Latest art piece

[capone]

Would be greatful for any advice on this, I have started to paint what is to be my first proper tablet painted artwork. Is there anything which is standing out as being wrong?

http://www.caponeart.com/deleteWIP.jpg

[ATOMICsizePENCIL]

is the big green gun going thru jazz jackrabbit?

also, the black/grey tubing coming out of the back of the gun thingy looks like its transparent and im actually looking at the inside....i think you need to switch the curve around.

[capone]

Heh thanks,

The gun is not going through the rabbit but your right...does look like its going through him a bit...hopefully colour should help make that aspect read better.

[capone]

Heh thanks,

The gun is not going through the rabbit but your right...does look like its going through him a bit...hopefully colour should help make that aspect read better.

Not quite sure how you see the tube as transparent but erm...it could be...I'm thinking of adding dirt to it later, might make that read better too.

Someone else said to block all the colour first before doing extras, is that right?

[Cocofuppa]

Crazy things goin on here :P If it is your first proper wacom piece, then i think u should paint it the way it feels right for you. I mean no-one can tell u that your doing it wrong as if there is a "way" to do these things :P The best way to learn is by doing it for yourself, rather than having mum to hold your hand :P Anyway, lookin forward to seein the finished one, keep it up :)

[SEVANS]

Just a couple of (hopefully) helpful hints. Ignore if you want.

When colouring a piece it's good to lay down a overall flat tone (mid tone is usually the best), this is a easy way for you to set the colour/tone/mood etc AND because bright white backgorunds can adjust the way we view colours. You may find when you begin adding more colour around the already coloured areas, that your colour scheme now needs to be reworked.

Then lay down some basic large areas of colour and maybe a couple of highlights to indicate your light source.

I personally find that this way has saved me from having to try and adjust fully rendered colour areas later on.

[capone]

Thanks cocofuppa and sevans,

So having a pure white on a layer is a bad choice of colour, yeah I was thinking that. Whats best solution?, a grey?

Also I am new to photoshop7 and brushes in general...I can make quite a nice brush but not sure how to save it. Is it possible to save a brush or do you have to keep "making" it everytime you need it (surely not?)

Thanks

[SEVANS]

Not a grey but a mid tone of the overall image.
Eg If your going for a dark, cold pic use a cool blue for example.
If you wanted a overall warm feel grab an orange, pink or yellow type colour.

If most of your image will be green, grab a green. Grey's are very lifeless (unless with warm or cold hues).

[capone]

ok, I'm stuck :/

On the left you can see I have blocked out the ship which I think is done correctly...I then went over with it with a soft brush many many times with a low opacity (around 20%) but I just cannot get it to look strong...just always looks muddy.

I'm sure I am doing something VERY wrong which makes me end up making my painting so muddy...I don't think its my painting skills in general...the rabbit guy is ok since thats done the way I usually paint....but that didn't involve blocking out colour which is the correct way to do this...but I'm doing something wrong...any advice?

http://www.caponeart.com/deletewip2.jpg

[SEVANS]

Maybe its because I can no longer see your linework.

Try saving your linework on another layer and setting this on multiply (in photoshop, if thats what your using) and placing this linework level at the top, until you confident that you no longer need the lines to guide you. Then work on the levels underneath the linework.

Or block in the basic colours on one level and then drop (merge) the linework layer (still on multiple) onto the colours and work on top of this.

Those are some of the ways that I find easy.

[capone]

Ah, I do have the lines but am hiding them as usually I always work with black solid lines and I am trying to be different this time and work a bit like "sparth", he hardly uses lines...and I looked at a tutorial of his and he doesn't even draw his pieces...

maybe I should only paint like this when a pro?

[SEVANS]

If you put the linework on a seperate layer you can remove it later on when you have more details worked out.

Don't try and copy someone else style if it doesn't feel natural - you have to do what ever works for you. Even ignore my advice if its not helpful!

No offence but 'sparth' is a bit of a freak when it comes to drawing. (thats not a insult). Most people plan ahead.

[Cocofuppa]

When u say about saving brushes, i do belive after u make the brush on a blank canvas, use the square marquee tool to select it, and go to define brush in the edit menu i think. Just name it and there u go :P But the only problem i get is that sometimes the settings go bk to default on it :S