celtic myth - crits appreciated

[sea minus]

Hey all. This is just something I'm doing for my portfolio. I like it but I it could be better. Help me out, ok? Compostion, color, lighting, pose?

The imagery is from a Celtic myth about a king that has magic shoes with which he can walk under water. So he's stomping around and runs into a sea serpent so scary that it permanently screws up his face. Etc, etc. Does it look like he's looking at the fish? That would be not good.

http://www.galaday.com/forum/celtic_king.jpg

[treeboy]

i get that hes scared at something we (obviously) cant see. But i think that it would be stronger if we could see at least part of the monster.

I dunno, maybe just a spiney tail or something, a clue as to what might be freaking him out so much.

love everything else :)

[Roeguard]

Curious about a couple design choices you made:

1. Why a beard? I though Celts kept their beards shorn and their mustaches long.

2. Is that a crown or a helmet?

3. Why isn't the hilt on the sword straight? and why isn't the blade tapered like a leaf?

Just curious if these were conscious decisions.

And I am also curious to see a hint of what he is looking at. I love the color and composition of the image.

[Joeslucher]

It looks like his right arm is a little long. If it weren't bent, it seems like it would reach his knee. It would be nice if there was some more contrast too. Maybe you could bring a little red glow into it. Push the expression to the extreme. Convince us that this is a one of a kind expression and his face will never recover. Right now the expression could be the same expression as an old man about to get punched by some youngster. I really like the designs on his cloths and the painterly look. That hand on his chest is a knock out too.

[dyoung]

I agree with everyone else, I think a sihlouette or seomthing similar of the monster would really help. You don't even have to get into the detail of the monster, let its general form guide people's imaginations.
dyoung

[sea minus]

Hey guys, thanks for the input. I'm going to try putting in a part of the beast and will work on his face abit as well as address his long arm.

Roeguard, I made those choices largely based on other artwork illustrating this period. I don't know if they wore beard or not but I figure I've got some leeway concidering it's a myth.

Thanks again.

[Rorshach]

I really like the folds in the cloak and its great that you put in the brooch but he doesnt look like or dress at all like a celt.

At a stretch, he could be considered 1 of the milesian kings but I would not have guessed this was Celtic unless you pointed it out to me.

1 of the most important things to understand about the Celts, especially Celt Kings is that status was very important to them and portable status such as clothing and weapons were highly sough after and astonishingly ornate.

This guy looks more like the kings messenger or stable boy judging by his clothing and sword.

I've got a big interest in the Celts and their history / mythology so these inaccuracies are very clear to me possibly simply because of this.

r.