How close to complete...

[blissik]

One of my ongoing issues is bringing an image to completion. Let's say a piece requires 3 stages to reach completion, somehow I get stuck on stage 2. It's all fuzzy when a piece is "truly finished" but I'm real fuzzy on what stage stage 3 is about. Here's an example where I think I got to Stage 3. What do you think? All comments are welcome.
http://home.comcast.net/~vq001/JILL010d.jpg

[johanson]

I know what you mean. “Fuzziness” is something that I used to/still am struggling with. For me, it came out of a fear of getting specific. That somehow if I got too specific, it would screw up what I established in the earlier stages. In truth, that fear of loosing what I thought was good in my image, made it bad. You’ve got to be open to taking chances. Try picking where you want the focus to be, and just slap in a sharp edge. It looks like you’re working digitally, so you’ve really got nothing to worry about. Control Z is there to save you.

Hope this helps,

-andrew

[blissik]

Yeah that initial feeling is so elusive. But you're right - you gotto take the next step. So after I started trying to tighten this one up it went off in about 8 different directions. Here's one. Seems like the clothes need more work and the chin?
http://home.comcast.net/~vq001/jill010h.jpg

[blissik]

Here's another one...
http://home.comcast.net/~vq001/jill010g.JPG

[killing.people]

double/triple the size of your canvas and work on it then. when you are done, size it back down and apply a sharpen filter. ;)

[DragonGX]

Be more bold with your brushes and your brushstrokes. ALOT of people who can't seem to get to that final "tight" stage work way too loose and with too soft edges...

Good read up on edges and to to incorporate some hard, lost and firm edges into your paintings. And don't worry about blending too much.

[blissik]

Thanks for your tips/suggestions. I am planning to get back to this soon and will keep them in mind. Also currently I do not have a tablet - is a tablet an absolute base requirement for doing good digital work?

[arghmisfit]

your second picture reminds me of Ziggy Stardust!:p

[darth massacre]

Do yourself a favour, save yourself from Carpal-tunnel-Repetitive stress injuries and get a good tablet. It'll cost you upfront, but will save you tonnes when you do need to seek medical and physio treatments in the long run.


I'm no expert in digital painting, but I think being "fuzzy" is just one of the process. Although I would say it depends on what you want the picture to be in the first place. If you set out to paint a piece without an idea of how you want it to look like, then you'll always be stuck in that unfinished state no matter what you try. Just go with your original plans for it.

[blissik]

Ok I'm gonna make the tablet investment and hope my wife only blows a small fuse. BTW, love Ziggy! Meanwhile working on a major overhaul to this picture which I'll post and look for more feedback.

[aehbon]

You know, I think this is a great topic. I'm really struggling to break into the game industry and I think that this is what makes an artist better than others.

The amount of detail you put into your pictures really adds up. For example, Blizzard's Boxes for Warcraft had pictures of each different race, if you look closer at those pictures, look at how much detail is in there! They put every ounce of detail they can possibly imagine (reflections, saliva, lips cracked, scraches, scars, skin texture everything).

I for one wouldnt describe myself as an expert on this subject because i too struggle with the same problem. My suggestion to you is pick a smaller brush and zoom in closer.

Someone else also suggested to be adventurerous and try new things. Thats whats going to make your are better than someone else and get to that "level 3" completion

My 2 cents.

Brandon