Undead warrior (updated)

[Inkfish]

I found an old sketch of mine that i liked, and began to paint it. I have been going over this for so long, that i can't pick up the faults anymore If you can help i would be really grateful.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/inkfish/undead.jpg

[winna]

I found an old sketch of mine that i liked, and began to paint it. I have been going over this for so long, that i can't pick up the faults anymore If you can help i would be really grateful.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/inkfish/undead.jpg

Nothing wrong with man, wish I could do some'n like that.

[HappyGoneMad]

Actually, I really like where you're going with it...and I know what you mean about looking at something for too long...I think it just needs more work in the head and shoulder portions of the cape. They look unfinished. That is, they don't look as rendered or as detailed as the arms and torso. It's just a matter of giving them a wider range of values...make the darks darker and the highlights lighter.

[Inkfish]

winna Thanks man :)
HappyGoneMad Thanks for the crit, you were spot on. I reworked my wip acordingly with following results.

Here it is slightly larger

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1269/undead12jd.jpg

[Elwell]

You might want to change where and how he's holding his sword.
I'm just sayin'...
;)

[Inkfish]

Elwell Haha, i didn't see that untill you pointed it out. Guess i have to do some modifications... :) Thanks for the heads up

[Silvertone]

Seems to me his eyes, nose(hole) and teeth are straight on view but the head is like 3/4 view. That's just what stood out to me...besides the whole phallic thing you got goin on there.

[Inkfish]

Thanks for the comments Silevrtone. I tried to adjust this piece acordingly.

Here is the new version. Hopefully some of the issues have been resolved the position of his hand was kinda hard to move, but i tried to do something to it..

http://img492.imageshack.us/img492/3327/undead31cz.jpg

[Kresh]

i think the skin on the head looks a bit too smooth for an undead guy. Maybe try add some deeper wrinkles. Try toning down on that color of the cape a bit more too.

Costume looks great

[Inkfish]

Thanks for your input Kresh. I also tweaked the nosehole abit it seemed a bit off too

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/4585/undead40xf.jpg

[Death]

It could be fun to try to eat an apple with teeth like that :D. I don't like criting, since this roxorz my soxorz, but i personally like to see some more detail in the face, perhaps some more contrasiness. I don't know. IT ROCKS! keep up the awesomeness :D.

[Sickbrush]

i believe the head's got a few symmetry problems.. in the left side he's got round cheek and on the right it's square. also his left eyebrow is rounded whereas the right's got a pointed ending. also the main axes seemn to be a little misplaced..
otherwise it looks ok.
great costume work..

[Pixeldragoon]

It's very reminiscint (sp?) of Spawn... I think.. I dunno, his head still seems a bit 'not with it'. I'm thinking maybe a headdress of some sort? I think this would go under "balance". He seems to have all this weight on his body, but his head seems so free; Maybe just try it out, to see how it goes? It couldn't hurt :D


Good luck, it's coming along nicely!

[Rainblade]

This is looking really good. I liked it more when his face was confronting the viewer. The armour is what I like best so far. But i think you might want to bulk up the hand a bit more.. seems too flat. I really want interact with the face but its too tame on the value scale compared to the armour. Bring in texture, hotter higlights and deeper shadows and the face will become more interesting. But don't forget to keep some skin fleshy and matte. wetter areas of skin are usually glossiest. The area on the right side of the picture plane seems a little to static and rigid. Try loosening up his left arm and show us a little elbow.

[Dallas]

Hi Inkfish.

I haven't read the replies but here's my couple of cents.

It's strange how the contrast is strongest around his shoulders and arms, thereby drawing the viewers eyes there instead of the eyes or head. If you upped the contrast in the face or lit the character differently, you might get a more effective result.

[Rainblade]

I just noticed a should problem. The right one is proportionatly much bigger then the left. I know its foreshortened a bit but the difference would not be that significant. Try either shrinking in his right shoulder or bulking up his left. Also his chest caves in because you have the cauldron (shoulder armour) is overtop of the chest plate. Change that up and it should give a little more natural look.

