Help on thunderdome!!Last Update hopefully...

[Hedrus]

I need advise on how my image is comming. The background is far from done(along with most everything else). It will have more detail and a better "painted look" when done. I want to get Post Apoc buildings in there and nice clouds. The wall the creature is on is still in "brainstorm mode", hence the really messy way it looks. The feteus needs to be redrawn. The one there is just a thumbnail. Color is the main reason I'm posting this. Help me out fellow conceptartorgians!

Kenzie


http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz70662.jpg

[AfroLaxMan]

that is really cool, and the only question i have is if he(?) can move off the wall, then how?

your main creature stands immediately from the rest of his "parts," which is odd, especially with a warm pallette in the background.
that in mind, I would suggest to bring the colors from each part into the whole creature.
one idea could be to set the human parts up to be cool and pale, like the blood isn't flowing through effeciently.
doing this will snap the creature as a whole, complere unit, out from the appocolyptic background instead of from himself.

crazy design, i like it alot.

[mc_delroy]

wow... its lookin rad brotha


yeah i was gonna ask, can the guy move independantly off the box? or is he a part of it... .if he is a part of it... does the box move around with him? i personally like the latter idea...

i think the box it self would look cool with some kind of jet propulsion system....

also... i have found in my years on this planet.... if your going to draw a fetus.... try to make it as fu.cked up looking as you can... maybe make this one could be the future offspring of the "mother" that is carrying it....

just a thought

also in post cataclysm... the more fire the better
(maybe make it come out of the "moving box" through exhaust or something....)

...

[ODIN SIX]

Great !!!! I like all the detail in it,,, it's also got that Heavy Metal feel too

[Hedrus]

I was asked by someone on the boards to post this in prog to get some help on my color and in general. To the 3 people that at least responed, thanks. I love all the art boards and to look at all the art peolpe post, but after this I don't think I'm going to post anymore art or comments. I'm really getting sick of 1-3 responses. I've been working on this for the contest to help conceptart.org and it seems like people just don't care. If it sounds like I'm bitching, I AM! I'm assuming I'll get ignored like usual. I don't need a ton of responeses patting me on the back, I'd rather not get responses at all than that. I posted this to get HELP! So, I'm going to finish this peice for me and if it gets done in time for the contest great, but if not I don't give a rats ass. No more loss of sleep for this crap.

AfroLaxMan-
I'm really gald you like what I'm doing so far. He can move off the wall. I will do some sketches of the legs lifting him off the wall and in a standing pose.

"your main creature stands immediately from the rest of his "parts," which is odd, especially with a warm pallette in the background"

I wanted him to be blue because I thought of him as some kind of mutant that has all sorts of strange fluids pumping through his body. It does worry me that you think he doesn't fit color wise with everything else. If other poeple had responded maybe I'd feel more confident with his color. All I can say is your making me rethink his color.

"I would suggest to bring the colors from each part into the whole creature.
one idea could be to set the human parts up to be cool and pale, like the blood isn't flowing through effeciently"

Great idea! I plan on doing that. Thanks for the help.

mc_delroy-
Again, thanks for taking the time to respond, I'm glad you like what I have so far.

"i think the box it self would look cool with some kind of jet propulsion system"

That would be very cool. Right now I have spider type legs that expand from the "box". Thats how my creature is supposed to walk. 6 legs like an insect but shaped more like a spider. Jet thrusters are very cool. Maybe in the next drawing I do. To see it your going to have to go to my website cause I'm done posting on this site. I'm going to continue on some of the other sites to see if they are any better. Eatpoo has given me decent feedback. Haven't tried others yet.

"if your going to draw a fetus.... try to make it as fu.cked up looking as you can... maybe make this one could be the future offspring of the "mother" that is carrying it.... "

Yeah, I'm redrawing the fetus and I want it to look really f'ed up with all kinds of wires and genetic growths on it. It's going to have a huge exposed brain. As far as offspring, that would be great in another drawing but this one is more like a "hivebrain" that controles all the other brains of the monster. At least that was the idea.

"the more fire the better "

Hmmm, fire is cool. I'm definitely going to try and add some flames in the background. If I can figure out a way to add it to the monster I will. Thanks for your comments.

ODIN SIX-
Thanks for responding. I'm glad you like it to. that makes 3 people that do.... Everyone else must think it sucks, or "don't like my style". Oh well, I guess some styles aren't online community friendly. I got a job right out of college and got best in senior show but I guess I still suck or at least have a boreing style. But I digress...

