Creature Painting.

[Octave13]

Here's my latest digital scribble. I'm pretty new to painting, so any pointers and crits are very welcome. The color was added in Painter 7.

Drawing:
http://nostr3m.homestead.com/files/siamen.jpg

Painting:
http://nostr3m.homestead.com/files/siamen2.jpg

[tyboogie]

hey matt--first off id like to say that i like the design of your creature and i also like the way you broke up the forehead into another section( interesting). All i can say is that you colored on a multiply layer and only used a few local colors. Not to tell you how to do your art, but... Yo might want to try to really paint over a drawing - if you dont want to do that its ok---but i think you should vary your pallette a little instead of assigning one color to a section of the monster.1st off id throw some subtle golds into the bottom head and reds up into the top head.( theyre too seperated right now) also if you look at human skin youll see alot of Subtle variations in color--how could you apply that to this creature? keep up the good work--and keep posting!!--ty

[Octave13]

Thanks, Ty. I actually "lifted" the lines out of the original image and made a layer out of 'em, then I painted under that layer... I know, it's essentially the same thing as multiply. I also get what you're saying about the color variation.
I have a question, though... If I wanted to give this guy a more realistic skin texture, I'm guessing I should block in the flat colors, then dab some blotches and inconsistencies that are evident in many flesh textures... What do you think the best method for shading and highlight would be, after that? Should I merely darken the existing colors, or use altogether different colors that are just darker? I seem to have an affection for adding highlights that are too sharp. I want to learn how to paint a more rugged, displaced, rough, interrupted surface on a creature, all the while maintaining it's depth. I'm confident that I can do this, I'm just not real familiar with the various methods that are used. Anyone, please feel free to chime in with your two cents. ;)

[John P.]

I really like the design of this, quite different.

I think something subtle was lost between the black&white and the colour version though. I think the pencil version is a bit sharper, and I think maybe the shadows in the coloured one is a bit too hard and not so diverse as the pencil version. This is what I think is the difference, 'cause I have a hard time seeing what it is myself. But something got lost along the way IMO.

That doesn't mean the coloured version doesn't look good though! But it could be even better I think.


Your highlights aren't necessarily to bright; it depends on what you think the surface of his skin and horns are like.

Take a look around you at stuff in your livingroom. Some materials bounce back a hard, bright light, some a more subtle, soft light.

And you could say that the harder and more polished the surface, the harder and brighter the highlight it gives off will be. And the other way around. A marble(stone) figurine would most likely give off hard, bright highlights, while something made out of unfinished wood would be giving off very soft and subtle highlights.
Of course, you also have to consider the strenght and position of the light source.

Not sure why I'm saying this, 'cause I guess you already know this, but maybe someone else would like to read it....?



Anyway - nice drawing! :D