Digital painting WIP - Roman at War

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Sorze

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Hey everyone, I've started doing a painting/drawing and I'd really appreciate some help.
I've pretty much only used pencils my whole life, (been drawing on and off) so I'm no good with colours.
I've just recently begun reading some colour theory on the internet, and experimenting about, so I'm improving, but you know....

This is the pic:



It's some sort of Roman general leading his army into battle, so those messy bits in the background is the army. Lighting conditions are a quite bright sunny day.

Obviously you may tell me what you think about things not concerning the colouring, but that's what I'm mostly after right now. ;)



Now, please tell me what you think looks good and what looks off, and most importantly why!
And pretty, pretty please, be decently polite... :|



I've also posted this on ConceptArt.org, so don't get confused if you see it there too!
 
I like the concept and I really (seriously :p ) like the cloth wrapped around his neck, casting coloured shadows on his chest, folding nicely (but it lacks a knot though). Also its cool that it looks like an oil painting or similar.

Regarding the colours then; too many happy/bright colous i'd say. I mean, they are about to enter a battle (battle = horrible). The biggest problem would be the overall lack of details i think. Like the amry in the background, the clouds, his face and clothing. And, his skin tone is kind of bright for being Roman I think (Not sure).

Keep working and good luck with your online studies!
 
kaffo said:
I like the concept and I really (seriously :p ) like the cloth wrapped around
<snip>
Keep working and good luck with your online studies!
Click to expand...

Thanks mate! :cheers:

But maybe I didn't make myself clear enough (I thought a "WIP" in the subject line would suffice), but this is not , I repeat, this is not a finished drawing !!

I want help with all the colouring before I go forward with it, since it's a bitch to change the overall feel (themes of colour, so to speak) when it's finished. It's not supposed to be this sparse with details when it's finished...


I'd really like some crits along the lines of "wow, those skin tones sure aren't red enough because of blah blah..." or "the armor would be better if it were more blah blah..."


About your crits kaffo... (and thanks again btw)
I guess it could (should?) be a more oppressive weather considering the theme (war), but I see it more as a Wow-look-at-that-cool-guy drawing, and then the mood swings to a more happy one..
The cloth is supposed to get some sort of piece that attaches it to the armor, just forgot to do that before I posted...


Any more takes...? pretty please....?
 
You're not doing too bad getting the reflection effect on his breastplate.. his head reminds me of a doom 3 zombie a bit too lol
 
bliink said:
You're not doing too bad getting the reflection effect on his breastplate.. his head reminds me of a doom 3 zombie a bit too lol
Click to expand...

Thanks, and ouch, really? :D

I can actually see the zombieness too..... :O But is it because of the colors or the lack of details? I hope/think the latter...


But please give me something to improve on too (even though only positive feedback is fun for a while...), and if you have any tips concerning the drawing of huge amounts of people easily (the army) please tell me, because I have no idea how I'm going to do that...
 
Sorze said:
Thanks, and ouch, really? :D

I can actually see the zombieness too..... :O But is it because of the colors or the lack of details? I hope/think the latter...


But please give me something to improve on too (even though only positive feedback is fun for a while...), and if you have any tips concerning the drawing of huge amounts of people easily (the army) please tell me, because I have no idea how I'm going to do that...
Click to expand...
Needs to be more defined, smaller brushes. Don't be afraid to make area's darker.

As for the army.. don't draw everything, a few brush strokes to hint at what it is can be enough. Too much detail or uniformity (cloning the same guys) will just draw attention to it. Be creative, blur it, like an army rushing past or such.
 
Thanks for your input guys!

I haven't had much time yet, and I won't get to start work on it for real until tonight, but I've made a few (minor) changes.
Anything you think about it, just spill the beans!




**Actually, it seems imageshack doesn't like me anymore, so I can't show the newest one. I'll see what I can do until tonight, please keep commenting on the "old" pic...**

Edit: Now it's working...



As I said, nothing major.. I'll work tonight..
 
Sorze said:
but I see it more as a Wow-look-at-that-cool-guy drawing...
Click to expand...

:E very well then

i did notice the WIP part, just thought id wouldnt hurt bringing the lack of details issue up when at it :upstare:
 
Why not? I think it adds to the effect. Most centurions would be very old, reletavely, having been in the army most of their life
 
He should have "Ceaser is a tool" shaved into the back of his head, as was the style of the time.
 
lol, I think engraved into his armour would be more appropriate. And the armour should be bronze coloured :)
 
Druckles said:
lol, I think engraved into his armour would be more appropriate. And the armour should be bronze coloured :)
Click to expand...
Yeah but No because he didn't want it on his armor cause thats on loan from romans-R-Us and he's already behind in his payments.

Besides his friend Jack has Biggus Diccus shaven into his hair.
 
Lol! I could not stop laughing reading that...

Maybe you should quit drawing and start writing instead :p
 
No
And as I can't post an answer As short as that... Ill just go on trying to fill up the space
 
Druckles said:
No
And as I can't post an answer As short as that... Ill just go on trying to fill up the space
Click to expand...
quote passages from the bible, nobody can warn you or edit your posts then without risking a religion war going on ;)
 
My thread-hijack alarm is starting to ring... :|


I worked a little on it tonight..





Would be nice to hear some more takes.. :bounce:
 
Sorze said:
My thread-hijack alarm is starting to ring... :|


I worked a little on it tonight..





Would be nice to hear some more takes.. :bounce:
Click to expand...
looks better but the angle on the face is just one of those difficult angles your best avoiding.

Or get a friend to pose in that position so you can get it more accurate.
 
And don't forget to use your left hand ;)

I say make the plate bronze, as you wouldn't find silver armour, or diamond, 2000 years ago
 
Well, you won't ever find silver armour because it's so soft, but you may one day find diamond armour
 
Diamond is one of the strongest thing in the world, ya know :hmph:
Nice use of colors, but it's too bright!!! Arghhh!!! :D
 
May be the strongest, but it's also very expensive
 
Allright, time for an update!

I've been changing some stuff around now, I guess the only reason I was so reluctant to change the sky before was that I didn't feel like changing the direction of the lighting, because then I'd have to redo the whole roman guy...
But eh.. Well you can see my solution to those problems right here..




I think I'll try to finish this soon, I'm gonna get sick watching it soon...
I'll just have to accept it won't be perfect! :p

Just tell me what you think...
 
Sorze said:
Allright, time for an update!

I've been changing some stuff around now, I guess the only reason I was so reluctant to change the sky before was that I didn't feel like changing the direction of the lighting, because then I'd have to redo the whole roman guy...
But eh.. Well you can see my solution to those problems right here..




I think I'll try to finish this soon, I'm gonna get sick watching it soon...
I'll just have to accept it won't be perfect! :p

Just tell me what you think...
Click to expand...
See what a difference it makes though? That one is MUCH MUCH better, you weren't afraid to make things darker, or blur the details in the army. It looks great :):):)
 
Wow, thanks mate!

You know I'm always nervous when I see you've replied...
Hopefully that'll change... :)
 
Ok I think this is it... I don't wanna work on this anymore, I'm itching to do something else now!


Roman at War
romanatwar62cr.jpg



Thanks for your input, it's really been helpful, and yes, you may crit this one as well! :cheers:
 
Actually yeah, it is... Gaaah never perfect!! :D :D

Oh well.. I've actually done a few small changes (grass being one of them), even though I said I would stop working on it... Not really worth updating though...
 
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