Orc Cook WIP

[Softskin]

For TheartOrders ArtTest

[Artimatum]

That thing between his legs..is?

Is his weapon fused to his hand?,because I can't see any fingers.

[Softskin]

it's supposed to be a wineskin btw his legs.. Maybe I'll adjust it to avoid further confusion Also from this angle we'll only be able to see the back of his hand, but I'll make surface lines and knuckles to clarify the angle more.

[LordLouis]

My problem with images like this is that I think there is an entire human in that cauldron, because I don't see the arm chopped off- and a human (with an arm of that size) wouldn't fit into the cauldron.
I mean I can think of ways how the Orc would get a human to fit in there (even chopped and cooked would be a squeeze), but it just makes me step back from the story you are trying to tell.

[Softskin]

Well, I'd definitely want the hand/arm to make you say "wait, what?", but he IS holding a meat-cleaver so I'd expect people to make the connection.

[TinyBird]

Well, I didn't first really make a connection with the herbs/stuff falling to the pot (actually I didn't even notice them) and the pose. He looks like like he's going like "wait, what did you say" and gesturing with his hand, not like he's throwing spices to the pot.
The pot's legs don't look like they really even reach the ground properly or that the pot has much weight, it's kinda hovering at the moment (also how are they going to carry that thing without any handle).

Also I personally find some of the things in the design bit... well, superfluous is not really a the word since the design looks actually pretty bare and non-personal to me, but superficial? Kinda like the band his his arm doesn't really seem to have any real significance or add personality to the cook and the skull too kinda gives me the "well I'll just throw a generic skull there because it's an orc" vibes... Like if that's a "cooking trophy" and that's his thing, then you could push it more and have all sorts of bones and skulls on his belt and so on. Right now the design is staying in pretty generic and "safe" department.
I guess it depends on how chef-y cook you want to do (or if orcs even have those...), but if you take the pot away, there's nothing that really says "cook" to me in the character.
Also the apron looks bit confusing, I first thought the character had a flabby gut going over the belt items.

[Softskin]

Yeah, making an orc cook is actually a bit harder than I first anticipated.. You can't really just slap a chef's hat on him. I think all the points are valid here, and I'll address them as soon as I can. however, I do like his pose so maybe I'll just take away the herbs.

[Deadlyhazard]

I think another thing to note is the direction of his gaze, it's bringing us out of the picture. Why is the orc looking anywhere else other than the cauldron? The cauldron is the main point in your picture and is part of the main story telling. His full attention should be directed to what he's cooking. Another thing is you could add a lot more contrast to immediately pull the eye into the piece where you want it.

[Rabbott]

Looking at this picture I have trouble understanding the theme you are going for. Is this a more humorous piece or a more serious one? I can't decide between it being funny or serious, so perhaps focusing more on the direction your piece would like to take?

[look]

I think the pose is great, the way the Orc looks at the viewer brings interaction. I find the story being told here is hilarious. He's in the middle of cooking and someone probably called out: wait, we are supposed to trade her for gold! And he just keeps cooking and relies: what you want me to do now? It's already too late.
Only thing I'd change would be to shrink the hand and arm in the pot, right now comparing the human hand and arm size with the orc's, it seems the Orc is only slightly larger. It kind of take away the monstrous effect of the orc.
I think it will help if you add some items for the human victim to indicate who that may be. I.e. a helmet laying nearby to show its a knight, or a piece of silk fabric hanging off side of the pot along with jewlries on the hand to show its a princess. Etc.

[Softskin]

Next iteration up:

[Softskin]

yeah I am having trouble deciding what size the hand should be. It actually started out smaller, but that made the orc look almost like an ogre... maybe the hand itself could be a bit smaller... And yes a helmet lying around would do wonders! THX!

[Artimatum]

How about having the Ork interacting with the arm in the pot,such has holding it up to show ...... something.

[Softskin]

Next iteration:

[sam.ibbitson]

Looking good- although the colours on this first pass look quote washed out? Will you be introducing a bit more vibrancy as you progress?

[Artfix]

Is there room for a fire under that pot?

[Chris Sanders]

i agree with sam. are those colours opac or overlay? they have the ugly overlay look at the minute. however i see some opac paint. try building up paint by pressing very lightly on the stylus. you want to build up saturation and contrast from a middle range outwards. thats not going to be a problem as it all seems very middle to light range atm. you want some darker foreground objects to convey depth.

heres a quick overlay of how i think the light should work, its not a massive change or anything just some small tweaks here and there.

[vineris]

If the arm in the pot is severed, wouldn't gravity pull the palm down so the fingers were pointing down?

[Softskin]

Next iteration. Stuck in some foreground elements, and went over a lot of the ugly areas with a finer brush. I rather enjoy the fine stroke look compared to smooth gradients.

[Slothboy3000]

I'd make those handles metal. I'd imagine them snapping off otherwise.