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mypunknightmare [2010-02-06 01:31:36 +0000 UTC]

Overall

Vision

Originality

Technique

Impact

e.deviantart.net/emoticons/w/w… " width="25" height="20" alt="" title="Hi! - "/> Hi ya ^_^
I was browsing through EE's new folder and came upon your deviation and it caught my eye. I see you would like a critique, so I would like to give you a fair warning beforehand that I can babble a bit, but I do my best to back up my ratings and such. I'm in no way meaning to be mean or put down your work, I'm trying to help you improve in the future ^_^

Disclaimer aside, I will start with the first rating in the system: vision.
Originally, I had given the rating of three and a half stars because I could tell you were trying to convey I guess a shadowy, hiding feeling to the image in such a way that it was your own. But, because the manip is dark, some details are hard to see and piece together. On my screen, I can see the horse is posed in the best position for this manip. At the same time, it seems that the horse is more shy. It is as if the horse is saying "hate me" in a whisper, a timid way, which is intriguing, interesting. Now, the reason I took the half off was even though I can see these emotions, others with screens at a lower brightness might not be able to see the image. Also, more and more horse manipulators seem to be using this technique in which there's a light filter with one ambient, bright patch near the middle...I'll get to that in technique.

Originality: While, as I said, more and more equine manipulators are using this technique of a light filter, I believe your intentions were to bring out the emotion of the piece. The only thing is the technique needs to be tweaked just a bit and it will be perfect. As I mentioned above, the horse seems to be shyly asking for others to hate it, and usually in hate manips the horse is angry or angsty. In a way, I find this image really really cute. Because I find it cute, and the character seemingly timid, I boosted up the originality rating. I will always know this is your manip, every time I look at it.

Technique:: This is where things get a little funky. I tend to get very technical...I will start with the lighting. When looking at the image, I can tell you did the following things: Used a horse, painted in eye and tail, erased (maybe drew?) around the left hoof, and added a light filter. I can see a little of the background, but not much because of the lighting. When using the light render filter, many things can go wrong in the image. Think of it as taking the burn tool and going around the image in a circle, then in the center using the dodge tool. (Not a pretty thought is it? e.deviantart.net/emoticons/f/f… " width="15" height="15" alt="" title=" (Sad) - "/> ) The render filter tends to take information out of the picture, lighting, color, and detail. On a dark screen, I would probably see the mane, eye and shoulder because of the filter. Also, using lighting filters, learning them, takes a lot of time. They are tricky little things, where just the right amounts of them can be used to create a perfect scene. In this image, I can see a little bit of your vision, but the decision to use the filter this way might have not been the best execution as I would call it. But, that's okay, it's all in the learning process. Maybe, instead of keeping the full filter, try changing the layer opacity. Copy your image, use the render, and then try different layer styles and fills.

Impact: I rated this low because the image is hard to see. I mentioned before on a darker screen I would not be able to see much of the image. When making an image, an artist tries to convey feelings visually. As a viewer, it's hard for me to tell your intentions, what you want to say to me, because the image is dark. (Just remember the burn and dodge analogy ^_^ While they are great tools, they can be overdone, but it all comes with practice ^_^)

I know of a few tutorials which might help you with lighting in future manips.
[link]
[link]
[link]

One thing that helps me is looking at more advanced works. I will look at how the artist placed the light source, how they reflected light off of the horse. Some paint in the lighting, some use filters. In the end it's what you are comfortable with.

I hope this long babble helps in one way or another. Keep up the great work!
-MPNM / Faden
e.deviantart.net/emoticons/r/r… " width="15" height="15" alt="" title="Rose - "/>

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venomxbaby [2010-02-04 23:11:16 +0000 UTC]

thanks for using my stock <3

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Dancing-In-Heels [2010-02-04 06:42:42 +0000 UTC]

*faints*

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SunnyBlueDay [2010-02-03 21:17:53 +0000 UTC]

I love that eye- what an expression!

Mane looks lovelaaay

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kaedoh [2010-02-03 20:50:57 +0000 UTC]

It's amazingg Dylan. But I agree with ThraxzGirl, you could add a few more shadows in the mane. Other than that, I don't see what else to say.

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Dactik [2010-02-03 20:36:20 +0000 UTC]

Sorry I can't give an official critique, (not a premium member :/ ), but I can give you some small feedback

Strong Points; I love the originality, its very simple, but very emotive, and the mane and tail are drawn excellently, they're so smooth and flowing..

Weak Points; Possibly have, a bigger contrast in colours from the black frame, to the horse, as in, make the horse and background brighter to make them stand out more. And maybe more shadows in the mane, it looks a little bright in comparison to the horse.

Overall, awesome

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