Chicken Rider (Updated)

[the machine god]

I need feedback. What do you guys think? What could I improve? What should I not have done? That sort of thing.
Thanks.
http://www.themachinegod.com/ForumPics/BirdRider.jpg

[BeLi TiGaR]

Nice...

[DarkMana]

lol looks leike a Chocobo that has done way too many drugs!!!!

jj man it looks incredible, you got an eye for character

Ry

[DRESDEN]

Nice piece, work on the fur of the creature a bit more, give it a better shadow and finish the background. Keep up the good work.

[Molin]

Yo,
the theme and setup reminds of Mark Gibbons (now at Sony) and the pack from GW.

In my opinion you should clean it up abit. You have a bunch of "thick lines" that could really need som thinner character.
Also detailing the leg of the rider and the feathers, as mentioned above, could help it alot.

/Molin

[SoulSaver]

I would say the only thing it needs is a background landscape. Maybe a desolate moonscape feel. Other than that its some seriously tight work.

[Lost Dragon]

I like the concept. I think some lighter values on the character would help bring out details.

[the machine god]

Hey thanks for the input guys.
And hey Molin I'm not sure if you ment it as a compliment or not but thatnks. I love Mark Gibbons stuff as well as most of the old guys from GW.
The riders leg bothered me because it looked way to small so I tried to make it a bit bigger as well as give it a bit more detail and I added a simple BG and all sorts of other little things that people commented on.
Thanks again and here's the update.
http://www.themachinegod.com/ForumPics/BirdRider_02.jpg

[Lost Dragon]

I think that looks a lot better. I like the hint of city in the background. You should tighten this one up even more and then give it some color. :chug:

[OLSEN]

Nice piece.

However, if you would put some groundtexture and contrast on the ground in front of the chicken, the depth would be more believable. Besides that, very cool.

[feels]

I raise chickens and I must say that other than the legs, I don’t see how it’s a chicken. :(

Here’s a run-through on chicken anatomy from my experience. Chicken’s beaks are short and sharp. The tips of their beaks have to be close to their eyes, so they’re accurate when they peck. That’s why they’re short. They’re sharp not only for food, but for dominance. Whoever has the nastier peck gets the better feeding and sleeping spot.

Chickens also have four toes- three long toes in front and a shorter toe in back for balance. Their claws have a number functions such as digging, stomping, scratching, and grasping. Long toes also provide good traction for running.

Chickens’ tail-feathers protrude outward, not downward. Females have wider, shorter tail-feathers, while males have skinnier, longer tail-feathers. It’s hard to push them down since the feathers are clustered together and have thicker shafts. However, if the tail-feathers are long, they will arch and droop toward the ends, since the shafts get skinnier on up.

Chickens develop noticeable combs on their foreheads, ears, and flabs of skin underneath their chins as they age. The feathers on their necks can be long, but on their heads, they are short. Again, females usually have wide, short feathers. Males have skinny, long feathers…

I’ve seen great chicken caricatures that didn’t put in everything that I mentioned. But if you keep all its features in mind, it will be more convincing. :chug:

[Steph Laberis]

Mwah! This is such a great picture! Great detail in the weaponry and the riding equipment.

My only criticism is that I might want to see a bit more movement in the stance of the bird; maybe more of an expressive gesture. The legs of the bird are a huge part of his character, yet they seem a little static and run-of-the-mill.

That's all!