Character Concept Driving me NUTS

[Blackhawk]

Okay, here is my problem. I've been trying to imagine an environment for this character that would help unify the piece and really pull it together, but all I've really managed though is a million revisions and a cave. It's kind of driving me nuts, I need input on the best way to accomplish the environment in this piece or even any new ideas on environments. The one I have now isn't too stellar. Also, any critiques on lighting, color, proportions, composition, whatever, please let me know.

http://members.cox.net/blackhawk9/concept/warrior1.jpg

[wood]

Well, I might be able to help you if I knew more about where this guys is coming from and what he's supposed to be. As far as I can figure out he is some kind of warrior with a pension for beat up armor, I think I'm way off. Is that a triceritops skull plate on his head? I really like theshield, his face and his shoulder plates, the thing on the head is kinda wierd, but could really work in the right context. I kinda seems like didn't put as much love into his thighs and shin guards as the rest of him.

As for the background, it seems like maybe an overgrown entrance to a very dark cave with shafts of sunlight coming down through a canopy(sp?) of trees might look good and folliage could compliment his color scheme quite possibly. The color of the background right now is really gray and flat right now, I don't know...

Another possible background is like some sort of dim lair(think medussa's lair) with columns and armor and skeletons strewn about. who knows

I really like the uniqueness of this character and I hope I'm not overstepping my bounds with these critiques. I only mean to share some opinions that I had, and I do think this piece has great potential and already has alot of character, anyways, keep working one it, looking good so far.

-Wood

[Blackhawk]

Thanks Wood. Your not overstepping your bounds at all, I need an alternate viewpoint on this piece. I've lost the initial vitality and I need as many ideas as possible to help fix this. I like the canopy idea, the greens/browns/greys/ and reds could probably work together very well. As for the helmet, in it's current state I don't like it, I need it to be clearer as to the shape of it. Right now it's a bungled mess.

Thanks for the input, much appreciated.

[R_M]

Howdy Blackhawk,

i think the face is the strongest part of the picture right now. He doesn't look very battle hardened but there is something.

I have a minor problem with his posture and the way it interacst with his shield sword. At first I couldn't understand if the sword was attached to his left wrist or held in his rigth hand because the handle is completle covered by the shield.

if you want a completely new view on your pice, try mirroring it... all your mistakes will pop out.

keep it up it is very promising!

[Jaku]

I think you´ve to put the lights off. If that´s a cave the source of light should be more defined and contrasted, something like beams of light in the dark, but not with full electric instalation inside the cave... I´d do it much more darker. Just an opinion..

[LeeSmith]

while I'm probably not the most qualified person to be dishing out advise I thought i'd just have a play with this one and see what happened. As soon as I saw your picture I got a sense of an aquatic environment, the armour colors and shapes seemed very crab-like to me. So I thought maybe it could be some sort of atlantisesque palace, I spent a few minutes doing a quick paintover...

http://www.shawawa.com/misc/seawarrior.jpg

I am in no way saying what I have done is right or what you should do, just thought it might help you to get some ideas. Hope you don't mind

[tegehel]

My advice to you is simply that if you can't figure it out, don't bother paint it at this point. Make plenty of sketches, get ideas but very very roughly. Once you're happy with the small pencil or black and white, then apply it to the big painting. Before that, it's pretty much a waste of time and a game of frustration...unless you know exactly what you want to do, but even though, I'd recommend a few sketches anyway.

C.

[Blackhawk]

R_M - Thanks, I'll have to mirror it and check it out. I can see where the shield and sword working together may get weird. I'll go through and check it again.

Jaku - Yeah, I noticed myself how brightly lit he was if it were to be a cave environment. I took some liberties with it though, not sure if it'll read right. It may make more sense when I get the environment nailed down.

LeeSmith - That is a badass idea, I love the lights in the background. The different posture works too. Thanks for the extra ideas, I'll have to play with this one a bit and see what comes out, thanks.

Teg - Yeah, it was my mistake that I really didn't quite nail down a thumbnail, it started with a character sketch, evolved into this, and then I hit the wall when I didn't have any type of background to put him in. I'm going to crank out a bundle of thumbnails and see if I make something work.

Thanks for the input guys, it was much appreciated.

[endregan]

well its already all been done and said but this piece has a lot of potential. im not nearly as good as you, so dont take any offense to any of this but the background right now is nice and simple however the crits and comments so far have pretty much covered it probably better than i could :p. be sure to show us what you come up with. great work :D