Pirate Girl...

[MoonVisionStudio]

The Pirate Girl is an old sketch I recently got around to painting. She may be pretty, but she can be brutal. I have promised myself to be more diligent in gathering reference and working out all the issues at the pencil stage next time. C&Cs welcome.

[SEVANS]

The rendering is pretty solid, BUT the extremely relaxed and happy girl infront of that swirling sea and shipwreck just doesn't gel to me.

[Gunther409]

The rendering is pretty solid, BUT the extremely relaxed and happy girl infront of that swirling sea and shipwreck just doesn't gel to me.

Yes, but it appears her ship won. Why should she be worried?

Actually, I don't know what it is but the eyes seem to be perhaps a tiny bit off? Other than that major kudos!

[newman]

the body looks sweet, but the face/hair/hat could do with some more love imo.

[MoonVisionStudio]

Thanks Guys!

SEVANS-I tried to imply a little tension by her squeezing the rose in her hands until the thorns made her bleed.

Gunther-I know, I need to do more figure drawing.

newman-I'm still trying, but not completely comfortable with trying to be more painterly, I think it shows. BTW, great blog!

[Dynamo]

The problem I have is with the lighting, Jose. The cast shadow from the girl onto the ship suggests a light source is coming from the upper left (her upper right), yet the left side of HER face is not in enough shadow. Even her breasts and left arm could stand to use some darkening. But overall, nice start and concept.

[chuck18mp]

It's insane cuz I'm doing a pirate gurl too and it's nice.:D
Awesome work you did there!!!

[MoonVisionStudio]

hi Dynamo, I see what you mean. The image looks fairly different on my monitor (I still cant get the hang of saving for the web), the darks are heavier and the light source is more defined, but you are right I could have pushed it more.

Chuck18mp, Thanks, Pirate Girls are fun to paint!

[misael]

one thing, The boobs are lit wrong. your light source seems to be coming in from behind her (our left). As much of a boob fan as I am, in this case they wouldnt show this much. Unless you add a secondary light, or bounced light. But they still wouldnt be as showcased as they are. I do like the painting tho.

[MoonVisionStudio]

Thanks misael, Its just that they are sooo large that the light is able to catch them just beyond the shoulder. ; )

[Brashen]

Good work here but....

Colour choice and lack of ambient colour on the girl make her stand out more than she's supposed to.

The perspective of the railing is off.
The size of the rigging behind her is not proportional.

[MoonVisionStudio]

Thanks Brashen, good crit.
I cant change her costume color, but I was trying to kind of put a spot light on her, I guess I went too far. I think I see what you mean by the railing perspective, any chance you could send me a quick paint over?
Is the rigging too big or small? Now that I look at it, it needs to pick up some color from the railing to blend in more.

[axelalonso]

Hi Jose Angel,

I like all your work you do! And this is no different either!
I like so much the environment achieved to her add the pirate life textures, and also her outfit gives a nice twist between burlesque and pirate mood style when I see her, Its nice! One thing I suggest it's to take off the scars in her breast were the edge of the decolletes with ruffles in her right side to be more precise hits like small threads and he skin wont wrinkle that much I think...for what I have saw ! haha :D, its a really little detail, and easy to fix. ;)

Admire your work and appreciate all your support ! thanks! ^_^

[PieterV]

Not a bad piece. Think the overall image should feel a bit colder, especially the foreground. Like been said before with the ambient light comment, the girl just feels a bit detached from the scene. Especially the red of her hair doesn't seem to integrate very well.
Also some gritty specularity on the surfaces would help to break up the matte look of it.
I wouldn't call this one finished just yet, I think you can still improve upon it.

[MoonVisionStudio]

Thanks Axel and rubbadub, I hope to have some time this weekend to tweak a few things.

[alicat08]

I think it looks great... she has that fierce careless vibe.

[Brashen]

Yeah no prob Ill see what I can cook up for you. The riging should be much larger as they use these to get up to the masts!!

[MoonVisionStudio]

alicat08-Thanks I'm glad you like her!

Brashen-I would really appreciate it.

[Brashen]

Here you go,

Its not much but I adjusted you're contrast and saturation/desaturation levels, I painted over the rigging to show near actual size of what they should be.
Went over some areas of the banister and introduced specular lighting, also went over parts of the clothes to show where ambient light affects the textiles.
Fixed the banisters perspective issue should translate more clearly, added multiple overlay colours to give you're ship the colours it deserves. Also did this to youre pirate. Also shadowed some ares more darker to show transition of light in that area especially around the hair. Uncluttered the sea and sky a bit so that it wont take up "seeing space" from the viewer. You tried to hard on the sea...sometimes simpler is more!!

Hope this helps a bit!!

[MoonVisionStudio]

Thanks again mate, I will probably rework some things over the weekend. I really appreciate you taking the time.

[Brashen]

No preoblemo glad I could help a bit.

But remember to go further than this when you rework it do some extra research it'll definately help!!

Good luck!!:yayca:

[MoonVisionStudio]

OK, I incorporated most of your suggestions (in my own way) not sure if I wound up taking that left turn at Alba...I cant spell it. Anyway, I think this is better. Initially I tried to stay away from any ambient lighting because I tend to abuse that, specially at work. I doubt that the fire on the ship would register any light on her but once I tried it, I liked it. On to the next piece....Thanks everyone for looking and for your suggestions!

[Brashen]

Great rework dude you really did go the extra mile and the light from the fire very nice touch!!

[MoonVisionStudio]

Thanks Brashen, I appreciate the help.

[kelly x]

I think she looks good like a Wench should. I can't hold this back because she is almost there... the cannon ball thing is warped to the left and the barrel looks just a little wonkie?? - I just want to look at her but keep getting distracted by these small very easy fixes!! also when you blew her out with the light I can see some smudges on the leg out like area Just clean these things up and she's a golden Wench!! Also the scene is amazing, Wow the ship is so well done and does not take away from her... glad you cropped the scene early on... so great and fun.

[sourgasm]

This last version is really an improvement. It has that little bit of oomph that the painting has been waiting for. I think the environment is dark enough that the fire would definitely cast light on her and you managed o render a light trail across the water that serves to lead the eye through the painting. Looks great.

My only issue is that her hands are a bit lazy (line drawing instead of shading) and that led me to notice that her arms are really freakin' long. Her right leg also seems really bright in comparison to her arms and face. I'm nitpicking now. Great painting :P

[Smooth_Cak]

nice.

[chuck18mp]

do you have a sketch of this pirate girl or you did her all on PS?

[MoonVisionStudio]

Kelly X- Thanks, I see what you mean about the canon, I guess I got lazy. But you do realize it isnt meant to be pointing at the other ship, the battle is over she's moving on...
sourgasm- Thanks for pointing out the arm length, I'll never be able to look at her the same....; ) But she does have pretty long legs.
smooth cak- Thanks!
Chuck18mp- Thanks, I start everything with pencil on paper, I love my wacom to paint with, but I just dont feel comfortable drawing on it.