Lesson - Classic RPG illo

[Nordstrand, T]

Hi all,
I really feel bad about showing this, since it's not how I want my stuff to look at all. I do aim higher. I started this some months ago, as a lesson to create a better spacial arrangement than done earlier. Also, I tried being conscious about composition. What I now understand is that for a compositional scheme to have any relevance, there should be higher reason or emphasis in the situation. My idea was simply "RPG Ghost has struck victim being pulled away by companion". If I had come up with a more advanced concept, this image would make more sense, to me at least.

Anyway, I'm glad I got around to finishing it. Any and all constructive thoughts/overpaints/thrashings are appreciated!

http://mysite.freeserve.com/tnordst/temp/TN-GhostlyAttendance27.jpg

[zeitgeist]

that face... the one of the victim being struck... is very nerve rupturing... great job on the bony hand too. :)

if i *had* to pick something to thrash about... t'would be the viking/knight guy in the back.. his pose is kinda awkward looking and he just seem a little out of place

[Koryh]

Great execution of a weak composition. I think you can push the spatial relationships of the characters even further. As of now this kind of shot is good for a tea party but is lacking the dynamics that would lend itself to such an action-oriented event. The major thrusts and angles of the composition are parallel with each other and the border of the image. Just by taking the whole thing and rotating it could add an infinite amount of dynamic quality. Also you could try to change the size relationships of the characters. Foreground and background. Even used a higher or lower camera angle.
There is no doubt in my mind that you can draw extremely well. So these things should be easy to fix or at least consider more in your next piece.

Keep up the good work.

[Nordstrand, T]

"tea party", hah! :ahha: You're right Koryh, I tried putting diagonals into the small areas, but obviously forgot the large shapes. Stupid, stupid! :D I don't know much about composition, but I really should have considered that. Thanks a bunch! Will try rotating it.

Timespirit: The warrior in the back I consciously turned into a silly, misplaced, flat-footed piece of useless battle ornament, letting the mage/cleric save the day instead. Nobody likes a shiny paladin anyway, right? :P Should have made it even clearer though. I think it comes down to me inventing the situation as I went along. Bad, bad, bad for consistency, methinks. Thanks!