"it's also got that Heavy Metal feel too"

I've always loved that euro comic look and hope to keep adding more of that to my work. I guess I'm pissed because I work so hard and try to participate to grow as an artist online and help others in the same way but thats not going to happen I guess.

Signing off.... :grumble:

[Hedrus]

Sorry for the bitching in the last post. I had to get that off my chest. I'm not a quiter and I don't give a shit what other people think so I guess I'll still post here and there. Posting online for me is a total mind fuck. I guess it's because I lack confidence or something. Whatever, I don't give a shit. I'll be around lurking for the most part but I will post. Ok, back to the crickets churping and and watching my threads shoot to the bottom of the pile.


Kenzie

[AfroLaxMan]

Hey man, I don't really get any response my work as well, so, I know where you are coming from. I think I have around 8 replies to all of my artwork on this site (I wouldn't doubt that half came from me...:( ) .
Reminds me of how long my art teachers talked about my work during critiques at school: "work harder! okay, next peice..."
Hey man, do what you feel you have to do. while some aren't too talkative for whatever reason, the ones that do try to help out when they can. all I can say is keep painting, keep creating, and keep building your talent.
Your good, so don't worry about when people don't talk, and the more you follow what your mind and spirit say, the more fullfilled you will be as an artist (at least, that works for me). Good luck brother!!

btw, the 2 bits about his skin color in my critique, just add the two comments together, bring in his shin color throughout the whole body, making him, as a whole, stand out from the background.

[mc_delroy]

yeah dude... if half the lurkers here would just give an opinion once a day... it would make things so much more tolerable.....
i have came to the conclusion that this site caters to the super talented artists..... not those in need of advice
i dont know... there are forums for artists like us... but noone really gives a damn, and i wish they would....
its a good and bad thing all at once, because the forum mindset here draws in magnificent talent that would otherwise not post...and that alone is a pretty good drive for me
..
anyway i know your pain

[Fozzybar]

Hedrus going wild :p

Ok, i want to talk for me, and maybe the other users thought the same.

The first time i opened this thread, i saw your BIG image. It was a little to big for my screen, i needed to scroll, it's something users don't like very much. And my resolution is 1152 x 864...if someone has got a smaller resolution, he never will see your whole image, just a part. Not the best premises for getting c&c...

I didn't post anything about your composition, idea or linework, because you posted the lineart in the thunderdome-thread before, and many members commented there already.

The rendering is at a level, where you can't say something concrete. I mean, i could say, you have to work it out, but i think you know this already, because you are working on it.

The colour-scheme is monochrome. You have to choose special colors for every section. Metalllic parts should get colors like metall would have, same to the rendering style of this parts. The parts with blood would look better, if the colours next to the "bloody" area weren't too similar.

Another problem is the focus. Is it the blue guy, the fetus or the spiky thing on top? It would be definitively better, when you define a focus area and work the image the way, you get the focus on this point.

7 days to go...it would be great, if you can manage to finish it for the thunderdome-challenge! :chug:

[Hedrus]

Ok, I still haven't messed with the monster to make adjustments nad frankly, last night I was just bummed out so I didn't work on it. Tonight I did. I worked on the sky. I totally suck at backgrounds so this is where I'm going to need the most help.

Fozzybar-

I was pissed because I was asked to post the image and didn't get hardly any feedback, especially on color. BUT, after reading your post I feel like a moron. I guess I wanted direction, not a crit because it is very hard to crit unfinished work. I agree with you. I realized like 15 minutes after I flipped out that I was overreacting and posted an apology. Like I said before posting stuff up online is a real mind F! Anyway,

"The first time i opened this thread, i saw your BIG image. It was a little to big for my screen, i needed to scroll, it's something users don't like very much. And my resolution is 1152 x 864...if someone has got a smaller resolution, he never will see your whole image, just a part. Not the best premises for getting c&c... "

I agree, I just didn't want the detail to disapear in a blurry mess. My original drawing is like 30"x 30". This one is smaller. If it is still to big let me know. I will shrink it again. It fits on my screen without scrolling.

"The colour-scheme is monochrome. You have to choose special colors for every section. Metalllic parts should get colors like metall would have, same to the rendering style of this parts. The parts with blood would look better, if the colours next to the "bloody" area weren't too similar."

This is what I get when I try to get "moody"... Monochrome is not what I wanted to hear, but THANK YOU! It would have stayed like that until the end if you hadn't said something. I will work on it. I have a layer that is not monochromatic and each material has it's own color. I did that first, then the background. Then I modified the colors of the monster to match the background. It's a real fine line to get a nice color scheme that has good mood but isn't monochrome. THIS IS WHY I POSTED ASKING FOR HELP!!!!!

