First Attempt in Painter... (updated)

**Katchoo** · September 24th, 2002, 07:01 PM

Hi All

This is my first post of work, so hopefully you won't be too horrified by it....

I'm normally a Photoshop person, but after seeing some of the amazing stuff on here I was inspired to blow the dust of my copy of Painter and have a go at one of the quickies I had lurking around my sketchbook. Normally my work tends to be cartoony or comic book styled, but I get little opportunity to do that in the games company I work for which tends to do economic strategy games :mumble: Seeing this forum has given me an urge to get back to doing the stuff that I love doing and stop slaving away on humdrum buildings in my spare time...

The first image is the painted version of the image below it, its still a little flat and static, but it was more of an attempt to get to grips with the program again after so long off it. Normally I would use Photoshop to do a comic book colour treatment so this is a departure for me really. The third image is the one I intend to embark on next, the image is a little uneven as my scanner is about to cough it's last and I had to scan it in three sections....

Anyway, here they are, any comments or criticisms welcome (is that what c&c stands for?). There's no back ground in the first one as I wanted to grapple with the media on the figure first. I may put one in later....

Thanks for looking... Hope I haven't waffled too much

**Imp Head** · September 24th, 2002, 08:03 PM

First off let me just say that I really dig your line work. It's quite strong and full of life. Both the top and bottom black and white work is superb.

As for the Painter piece I can see you going one of two ways.

If you're looking to do a painterly piece and get rid of your linework then I would suggest trying to add more contrast between your lights and darks. Take a look at the differences between the color and B&W versions of "Bomber-grrl". You've essentially removed all the inherent pop of the black and white version by using lights and shadows that are too close in value. If you were to really punch up your shadows and put in some nice highlights I think the piece would have a lot more oomph.

I'm also reacting to the loss of form and detail between the two. What I mean is the B&W version has a lot going on in the coat, suggesting folds and wrinkles, whereas the color version lacks any of that character. The hair is lacking in a similar fashion. You've gone from trying to render the hair as a volume to painting in each hair. Both of these characteristics tend to flatten the image.

Now, if you're wanting to try a new coloring technique pop that linework onto it's own layer in Photoshop (Note: Painter 6 and 7 both support Photoshop documents with layers. Just save the file as a PSD then open it it Painter.), then try doing a painterly color UNDER the linework. You might have some interesting results.

All in all not a bad first start. In the future pay attention to your volumes and use light and shadow to define your shapes. You've obviously got a handle on doing great linework. It's a short hop to translate that into doing great paintings.

Brian

**Katchoo** · September 25th, 2002, 02:44 AM

Thanks for replying.

Yeah, it definitely needs more oomph, it shows I think that I seldom paint, digitally or traditionally. You're absolutely right about the light and shadow I think I'l go back into this one and try and loosen it up a bit as well. I'll post up the next version when I've had another crack at it.

Again thanks for the comments. I'm hoping that my work will grow more from getting feedback from here and the work that's here has already fired me up and made me think more about the directions I go in artistically.

**Oblio** · September 25th, 2002, 05:07 AM

@Katchoo - Nice start. Don't complain about economic strategy games gfx - until you don't get the chance to work on wireless games (101x65 pixel the whole screen and 1bpp) you can still say that you do gfx

BTW - you should have post this in the "It's not done yet.. area"

@Imphead - Hey.. It's nice to see you around here.. i'm a BIG fan! Don't be a stranger...

Oblio: ImpAle Brand

**Katchoo** · September 25th, 2002, 01:53 PM

Oblio, my apologies for putting this in the wrong thread, in my untintentional arrogance I had this pinned as a 'job done' and thought I'd pop the second one up as it may be a while before I get around to painting it.. that'll teach me eh?

Thanks for the feedback, I'm new to this message board lark, with images at least and am learning lots of good stuff just from reading all the threads...

Once again my apologies

**Oblio** · September 26th, 2002, 04:09 AM

…there is no need for apologies!
Any artist can call his job as “Done” at any time and above all there are no rules here (yet) and hopefully there will not be.
The line works are surely finished works and GOOD ones – it will pass a long time till I’ll be able to draw like you!
It’s just that Conceptart (at least for me) seems like a very supportive community and threads like “First try with… *tool*” will surely bring constructive feedback.. and it seems hard for me not to reconsider one of my works after some really good feedback.
As I’ve said.. there are no rules on Conceptart… and therefore we have to keep a sort of on the fly sense of order for the balance sake of the whole forum.
Don’t get me wrong – and please accept my apologies for my inappropriate interventions – but I only want to see flourish every forum area!
So... don’t worry – feel free to post whatever you like wherever you feel it fits better – I will just continue to lurk around and send you feedback as much and appropriate as I can.
Unfortunately... I’m just inexperienced enough to help as much I would like!

Oblio

**Katchoo** · October 3rd, 2002, 06:16 PM

Just adding latest version in, pffff...been busy since I last posted and had an hour to sit down and bang this out in a style that felt more natural to me, so here it is

Feel much better about this one, still not feeling quite there but enough to make me feel like I can move onto the next one. C&C welcome as ever..

...hmmmm it wouldn't let me update the image in the edit so I'll have to post it down here. Oh well, I am a noob I suppose

**Oblio** · October 4th, 2002, 03:15 AM

See? Now it fits the finished area!

Thank you for posting! :chug:

Oblio

**Fipse** · October 4th, 2002, 05:21 AM

I really like the style the last picture worked out. The only thing that seems a little od to me is the little finger (do you say so in english?) of the protruding fist.

Over all a work in a style I would like to try out things myself.

**Katchoo** · October 4th, 2002, 07:53 AM

@ Oblio, cheers dude. I think my next effort will be winging it's way to the 'I'm almost there' forum. thanks for the feedback.

@ Fipse, yeah that little finger is somewhat off, didn't notice it before, (slaps forehead) thanks for the heads up about that.. Getting a little more used to Painter now, but got a long way to go before I can catch up with some of the art on here (if ever :eek: )

Cheers :chug:

**TJ Verhagen** · October 4th, 2002, 02:00 PM

oh thats nice...
love the style!

**Atmospheria** · October 4th, 2002, 04:33 PM

The colors are great...but how about giving some perspective?
The right hand of the girl (our left ) is in same size with the other...it's gotta be a little bigger, cause of the perspective...(closer to us)