Bah! Colors. >:(

[Fingus]

So here's my first attempt to do a serious color job in photoshop apart from coloring scanned lineart, and... something doesn't just doesn't feel right. I'm rather pleased with the end result but I still think it seems kinda flat and dull.
Is it lack of texture, not enough depth in the colors, uneven saturation balance? Gah! I'm not very good at finding my own errors, can you lend me a hand CA?

Oh, and [img] tagging from my school server won't work. What's up with that?

[Candra]

There really isn't a distinguished light source on the painting. Also the iris of the eye doesn't look as if its connected to the white part itself.

[masque]

pretty good description of the volumes, but i think you have too many soft edges, makes the whole thing look slightly out of focus. the iris is a definite focal point, so maybe hardening some edges in that area would be of benefit.

the high end of your tonal range looks blown out, with way too much nearly pure white (which should be reserved for the wet speculars), makes the eyeball look a little flat.

the ovoid (as opposed to spherical) shape of the eyeball and the very oval iris and pupil tend to look somewhat odd to me, though i can see how perhaps you're using these distortions for character effect.

[Norel]

Your picture is nice. I don't think the lack of texture is any trouble, and your colors are fine. But the eye should be rounder, and you can define some volumes more precisely (e.g. horns, which are a bit flat). The lights/shadows are ok, but I suppose that backlighting should be more violet, since it's bouncing light from the violet wall. (Sorry if "violet" is not the proper word for your color - but I'm sure you understand me )
But - what I think the important point here, (apart from the roundness of the eye) is the edge precision. Your edges are a bit blurry, that softens the image too much. Try crisper ones, although you're not obliged to do it everywhere - not on the background, shadowy and less important parts for exemple.
I want to see what's next !

[edit] whoops, i did not see previous comments. Of course I am no match compared to titan like Masque.

[ashton]

you could add eye lashes. I say this because the eye feels like it is sitting in something and not part of the monsters inc guy. Some breathing room in the composition would also help.

If you want a dramatic effect I suggest forcing the perspective on the background.

You need to define the core shadow on the monster more dramatically.

[Fingus]

Thanks a lot, I'll look into it. And I also realise now that I should vary my brushes more, the main reason for the blurred look.

[Blade-14]

That's a really good effort for a 1st time PS painted image. So keep on it and you'll have it nailed in no time!

[Fingus]

Posted this in my sketchbook but I guess it's relevent for this topic as well. Started out as a doodle, then it turned into a color practice, and then a finished picture.

[masque]

much more pleasing variety of edges. think now about livening up your hues (especially the shadows) with something other than tonal variations, maybe some subtle complimentaries, or subtly distributing existing hues among all the forms. and the stark BG is perhaps a bit too stark?

[Blue]

Second picture is a fantastic improvement. You're getting the hang of controling the digital brush much more. Next step will be to work on your refraction/reflection within the lighting. This is where color can get tricky, as a warm light verse a cold light, make a huge difference on various materials. My suggestion: bust out a digital camera and take a common object (an apple, for example) and takes pictures of it under different light. Use that as a study for lighting.

Keep doing what you're doing and you should be good. Keep us posted on your progress.