Roman Centurion

[Daray]

Hello!

This is a little something I've been working on in Painter IX. I've never really used it before this picture. As you can see its a Roman Centurion. Got this awful obessesion again after watching Rome 2.

Anyway's this is how far I've gotten, would like some help about lighting and metals! Metals are a total bitch to paint, just cant grasp it!

Thanks in advance

Ergh... how do I stop it being shown twice?

[LittleDedder]

Hi Daray,

The first thing that comes to mind is back light him. You have bodies burning in the background, so this opens up a great opportunity to add back and rim lighting.

Another thing you can do is make it late afternoon. Maybe add some big, dark dramatic shadows going across your characters face and really sink his eyes back into his head.

Right now you have 12 noon lighting on the foreground and a good start on a real dramatic background.

If you do decide to go with some backlighting the feathers on his helmet could be casting a shadow that wraps around his face,

L.D.

[Zilant]

Metal, ah, bane of my exsistence.
I'm still learning it myself :3

But I think a sharper contrast, and having it pick up some of the light coming from that vibrant sunset and/or some of that eyecatchingly red adornment.

Always helps me to remember, Metal is good at reflecting light.
And all color really is how we percieve light bouncing off an object.
So metal should, in some way, interact with the colors of the enviornment it's placed in.

Though I wouldn't go crazy. People tend to percieve dull metal as old or from ancient times, and shiney metal as new or modern. Too mirror-like and it'll seem anachronistic.

[Daray]

Well I took some ideas on what you guys said and played about with the colours. Now I've managed to come up with this! I think its defiantely getting there, something still seems to lack tho!

And also some steps from when I first posted the image!

[Zilant]

Looks great to me. :3
Those nicks across the lips and cheek were a nice touch.

I have that problem alot, too. Those finer touches that really add punch to a piece are such a pain to figure out.
Maybe some nice post-battle/bonfire sweat would help?

[Daray]

oooh thats a challenge, not sure how to do that lol :p