Totalitarianism 2084 AD (Work In Progress)

[Elmo Lester]

Hey all. I have started working on an image that i wish to look pretty good. And since all you digital artists out ther are so good I thought maybe you could help me as I work on this image... Thanks in advance.

..::01::..
This started off as an assignement for school. To do a piece on any subject in Black and White media. Original is A3 Pencil and a little chunk of graphite stick...
http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/Total2084%2001.jpg
1/2 original


..::02::..
Now that's all done i want to make it look half decent...
I started blocking out basic colours and tones...
http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/Total2084%2002.jpg1/4 original


..::03::..
Got rid of the Advertisements because they were too
distracting to the overall colour scheme of the image.
darkened the two figures up the top...
http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/Total2084%2003.jpg1/4 original


...If you spot anything that's wrong right now or doesn't look
good feel free to tell me. Any C&C would be highly
appreciated. Thanks.

-Tom

[Behemoth]

I quite liked the adverts, although the colours could have been muted a little.

I also got a feeling a little like the beginning of blade runner with all the neon signs on a grey industrial backdrop. Your biggest flaw was the freehand lettering - needs a little practice - perhaps look at some reference photos or take a walk through your town centre with a sketchpad.

Try some unusual colour combinations to imply lighting effects and atmosphere - something Bengal seems to have down to a T.

Its a good start - don't lose focus now. I think your perspective and architecture is lovely.

[Behemoth]

also, the blacked out window distorts the purpose of the piece. If you can't see the father and son, the picture means nothing.

[Elmo Lester]

I disagree I think with the darkened faces the viewer can't see who is really in control. It gives them a mysterious feeling... Which was originally my idea. At first I was thinking of having it from their perspective only seeing their hands on the balcony, or something to that effect - I didn't really want them to be revealed but just to be there.

[Behemoth]

fair enough, I think, but my other points stand. :)

[Elmo Lester]

Yes I agree.
I am currently experimenting with different lighting effects. I'm going to add lights on the buildings themselves. And I might put more adds in, it just seemed a bit one sided before (I need to have them more evenly dispersed which may be troublesome). And Then I might add some flying cars. Thanks for the input, I think with more light sources this will look better than i had originally intended. (just plain beige).

I'll do an update soon.

[Behemoth]

get hold of some cityscape images from google, perhaps screenshots from similar dystopian films etc.

Unusual colours would really pull the image off the page and make it more real. See some of the environment work posted around here, particularly in the 'finished' section.

[Behemoth]

re: placement of adverts

Put yourself in the position of the advertiser - where would you want your brand to be displayed? where is most prominent? where detracts most from the adverts of your competitors?

[Elmo Lester]

..::04::..
Added some more lighting effects...
http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/Total2084%2004.jpg 1/4 original

[Elmo Lester]

Hmm should make the interior lights darker... more ambient. Still not too sure on the ads. Thinking they'd be too distracting and Eye Catching (As theiy're usually designed to be). But it would add to the realism... :/

I think I got blade runner on tape somewhere, might go watch that :) ...It was pretty boring last i remember but had cool cityscapes etc... :D

[Behemoth]

its certainly improving with every step.

Personally, I think the top left window area, the top right industrial smokestacks, and the bottom right riot areas could do with a bit more detail. Currently they look a bit fuzzy and detract from the beautiful architecture and the sense of awe inspired by the huge building.

[Juice5942]

I'd say get rid of the lights on the balcony, with them there, having the figures as dark as they are, even though they are so close to the light doesn't make sense. I do like the characters being dark, I don't think you need to make them perfectly visible, but defying the laws of the universe is probably not the way to go about it. :D

I'm also in love with the perspective, I had to scroll down and it looked like I was actually panning down to look at the crowd gathered at the bottom.

Nice work.

Edit: You might also want to make the police tanks more obvious as tanks and pay close attention to their perspective. I'd also consider getting rid of the light coming from the main guns unless you're going to make them flamethrowers which could be kind of cool. :evilbat:

[Elmo Lester]

A Few updates...

..::05::..
Notice the orangy haze near the bottom...
http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/Total2084%2005.jpg

Some Close ups...
http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/fireholecloseup.jpg
http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/rooftiles%20closeup.jpg


A Few Changes in the overall atmosphere of the image, these are just quick rough overlays...

http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/Total2084%2005b.jpg

http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/Total2084%2005c.jpg

I'm thinking of having a light ray passing through the window illuminating the childs face but cutting off right before the dads. I'd have to lift the sun up a bit... Might work :?

C&C will be much appreciated...

-Tom






...Just noticed that the very top is a bit out of line with the perepective...

[Elmo Lester]

After a LONG break decided to pick this up again:

Some major perspective issues that aren't going to be fixed, because a) it would be a real pain to do and b) it's not really noticeable. Some minor issues too that i'll fix. I'll just be fixing everything up right now and workin on the shading... Need to do something with the bottom and the rioters. Maybe have a HUGE riot scene... that might look nice... Also the very top needs a lot more detail obviously. Um i'll be working on it, any suggestions of what should be changed or implemented would be very helpful... thank you...

http://www.tek-nrg.net/elmo-lester/Images/preview003.jpg