Character Mood Painting (CQC adored) (4/30 UPDATE!)

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 13th, 2009, 10:05 PM

-4/30-

Hello CA!

Well after some time here is the update I promised. It isn't much only a few hours of clean up and working on some of the previous issues mentioned below. I skewed the image slightly and rotated it a whopping .2 degrees CCW to offset all the verticals XD. I don;t know if you can tell the difference or not. I also added some texture on the ground and walls to give it more visual interest. Its still a WIP though. i have turned a lot of my attention on the character design sheet because I really want to wrap that up. Needless to say here is the Update:

I may make a super thread with all pieces regarding to this little project of mine so i won't have to spam the forum with threads. Still debating on it, I don't know if you want my piles of mediocre art flooding the forums. XD Enjoy the update and of course CQC is always welcomed and adored!

All the best,

Pesmerga

Progress Gif:

[ Pesmerga's Image Complete-o-meter: (|X|X|X|>|_|_|_|_|_|_|) ]

**Ian Barker** · April 15th, 2009, 12:39 PM

I like it. It looks like a windy picture though, so I think her dress should flap around a little bit.

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 15th, 2009, 07:55 PM

Thank you for replying TheoryC,

You remark is noted. I wasn't aiming for "windy" parse. Its more that common visual of when someone is using magic and the area around and on their person is affected. Like the magic is pulsing out its own gravity or force (I hope that makes sense, because even as I am rereading it and not sure it does XP). But in the long run your right however, the dress could use some more swagger. I will experiment some more with the line work. I have already gone into blocking in simple values so I will try out two versions and see what I like more. It's good and humbling to know at least one person in CA likes it. Due stay tuned!

~cheers!

**Dread_Reaper** · April 16th, 2009, 03:11 AM

I agree with the first dude Pes, it could use a little more pizazz. However, I am not sure really how much, since it is difficult to really envision the magic without any kind of sketch or anything to go on. I mean, if this is a calming blue aura, maybe a gentle ripple in the garments, its its a torrent of fire, maybe something more extreme. As it stands I don't see anything really WRONG with it per say, I just don't think I know enough at this juncture to be able to provide any more meaningful feedback.

Needless to say, I will be watching this thread very closely. Glad you're back Pes.

-Dread_Reaper

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 16th, 2009, 11:06 AM

Lawl Dread "pizazz" is such an interesting word. Understandably its hard when you have the idea in your head and haven't quite drawn it. I haven't had any qualms yet about her anatomy so I think its safe to push ahead forward and go ahead and post my value studies later today, and hopefully I will not have to scrap it and go back the initial drawing because of too much later realized revisions.

**Ian Barker** · April 16th, 2009, 08:38 PM

I like where it's going... Right now my main criticism is that it seems to be off balance to the lower left. I would consider centering the character more, and it might be interesting to experiment with a more dramatically vertical canvas size as well.

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 16th, 2009, 09:03 PM

Thanks again for your thoughts TheoryC! I planned for the runes and the characters face to be closer to the upper left third of the image. I wanted to stay away from dead center because when I tried it, it appeared a bit too stoic for my taste (Which there is nothing wrong with the sort of Frezzata strong pyramid composition).

I will play with the canvas size as you secondly suggested. If anything I will experiment by expanding upward to let the image breath more. I originally just picked the size because I was looking at other character mood pieces (Jason Chan's Pre-Dallas dump for example) and they all were generally that size. We will see how the cookie crumbles. Thanks again! Do stay tuned.

~Cheers!

**ConCrete** · April 17th, 2009, 02:30 AM

First thing that came to mind was that her thumb is to low on her raised hand. Other than that skool. Like the glyphs.

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 18th, 2009, 12:59 AM

Wow concrete...an entire image and its her thumb? really?! Well I guess thats a good thing >_>;;

I thought it would have been in the right place. I made sure in my line work to draw in the wrist and hand under the glove. I will double check my reference, and if its too much of a problem I can always break her thumb via lasso tool and move it. Thanks for your thoughts! Hopefully I can get some more cross checks before moving on. ^^

~cheers!

**Ian Barker** · April 18th, 2009, 04:12 AM

Thumb looks fine to me. :/

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 18th, 2009, 03:29 PM

Woo! Two points for the thumb! Thanks for the back up Theory. ^^

Any other cross checks before I really move on? Where is Dread, Mute, Rainville, and Dwardo when you need them? XD

**Dread_Reaper** · April 19th, 2009, 09:27 PM

Reporting for duty captain!

Okay, one of the things I really like about this piece is the composition. The posing, the background, everything, they all really fit together well. Your values are very well done.

