Reptilian forest

[Molin]

Hi all.
I just post my latest wip here for some response if any is up to it. What i find diffcult is getting it more contrast rich and at the same time not to sharp.

What it depicts is a semi dinosaur. It has a delibarat lower backbody just before the tail. Perhaps it gave it to much of a ratish look then I was after. Ill probably extend the pelvis abit backwards in the final version. ALSO it is not suppoesd to photorealistcly depict any known dinosaur, wich is obviously doesnt....:).. Just so you dont flame me for the wrong reasons....;)

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilianforest_thumb.jpg

-Click here for larger version- (http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilianforest.jpg)

:chug: for any comments...
/Molin

[Atomick]

Very intriguing, Molin!

Composition-wise, some definition in the ground will help a lot...the whole thing is REALLY dark, which doesn't really follow your lighting model on the figure. Plus, the creature has ample negative space beneath it, it's about to hit its head on the top of the canvas. :-)

By the way, what is that braided thingy in the background? A vine? Maybe you're resolving that earlier than the rest of the background, but with the foreground figure so dark it stands out in a negative way (so far).

The lizard is unique, for sure...the vestigal arm/wings are clearly the focal point. I'd stop with the fore-quarters of the creature and start bringing in more detail around him. Bring that bad boy out of the dark background a bit more (as you do with a lot of your other work)!

Best,
-Atomick

[Molin]

Atomick.
Yeah i really suck at the lighting bit. Ill try getting it more correctly aligned in the environment with what is going on on the creature.

Yup its a wine but its in the foreground....^^ Gah so bad....:(.... But ill give it more detail so its stands out more.
Hhehe, ok ill enlarge the canvas abit since it was originally aolot bigger then this. I just cropped it abit since i wasnt pleased with the overall composition when i had more air above the head...

Hey thx for your comments. It made me realise some things...
Later
/Molin

[Molin]

Ok so I have updated with a few changes.

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian_forest_rev2_thumb.jpg
-Click here for larger version- (http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian_forest_rev2.jpg)

Personally i think i overdid the shading on some parts as it gave it a more plastic look rather then the kind of moist, dry reptilian skin that i aws looking for... ill probably change this in the next version.

Any thoughts on this version anyone?. More highlights on the leafbed from the sky perhaps?
/Molin

[Molin]

Revision 3. Added alot of details and some blueish underlighting to distinguish the lizard a bit more.

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian_forest_rev3_thumb.jpg

- Click here for larger image - (http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian_forest_rev3.jpg)

/Molin

[Taibu]

Hey, thats one sexy reptile, beautifully done. Id like to point out 2 things that came to my mind when i looked at the picture though.
1) I think u need something to give the monster some perspective. Right now there are no clues to the size of the creature. Just by looking at the picture it might seem that the dinosaur is just 20 cm tall :)
2) I feel the treebark(i think it is a treebark) that starts about where the creatures tail begins and goes in the up and right direction is distracting, well less than perfect composition wise.

Hope i could be of some help :)

[Molin]

Taibu.
hehehe i just fiddled with that tree behind it when i read your post...;)

Update with some colorcorrection.. PERHAPS to bright this time???
http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian_forest_rev4_thumb.jpg

- Click here for larger version - (http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian_forest_rev4.jpg)

Thx for your comment.
/Molin

[Palm]

It crazy how much you have developed as an artist in the last few month! I should come over to your place and kick your as!
:D

This looks really nice.. Love the lightning.

The next beer is on me.
/Palm

[Erik]

Great! Very cool and original reptile too!

I really like the improvements of the picture, it has come a long way! Wish i could do that !

The only crit i can think of is the creature's right (our left) leg. It should be more in the shadow maybe or better defined, because now it kinda sticks out a bit while it is not very finished. The right leg and tail are fine, they look as if they are in motion and blurred.

Maybe the only thing missing is a bit of foreground. The vine at the beginning was kinda cool for that, something in the ultimate foreground would give some more depth.

Some more depth would also be achieved by decreasing the saturation of some of the foliage in the back. It's now more saturated than the creature all round - this is difficult. If the foliage directly behind the creature is either desaturated more or darkened the creature would fit in better. The plants to the left and right are cool!

[Molin]

Palm - :chug: ..... :D

Erik - Ok i did some small changes to the background. I darkened certain parts down to give it more depth. At least i hope it did.. I think so. Also the dinohybrids right foot has been darkened down and changed somewhat.

I think i will leave it like this.... I should have done a leafbed on the ground but gah.... ;)

http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian-forest_rev5_thumb.jpg

-Click here for larger version- (http://www.danielmolin.com/media/public/reptilian-forest_rev5.jpg)

Thx a bunch for your help guys...
/Molin

[Erik]

Great!

Good picture, be proud! :chug:

[Digisaur]

I'm a little late getting here, but I see a couple things that haven't been addressed yet.

First of all, it looks like his arms are coming out of his pelvis. I think if you could possibly move them closer to the 4th neck wrinkle from the head it would look more like foreshortening. If you did this with Photoshop, you could just cut it out and nudge it to the left and blend it back in. As for Painter, might be more difficult.

Second, the primary light source is coming through the bushes and trees, so you would expect to see little spots of light here and there on the ground, and on the dino. It would help to define the roundness of form on the dino and add some nice detail to the ground. This would be easier than the moving the arm I'm sure.
That's really all I can find, it's coming along real nice.
That's my two cents.

[Molin]

Digisaur.
Yes i agree. But thats part of the design. However its not that short, the body is almost straight towards us and the neck is bent to the right (his left). Also he doesnt have the typical dino anatomy. Its not a dinosaur just so you know....;)... But your right it kinda looks odd and is probably wery skewed and funked up.

Also i agree on the light that should spread across the ground. Perhaps ill update it someday with this but for now i will leave it as i have taken another painting project on hand.

You can look at it here if you like.
http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6774

You had some great art on your site as well, thx for the watch and you comment.
/Molin
Elephant Smilodon WIP (http://www.conceptart.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6774)