My coloring

[SoA]

Hi, been experimenting with Photoshop and coloring, would like to hear what you think.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/OsirisDK/Art/scn0001DONECsm.jpg
(15 min to draw - 2 hours coloring)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/OsirisDK/Art/scan0002fsm.jpg
(10 min to draw - 3 hours coloring)

Both hand drawn, ink'ed, scanned and then colored in Photoshop.
I tried to adapt some of masamunes skin effects, by using smudge and "plastic wrap" filters. Apart from the heads being a little of - I just dont think theres much "anime" over it... any ideas?

[kiyomi]

The first drawing, you need to work on smoothing her jawline, and her eyes need work. Also the right arm, holding the satff is a bit too short. Other than that, it looks good. (coloring and background are nice.)

The second drawing is better. Very nice coloring and the background is outstanding. But you still need to work on her eyes. Other than that, you did a really wonderful job!

Keep up the great work, and look forward to seeing more!

[SoA]

oh yea forgot to mention that - the idea of the staff thing was to make look like she was pointing it towards the viewer - also the reason for it being thinger on the lower end. Didnt work did it? :-)

but thanks - also the first one wasent ink'ed - thats the original pencil I managed to color... But seriosly - I find that time just disappears to quickly - is it supposed to take this to color, in these cases, simple drawings?

[kiyomi]

sorry to say it, but no, it didn't work. But who am I to tell you that, since I can't draw. :P

Anyway, just my opinion and observation that's all the reply was about. Don't be discouraged and just keep right on drawing. You're doing a very good job so far! ^_^

[lequidon1]

plz tuitor me how to make lighting, shadow with photoshop. my advice is you should consider working with simple drawing first, let the concept of art grows with time soon you find yourself a unique style.

[Malchiel]

>.< Okay these pretty horrible :I

At any rate study proportion, study face, study foreshoretening.

Forget about lightning and shading, although you're pretty ok in that dpt, a LOT better than your drawings at least. At least the light source are mostly correct. Just too much sheen going on like you put a plastic wrap filter or something.

[SoA]

>.< Okay these pretty horrible :I

plz, elaborate, I've seen your work and I respect you dislike :-)
Actually, I just browsed tru ur art thread, and it's pretty fun to see how u've improved and changed especially up until those cgi's for Karas contest I think it was...

Anyway I havent attended any art class of any form, I've drawn for like half a year, (most of which spent on school/gaming) I'm really new to this but eager to learn even if I might seem hopeless ;)

So you say "study" - but how? look at reality and try to interpretate it in my own way - or look at other more talented artist and see how they define anime?

[Malchiel]

plz, elaborate, I've seen your work and I respect you dislike :-)
Actually, I just browsed tru ur art thread, and it's pretty fun to see how u've improved and changed especially up until those cgi's for Karas contest I think it was...

Anyway I havent attended any art class of any form, I've drawn for like half a year, (most of which spent on school/gaming) I'm really new to this but eager to learn even if I might seem hopeless ;)

So you say "study" - but how? look at reality and try to interpretate it in my own way - or look at other more talented artist and see how they define anime?

Sorry :( >.<; I was being rude wasn't I? :/

I don't attend classes either. Graduated in CS :) Working as a programmer atm.

Hmm most of the time I just read lots of manga and note what I like about its art and try to incorporate it to mine.

Let's start from the face. It's what ppl notice right away. Eyes are very large, but that isn't the problem, you need to study how eyes actually look like, from the side, slightly from below etc.

Then the hair, use long smooth curves, to draw hair, that way it looks natural. Just imagine where the wind is blowing the direction as well as the general shape of the hair, and just do it naturally.

Now for the hand holding the staff you want to foreshorten. There're 3 axis in 3d. Going in/out of the paper, left and right, up and bottom. The hand is supposed to go out of the paper (I think that's what you want anyways) and you need to study what that means.

Lightning is pretty good as I said before, better than most. You still gotta work on it a bit more. Too shinny, study how to reduce or increase sheens. The smudge tool can help you go a long way.

Once again I appologize for my rudeness :I

[kiyomi]

No hun. Study art and practice to your own kind of rhythm and technique.

Art is like making love or writing a very good story. There has to be things taught. Like skills and techniques. A good beginning, middle and end. Look at art like it's a story board and then use your own adaptation of maybe different kinds of drawings.

Then you can start to practice and make your own method of art work.

You seem to have already found a good rythm and style..now practice on your techniques (brush strokes, shading..that sort of thing.)

And once again, good luck and keep drawing.

[Daydream]

Best way of learning is practicing. Drawing people from observation is probably what would help you most. Funny thing is, unlike most people, you're sense of lighting and volume is better than your drawing skills. Never seen that before, it's not a bad thing at all, it just amazes me! Some pointers to help you out:

1st drawing: If you want to show perspective(staff) it helps to exaggerate the proportions, make the top of the staff real big, the staff legth shorter, and the tip thin. Keeping the tip closer to her body and the top further (closer to the viewer) would also help. Her right arm looks too short, I assume you were considering perspective and the shirt covering her arm, but it's still too short. Another way of studying proportions would be to look at your own body. If you let your arm loose at your side, then bend your arm at your elbow joint, you'll see that the elbow stops at about the waist. The eyes are too close. In a human, there's about 1 eye space between the 2 eyes.

2nd drawing: As in your first drawing, the arms are different lengths, that's something to watch out for. Don't forget about the shoulders, her left shoulder is missing. From the tip of the chin to the eyes = the eyes to the top of the head. When drawing hair, don't forget that hair is hundreds of strands forming a whole.

These rules can of course be bent, but it's easier to stick to them when you're first learning. Also, if you have refence for your drawings, that would help too. It'll take longer than 10 minutes for your drawings and maybe it'll get frustrating, but they'll come out better.

Good luck, keep practicing and have fun ^_-

[SoA]

Sry for the late reply, I'm not ignoring u or anything I really appriciate ur reviews, helped me alot, truely.
Anyway I've been practiced ALOT on my eyes and hairs, and I'd really like to show yall if my scanner wasent so cheasy with the pencil lines.

But, taken all of ur thoughts and tips into consideration, I figured I try out some new things, although I wasen't really in the mood for innovation, I decided to fancy up my first drawing. (thanks for pointing out so specific Daydream)

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y266/OsirisDK/Art/scn0001-an.jpg
(wasent really planing on inking it but just "gotten my hands on" Adobe Illustrator - just felt compelled to try out that Live Trace feature:-)

Added some detail, changed the looks and tried my luck at foreshooting again :-) Now what really troubles me is the hair. I ended up adjusting it to 3 version in PhotoShop, if it's to short, it makes the whole picture out of balance, to long and it looks to heavy in the top, but does add more balance... It's like the more I learn the harder it gets u know?


btw - Malchiel, I would consider it more rude not telling me:-)