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Published: 2012-06-15 06:07:13 +0000 UTC; Views: 1099; Favourites: 9; Downloads: 2
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Resulted from this 5 minute speed sketch in alchemy: [link]I don't really draw stuff like this so please critique. I started the image with a composite of three speed sketches, one for color and the other two for basic composition. See above link for the figural speed sketch link. I then worked with a variety of brushes and layers, using some CC textures while refining the image to present level of detail. In total this was 2hrs of work.
Mostly it took longer because I kept messing around with new techniques. This is my first speed concept painting, please let me know what you think.
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Comments: 14
I never know how to talk about speed work that's done directly to colour because I always do values first, then overlay colour, and it's a completely different approach in how the work is built, then resolved, then polished.
That said, there's a really slick marriage of realism with your comic style here that is very pleasing to look at, while surreal and evocative. While I feel like a mountain to the right and slightly below the arch, in the distance, and just a bit more fade to the horizon line would make the composition more resolved /overall/, at the same time it's an exercise in speed-concepting and as such it's generally better to work quickly and until you're sick of it, then move on to the next one. With this level of quality delivering in huge volume is only a good thing, because then a client can go "I like the mesa here, and the turtle guy and arch from this one, and also the aliens with bees for noses here. Can you do one with all of this stuff," and you can silently question their sanity, smile and say 'of course I can', and deliver.
After all, the horizon is clearly the horizon, and there are suggested shapes within the misty background, and for me? Yeah, that's great.
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I need to work more cleanly with my layers for the next volley of these.
That's basically what I did for my speed sketches though, looked through them and married what I liked into one concept. I know that's a common thing to be asked to do, so trying to get practice in at that a bit more.
The more I look at this image the more it bothers me in places, so I'm hoping that doing more can help refine the issues I have with the overall style.
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I have to say, that's a nice build up from the linked image in the author's comments.
I love the balance of colours, shading and lighting, and I really think you really made the rather surrealistic art piece take form into something more tangible and more dynamic.
The only thing that's bothering me is the red part that is right next to the creature. While every texture around the piece is set in stone: there is a body of water, there is a wooden grove with moss covering it, there is sunlight/holy light shining the area, and the creature has a rough flesh like a tortoise, the red part seems to be cartoony, lacking in some detail. I can't tell if that's supposed to be cloth or anything else, so you might want to develop more on that.
Otherwise, really solid artwork! If this was a piece that I commissioned, I'd pay for this!
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Saying you'd pay for it if you'd commissioned it is kind of a really statement. It's customary to pay for work you order, and if you're ordering work there's a sort of silent trust formed between artist and client that said work will be delivered as expected.
The way you worded that makes it seem like you might not pay for a commission, which is pretty scummy! Watch out, man.
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Not... quite what I was trying to say, although I did word it rather stupidly.
No no, I was saying that the piece was incredible, and it would be more than worth the price if I were to pay for it. Even if I was given a simpler piece, then I would still pay for it; I mean, come on, it's a commission.
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Been burned before, so I always collect upfront even from friends. Reduces potentiality of client drama.
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I collect a sketch fee upfront, then after I deliver a mostly-final version I take my final price. It still leaves me open to a lot of drama, but usually the first stage I can tell if there's going to be a problem.
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Because it was a speed paint I didn't fix that issue with the fabrics, but it was bothering me when I looked at it today. So I tweaked it.
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I figured that was the case.
Well now that you fixed it, I really don't know what else to offer, it looks really fantastic!
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Thanks, your icon vibrating subtly really sells the "gurrrrl" part of that to my mind
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It's so excited to see it. Hubba hubba.
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