Fairy artist WIP (updated Nov 12 w/color - maybe finished now)

[nikia]

Hey this is a design I'm working on. still working on it, but what do you think? any comments or suggestions? Always looking for crits! :)

http://members.shaw.ca/nikia/fairycrd2-lowres.jpg

[Christopher]

looks great so far. but don't overdo the texturing on everything, or else nothing will stand out (and i assume you'll want that for her)

[nikia]

Hi Christopher, I do want the fairy to stand out, umm, like she's above the page. Not really sure how to do that, but I thought afterward, maybe fade the background behind her? I'm going to try and paint this one in painter8. Never used the program before, so I don't know how it will turn out. I'll keep your comments in mind while I'm painting it. Hopefully I can opaque or fade the background somehow. Maybe someone can give me some tips on how to do this? Thanks for commenting, it' a great help.

[Christopher]

well if you're gonna be painting it, then it's not as big of a concern. i just mean if everything has lots of lines, fills, etc., then there won't be anything that is the focus of the image. when painting/coloring, you can also do this by lighting and such. other effects such as changing the transparency can have an effect, but usually the texturing and lighting are the main ways to draw a viewer's attention to a particular area of an image

[nikia]

Thanks Christopher, I'll see what I can do. I'm not having much luck with colors in painter. I tried mixing up a soft red, but ended up with a yucky pink. It takes some experimenting I guess.

[nikia]

here's an update with some color. First real attempt to color in Painter, and I'm using a mouse. :)

Crits and comments welcome.

http://members.shaw.ca/nikia/painted_fairycrd2.JPG

[Johannes]

It looks very sweet :D

[nikia]

Thanks Johannes, glad you like it. I'm thinking I might have to fade the background flowers in order the make the fairy stand out. If anyone has any ideas on how to do that, please let me know.

[MuzikQueen79]

Wow looks very cool so far.:D

[nikia]

Thanks MuzikQueen79, hope to post another update soon.

[nikia]

Here's an update with a bit more color:

http://members.shaw.ca/nikia/painted_fairycrd3.JPG

crits and comments? :)

[Johannes]

Ah. yes, I see now what U mean with the colorproblem. Everything has the same bright and shint look Is this done in photoshop? Then I would suggest to add big fields of color in another layer, too see the effects earliy on the whole image.
To fix this particular problem this time, U could use a mask and tone down everything except the faerie? Maybe use image-adjust-hue/saturation and turn down the saturation on the leaves and flowers?

Good luck :D

[nikia]

Thanks Johannes, I was hoping you or someone else would give me some help with this. I'm doing this in painter8, but I also have photoshop. I've never used either program before, so am trying to muddle my way through. I don't really understand how the layers work in these programs. I messed up the first painting by rotating it, the painting ended up crooked on the canvas, and I couldn't get it back. I think that had something to do with the layers. lol. As a consequence I'm a bit nervous doing anything with the layers anymore. However I agree that the flowers have to be toned down, so I shall 'bite the bullet' and try your suggestions. Failing that I suppose I could do it the old fashioned way and put a wash over the flowers! lol. I'm kind of looking for a washed out effect on the flowers behind her, and the forground ones more vibrant.

[nikia]

Ok here's the semi finished version. I might work on it some more later. there will be text in the open section on the right at some point. This is the first time I've painted a person and the first time I've digitally painted, so I guess it's not too bad, but definitely need some pointers. I need the fairy to stand out in this one as the picture will be sized down to business card size.
Crits and comments would be much appreciated.

And if anyone feels like doing a paintover to help me I would love that. There's a link to the high res version here (http://members.shaw.ca/nikia/painted_fairy-highres.JPG)

Pencil on paper, then put in Painter and painted. Got my Intuos 2 halfway through the picture. :)

On a side note I have to say, "that I now have a whole lot of respect for all you digital painters out there. It's harder than painting with real paint! And using a mouse is even worse! lol

http://members.shaw.ca/nikia/painted_fairy-lowres.JPG

Thanks for the crits! :)

[Johannes]

Very nice, esp for first try with digital. First person too? Hard to believe - welcome to the digital world then, and do post some more! :D

Sad to say, I have no experience with Painter - as a PS guy, I feel it hard to understand, but its on the "to-do" list. :)
I know I say the obvious - but U need to buy a Wacom, painting with the mouse will ruin your hand! Theres always the debate which is the best, but I have the cheapest consumer-level one - the Graphire (1 even...) which suits me nice and is about 1000 times better than a mouse. :D

[nikia]

Thanks Johannes, I have painted with real paint for a number of years now. Which certainely helped when I started painting the fairy. I just never got around to painting a person. I have mostly painted landscapes and wildlife, with some fantasy thrown in. I did try your idea of toning the flowers in the back down, but lost the brightness of the wings in the prossess. So I threw in the gold background, (It was darker originally, but didn't print out so good.) This is the end result. Somehow I still have to bring the fairy out more. Might have to lose the flowers in the back altogether I guess.

Oh, I do have a wacom now. I got it about halfway through this painting. It sure makes digital painting easier!