Newborn Guardian - Jakers

**Jakers** · July 15th, 2009, 03:32 PM

FINAL AT END - though, it still needs work

Heres what I've been working up so far.

A small tribe is summoning a giant rock guardian from within the mountain, causing the rock to come apart and spring water to find new routes.

I think there may be too many elements battling for attention?

Very interested in some help with this one...color/composition mostly at this point

I'll be sure to throw some comments back.

**Nightblue** · July 15th, 2009, 04:11 PM

looking nice - if anything, I liked the rock giant's posture from the 2nd sketch better because it looks like it's tearing itself out from the rock wall.

Having a light shine on the giant, as well as extending the top of the picture frame a bit can bring it more into focus, and I think it would definitely be an epic focus to have

**Kitten Poker** · July 15th, 2009, 05:59 PM

Agreed, the second sketch is a much better position, you seem to have lost some of it with the colour version. In the sketch he seems to be looking more directly at the veiwer or onlookers, also, the left hand (to the right of the pic) which helps with the "pulling out" of the rock effect seems to have been lost in the colour.

I love the concept ^_^

J · July 15th, 2009, 06:12 PM

cool concept man, I have to agree with everyone else so far. There is so much more gesture and movement in your sketch. In regards to colour, I think the green could be way less saturated. That will help draw more attention to your red figure in the middle. The blue of the waterfall puts me off as well. If you look at pictures of waterfalls you will notice they are more white/gray than coloured at all. The pond could be made darker as it would reflect mostly the rock surface in front. Ripples could have highlights of blue from the sky. You should put that tree back in from the second colour version as it stops your eye from moving off the image.

Hope that helps.

J

**Jakers** · July 16th, 2009, 02:36 AM

Great feedback guys! Very appreciated

I didn't get that forward hand in there yet, but now I relize that I definately should as it helps the posture - as well as the orientation of the head. He would be much more engaging if he were to look at the summoners.

The blue of the falls will be toned down - you are right, they shouldn't be so saturated.

Light through the clouds perhaps pointing at the giant, defiantely a possibility if thats what you meant NightBlue - I didn't want to go too cliche but hey, if it will make it a better image.

With the water, I thought it would be a little more turbulent and have a bit less reflection, though it doesn't look right...will redo that!

Great comment about the tree on the side - It definately has the effect you are talking about.

Many thanks!

**Jakers** · July 21st, 2009, 05:46 AM

Ok I've worked on some things here.

I STILL need to get his hand in there on one of the far rocks - a few sketches didnt look right so I'm still plotting out how to place it.

I've lowered the horizon a bit, and made the rocks have some better upwards perspective. The guardian is now more focused on the group, water has been toned down. The sky was expanded to make the guardian less 'cramped' in the composition.

Any other suggestions that I have not fixed yet? thanks for the splendid help!

**Jakers** · July 27th, 2009, 03:55 PM

Heres another update

Ok, changes for this sucker - took out the crowd at the bottom for now, they might be distracting but good for story so I'll try again.

Moved the summoner closer to us and put him in a more important position, including a bit of magic effect to make him pop.

Made some new rock shapes to follow the lower horizon.

Reversed the angle of the sky.

Continued feedback would be aweomse! Let me know if these changes are in the right direction so I can get into rendering as time is running low! thanks everyone

**riotorange** · July 29th, 2009, 01:25 PM

Oh yah! Those changes will work much more in conveying the "newborn" feel.
while i liked the composition of the other ones with the little crowd at the bottom, it never seemed really like i could tell what the whole work was about without reading a description first. This works much better in that area.

**Bhrandon** · July 29th, 2009, 03:59 PM

in the last image you got something going keep rockin it

**NIRONERU** · July 29th, 2009, 08:06 PM

whoa... the golem is now taking shape on the side of the cliff... excellent...

**Jakers** · August 1st, 2009, 04:17 PM

Thanks a lot for the comments! Here is how the final one turned out.

I'll probably keep working the finer details sometime later but this is all I had time for. Thanks again for all the great critiques!