Pixel Joint Forum: A place to start

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   Okay, so here's my first little doodle on my road to pixelation/artification:

I was going for some kind of sailor-fellow in a tricorne and sleeveless tarpaulin overcoat or something.

How best to improve?

Some things:

I gave up on trying to get his feet to have a proper shape, so I didn't get to anything more on them. How can I make them look decent without changing the angle/size? Or would I have to to get it right?

The perspective looks wrong on everything. The hat looks like it's at the wrong angle/too flat (although that could just be because it's a tricorne), the shoulder looks kind of turned awkwardly, and the feet look more like he's playing the violin than standing on the deck of a ship (Unless of course he's Jack Aubrey, and IS playing the violin on deck...). What's the best way to rectify the whole situation?

If he's wearing a tarpaulin coat, one would assume it's raining or something. How can I make him look wet without making him look soaked/damp? Not entirely sure if that question makes sense, but I feel like he should look more like he has water on him than, I dunno, through him...?

His coat-thing looks far too supple, like it's just made of wool or something. I have no idea how to do fabrics/clothing. 

Not sure how best to highlight his face/hat, as you can probably tell. Same goes for the coat, but as mentioned above, it has other issues that need dealing with first.

What's the best way to make him look less flat/cartoony? Should I try using a few more colours? Be more liberal with shading? Do something with creases? Something involving dithering or somesuch clever trickery? 

How are the colours? I tried not to be too saturated, but yeah, I've got a long way to go with colours...

Thanks in advance for any and all C&C. :)

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Wonkyth Seaman Joined: 13 June 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Topic: A place to start Posted: 15 June 2014 at 3:47am
	Okay, so here's my first little doodle on my road to pixelation/artification: I was going for some kind of sailor-fellow in a tricorne and sleeveless tarpaulin overcoat or something. How best to improve? Some things: I gave up on trying to get his feet to have a proper shape, so I didn't get to anything more on them. How can I make them look decent without changing the angle/size? Or would I have to to get it right? The perspective looks wrong on everything. The hat looks like it's at the wrong angle/too flat (although that could just be because it's a tricorne), the shoulder looks kind of turned awkwardly, and the feet look more like he's playing the violin than standing on the deck of a ship (Unless of course he's Jack Aubrey, and IS playing the violin on deck...). What's the best way to rectify the whole situation? If he's wearing a tarpaulin coat, one would assume it's raining or something. How can I make him look wet without making him look soaked/damp? Not entirely sure if that question makes sense, but I feel like he should look more like he has water on him than, I dunno, through him...? His coat-thing looks far too supple, like it's just made of wool or something. I have no idea how to do fabrics/clothing. Not sure how best to highlight his face/hat, as you can probably tell. Same goes for the coat, but as mentioned above, it has other issues that need dealing with first. What's the best way to make him look less flat/cartoony? Should I try using a few more colours? Be more liberal with shading? Do something with creases? Something involving dithering or somesuch clever trickery? How are the colours? I tried not to be too saturated, but yeah, I've got a long way to go with colours... Thanks in advance for any and all C&C. :)
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H\|F Commander Joined: 14 March 2020 Online Status: Offline Posts: 363	Posted: 15 June 2014 at 7:08am
	Do you have a sketch by chance? it's hard to read like where his facial features are and what is going on with his anatomy.
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Wonkyth Seaman Joined: 13 June 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 6	Posted: 15 June 2014 at 7:45am
	Alas I do not. Perhaps that might be a better place to start next time... :P
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SuperTurnip Commander Joined: 29 March 2014 Online Status: Offline Posts: 301	Posted: 15 June 2014 at 3:37pm
	A good start, don't you worry! I think your own apparent concern for the quality of your work will be a blessing and a curse as you progress, so don't be too hard on yourself. My recommendation is to experiment drawing entire pieces with line art, and entire pieces without. Line art can help us realize complex shapes whilst drawing them--like the tricorn hat--but lighting, like on the clothing, is the kind of thing that the viewer understands best. Experiment, have fun, and welcome to pixel art!
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