im only doing it for fun, if i ever get good enough though it would be awsome. Ive been trying to give him more shape fore a while, nothing looks remotly possible.. legs too long and bent the wrong way (stuff like dat) i think i should start with some smaller stuff like some scenery (i really wanna be on a collab)  so thats mostly what im working on atm...

[ndchristie]

i tihnk the scythe needs to be smoother, and it does not look sharp atm.  the robes.....i dont know what to say.  study fabrics i guess; it really isnt working for you.  still, the idea is good, as are your intentions.  keep at it

[Pixeled_Midget]

That link to second grim really gets me going, ive started a outline but am having trouble with the hand