[Silvertone]

The more I look, the more I wonder if this guy is standing or sitting. From the waist down it gets a little ambiguous since it kinda just fades away.

The left shoulder area should be turned away from the viewer more in perspective. The pentagram pin he has is a good indicator of this.

I'm also thinking the position of the arms aren't working (for me). I'm assuming he's sitting down so maybe something like this? Sorry about the right arm proportion on the right thumbnail, just trying to get the arm position across.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/Silvertone/conArt_critique01.jpg

Also messed with your image a tad. Hope that's ok. maybe he could have his left arm on a chair armrest or something (hip?).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v78/Silvertone/conArt_critique02.jpg

Did you do an unnderdrawing/sketch out the whole pose first or just go right into painting? Just wonderin.

[Joeslucher]

I think the cloak has to be rendered much softer. As it is, it looks like plastic. You have to change his hilt and hand position. There's no excuse for not changing it. You rendered it once, you can do it again. Let go of those fears buddy and you'll get a lot better a lot faster. If you ever get a chance to watch an amazing artist (workshops are great) you'll see how true this is.

[Elwell]

I kind of liked his head better when he was looking right at us. Turning it (and trimming his ears ) has lost some interest. Silvertone's fix for the arm is perfect.

[Sirio_Brozzi]

Agree with elwell, the head looks much better facing us.

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/1269/undead12jd.jpg
If you could fix the symettry on the head at this stage, I think that would solve the problem on the most part.

[thraktor]

I just love the thought of an undead warrior doing a portrait sitting. I bet the artist was terrified, unless he was undead too. That is hilarious. Oh, the work is good too... you've gotten good feedback above. I like the right shoulder armor detail...

[Inkfish]

First of all thanks for everybody who replied in this thread. I got lots of terrific crits and comments, i really appriciate it. Especially Silvertone who made a really awesome paintover, much appriciated man.

thraktor hehee thanks man :)

Sirio_BrozziThanks for the crit, i tried to adjust the head in the new version.

Elwell I switched back to the original head, for the reasons you mentioned, thanks!

Joeslucher I hear you man. This painting taught me how much work is saved if one solves the problems in the painting in sketch phase. I'd love to attend a workshop, but sadly i don't have the moolah to get to the U.S to attend one. When there's a workshop here in Europe i'd love to attend to it.

Silvertone Thank you so much for the awesome points you gave me. The overpaint is much appriciated. The underdrawing i did was basically just the armor and a vague shape of the head. Retrospectively i should've laid down all the parts and paid more attention to the pose.

here is the original
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/inkfish/43a18395.jpg

Rainblade Thanks for the crit!

Dallas Thanks for the comment, the piece was originally just a pencil sketch that i messed around with, the "face" was far different in the original as you can see above. That can explain the contrast thing.

Rainblade Thanks for the good crits, i tried to add the points you made into this version of the painting.

Pixeldragoon Hehe, thanks man, i propably won't add the helmet into this painting,but thanks though!

_^SlayeR^_ Thanks for the comments!

Death Thanks dude :)


So... here it is, it's far from perfect, but i'm ok with it. Thanks again for everyone for all the comments and encouraging words. You guys rock!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v371/inkfish/undead7.jpg

[NikitaDarkstar]

Looks good. I like it.. there's just one thing that don't make sense to me, that swirly thing on the cape.. the cape looks so nice and smooth otherwise so it jsut dosn't look like it fits in.. I don't know, just an observation.. just thought I'd say it.

Btw can I ask what are you using for this? I'm kinda torn between oil/acrylics or photoshop.. heh

[Dile_]

wtf, I think ive seen this piece before ??
is it possible you have posted the "picture of yours, that you liked" ?
Goooooooood progress so far!