Total noob and his journey (crit)

[jasonlg3d]

Well, I've posted only one thing other than this. I'm a complete newbie in the world of painting. I've started doing digital painting some. I have a background in graphic design and multimedia. I've got all the color theory. But not the painting theory or that refined eye. So I come here hoping to post my progress and get a little help along the way.

http://members.cox.net/jasonlg3d/countryroad.jpg

please c and c this all you like. I want to get better so help me out! Thaks all.

[I.was.ink]

Well good start so far. It doesn't have a lot of atmospheric perspective. That's when things farther awaaaaayyyyy..... have a more greyish tone to them, because of their distance, and the values are off to. I'm not thinking about details and such, but just overall color. Everything is too bright. I would suggest copying some painting techiniques of others. So that you can understand why things are done the way they are. I hope i helped out.:)

Remember.... practice A LOT!!!:D

[MindCandyMan]

I am a noob on a journey as well so I know exactly how you feel...overwhelming isn't it hehe. My biggest suggestion is to draw/paint every single day for at LEAST two hours (ideally 8 hours a day). If you are committed to that then I personally don't think you will grow at any kind of consistent rate. As far as this picture goes there are a couple things...I agree with iwasink...also if you look at a tree...the leaves are all randomized and rarely do you ever see a round tree. Certain trees have a distinctive shape to their own...but none are really round. And when you shade trees don't shade them like a sphere on a stick. You have to remember that light is piercing and bouncing around through openings that the leaves let in...so you have a lot of darks right next to lights inside the shape of the tree. Check online for some reference pics and try to match those. Same goes for everything else...the grass has a different color and shape with different areas...you can paint in masses but you have to vary the colors within those masses to create the illusion...look at monet's stuff to see how he paints masses of leaves...grass. With digital painting too...the key is working at a high resolution and zooming in and using a small brush to work those details...you will find (as I found out paintfully) hehe...that digital painting is faster than traditional painting but only because you aren't working with real materials...but you still have to get in close and analyze like you would on a traditional painting. On a landscape piece like this...expect in the beginning to spend hours just to get it to look even somewhat good (at least that's been my experience). Welcome to the boards man...I can say this...for your first delve into this it's VERY GOOD! Honestly...my first digital painting is AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL...this is light years beyond it. I am still learning as well. At any rate keep posting. I will be watching your stuff...you might want to post in the life drawing thread since your stuff most likely won't be "conceptual art" in the beginning.