help with color... and everything else.

[c4l3b]

I don't have a ref for the guy... I know, I know at this point I should be using one.

I'm really trying to get some color in there. I keep killing the color on accident as I add to it.

I don't really know what I'm looking for in responses, but every time I post, you guys make me better so here it is.

edit-- the goal was to get more comfortable with color, faces... well everything --

[c4l3b]

playing with the face. if you look really really close... and use just a little bit of imagination... there is a hint of color!

[c4l3b]

tie added to help with the motion of it all.

[c4l3b]

redid the hands to be more defined and have some color. dropped the tie a little bit.

[Gwenlyn Norton]

The background is beautiful in my opinion. I would like to see more detail on the face and hands, so I could determine the mood of the figure.

[Onir]

Hey, looks pretty good so far; the pose is well done, though his head/face does seem a bit off (his face is rather flat compared to the angle his head is at). As you said ref is probably a good way to go in terms of the figure at this point but yea as you're looking for some color advice, I'd say that you should just take a step back and consider what exactly you're looking to achieve. Going with the background I'd assume he's in a very yellow area or a yellow mist of some sort; if so there would be a lot of yellow on him, as you have done. Overall the piece is very desaturated, which isn't a bad thing, but I'd say you should consider the intensity of the light and how that would effect the color around him. You can up the saturation of the yellow depending on where you want it to be stronger and, conversely, you could increase the saturation of the shadow shapes if you'd like the color to focus more in that direction. Also consider how his body is acting and reacting within this environment; is he hot or cold and how is his body handling this? I saw you added red to a subtle red to his facial area; you could take it further to describe his environment and compliment his pose if you wanted.

Obviously, just some things to think about (if you've already considered these things then I guess I'm just rambling ) and in the end I'd say just try being adventurous. Think of colors you like or don't like, throw them together, and see what you can come up with Keep working at it either way and best of luck!

[c4l3b]

Pushed the contrast. screwed some stuff up. fixed some stuff. Overall, I'd have to say that it is still very monochromatic. The little bit of color doesn't make me want to puke though, so I'll put this in the success column of learning experiences.


Oh, and in case you're curious this image popped into my head while listening to "fillipino box spring hog" by Tom Waits.
--http://c4l3b.muxtape.com/ to hear the song. --

[c4l3b]

Gwenlyn Norton - thanks. the mood is hard to explain. vagabonds dancing and singing because they're cooking a pig.


Onir - yeah, the face is a little flat. I've gone in and tried to define more shape to the head, I think it was an improvement. Color is a sore spot with me, so keeping it low key is just a self defense mechanism I guess... I'm working on it.

thanks both, for your feedback.

[c4l3b]

a different approach to the color.. slightly less monotone I guess.

[Black Spot]

The hand on the right and the tie need to come down in tonal values a bit. The tie also needs to be lit further up to nearer the collar. That’s a nice gesture you’ve got going there.

[c4l3b]

thanks for the tips. I've toned down the hand and tie. also added some orange to the skin. WOW, I've learned so much on this one.

[ShockWave]

If I end up with a soft picture, I usually make a new layer and trace what I have to find my edges again and then use that as a guide. I hope you don't mind me painting over it for reference.

I'm not sure what hes looking at but if you want a more dynamic pose, I've outlined it in green.

[c4l3b]

haha, yeah it does look as though he is surprised doesn't it... the pose came from the idea that he is singing and grooving down. I guess I could have actually painted in some guys banging trash cans and playing banjos. This isn't ever going to be anything more than a practice image, so I'm not too concerned with the any composition or anything. Baby steps right?

on the bright side, he does look like a human(as opposed to some of my earlier attempts). that's a bonus!

[c4l3b]

just a quick nasty sketch, but does that read better?

[Radio24]

this painting will really start to take on character with the other figures and updated canvas size. Can't wait to see how it fills out

[c4l3b]

this is a perfect example of why I post in these forums. If I were left to my own devices, I would have stopped back when it was all yellow. Since I've got feedback and encouragement, I just can't stop. Thanks Conceptart.org

[c4l3b]

a little refinement. Don't know if I'll pursue it any further. I'm having a hard time getting the guy on the ground to look not crappy.

[c4l3b]

still playing with it.

[c4l3b]

I toned down the colors everywhere, trying to focus attention at his face.

I am just a beginner, but I did try to do a few things to draw your eye there, brightest point etc...

[Radio24]

Your techniques to provide a focal point work very well. I was drawn right to the face. I would suggest adding a bit more blue shadowed jaw, to heighten the contrast even more. It might help to make the darkest shadows of the face the same value as the shadowed jacket next to it. I also liked the yellow background, before your last post. It was warmer and provided more of the 'groovin'' feeling you put forth with the character.
Even if it is just practice, it's always worth thinking about all the elements that make a successful piece. I like the direction this is going.

[c4l3b]

I like the yellow background too I think. Luckily I saved it right before I changed it.

edit--- hrmmm.... not sure now. gonna wait and think. Come back with fresh eyes and decide then.

[Black Spot]

The light source on the guitar player needs to be addressed as it looks slightly different to the singer’s. The hat needs a fair bit shifted over. The straw in his mouth would be shadowed by his head and most of the guitar handle as well by his body. The dog’s highlight shouldn’t be on the outside of his back, but more on the chest and leg nearer the middle. Love the background.

[c4l3b]

I wanted to try to bring the guitar player into the foreground more. Does this sketch read better?

[c4l3b]

dunno if I like it with more guys or not.

[c4l3b]

well, I can obviously see I need help rendering cloth.

[Quigleyer]

Go back four posts after your last one and that's the one I like the most. Never turn down the triangle if it works .

This one:


Maybe crop the sides and keep working? Just my thought.

[c4l3b]

Yeah, I put them side by side. I like that one more. The colors seem to work better.

[c4l3b]

Well, I cropped it and tweaked a little bit here and there. I still think I have a lot to learn about rendering different materials.

I think I may have squeezed all I can out of this one. I may file it away and move on.

--oh yeah, also added a full size detail of his face.

[Quigleyer]

OK!

Now the background feels a little open. It felt like a lot of negative space before, and now it's diminished but you still need something in that background. Get something that goes with your theme that works, in my opinion. That's all I got. Worry about rendering the rest later.