The strike at Shayol Ghul

[Azza]

I guys, my first post in this place.

I followed CA as guest for definitely a long while actually, but I thought it was time tu register myself and start to post on the board if I want to learn more....
I started drawing seriously a couple of years ago, so I have great deal more to learn, but I concentrated myself more in doing finished images rather than sketches and I think it's time to go back to the origins and do more pencil sketches and studios..

well, that said this is my last image, hope to receive some critiques:^^:

http://img77.imageshack.us/img77/3549/strike80029by.jpg


and a larger version (http://img65.imageshack.us/img65/2115/strike160028gr.jpg) for those who likes to see more...


Painter 8, primarily smeary bristle spray and soft stump blender, 4000px wide

[fionkell]

Hey, Wheel of Time art? Cool :) I think there should be a bit more texture in the piece, like on the armour and the people in the battle themselves; dirt, blood, scratches, rents, dents, mud, that kind of thing.

That said, I like this, especially the people flying through the air in the background (nice touch, I missed it at first).

[Bai Fan]

I think that there is a lot of elements pushing our focus off the canvas to the top right. All of the Mts. are arrows pointing off, the lightning, etc. Might want to add something to bring the focus back onto the piece.

[theincredibleandy]

oh man, I'm just pumped to see Wheel of Time art! I'm listening to the series on audio book, in book 6 right now. I don't think I've gotten to this scene yet (assuming the strike at Shayol Ghul has happened in one of the books. I wouldn't know).

Overall, the piece extremely jumbles together (like you might expect a battle to). That's very bad for a design, though. The easy way is to simplify the armies into big shapes like this:
http://www.artrenewal.org/images/artists/d/Delacroix_Eugene/large/DELACROIX_Eugene_Liberty_Leading_the_People_28th_J uly_1830.jpg
http://www.donatoart.com/ftsy/queendemonsb.html

Another way is to make a focus by giving certain people different poses, like this:
http://www.goodbrush.com/cm/albums/finished_sketches/battle.jpg
http://www.donatoart.com/paintings/faramirb.html

I guess what I'm trying to show is that these paintings are battles but aren't pure chaos. Mainly, decide on some things to stand out, make the composition direct people to what you want them to see. Since everything has the same value range and hard-ish edges, you're making it hard on yourself and hard on viewers. Also, the lightning bolts are chopping your composition into tinytiny pieces. Maybe something as simple as some fog of war could do it.

Now for the nerd stuff. Who's the main character? Looks like a regular old warder with a color-shifting cloak, but it would be so much cooler if it was someone like Lan or Matt. If it is, I can't tell. I want more visual clues so I can geek out about it.

I think the trollicks need some design work. The bird's just not interesting. Find some really cool/evil-looking birds and let your imagination go crazy. Besides, shouldn't there be some Murdrahl? (however it's spelled) THEY could be terrifying and awesome all at once. Also, the Male Aes' Sedai shooting the fire could have a way more dynamic pose.

Anyway, you took on a monumental task, and it be way worse. I'm just happy to see my first WoT art besides mediocre book covers. Good luck! (Back to listening to Lord of Chaos)

[Azza]

thanks guys :)
I still find a little hard to achieve a good result with battle/action images. still have some problems with composition and colors....

theincredibleandy:
probably I should have put more focus on those 5 people in foreground, and maybe for instance mounting the aes sedai on a white horse instead of black...

for the nerd stuff (:teeth: ): actually this scene, as the title says, it's the strike of Lews Therim and companions to Shayol Ghul, and it's something happened some 2000 years before the fact you reading/listening of. based for what I've read, in that time there where soldiers with aes sedai and that guy in the very foreground is one of them, armed with something called "shocklance".
for the myrdraal: I too think there should have been some, my problem was where to put one/some without overload an already crowded image... so i've thrown in just one in front of the aes sedai (oh well, not so in front.:teeth: )

P.S.
you're in book 6? it's a long road to book 11! have a nice journey:teeth: