Chinese Dragon Thing. Need some professional advice por favor!

[Form]

Evenin'

Got this wip... really not feeling the colours on it, and Ive been feeling the same way about a lot of my stuff recently. Until now i was somewhat happy with the moods my colours evoked.. they were dark and saturated and kinda nice... www.paquette.com.au

but recently stuff is looking too muddy and smoky... and im not sure whats causing it... im keeping the basic theories in mind - magic greys, saturation contrast, warm vs cools, compliments, colour variation... but also trying to stay within the same hue family (like vance kovacs now famous sijun tute talks about ). Any thoughts, critique or wisdom on the colours for this wip would be greatly appreciated. Ta

Adam

http://www.paquette.com.au/CH_Dragon.jpg

[Captain_futur]

I don't know exactly what you have in mind with you final artwork. I think you should check this tutorial, it helped me a lot!

http://www.itchstudios.com/psg/art_tut.htm

You can also check what he does with his colors. He rarely puts background, do you won't get much help there. But make sure to look at teh way he puts lots of colors in his shadows. It brings depth in teh final work.

[Form]

uh yeh, ive read proms tute.. guess i can read it again.. was looking for some specific critique though, but thanks.

[robrov21]

I have a comment about the design...on my list of creepy things that will pop into my nightmares. True accomplishment.

I actaully like the mood your color chioces have invoked, I think the only thing missing is matching the background. The background makes it feels like it's in a brighter environment. Maybe a swath of dark, like he's in a dark room with a door open...or something.

[Form]

hehe :P yeh, your probably right in that respect.. ill work a bit more on him tonight. Been almost 3 weeks since i sketched him so hes probably worth a revisit.

[sourgasm]

i like what you've got going on with the colors.

but it seems that with those long twiggy legs and tiny little feet he'd tip over if you looked at him too sternly. that may just be me.

i really like his stare. seems very mischeviously intent.

as for the background comment.. i don't think you really need one as of now. it's just a concept sketch.

edit: i bookmarked your site upon seeing the splash image alone. great!

[DSillustration]

heya,

regarding color:
you got some nice reflected light in the shadows of the creature.
but instead of using the same color as the bg, use a more saturated version of it,
or a completely different color so that it appears like a second light source.
it'll add a lot of snap.
(if thats what you're looking for)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v704/DSillustration/dragon_redo.jpg

as for your pallete being "muddy", i don't agree.
you might just be looking at your own stuff a little too hard.
usually, discontentment is a good sign that you're about to learn something. ;)
good luck!

[robrov21]

DSillustration, that redo is on the money. That was the background comment I was speaking of. Sourgasm,I know it's a concept sketch, I was saying that it felt too bright. But that redo hit the mark.

[Form]

guys, thanks heaps... help like this is invaluable. Ds, thanks very much for the time to do a p/o. Your probably right... i should trust my instincts more and paint with more confidence... stopping because i think im wrong wont let me have the benefit of hindsight.

Thanks once again all :) And for the compliments.