A bunch of my stuff

[WestwallSpring]

Hello, I'm new to art and Conceptart.org. (I have a Deviantart as WestwallSpring) It would be very nice if you kind sirs give me advice for my pictures so that I may sharpen my skills.
I'm using GIMP, and some people have told me the brush is too vague, and not sharp enough. This seems to be so, should I keep it or remedy it? If the latter, how would I go about doing so? Also I do need to learn more shading/proportion.
I try to do this by scanning in a rough sketch, import the image to GIMP, remove white, and make it semi-transparent and paint under it in GIMP (of course the sketch is removed once its finished).


(Soviet soldier in gasmask/greatcoat holding Fedorov Avtomat automatic rifle)


(Soviet NCO wearing M1935 Gimnasterka and M40 helmet holding a PPSH-41 SMG in Stalingrad)

I will say this in advance, but thank you very much for your time.

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[tobbA]

I don't know Gimp. But you should try to use a harder brush. Use one that isn't 'fuzzy' at the edges.

What I think you need to work on is values and form. Your stuff looks quite flat. Basically you learn form from drawing from life, but you should check out Andrew Loomis and Bridgemans books as they will teach about anatomy and construction. To get better values you should try to paint in black and white. If you want you can color it on an overlay layer afterwards.

You also need to work on your perspective. I have no idea what's going on in the background of any of those pictures. Is that some kind of mountain behind the first one? I understand there's a wall behind the guy in the second picture, but there's no place where the wall meets the ground.

[Klaw]

I don't have any experience with Gimp, but welcome to CA! It's a great place to learn as an artist. I would echo the sentiment about the fuzzyness. Welcome again!

[Klaw]

Oh, also, you are not showing a thumbnail. To get one, edit your post, go advanced, then upload your art directly to CA with the CA picture uploader. Then you'll have a thumbnail.

[WestwallSpring]

@tobbA
Thank you very much. I see how I screwed up big time for the wall, and the "mountains" were supposed to be smoke or something, but I guess it wasn't such good smoke
I will try the books you have kindly pointed out, and I think I will try the black-and-white thing as well. I guess I should also try the non-fuzzy edges as well.

@Klaw
Thank you very much for your advice on the thumbnail.
Thank you