[WIP] Egyptian woman

[WM]

I was actually talking about the four largest patches of highlights, two warm and two light, on either side of the chest. Sorry I didn't make that clearer. Anyways, I think that what you did work on also helped.

[Perihelion]

NaCl, yeah, I know, that shoulder has been the bane of my existence. I think I might just give up trying to fix it, because I've tried and don't really know what to do to make it look right. :\ Alas, I am better at pixeling than drawing. She is supposed to be really skinny, though.

Oh, yes, WM, I see what you mean now, and I agree!

[NaCl]

I gave it a quick once over:



I think resting the arm against the body makes it look more natural. I think the main problem of your current is the shadows around the ball at the top of the shoulder. They make it look like it is farther forward then the rest of the torso, but that muscle actually only comes forward slightly from the torso, if not going back (depending on the posture).

[WM]

...

Oh, yes, WM, I see what you mean now, and I agree!

  perfect!

[Perihelion]

Yeah, it does look a lot better, WM; thanks for the tip!

NaCl, I was trying to avoid completely redrawing the arm, but I finally caved and did it. Changed the dress a bit too and haven't cleaned it up yet, so don't mind the weird bits. Before I clean the arm up, do the placement and highlights/shadows and whatnot look right? Something still seems off to me, but I don't know if that's because something is wrong or because I'm so used to it the other way.



EDIT: Okay, I did actually clean it up, but I'm still not sure of it. Shoulder highlight is perhaps not round enough. Opinions?



You know, idk, I sort of preferred it how it was before. I might go back to that version even if it's less anatomically correct.

[NaCl]

I think it's still too tight, looks like she is raising her shoulder and clenching her arm. Give some slack so it looks like her arm is relaxed, and natural:



I think it's about time for Helm or someone better then me at anatomy + explaining these things to come in here and show you how to fix it. I don't think you should give up and go back to the old way though, because honestly it the arm made an otherwise great piece only good.

[Perihelion]

I could just cut it out of the picture... >_>

But, yeah, thanks for your help. I'll keep poking at it, I guess, but I've been studying photos and not really getting anywhere, so maybe I'll give it a couple days and come back to it with fresh eyes. Haha, I'm a bit tired of it by this point, but it'll be worth it when it's done.

[WM]

I think that the deltoid just has gone flabby. Gimme a sec and I'll upload what I mean...

EDIT:



There you go. Just a little definition to the delt went a long way, imo.

[Perihelion]

Okay, I did this:



I think that looks better, but there's still something off about it, and idk what. My main problem with the piece at this point is that it's boring, but oh well, maybe I'll make something more exciting next time.

[Manupix]

Boring??? Well, how about some background now, maybe with that bird in it?
Or some illustration of this:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hxS7rJjnpRg7yRU6vHm8b4KZHB8A

This has come some way, congrats!