[Shaded]

For a Max Payne TC

the theme to 'Last of the Mohicans' was on loop as I did this. Paused DVD and scrawled up my rendition.

Whisper City Avatars -



References used for many of these, from movies including:
Aliens, Heat, Lethal Weapon 4, The NeverEnding Story, and Robocop.

My work no longer interests me. I have no process, my art consequently has little depth.

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

[Shaded]

more crap



Remember the movie? Paused DVD and scrawled up my rendition.

Concept art for Max Payne TC


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

[worthless_meat_sack]

Less rendering, less scribbling, more time spent making the big shapes ACCURATE.

It will seem less of a chore then.

[Shaded]

I dont understand. All my stuff has a messy, unfinished look - I let the big shapes remain where they are. The part about making them accurate is lost to me.

[Robert Ashley]

I love the messy look your style has. I dont know how to go about that digitally....all my work done in photoshop looks like its smooth airbrush.

I wish I could sit and watch you work. I really dig your work! GREAT JOB!!!

[stereophoenix]

i think these are really good, but i think part of the reason they look unfinished is because you can see through to the canvas- eg, the white where the edges meet.
maybe you shoould try painting the background first with a large brush, then painting everything else over it- i dunno, i could be wrong.

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

[worthless_meat_sack]

OK sorry

[Shaded]

What I meant was, would you explain the part about being accurate with the big shapes. I now see how I worded that incorrectly, and apologize.

[Siftland]

These are quite nice. The compositions are very strong and your style is almost there.

I do, however, think the small head shots work better than the bigger pieces. I would suggest painting at twice the size on some of the bigger pieces, then reducing them (So they are half the size or less than the size you painted them at, and that's not necessarily 100%) Also, for these here, it would be to the bigger works' advantage to simply resize them smaller, I think. It's like you're unnecessarily showing us the way you're constructing them, when you could leave that to those who are perceptive and willing to look harder. Right now, they seem to be studies instead of finished, that's all...Which may or may not have been your intention.

Also....I feel the colors are a bit...obvious. Maybe experiment a bit more before deciding on a color...Though again, I feel the small head shots are the better in this area.

I do like these though, just a bit bigger push and you're there.

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

[Azrael3000]

Which technique did you use for collering these pics?
greetz
Azrael

[dr . bang]

Azrael, technique is not important, to become like this is not as easy as creating a flashy mettalic buttons in Photoshop. Shaded has a very good knowledge about shading, color ...etc

Go get some photos, or go out side, draw them and learn why shadow..color behaves like they do. Then go home, try to recreate what you've just learned.

[ November 04, 2001: Message edited by: dr . bang ]

[Jezebel]

Shaded - Read this

http://66.8.172.73/hirez_pgs/process/painting_lessons/sargent/Sargent.rtf

That might help explain what he's talking about. Make your shapes more deliberate, place them carefully...if that makes sense.

[Flexible Elf]

nice work. I dig that FemaleBountyhunter.jpg

I would have to agree with WMS though, it looks as although you show great freedom with your color sketching, it is hurting what the overall image could be.

>>>>>>>>>>All my stuff has a messy, unfinished look - I let the big shapes remain where they are.<<<<<<<<<<<<

Your shapes are a bit rough on the edges and they look a bit disproportionate at times. Since you are using reference, these things are important to grasp. There's no reason why you can't improve those shapes without losing the style you're trying to nurture.

I agree with Siftland also on trying to paint on a larger rez canvas. Your thumbnails of the avatars are your most eye-catching stuff.

-Flexible Elf

[ November 04, 2001: Message edited by: Flexible Elf ]

[Shaded]

Thank you WMS, Siftland, Jezebel, Flexible Elf, for taking the time to explain what you saw in these. I really do appreciate it.

[worthless_meat_sack]

Sorry if I was not clear, and all the while YELLING at you.

This is just another idea of how to get more out of painting from photos. In most of yours, there is a lot of contrasty surface details, scrubby marks that in one sense create a lot of textural interest and activity, but also can hide that the foundation is not as strong as it could be. My suggestion is to simplify things as I have done, and then work activity back into the surface, if you want. Right now, the texture is taking over a bit and it is loosing organization. Get the big, blocky shapes to say as much as you can, then whatever texture you include will be that much more effective. You can do it all at the same time, just be really aware of the drawing.

Also try to paint the forms of what you are seeing, go beyond what is in the photo. The main head I am guessing was flatly lit in the ref. I eliminated the light in front of the figure, making the front planes dark. Changing things like that in studies from photos can really teach you a lot. It becomes more thinking and less shooting fish in a barrel.

Hope this helps

[Nathan Marciniak]

FYI It's spelled "losing", not "loosing".

[Steven Stahlberg]

What, you think this is the Society for the Preservation of the English Language or something? Wrong forum man... and IMHO you picked on the wrong person too, Craig really doesn't deserve crap like that.

[Shaded]

The speed at which you picked out everything I disliked about that picture was strangely...gratifying. The textured effect is so garishly evident because without them, the picture ends up looking like the 'Last of the Mohicans' piece, or the 'Commando concept art' one. And those pictures in turn are feeble attempts to make my blocky shapes say more than they are. However, in hand with the article Jezebel brought my attention to, and the advice you offered, Ill be making more attempts.

I now also understand what you referred to in your earlier post, and am very grateful for the time you set aside to do what you did. Thank you.

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

[Anthony]

Good job Shaded, and thanks Craig for the excellent analysis-it's been too long. Wish Fred was still around... also wish we could loose the geeks making stupid comments hehehe