How may I arrange figures in perspective for a more 'Suffocating' effect
1yr
Taha Teğin
I'll leave the questions right at top for any helpful soul that doesn't want to read too much—
I aim to make a suffocating scene, but the numbered spaces on the first attachment seem to prevent and even detract from the desired effect.
In light of the third attachment where the 1st numbered figure's enlargment makes the 3rd numbered space seem more 'off', how do I understand whys of this happening?
What causes, if there truly is one, the disproportionate feeling? Perspective mistake or use of spacing?
For the long explanation:
This is a scene of capture. The aim was to make the kneeling figure(somewhat centered) small relative to other figures, and also make him 'suffocated' by the numbers. The view is over the shoulder of one of the pigman blocking his escape.
The first attachment is the basic sketch, second is added details and fixed perspective issues, third is the final adjustment.
What I feel is, and I think the problems come from the three spaces I numbered on the first attachment, the composition makes the scene 'suffocating' to view, rather than suffocating to the character.
I'm not sure if that makes much sense—in another way, the perspective and placement seems to make the numbered spaces pop more than the figures' presence, hence neither the central figure nor the surrounding group seems to be in or out of focus.
I intend to make this a painting, with the main light source the kneeling figure(Thinking of a ball of flame from his hidden left hand that pops under the chest), and I think the only thing I can resort to fix this seemingly imaginary 'off'ness is to block out the 3rd numbered figures in shadows or entirely hide them away—which seems lazy :(
Again, please do point out if you need any clarification, and thank you still.
If you pick the focal point, which is the character, make sure it has enough space surrounding him to highlight him from the environment so we know what FIRST to look at, but when needing to fill space, after you have drawn the characters around him (once their form is rendered roundly in as much 3-Dimensionality as you like) begin to use detail/texture to fill in the spaces.
Near the character, allow texture to be indicated, and in the surrounding area, fill it with all the texture of the metals, stone, cloth weaving, etc. This will always highlight the character by contrast while filling in the remainder with "processing" that the mind does as it sees detail.
The brain will move slower over the detail and quickly understand the character. Because the detail will slow the mind, an audience will remain on the panel, understanding the scene slowly while never being confused by it.
It will subliminally feel suffocating to the character while the other characters do not feel suffocated. They will be transformed as a part of the suffocating factor.
If any other character is important in the scene, leave less detail on that particular one so that the eye will follow from your protagonist to that person next. Thus, you can control the ebb and flow of the scene without the detail detracting from the overall message. <3
You have a couple of things that you can do.
To start with, your characters on the sides are getting taller as they move back in space. This is working against the perspective you have.
To make the character feel suffocated by all these people, you could make him a little bigger, causing the others to be closer to him.
I did a quick sketch to show you what I mean so that you could see the effect. I hope it helps :)
