Help with pose and lighting?

[Electrovore]

Hi everyone, first time here. I've seen some amazing work come from this place, and hope that perhaps some may be interested in offering some advice to me.

I'm working on this illustration here for what will most likely be my Demo Reel cover. I'm not happy with the execution of the pose, as I'd like it to seem more like he is exhausted and supporting himself on the threshold with his arm. I've attached an image of the piece so far, and then one of my ideas i drew out for the reworking of the pose.

As for the lighting, I think it's a good start, but still feel like it needs something else.

Critiques, suggestions and overpaints welcome!

Thanks for taking the time to look.

[Dragonlady]

The red paint over looks like it works out most of the posing issues. That pose looks way more tired / exhausted.

Give attention to the door way - at this stage it looks tacked on. Is he coming into his own dwelling, an inn, a castle to warn a king?

Lighting - right now The light that you have going on makes the figure look mushy. When its still loose like this, define your front and side planes with simple blocked in edges so you dont have to guess whats light and whats shadow.

With that said, later on be sure to pay close attention to your edges. - As in where light meets shadow - which will describe the forms the light is falling on. Example - a hard edge on something that has hard corners, browbones, door frames ect... versus softer edged things like the curve of a cheek, or the cloth of a cloak.

Elwell has a nice little thread about edges in the tutorial section that probably explains this better than I do. I hope this helps. Good luck with your demo reel!

[Forbidden Angel]

The red posing is much better in my opinion as it adds more depth to the character. Before it looked as if it was stiffening and narrowing as it reached the bottom and made it look unrealistic. Also with the wrapping around the lower part of the body, it looked slightly mummified becauseof the tight, close together, legs. Adding the parting of the legs, stance and wrinkles will really bring the picture to life.

[Ios]

I like the red version better as well because of it's expression. he looks more defeated/exhausted there.
and as for the lighting, it looks good to me. Maybe it would be cool if you would create a bit more a clair obscur effect since that's pretty easy with a doorway like that. Just to make it even more dramatic.

[Infinit]

red says "I'm so weak I have to use my axe as support" much better then the previouse "I'm fucking cool while standing in your doorway"

[Forbidden Angel]

Infinit hit it dead on. I love that description, it fits so perfectly.

[SugaCrcl]

Hey! How's it goin'? I like the red sketch pose myself, your character looks more convincing to me in that position. How tired is he? Has your character returned from a war? I think you can exaggerate your character some more. Try positioning your character against the side of the wall. His head and body leaning against the side. He is also so tired that he can barely hold his helmet and it feels like it weighs a ton. what is your demo reel about? good luck with it, dude

[Maxine Schacker]

You are "jumping" your light. In general more than one major and one minor light source will flatten the illusion of form. The "minor" source can be used to bring out reflected light, but reflected light shouldn't be as strong (as light) as the major source.

Like everything in art, this rule can be broken and some masters, like Degas, now and then purposely "jump" the light...and make it work.

In this case, make a decision about where your light source is. Only planes facing the light source will be lightest.

[Electrovore]

Hey everyone. Thanks for the insight, after I finish my maya work for the evening, I'll get back to the painting. I'll definitely use the suggestions you've all made as I continue to refine. I want him to appear as though he's returned from a war to his home. I think I'll also make his axe bigger, or into another weapon.

This will be my demo reel cover, as I said before. My reel is actually a visual effects showcase, including compositing, dynamics, and matte painting. I decided to do something like this to appear somewhat different in the pile of vsfx demo reels. Even though I'll have some traditional work in my reel, I think a nice finished piece of concept art would be appropriate for the cover.

Anyway, if I get significant progress made tonight, I'll update. If not, I'll make sure to pretty soon.

[Jewl]

I think it'd be interesting if you showed a defeated oponent behind him, like maybe a huge dead lion, or some mythical beast? It could open up a bunch of interesting compositional possibilities, maybe involving a colosseum or something behind him.

Also, I think the subtle difference between "exhasted, but victorious" and just straight "exhasted" might be more appropriate for the cover of your demo reel, you know?

[PenDiablo]

So where is the alternate version in a somewhat finished state??