"Another problem is the focus. Is it the blue guy, the fetus or the spiky thing on top? It would be definitively better, when you define a focus area and work the image the way, you get the focus on this point."

Hmmm, I really need to work on this one. Hopefully the blue guy will be a major focus and the others will be minor focus areas to make the eye move around the image. I haven't done a complete image in a while and my color and composition skills have gotten rusty. Yet another area I never would have even noticed without some help. I take all criticisms to heart and try to improve in those areas. Thanks again.

"7 days to go...it would be great, if you can manage to finish it for the thunderdome-challenge!"

I hope I will finish! I'm trying. I'm right in the middle of modifying my style so this peice is very difficult because I keep going back and fourth. I'm still up at 4am tonight and plan on keeping it up untill the 30th. I think I will have something that will be resolved at the end. Finished is another story. It will be entered at the end regardless of wether or not it's finished.

Calling all background people and composition/color people! HELP me please! What do you all think of the sky? The colors? The composition? Not much time left.

Here is the image:

http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz70661.jpg

Here is a link to view a bigger version if you want.


http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz70660.jpg

Thanks,

Kenzie

[Batteram]

That has to be the most weirdass monster I have ever seen. Now, in terms of your style for this piece, it seems that you have made the main character appear as a line work and the background more realistic. Now, when you are doing a piece it is best to pick one style that suits the whole piece, like only photorealism, linework, or a comic-book concept. It is not good to do what you have done and do linework combined with a realistic background. Why? Because it just doesn't look right. I myself tend to go with realism all the time, and even though I vary in style with each of the pieces I do, I always try to keep the style fluent, that is, if I am doing a photorealistic piece, I make everything photorealistic, but if I am doing a comic book piece I make everything look like a comic book.
I would say that because your monster is a linework piece, make the background resemble linework as well, that is, add some buildings that appear mangarish, etc.
And also with the colour I think you could definately add more variation of colour to this monster because it just looks too bland atm, considering how highly detailed as well. I will just mention this as well: When creating a concept it is best to just draw a character that hits the viewer like 'WOW, HOW THE F@%K DID HE DO THAT?' rather than create an overly detailed character with many things going on at once like you have done. Why? Because creating a character like yours just loses its punch when you first see it, but creating a simple character that is rendered skilfully is sure to pack some punch to the viewer. I am just telling you this so when you come up with future concepts you will understand why it is better to render a simple character very skilfully than just draw an overly detailed character and make the whole picture jumbled up.
I really love the line work btw ;)

[Fozzybar]

Hedrus...since there is not much time left i suggest:
Forget the background...this contest is about characters. Your creature is the main thing! Work on your creature til the end. Put just a black or a very simple background behind. You will gain more time for the creature itself. I know, you want to make it as a whole composition with background, but i think it would look rather good with a simple background.

I like your reaction to our crits ands comments. Very professional...:thumbsup:

[mcotie]

Hedrus

Your piece is looking great. Keep working on it but don't over work it. I would establish the shadows/hilights a bit more on the base from the guy, he looks kinda flat there.

as far as your complaint on forum responses. I wouldn't get too bent out of shape about it. I can understand your frustration with not getting the responses, but I think you might be missing the mark. Are you doing art for the sole purpose of getting responses from the artists in the trenches or are you doing it because you want to and there just so happens to be a place like this where you have an opportunity to get a response?
To be honest with you I spend alot of time on this forum. it has become habit forming to take a peak at stuff, just like checking email. Since I have taken on the t-dome job I feel kinda personal about thunderdome. I don't care if I win or lose, it's just a blast to do it and see other artists interpretations of the description and get the exercise I need as a young artist. But for some reason, I over looked your post. Not because it sucked, not because it had your name as the thread starter, but maybe because It didn't click that Thunderdome stuff would be over here. (Maybe that's an idea for t-dome area). So I appologize for that.
I think we would all love to get responses from all members, new and old, but we can't really be expected to do so all the time because you don't just want to give out info for the sake of giving out info. especially if someone wants help. PLus maybe some of the big dawgs (admin) are probably busy as hell and can only make time to comment on a few and not all.
I've learned alot from this entire forum just by reading the responses on other peoples' art too, not just mine.
Bottom line: Do artwork becasue you love to do it. Post it because you want to share it. Respond to it if it touches you in a way that you need to respond.Offer help because you truly want to help and you see something that could be of help. Lurk because you don't want to post. Enjoy this gift of a site for its purpose: to bring us all together and learn from each other. Can you imagine if the great masters of the old days had a tool like this? Wow, that's a freaky thought.