However, one thing I notice when I look at the piece is that I actually don't look at the girl. My eyes are drawn somewhere, but I can't really put a finger on it, but I most certainly don't just go to the figure. Its drawn to the background mostly, to the bright cloud patch behind that far far far back pillar. How odd.

The other thing that comes to mind is that I'm bored. I am bored looking at this piece, and I think it comes mainly from the fact that its all straight lines. She is standing very straight, the pillars are all straight up, blah. Why not through in a few toppled pillars to add some diagonals? You could tinker with the values to really help lead the viewer's eye where you want it to go, because mine are immediately being lost and moving on without a strong focal point or viewing path.

Other than that though, this is very well done. Keep up the good work Pes!

-Dread_Reaper

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 19th, 2009, 11:46 PM

Welcome back soldier! *Salutes Dread wearing a Patton Helmet*

Thank you for your kind words. I had wanted the yes to be directed to the runes first then down to her face but using the lightest values. I can always tone down some with multiply and bump up others with paint. I will keep those in mind when I pass over for my refined value step. More emphasis on horizontals on pavers on the ground etc.

Thanks for reminding me about the horizontals. Looking at it now its very much true. I though the little retaining wall, hill in the back, and the glyphs would be enough, but there is always room to play with...rectangle like stone son the wall, horizontal details on the columns. Thanks for the quick brainstorm!

~Cheers!

**Ian Barker** · April 19th, 2009, 11:48 PM

I think Dread is right on both points. The cloud thing may be because right now the clouds have more detail and more contrast than the character, especially at that far pillar. I'm guessing this will be fixed as you add detail to the character, but it's a good thing to keep in mind.

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 19th, 2009, 11:50 PM

Right-O Theory. I will probably tone down the opacity of the clouds as I work so it won't be as distracting. I used a photo I took a month ago or so and was just glad i had a piece to finally use it in.

Thanks for chiming in. Always nice to have familiar faces in the thread.

~Cheers!

**Solvo** · April 20th, 2009, 09:09 AM

awesome

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 20th, 2009, 09:37 AM

Why thank you Solvo.

**Miloh** · April 20th, 2009, 08:48 PM

I must agree with ConCrete on the fact of the glyphs there pretty amazing but im not really going to critic on anything because i dont know that much lol nice work though

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 20th, 2009, 11:16 PM

aww well thank you for expressing your approval of the piece. Do feel free to drop by during further updates.

**Dread_Reaper** · April 28th, 2009, 02:32 AM

Well it is fun to see the way the character developed. What I find most interesting is her color pallet though. Kind of gives me some insight into how this piece might end up going in the color category. I guess I had originally been picturing a stormy day (probably because I unconsciously associated the grayscale with rain), but what if its a brilliant sunset or something to go with her warm colors?

OH THE SUSPENSE!

-Dread_Reaper

P.S. Finished Lust. Check it out brotha

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 28th, 2009, 11:08 AM

Welcome back dread,

Clever eye my friend. The gray does in fact through it off a bit. The plan is for it to be indeed a much warmer orange sky sunset picture, with light bouncing off the fluffy clouds. ^^

Once I finish the cleaner value work, I will slap down a warm sepia colorize layer over it the entire thing will come to life. Just wait and see

~Cheers!

**Pesmerga_2501** · April 30th, 2009, 12:26 PM

(bump for update)

**Dread_Reaper** · May 2nd, 2009, 05:32 PM

Nicely done Pes! You fixed all of the issues I had noticed before. That slightly leaning column in the background is EXACTLY what I had envisioned, and it nicely draws the eye right to the character. Especially now with the reduced background light, the figure is center stage and the piece has direction.

As it stands, the only thing I kind of see is that her back hand looks off. I am not sure if its just that it hasn't been refined yet, or what, but it seems to jump out at me as being in need of correction. Its a minor thing, but I know you like your details.

Now just the coloration. I am so excited to see where this one goes! Keep at it good buddy!

-Dread_Reaper

**Thor's Hammer** · May 4th, 2009, 12:58 AM

I love this piece man. No crits. But I do have a question. The symbols in the air, did you make them up? What are they from? Somehow they are familiar to me. Very very very familiar. PM me if you would. Thank you.

**Pesmerga_2501** · May 5th, 2009, 11:00 PM

@Dread: Thanks again good buddy. I am glad you approve. yeah that hand was left as sort of a fuzzy area because I didn't know what to do with it. I need to go back in and just bring some love to it, add the other glove, and decide how I want it...No color yet want tog et my values and base details good and solid before moving onto color, as you know its a pain in the ass to go backwards.

@Thor: Thank you for your approval. I sent you a PM regarding the glyphs. Hope to see your face on the thread again!

~Cheers