Critique please

**niklef** · May 25th, 2012, 09:42 AM

First of All, let me introduce myself. My name is Nikos Lefas and this is my first post here. A big hello to everybody. I work as a 3d designer. Although 3d design takes most of my time and energy i really love the field of concept art and drawing in general.

I am posting a few images here. I am looking forward for some constructive criticism but don't push too hard please.

**niklef** · May 25th, 2012, 09:44 AM

Sorry guys i should have posted this in the critiques section

**Hitsu//San** · May 25th, 2012, 10:08 AM

Without pushing too hard, avoid pure blacks. In nature that kind of pure black exist only where there's no light but your images are full of light so anythig should be visible by overcasted light (so very soft but still visible).

**shiroboi** · May 25th, 2012, 10:52 AM

Man, I am in love with that Samurai picture. Fantastic. I've been to Odawara Castle and it looks just like that, well not the setting but the castle itself. My one minor gripe is that with that much level of detail in the castle and the mountain in the background, the samurai seems too simplified. It sort of breaks the highly realistic illusion a tad. But still amazing. I wouldn't mind having it as my desktop background.

**shiroboi** · May 25th, 2012, 11:29 AM

I remember my painting teacher forbid us from using black paint. we had to mix dark colors ourselves.

(I snuck some in anyway) I was a bad student.

**niklef** · May 25th, 2012, 12:01 PM

Thank you guys i really appreciate the comments

**Davver** · May 26th, 2012, 09:44 PM

Great paintings, I love the mountains and clouds in the Samurai picture, feels very real. Did you use a combination of 3D and 2D for your first painting?
I have to agree on the black though, my teacher used to say black can kill every painting no matter how well it is rendered.
Also look further into composition. For me that is most apparent in the Samurai picture, unless you have a very good reason to put him right in the center, try organizing focal points on the page more to the sides. For example use the rule of thirds. It will keep the eyes more engaged and wandering around the piece.
Good job, keep painting

**niklef** · May 27th, 2012, 08:44 AM

Yes the first image combines 2d and 3d elements. I did a speedpaint of the scene that i took into 3d. Then i did some basic modelling that i took into photoshop in order to complete the painting. The next step is to take the image and project it back to the 3d geometry in order to achieve a 2.5D animation