Keep posting, don't get frustrated, your piece is looking great!

Mitch

[tatao]

nice!!!!

eheh! it will be very difficult with my english...

I think you didn't work the "look". I mean, the first thing I look at the art is the blue guy, after him I see the screaming guy who looks to the sky, so I look to the sky automatically, this make us feel something strange, empty.......

hope it help!!!!! ^^

[Hedrus]

Here is the original colors I used. I then made a background and changed the colors using adjustment layers. Let me know what you guys think of these colors. I'm also inclueing a link to see the original line art hi-res.

Original color
http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz71249.jpg

line art
large lineart (http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz71248.jpg)

large color



large color (http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz71250.jpg)

[Android]

Ok I wish I had mor time but I dont,
hedrus your line drawing is one of the best most detaild monsters I have seen in recent memory, I think the pallet could better suit the power your drawing had,

your drawing deserves more than this but I think it will help, I had a problem with the bottom so I added big tractor/gear wheels to it and made it appear to be coming srtaight forward to add to the intimidation factor.

when all else fails with color go simple , experimenting with two compliments is a;aws a good start, you chose yellow and purple, i chose red and green, green for dead flesh, red for blood and its omvious mood. whatever colors you chose you should always try to use them to reinforce, mood, form, depth, .

try not looking at colors as a challenge, but approch them as an oppourtunity to put more information detail and overall coolness into your work.

i hope this helps, I really think your monster has enormous potential.

good luck

Androidhttp://www.conceptart.org/artist/andrew-jones/images/smnhedrusrepaintrough.jpg

[JoshuaTheJames]

reminds me of a spawn toy...
i dont know why but scarey art always makes me laugh...not in a bad way...

-Joshua

[mc_delroy]

android.....

your the best android i know

[SamusNeo]

Wow! The piece is cool but honestly it didn't blow me away until you posted the colors you started with. I think all the coloring and effects muddle the picture a little, but with just a basic fill it looks rad! Actually reminds me quite a bit of Geoff Darrow... I say stick to the original colors and create an appropriate background. I notice alot of work on the site favors painterly effects (and it can look very cool), but sometimes I like to see nice clean images without all that modeling. This may just be personal preference though. If you go with a more worked version I would say to use more contrast to make sure things remain clear. Honestly though I think the line work is the real virtue of the piece and the colors look nice when they are clean and simple.
Also- I understand your frustration with not getting replies, but look at this thread! You are getting comments from some of the best damn people on these boards...not too shabby. At any rate keep up the good work. The creature is definitely looking sweet. Can't wait to see the final product.

[Darrell Bowman]

im thinking more about what enviroment he in.
why is he there what his goal.

im sort of seeing more of trees like he part of or in a tree.
i think that were the browns play apart in some of the adaptation.
or the thing has tree legs as he has a tree arm to me so he more mobile.

sorry just hit me this way.

[Hedrus]

Here is the final unless someone sees something really messed up that I don't and I cn change it in time. Sorry I haven't responded to all the very helpfull posts, I will. I've been all out working on the piece. Here it is. I went for a cell shaded look. I plan on adding a sketch of the base stretching out into spider like legs. Thats how it moves. Here is the small version. You really should look at the large version though, because the small one loses a ton of detail.

http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz72472.jpg

Here is the link to the big one.

Large Image (http://www.imagewiz.net/images/hedrus/imagewiz72471.jpg)

Hope you all like it. I really took each comment to heart and tried to pull it together. I'll respond to each post after I get some sleep. Thanks everyone for your help.

Kenzie

[Fozzybar]

Bravo, Hedrus!

You are right, they should look at the big image...very nice details in there...but, oh my god...are these penis (dont know the plural) on this blue thing down there? :) Cool!

You're decision going on with cellshading was maybe the right one, considering the lack of time...and it looks very clean and nice now...though a rendering with fadings would look interesting too....

I am glad, you managed to finish your piece to the deadline...yet it's the most complex creature in the contest...and i can see the hard work and time you investigated in your idea and in the drawing.

Well done, soldier! :)

[AfroLaxMan]

way to go, looks great! no comment to make, but I am still curious how this will move.

I see the parts for the legs, which makes me even more curiuos to see how this thing would leap out at it's opponents!

really cool, for sure. eatpoo, watch it...:chug:

[Darrell Bowman]

could float like a borge space ship.

floating cube,
doesnt have to fit our world criteria.

[SamusNeo]

Nice! The flat color with shadows is the perfect blend between the last few you posted. It came together quite nicely. This guy is definitely a contender. Enjoy you nap.