Fantasy Eagle

[Hishnak]

Hi, I'm new here. I've started to get into digital art and stuff and this is my first real finished piece...so go easy on me:wink: I've included both the sketch and colored version. What can I make better? (I hope this is the right section)

http://aphoticpixel.gorobotics.net/images/artwork/hawk-drawing-rough.jpg

http://aphoticpixel.gorobotics.net/images/artwork/hawk-drawing-finnished.jpg

[mikeasaurus]

Looking good, you have some solid base colours here. The next step is to build up values and create some depth. I'd stay away from using the 'canvass' texture on the bird, save texturing until a little later and go for fine strokes for feathers.

Remember to make the eyes 'POP', those steely little buggers have to spy prey from a loooong way away.

Looking real good Hishnak, keep it up!

[Hendric VII]

Good start. Use color to suggest texture and volume. I would suggest working with hard edged brushes to lay in the color.

[guilefine]

This is the right section and welcome, i will try to do my best as i think you have. Have you drawn an eagle before from life? They have a massive hooked bill and i agree that the eyes don't really look that effective. I dont like all that stuff around the eye it just looks really out of place. the ridges ontop of the head also look out of place and really makes the head look thin, very thin. I would really go to a zoo or get pictures of birds and look at how there head is attached to the rest of the body. mabey try drawing the whole bird.
I feel like you have picked a really hard subject to render, feathers are one of the hardest things to make look like feathers, especially when it is a close up. Try creating feathers, look at how some of the masters did their feathers, sorry i cant think of a specific name but there out there.

[Hishnak]

Thanks for the comments. I see what you mean about the thin head...and yes, when I was making it I was like "man, I have no chance of getting feathers to look right so I just go the cheapy way"

[Justin.]

Doing details like feathers isnt always necessary. The best thing you could have done was used reference.

Either way- I did a paintover- I chose a light source, then proceeded to define form using it. I also changed hues in the beak because I think it looks cool.

[Infinit]

it lacks some deeper shadows to define it's form

[penguinvisuals]

cool flame patterns around the eye. Where did you get your inspiration from?

[Hishnak]

It came strait from my head. There might have been a sub-conscience inspiration but I can't think of anything.