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kikoeart — Final Fantasy Kefka's Tower WIP After Critique
#finalfantasy6 #kefka #wip #badguy #blackandwhite #evil #fanart #gameart #greyscale #japanese #photoshop #studying #workinprogress #endguy #towerofgod
Published: 2017-06-05 04:48:11 +0000 UTC; Views: 1569; Favourites: 47; Downloads: 0
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This is the wip I have from after getting help from BST Pros. They said to work on the color/value, make it feel more 3d like you could more around it, more dynamic- like you are looking up at it, more perspective.I think it's a mess but I need a break, all feedback is super welcome!
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hey there kikoeart ! I am here from ProjectComment
So I am going to base my critique off of what you mention in your comments "Working on color/value, 3D feel, dynamic feel, and perspective." I hope my comments are helpful.
I think what's great about starting an artwork in greyscale is that it allows you to see what works and doesn't work. So before I ever paint with color, I try and get the values down in greyscale. In my opinion, although I feel the values you have are good, they can be pushed more to make your piece more dynamic and interesting. Right now the values are pretty close in the value range. There aren't any values that really pop out and grab the viewers attention. To change this the most important question to ask yourself is where do you want the viewer to focus first? Is it on the character in the foreground holding the sword Or is it on the characters who are in the background?Or on the animal on the right side? Once you're able to answer this question, you can then decide how to set up the values in such a way to make sure that the viewer looks or focuses on what you'd like them to focus on.
The key is to push your values past just the midrange. Having some white or black with light, medium, and dark grey. A great way to practice this is creating little thumbnails that consist of JUST the color black, white, and grey. It really helps you think about what you'd like the focus to be without over complicating a value range. Right now your value range calls attention to the pipes above the guys because there is a big contrast between the pipe value and the surrounding value. The only thing is that nothing is going on within the pipes, there's no explosion, or bursting pipes, or any clues in this area so it's tough to get an idea as to why the focus is on the pipes. Hope that makes sense.
You did such a wonderful job with setting up items around your composition to really lead the eye around your artwork. The character with the sword really pushes me to look to see where they are pointing their sword too and the curves of the pipes and possibly smoke? (on the far upper left side) really tie in everything keeping me from wandering off the page. It's so nice how it really takes me around the artwork looking at all that you've drawn!
A thought that I had for creating a more 3D dynamic feel is possibly changing the orientation of your drawing from landscape to portrait? I think that if the drawing were in a portrait layout, you can really show the viewers how tall the tower is in comparison to the foreground character with the sword. That would also help with the suggestions that the BST pros made regarding "looking up"
What I love about your piece is that it's so intriguing. I want to know what those guys on the tower are up to! Are they bad, good? Did a battle commence? And I think that's what's so important about art. You want to tell a story and you're doing just that.
Perspective is tough! It's truly something I've struggled with SOOOOO much and has really been a trial and error thing for me. I would suggest getting some good books on perspective to have as resources because it never hurts! And a great habit to have is to draw a grid with whatever perspective you plan on using ( 1 pt, 2 pt, or 3pt) that way you can make sure that everything in your drawing is in perspective. There are times that I am lazy and don't use a grid than regret it later on down the road. There are areas on your tower that aren't facing the same perspective so a grid will be a wonderful tool.
I think you have beautiful artwork and cannot wait to see how this turns out. I know this critique wasn't specific to the artwork but I hope my general statements can be of use and as you fine tune it I'd love to provide more feedback if you'd allow it.
Thanks so much for allowing me to comment on your artwork and I hope that it was of some use!
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Sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but this is so long I had to take time to read it properly
Yes grey scale is the way to start, I learn this the hard way many times over 
I WISH I had done thumbnails
At least I learned what NOT to do
I'll totally tone down the pipes, I understand what you mean. Thanks for noticing the details lol..even though it's a mess. Good idea with changing the orientation, I'll give it a shot. Had not thought of it at all!
