Relaxing Wolf

[Growly]

Hey, this is my first post here in Critiques... don't be gentle. ;) But be tactful.

http://pics.livejournal.com/grrrowly/pic/0007c18p
This is an image I created with Tria markers (love those things). I heavily referenced the pose from a photo of myself because of the nature of such a weird pose.

I am satisfied with it, BUT it could be better.
Here are the things I see wrong with it:
-Streaky markers, especially in the back wall
-blocky and strangely shaped iPod (I didn't spend enough time shaping it before I decided it was done)
-iPod not really sitting on the couch
-couch's corner is a little strange
-framed drawing in background calls too much attention, less contrast is needed
-posters in background in general are very sloppy (it was intentional, but when I was done, I decided it wasn't such a good idea after all...)

The stuff that I do like about this piece:
-my handing of the fur
-incorportating the blues and creams in the shadows (since he's a grey wolf that wears white, it could have gotten very achromatic fast)
-Some of the nicer details, like the piping on the arm of the couch
-the relative unity of the colors (though the posters do throw it off a little bit)

As for what I am going for, my anthro creatures generally have heads that are 90% animal (the most human parts being eyes/expressions, and they usually have hair), bodies that have very human anatomy (but just happen to be covered in fur), and hands and feet that are a mix between human and animal (their feet being more animal-like, with the large toes and all).

I can provide the original ref if needed.

[emily g]

I really like how you listed all the things that you like/don't like about your piece.
That's awesome and shows you already have a good grasp on evaluating your own work.

-The baby wolf is cute, though now that I think about it, it looks a little weird that he seems to be sitting on the edge of the big wolf's torso, rather than on the stomach.
-I don't understand what the big wolf is doing with his hand. Why isn't he just holding the magazine open like normal?
-The calf muscle on his lower leg is too low.
-The open magazine on the couch is in the wrong perspective.
-I think you did a good job adding a variety of colors to the wolf's fur.

I'm trying to imagine what this would look like with a different color of couch, especially a darker color that would really set off the wolf. Right now the highest contrast areas are the picture frame (as you noted) and the Gold Digger magazines. The green and red books at the bottom also stand out because of their coloring and value.

I think you probably learned a lot from the piece and good luck with what you do in the future!
emily

[Growly]

Thanks for the critique! :) It is helpful.
I am limited in my color choices sometimes because, well, Trias are expensive. ^_^; But I am making enough money off of commissions that I plan on buying some more of the essential colors this week.
BTW, that 'baby wolf' is supposed to be a plush husky. :)
I didn't even notice the odd hand position before... I guess that part of the photo was ambiguous. That actually helps me to realize that I leaned too heavily on the photo, too. I usually use no reference at all, so right now it's hard to figure out how much reference is too much and how much is not enough. :)
Again, thanks!

[Growly]

Anyone have any other tips for me? :)

[Orifice]

first ov all i wanna se that this issnt crappy at all, its real nice. but some ov the perspective is a bit strange. i think the line where wall and floor meets is a bit to high up. and the side of the couch should barely or not be visible, since its in the middle of the picture. other than that + emilys tips, its purty good. o one more thing, i would really like to se some shadows from the wolf onto the sofa. shadows really are an easy way of getting the lifelikedness up a healthy bit. these are small details, the whole is teh good! :D

[Growly]

Thanks!

[galspanic]

I think you could push the shadows a little more throughout. I am a broken record when it comes to that comment, but 9 out of 10 times a weak (or weaker than it has to be) drawing is because of the value range. Here it is grayscaled in Photoshop. I think it looks a lot flatter now
http://img399.imageshack.us/img399/2343/0007c18p1ph.jpg

And the little husky plush doesn't look plusy. Try rounding it out a little and ad a tag (?).

[sickelsick]

this is a nice kids book illustration.

heres my crits:
the headphones should wrap more around the neck because at first it look like hoop earrings.
there is a little uncolored peice between the little dogs blue eye and the arm of the big dog.
put a shadow under the back of the big dog and down the side of couch and on floor, that way it will make his position a little more realistic.
try giving the dogs clothes some color too. maybe some light blue jean shorts?

[Growly]

this is a nice kids book illustration.

heres my crits:
the headphones should wrap more around the neck because at first it look like hoop earrings.
there is a little uncolored peice between the little dogs blue eye and the arm of the big dog.
put a shadow under the back of the big dog and down the side of couch and on floor, that way it will make his position a little more realistic.
try giving the dogs clothes some color too. maybe some light blue jean shorts?

The white clothing was not my choice... this is an illustration for someone else, he was specific in what his character wears.
Good points on everything else though, I didn't even see that uncolored bit. O_O

[AdamDillabo]

some stiches on the toy dog would let you know its a toy, or he got his son taxidermized (would it be taxidermized. taxadermied perhaps).

[Growly]

I tried to avoid drawing stitches, because on good plush toys, you won't see the seams from that far. I was hoping the floppy body and simplified anatomy would show it's a plush, but looks like I need to look at my own large plush collection for reference. :)

[Viridis]

The wolf is pretty nicely done, especially for such a difficult pose, and you did handle the fur and cloth well. But the background looks rushed and flat next to the crisp, detailed wolf. The couch doesn't really seem solid, and is tilted oddly. None of the books/ipod seem to really be resting on it. The line indicating the floor should probably be a bit lower, too.

You're mainly lacking depth in the piece, and some additional shadows can fix that, even if you can't go back in and redraw the couch structure. Cool-colored shadows under the character, in the creases of the couch, and between the couch and wall (as well as on the left side of the wall itself) would push the depth of this piece a lot, I think.

As for the coloring, I know a lot of artists use colored pencils over their marker base for a wider variety of color without needing to buy $200 worth of markers. Perhaps try that next time?

[Growly]

I've tried using colored pencils over markers, I don't really like the effect it gives. Trying to get myself to do only one or the other from now on.
And yes, I agree with all the above points. Thanks!

[Qitsune]

I really thought the plushy was his son and he had strangely beady eyes!

Be careful about the size of the forearm relative to his upper arm, it looks a bit bigger around to me.