Portfolio RPG illo Coloured

[Nordstrand, T]

Some of you might remember the B/W version posted a while ago. I've spent a lot of time recently figuring out ways to put colour to a premade detailed sketch without losing the original strokes. This will save me time, and more effort can be put into the b/w layout. I think I learned alot this time. Even more so, because this is a culmination of huge amounts of colour impressions I've had the last month.

The composition is of course still a little daft, but I'd really like some impressions on the colour use, even if it is just "looks okay to me" :p

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

[prismacolor]

...short comment,
I especially like the color variations in the helmet and the subtle but beautiful color variation in the skull.
My tendancy would be to cool the background colors a bit to make the figure grouping pop forward more...just a personal pref.

[mime]

this is lookin great norstrand, i like the "blurred" effect on the ghost body, the contrast between it and the detailled areas around is great. You have a really good use of color variations on this one, it seems that your SPs have been a good exercice :)

if it is not top secret stuff, could you please explain a little what you have figured out on using color on your detailled sketch ? i am myself struggling with that, and mostly i dont detail my sketches too much because of that, except if i want a comic look, with visible lines ....

[Nordstrand, T]

Prisma: I know, I briefly tried cooling it through desaturation, but I felt it took away the atmosphere too much. I'll rethink it, thanks.

Mime: First of all, it really helped not using all white or black areas in the sketch. I (in no specific order) used coloured layers with different modes in Photoshop, tweaked the entire painting with Hue/Saturation, Variations, etc, and overpainted where I had to. No pre-figured steps, just doing what I felt was right, utilizing the tools I knew about, trying to apply my taste. I'm sorry I can't give you a coherent response, but maybe in the future my methods will be more chiseled :)

Oh, and yeah, I owe a lot to the SPs. :thumb:

[Blackwell]

Really nice use of color, Nord. I think Prisma's suggestion of changing the background color is a good one...also, what do you think of showing some subtle, selective areas of color through the ghost's body, to give him more of a transparent look?

And is it just me, or does the guy on the ground look like a bellhop? :)

[Tedsuo]

Cool! My only comment would be the lighting doesn't seem consistent from character to character. Other than that, it looks like something straight out of a D&D manual!

[sparth]

hey nordstrand.

without reading your comment, and just looking at the image, the only "bugging" thing that i noticed was the compo. probably because the death was in a position that reduced any "spooky" effect, instead of emphasising it.
also because the knight figure is at the top, i guess.
concerning the right sorcerer protecting the greeny guy, he could have kept him much closer to his own body.
last detail, concerning death itself, the use of a plain detailed skull is very interesting, however because of the moving white clothes, it does make a visual difference that could bother some. for example the skull could have been deformed by a possible "left to right movement, as the creature rushes on its pray.

now concerning color, it is definitely not a okay to me, but rather a "looks damn impressive to me" ! :D:D:D
seriously, there's not much advice or crits to add concerning that matter. warm tones, very logical palette, it's excellent.
maybe concerning the lighting, you could have decided to show a more visible direction. as we do not know if the main light comes from death, from the magician's effect, or from an opening above the scene. a matter of personal choice.
as tedsuo mentioned, it can definitely enter in any D&D manual. bravo.

[amphex]

Wow..I love it =)
Great colors, but I think the lighting could be a bit more visible as sparth said..but it really looks amazing how it is.
Awesome work man =D

[bOne]

You made a good interpretation of the AD&D style.

there is nothing to say about yur painting technique, you masterize it.

The dynamic is very intense in the forground, but I think there is a problem of composition with your knight. He break the tension of the all scene, by his position, and his attitudes, we don't really understand what he is trying to do...

Well try to make a pic whitout him, and cropping it to the bottom, to center the main action.

BTW it's a very great work !

[Nordstrand, T]

Blackwell: It's a silly helm/hat, I'll admit it :) Transparency? Should have thought of that...

Tedsuo: Cheated on the lighting for dramatic effect :D Thanks!

Sparth: Thanks, crits taken to heart. I'm still trying to understand composition, and seem to be a bit tied to "classical" views.

Aphex: Thanks!

BOne: The Knight looks awkward by design. I wanted to make him flat-footed lookin'. I guess I could have made him seem even more foolish, though. Thanks for the crit!

To sum up, I'm still trying to get the feel for composition, but the colouring worked out okey. Thanks for all your comments!