Help needed on water rendering...

[R_M]

this is an early stage for a picture I am doing of this pirate guy. he is supposed to be running in water.
I think I am getting a good hang on skintones and such, but have no idea on how you render water. Do you guys know any tricks and tips, or where I can find a tutorial on the net?

http://roberto.webconnect.dk/gfxgallery/sketchpirate.jpg

[R_M]

http://roberto.webconnect.dk/gfxgallery/piratesketch1.jpg

any Ideas on the water?

[bwkeough]

I like where you're going with this!

some things to think about: I can't tell if he's running along the shoreline or towards it...if his back is to open ocean there should be more visibile waves, especially as the viewer is a low eye-level. His torso and front leg suggest he is running towards the viewer, in that case his left leg (on our right) should be more behind him. I think the sword might read better if it were held at different angle, but that's just an opinion, not really a critique.

For water, I wouldn't bother looking for a painting tutorial, I'd look for photos of people running in water. Examine the way the water moves, which areas are dark and light, then apply your color scheme to it.

[fredflickstone]

here is just a suggestion...

I can show it better than say it I think.

The water, think of it, for simplicity sake in this image, as placid. Flat. Then, think, how is he making the water move, and add that stuff in. Then, think what water does when you drop something in it. These are all the effects you need to have included in this image to make the water work.


Another thing, he is too light in your image. If you want to make a statement, and I dont think I went far enough with your image either, I just wanted to show a few things with your stuff...

If you make something light in the back, the foreground needs to pop. It doesnt matter how good you are with muscles or not, if you can make a simpler statement first, then add what you know, it will still look awesome...you dont need to show the muscles, that is, if you cant paint backdrops. The two will look like two different paintings. Make it all the same first, simple, then add just what you need and it will work.http://www.rev-art.com/lemenimages/suggestion.jpg

[fredflickstone]

This is what I mean by simple. Keep it simple, dont start with the details first, and the image just gets easier to work on after that. This is not difficult to work out from here, and it is nothing more than quick lassoo trap shapes resembling the thought you wish to convey.

Start with the big picture first, its easier to figure out what to do with that in mind.

Ronhttp://www.rev-art.com/lemenimages/tip2.jpg

[R_M]

bwkeough/thank you for the comments, they are much appreciated.
He is supposed to be running alonside the coast, or inside a lagune, where the water is really shallow even far away from the coast. I hope it reads better now, but I realized to late that it was a very problematic shot (at least for me) so I just try to make the bedst of it.

Fredflickstone/ Also thank you for taking the time to help me out. I thought that most teachers died out during the last Iceage, but there an unusual high amount of you guys here :D.
(by the way I PMed you with some comments, let me know what you think)

enough chit chat, here is where I am now, 90 % done the clothes and the sword are still off, and I think the shoreline still needs some working.

http://roberto.webconnect.dk/gfxgallery/piratewip.jpg

[tomi]

work out the shoreline and let the water be water and not some pinky stuff...i mean those pink lines you made in there...i don't think that that color appears in such an reflection. but hey, its a great p. by now...please finish it, i'd love to see it!