[horstenpeter]

Hey guys, here's three paintings from the list of 500

Mountain Goat


Partly Collapsed House


Rocks

Sorry for posting such crap, but I think I need to to improve. Because to be told what to do better, I think I should show my weaknesses and not my strengths. So can you tell me what's wrong with these ? I always use reference, but the compositions are new.

Thanks.

[edit]URLS fixed[/edit]

[ November 03, 2001: Message edited by: horstenpeter ]

[Matt Elder]

Ok, the main thing at the moment is a lack of definition. The images just seem to be 'blurry blobs' at the moment. This is a good start thought. Generally when doing digital art, start with large brushes with general colours and as you refine the image, use smaller brushes adding more details. I'll do a quick paint over of one image to show you what I mean.

[Matt Elder]

Ok this was just a quick couple minute job to try to demonstrate a few points. First up, build the colour up in the image. You seem to have only place a couple of colour strokes and left it at that. It is generally a build up of colour (see mountains for main example). As you are placing these strokes down, use slightly varing shades and smaller thicknesses. Hopefully that was some help. Start with a single image, and try to keep 'workin' it. If you post 3 or 4 images in one hit, you will get more general comments.



[ October 31, 2001: Message edited by: Matt Elder ]

[horstenpeter]

Thanks for the comments and the paint over. So you say that I should just take them further and they'd be OK ? I wanted to leave these rough, since I still have 496 to go, but maybe I broke off too early.
Are the colors good ? I was originally thinking that these were the worst part....

Again, thanks a lot.

[horstenpeter]

Here's another one I did. I tried to improve on the things you said, and went a bit further on the detailing. I don't want to spend too much time on these because I only want to take them as far until there's nothing left to learn and then move on. Please tell me what you think, it's of great help.

[horstenpeter]

I just finished working on this as I should go to sleep now....it could still use some polishing but I worked on it for some time now and I think it's about time to move on.....this is supposed to be some trees planted on rocks. What do you think about the rocks ? I'm happy with them because they started out really crappy, but I guess there would still be room for improvement. The only ones I really worked on are the ones around the trees in the foreground anyways.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that any comments are welcome
Oh yeah and next time I'd do the green tree different, maybe I'll even do that tomorrow. But I don't know if I'll find the time.....

[ November 03, 2001: Message edited by: horstenpeter ]

[Mr. T]

a few things i've learned so far:
- Try blocking the shapes with a large brush first, to get the composition and the main values right, and then use smaller brushes for refining.
- Don't work on one part of the pic at the time.
- Don't just scribble. Think about the shape and how you could draw it. Think about what you draw. (thanks spooge )

cheers.

[horstenpeter]

Come on people, no one want to comment on that last one ?

@Mr. T : Thanks for the hint about thinking about what you draw. I read that a few times but never actually followed that. I did it with the last piece, and boy, what a difference it made. I felt much more secure about what I was doing.

[-Tepox-]

Those pics looks pretty much the same when I started to use paintbrush. it was very painful to me at first. I used to smudge and dodge/burn all the time. Mr. T and Elder gave you some good points and I don't think i have anything to add. Well... you could also study some basics of the perspective.
Just don't give up! you have some very nice color selections going on there.

good information about perspective:

web page

[horstenpeter]

Tepox, thanks for the compliments on the colours. I actually thought those were the worst part
Is there anything specific you could point out about perspective errors in the pieces ? I know perspective is not my strongest part (do I have any strong parts ? Not as far as I can tell....) but I wasn't aware of any major errors in the drawings.....though there's a good chance there are some pretty big ones

[edit]oh yeah, neither the smudge tool nor dodge & burn were used in the creation of these pieces [/edit]

[ November 04, 2001: Message edited by: horstenpeter ]