Stuck - Seeking Critique
3mo
@sojourneronora
Hello!
Just started a course here, but I’m hoping someone can help in-stick me in a painting I’ve already put well over 20 hours into. I’m trying to angle my art toward illustration and concept design, and this one in particular is intended to be an illustration. There are parts of this I absolutely love (the arms and hands around the gun), but there are three things I just can’t seem to fix.
1) His face. I’ve repainted it probably five times and just can’t seem to get it past the uncanny valley. Am I putting too much highlight in it? Are his eye whites too bright? Help! I also see her arms are probably a little short…
2) Landscape. I’m pretty new to attempting landscapes and full backgrounds, and somehow I can’t seem to suggest patchy desert scrub without making it look like a scribbled mess.
3) Marrying the characters and setting. I can’t seem to avoid either 1) the characters disappearing into the background or 2) the characters feeling slapped on top like a bad photoshop job. Any suggestion for helping them feel more like part of the scene without hiding them in it would be welcome.
Thanks in advance for any input. I’ll try to go offer some critiques to folks in trade. :D
3mo
I'll start with the drawing because that is where all this has to begin.
The reason the woman's arms seem short is because she is too short in general.
Also, to draw attention to the woman, who is in the dominant position, I would tilt his head up which will help connect them if he is looking up at her.
His right thigh is too long, and his left arm is too short.
As far as the face, it seems like you are not keeping the lighting consistent, and yes, too many highlights. Also not enough half tones which will help turn the forms.
The background is tilting down to the left throughout the image which makes them look like they are going to fall over.
One way to keep the figures from merging with the background is to use color temp and saturation of the colors. As thing move into the far background they loose contrast and saturation and the edges get soft.
I did a quick sketch to show you the drawing issues and a quick head study. I hope it makes sense :)