I'm happy that there is intrigue too, awesome! I liked that the original version from the game was kind of like what yo usaid - you don't know for sure if they are good or bad...so tried to keep that idea.
I would love to use prespective grids on the next painting, I really should have planned it out - I don't know if I can deal with adding them now and trying to match stuff up to them...maybe if I get inspired XD My no.1 problem right now is planning, close second is values. lol.
Of course you are welcome to give me as much feedback as you like, that's what I'm here for so I would only be happy! Thanks so much for encouraging me
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Don't worry! It takes me forever to logon and respond as well!
Hey! Don't be hard on yourself! It most certainly is not a mess! It's a great start and everything we draw is a learning experience 
Your art is truly fantastic! I'm glad my comment was useful!
<3
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Cool XD That's true, even when it's hard or you feel like it's failing...you are learning ...something? lol. I'm kidding, you are.
Thanks again!
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hahaha! I currently feel like I'm learning nothing in school so I can relate to that
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LOL....Thats too bad! but it happens a lot. What are you studying?
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Visual Development - Character Design. I originally was an Illustration major than hopped over to Vis Dev. lol
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haha i asked the same thing. It's like the concept stage of creating an artwork whether its a character, environment, prop. So someone has a vision and you come up with ideas and drawings until one is picked then finalize it. It's pretty much what concept art is but the bigger umbrella of it all. It also includes texture development, storyboarding, color scripts, beat boards, etc. Not sure if that makes sense?
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OMG, you study ALL of that? how can you fit it all in your brain? lol
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I quite haven't figured that part out yet. That's probably why my head hurts all the time hehe. It's required to have an understanding of all of those different areas. Which stinks. I rather work on characters and environments
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Why don't you do that instead?
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I'd love to. I just have requirements for the degree that require me to take the other stuff as well The good thing is that I'm almost done!
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Oh that's why! Sometimes you use stuff later that you didn't think you would so, im sure it will be useful
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This is awesome, seems like it is on due course to become better than the first version. The contrasting area really stands out as a focal point.
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Oo this is not a mess at all! This is beautiful and I love seeing this view of the work. Man this must be a MASSIVE image. Gorgeous!
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Haha! Well it needs some serious work ...sigh...you mean size of file? It's actually only 123 mb..which is not the biggest one, cause it's plant and white I think and not so many layers.
I've had paintings that were way over a couple of Gbs..lol probably dumb. Killing my computer
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O.O oh wow! That is amazingly large! But it looks so good still and shows a lot of love and dedication you put into your paintings.
LOL awww...well photoshop takes a lot of power (I'm assuming that's what you use).
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Yeah I use photoshop. I'm probably not using the right size paper
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This is one heck of a perspective. If the Pros have recommended this to you... they are really asking you to make some big leaps!
But you've done them really well and this is shaping up really nicely! I love the architecture of the tower so far and the details are shaping up really good, too! It;s nice to see the 4 characters in this form and you did a great job in "turning the perspective" on them. So, well done! Keep working at it!
What are you planning for the character in the bottom corner?
Since this is based on a FF VI concept, maybe it will be more fitting to have an in-game character in there? If you want a female character, you might consider Terra! In the meantime, her arm is somewhat unnatural with her shoulder and elbow bent in two different angles. I know someone has already mentioned that to you, so I am not going to belabour the point. I'll wait to see what more you'll show us!
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Yeah they are asking lots, but its cool..I have a direction to go in now.
I think I'm going to kill that character lol...meaning take them out. its weird looking. Thanks for the feedbacK!
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They really are... But I guess it's always a good thing to be challenged, right?
I think it's nice to have something there in that specific corner to balance the layout of the picture. If you take that character away, that spot will look empty and the Tower may look like it'll topple over. You might just want to tweak that character instead. You might find these references useful for that pose:
previews.123rf.com/images/rosi…
l7.alamy.com/zooms/aac9e1b1a1d…
I hope things work out for you!
