EmberShadowHawk [2014-10-08 00:52:08 +0000 UTC]
Since you've asked for critique, I have a few thoughts. :3
I think the flowers are a little /too/ bright. Maybe they'd be better desaturated a bit? They add a nice splash of colour, and help draw the eye so I'd agree with the comment saying they really make the piece. I think what's making you uneasy about them is that they seem a little out of place, which I think is because they're too bright for the night-time lighting. Colours become less intense at night (the cones in our eyes are less sensitive than the rods, so we lose the ability to see colour in low light situations, coupled with the fact there's less light for colours to reflect this gives everything a slightly 'washed out' look.) almost grey scale in really low lighting.
The colour you've used on the flowers in the background is a better match for the lighting.
By the same token, Green looks a little to bright for the time of night (Nikita not so much but she's far more desaturated anyway), and Nikita should be casting a shadow on him. (And his tail looks a little off for me. I see that it's denoting movement, but I feel like it should probably go a bit further out to the left, because as-is they seem to have fallen straight down, where the intent seemed to be more that she pushed him?)
Don't get me wrong though, this is a lovely picture and it has a lot of positives. I love the expressions on their faces, really clear and engaging. The line art is lovely, and the pose is really well executed, it really feels like they're interacting with the scenery.
And the BACKGROUND. I'm in love with it. It's got an almost magical feel, mysterious and beautiful. The treebark effect is spectacular, especially on the left foreground tree, that one especially has a real sense of volume to it, though they're all very good, and the shading is superb. The loosle leaves moving in the breeze give a real sense of movement, and there's lots of depth to the forest.
Over all I think it's a very good piece, I know it seems like a lot of criticism but that's only because I feel the need to explain the critiscism more than the praise. (I can say 'you did this right' but if I just say 'you did this wrong' it's profoundly unhelpful.)
I hope you don't mind how much I nitpicked in this answer. I just know that when I want a critique I wan't people to be brutal with me, so I don't pull back when I look at other people's art.
Don't be mad *puppy dog eyes*
(As a thought, if you don't like the idea of desaturating a lot of a piece, you can just brighten everything else. It does give a very 'cartoon' look, but that can work well with hyper stylised pieces (And best pulled off with thicker outlining. Don't ask why, it just tends to work better.) In which case you'd shade things with blues and purples that are roughly as bright, wouldn't really do many highlights.. Things like MLP, that have that bright, almost block colour look can pull it off, but for more 'realistic' pieces (I.E people) or anything grittier it's a skill you'll need, so it's good to practise.)
*hug*
Sorry if this is long. Typing late, so kinda rambling.
I'll talk to you later, sorry if I overstepped my bounds or went over the top with this.
xXx
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CheesyBite In reply to EmberShadowHawk [2014-10-08 01:02:56 +0000 UTC]
I do think I am going to back and make the colors less bright on them, however I probably won't dim Green only because his coat is a bright green. And you are totally right about the tail, I was going to make the picture much more in action originally, but then it became much more still and quiet as I began to color. Definitely gonna go back and change some of the flowers :]
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