A bit stuck

[Donovan V]

Not sure if this pic needs more contrast or more shadows or what. I am planing on detailing the armor and the bow some more but there is something that is bugging about this pic. Maybe the skin tone... dunno.

[Sh1n1gam1-part]

I think... U like Lineage.. the pick is god i wan 2 see later
and only this, the posicion of bow is a litle strange, watch the position to the arrow
sry my english suck´s

[afterthought]

it's a bit soft, use dif brushes other than airbrush.
agree with above, watch position of bow.
neck feels weird, head doesn't feel right.
tangent with jaw and armor.
white shape under arm on right is weird.
hands need work, try looking at hands grabbing things, like a pole, etc.
something to simulate a bow.
i think u should include feet.

[Raja]

There is one huge problem that I see in this picture. The way the head is turned, arms are shaped, and that piece of armor is placed covering the neck all suggest that this picture is taken from her backside. As if her back is turned to us but her head is turned toward us and she is reaching behind her behind to shoot an arrow. A lot of it is due to the piece of armor covering her neck. It seems more like a piece that would go behind the neck.

[VictoryOrValhalla]

First off, I love the Lineage 2 base, a good Bow of Peril and Doom leather set.

But on to crits, I am only learning myself, but it seems to me, the perspective on her neck-guard is what's throwing us off. Her head appears to be behind, or deeper than the gaurd, when it should be above and closer to us than the guard.
Furthermore, I can't quite recall since I haven't played in a bit, but is that neck guard even part of the Doom set? I think it would likely improve if the neck guard was scrapped altogether.

[Orchid, the Wild]

As said before, this is very soft looking. It could use some crisper lines and more definition. Raja is right, that neck piece just kinda throws off the picture a bit. That left forearm armor looks backwards as well. And give her some feet! It will balance out this pic. Good work, keep it up! :D

[Donovan V]

Yea, that perspective on that bow is pretty off isn't it.

As for feet. Its eventualy going to become a sig for my wife that plays L2 :teeth: so It will be cropped up a little more anyway.

Check out my reff shots from the game. I think maybe they might have thrown me off on that neck guard. Maybe if I bring the top edge out a little bit it would help.

One question, I use Painter 9 but am not very familiar with it. I'm not quite sure how to sharpen up the brush I just use the defaults. I'll dig around in the program for it but if anyone knows right quick that would help.

Thanks much to everyone.

[feitian]

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/feitian_2006/step1.jpg
The first thing I want to deal with, is the overall pose of the figure. In this light, I would encourage you to create thumbnail sketches and also draw the figure all the way to the feet. One of the reason for this, is that you can get a much better idea on how the weight is suppose distribute and how the character can be grounded. This would effect greatly the believability of a standing figure.

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/feitian_2006/step2_controppostal.jpg
While you are deciding on the type of pose for your character to take, you might also want to consider some of the balance issue. Contrapposto is usually a good starting point for a standing figure. Here because her left shoulder is raised, I shifted her weight to her right legs to balance out the direction of her upper body. As you can see that leg is grounded while her left is relaxed, it should look pretty natural, if not somewhat exaggerated. ^_^;;

http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g265/feitian_2006/step3_perspective.jpg
Now that you have decided on how the character is going to stand, we can start moving in with some details. Although I think in the beginning of the sketching process, I think it might be better to not actually draw the armor, its very distracting in many cases. Using some basic perspective technique to heighten the sense of depth within character with parts of her pose, or object such as her bow.

After this, it shouldn’t be difficult to follow the contour of the body and add armors and stuff like that.

That’s my take on the poses. :3

I personally don’t think that the in game model are a good source for shading in the case, what with the its flat map and no self shadowing what so ever, and in that last shot her chin is cutting into the neck guard. >w<

[Donovan V]

I am simply stunned at how helpfull people here are. Thanks so much Feitian!

[Kan Muftić]

Hi there,

What it needs is power of the contrast.
Contrast of the light, material, pose, background.
It's like you're walking on the safe side of the road.
Which is good. But you want to rock, right.
Try it out, it's digital anyway.
Looking very good in general.
Cheers,
Khan

[Donovan V]

Since the problems with the first image are so deep rooted I thought I might start over with a new base. This was a grueling two hour process to come up with the new pose I've got. Anyone see any major problems with it?

[d00dle]

ok, I suck at painting and im not that great with anatomy, but I think everything looks too soft. Also, You might wanna go darker and lighter than u normally would (i know it's hard) because everything seems to be in the same mid tone. Adding, some warm or cool in those areas might help too.

[Donovan V]

I got so fustrated I walked away and came back. Helps not to be so pissed. This next pose feels a little more stylized and emotional to me. I think I like this one better.

[AndyStone]

the above pose would work better than the original... as people said the head doesnt work with the rest of the body as it looked as if the head was doing some sort of exorcist thing... but you probably heard that many times... i cant help with painter 9 ive never used it best chance is checking tutorials page or google it

[dogfood]

I think this one is better, but I'd really like you to take something fairly heavy and stand in front of a mirror. Try as many different poses you can think of in order to express the feeling you want to convey. Really ham it up. Once you have what you want, do your best to memorize how different parts of your body are reacting with each, most especially how the weight is arranged. This will also be a good chance to see how feet look.

If you can have someone take photos or model for you, all the better.

[Donovan V]

I just read the workshop with Marko Djurdjevic in my ImaginFX. I decided to try his route of grey scaleing before I go into color. So far this pose feels much more alive than the original.

:dead: Finally. Progress!

[d00dle]

her breasts still too high. I think it would look more natural if they are lower. Yeah, I read that magazine too. You should check out thier website, I see tons of great tutorials there. Look at Jason Chan, he was kind enough to even give his original file in .psd.

[Kuroinoame]

Hi,
First off, I really like the idea behind the concept and I enjoy seeing the proccesses you're going through, it really shows that you're putting alot of thought and work into this peice.
One of the things I noticed first was that your lineweight is always the same. Usually the line has different weights or thicknesses where there is tension in the body and also where there are boney anatomical landmarks(elbows,wrists,ankles,kness,pelveis) I agree with the aformentioned statement that her breasts are a little on the high side, move them down a bit and it'll look more natural. Also it could just be me, but her stance seems a little too wide to support where she's placing her weight and he left hand strikes me as a little odd as well.
Anyways, good luck on it and I hope I was of some help. ^___^