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Yeah exactly, Thanks for the links
Nice poses. I do like the character as a storyline but yeah it needs to change a lot.
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No problem! I hope they'll help you out!
I think a character would do just fine in that corner. The picture will look weird without something in that corner, but the best thing I can think of is a character. It's still your call, of course. I'm just giving you my two cents!
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Well it does kind of balance it out...hmmm....thinking about it is going to take a while lol
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Well... there's no hurry, really.
I have been telling people that there's no prize for being "the first" anywhere in the world except if you are running races. Sometimes it's more about doing the best you can do instead of doing them fast. So... take all the time you need! 
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True, although I can't say that if I ever get a client or a job with a deadline LOL...I'm joking
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You never know, my friend!
Never say never, right?
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DUDE this perspective work is really cool to see
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Thanks! it needs so much work it makes me tired thinking about it!
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Oi well I wish a lot of luck then!! You got this ^u^
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I like the look of this version as well
Indeed it feels like there is much more depth into it.
But the other one had the feeling it could be a murial
Displaying the gods
Here there is more of a story going on.
A battle starting. Lots of emotion.
The person afront is holding the dagger/sword a bit unnatural, I find.
I think if the arm would not be so much stretched, little bent in the elbow, it would look better.
More, ready to attack, less, look yo all I got a stabby
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Thank you for the feedback! I see what you mean about that arm, I'll fix it.
Oh I'm glad you liked the old version as well, I kind of did too - as you said it was more of a flat image like old fashioned.
But I guess the new one is more like modern/game art looking? What did you think of the colors of the old one weren't they a little muddy and dark? or was it ok?
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Indeed, this one has more of game art feel to it
Like it be conceptual design or it could be like the loading screen art before getting into
the level
I liked
s colouring better then
because although it was more muted the aura spot effects that gave the ethereal feel,
came out better in contrast with the brown/grey tones.
Like we are watching through a rainbow at the height of the godly XD
At the second one there are much more colours going on but they seem a bit random
and are more colouring the parts then being cast with light and it's enviroment.
The black becomes a bit to harsh at the spots in the fence and darkest shades as well
The first one feels more natural.
Still I think some more saturated parts could work well
But at parts that would catch the light the most and if the colours depend more on enviroment
being cast upon then what the colour of actual objects 'should' be
One I find very inspirational in the way she uses colours is kinixuki
Hope my rambling has been a bit of help XD
Can't wait to see how this version is going to work out
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Oh thanks for the in depth feedback! I agree with you, I liked the coloring before I went crazy with the colors.....maybe I can take it back to that first color but with the new one?
I totally agree that they feel random in the second one, cause there are only a few spots with color and they don't mesh with each other etc...right? And the darks! yes way to dark...I think I was trying to make it "pop" but it was too contrast-y and extreme in the end. It's super helpful to hear your rambling! I will lkeep it in mind when I go forward with the new one! Thanks for the link also(I agree the colors they use are very nice) - I really need some good inspiration from artists who use colors well.
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When I start colouring a piece I kinda learned to think of what atmosphere I want to create
I noticed that helps as when you give parts the colours that they should have
(like o it is skin so it is a orangy soft pink and o the hair is going to be blond so lets go for cream yellow)
they tend not be at place at all
What we see in hues around us is always tainted by the surrounding colours and casted lights and shadows.
So yes
And in the dark we do not see.
All we see is because of light.
And the more something catches (and reflects) light, it becomes bright (and with that saturated XD)
There is always a bit of light tho, if we can see, even on the shadowy parts, so they would never be pure black
I'd try to use the kinda colours you did in the first but experiment also in some different layers.
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Thanks for the information, I agree with it all. The problem with this painting is ...it's huge. And to do all this detailed and advanced coloring would be very time consuming for me...I think I'm going to keep it bw for now and learn values with this painting...And do a simpler one for this month's contest, with all this color stuff. THEN maybe if I have it in me, I'll go back and color the FF6 one
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