Duel

[Kahvenon]

I made this months ago...

Don't know, i get no improve since this.

[Dirigible]

The textures aren't reading very clearly. Their clothes, for instance, are exactly as shiny as their armor, if not more so, but the material isn't smooth, it's very pockmarked.

There's not really any background.

I think guy on right has his knee in the air, but that isn't reading very well either. For a while I thought he just had a messed up hip.

In some places the picture is very refined (bomberman's hair, e.g.) but in other places it's clearly little more than a sketch (the smoke at the bottom).

Lastly, all the light and shadows are just white and black. In a realistic setting, the highlights would be warmer or cooler colors (prolly warmer), and vice versa for the shadows. Pure white/black shadows flatten out the image, or make it look like they're in a studio.

[BlueIceX]

I like where your going with this piece, but i also agree with Dirigible, in terms of defining your textures. I think the spacing of the characters are good but the figure on the left im a lil confused on y the hand is between the legs n not outside the leg it doesn't seem that natural.

But over all good work, keep it up n I look forward to seeing the finished work!

[SashaMichelson]

Im confused over that left guy. What is that wolf head for?

[Kahvenon]

The textures aren't reading very clearly. Their clothes, for instance, are exactly as shiny as their armor, if not more so, but the material isn't smooth, it's very pockmarked.

There's not really any background.

I think guy on right has his knee in the air, but that isn't reading very well either. For a while I thought he just had a messed up hip.

In some places the picture is very refined (bomberman's hair, e.g.) but in other places it's clearly little more than a sketch (the smoke at the bottom).

Lastly, all the light and shadows are just white and black. In a realistic setting, the highlights would be warmer or cooler colors (prolly warmer), and vice versa for the shadows. Pure white/black shadows flatten out the image, or make it look like they're in a studio.

Whoa... thank you so much. Love your critique.

Im confused over that left guy. What is that wolf head for?

Thats a mask, but he don't wear it.

[lkermel]

I personnally really like the story you're telling in the painting - however I think it is hard to read because of the current composition. I'd personnaly make it a lot more dynamic and introduce a lot more perspective. For instance, I'd have the bomberman in the foreground and the second character in the background (or the other way around). Also, I would advice you to lay down on paper the elements of the story you want to tell first - once you have the list you can decide of what you want the viewer to see (or understand) first and base your composition around it and go down the list. At the moment, I feel that all the elements (bomb, spear, wounds) are sort on the same level and therefore difficult to read...

About readibility, an important notion is the notion of silhouette. Look at your characters' silhouettes and check if their action is readable. In the case of your character on the left, his silhouette is a solid mass and it is difficult to tell where's the head and feet are from it. This technique can really help you build nice and quickly readable poses

[Kahvenon]

Wow, i don't know about the Silhouette. Thanks Ikermel

[bestow]

so if the person on the right just slashed the person on the left, wouldnt person on the left be at the last part of the swing, not the about to swing pose like she is? Unless they slashed them backwards, but its a single edge sword.

[lkermel]

Wow, i don't know about the Silhouette. Thanks Ikermel

No problem
I may be wrong but I think Disney also uses this to design their characters - they always make sure that the shape of their characters is clearly recognizable.

[vardoburrito]

You could give these two more room to play.
Make my mind imagine what they're going to do next, what they can use, what
they could be looking at. The surroundings and environment.

Arm in between the legs, throwing? a Warner Bros bomb? [I've never seen that before, awesome].
Please x2 check helmet figures right hip or the right thigh gear. It seems too far up in placement.

Keep doing these figures in motion. You'll get the hang of it I'm sure. Something I'm dying to get to.