Pixel Joint Forum: How can I improve this drawing?

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Vertiblue
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 08 October 2019
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4

Topic: How can I improve this drawing?
Posted: 11 October 2019 at 10:36am

I've been seriously trying to improve my drawings recently and I'm wondering if there is anything that I can do to improve this drawing. I feel good about the drawing and I feel like it's a step in the right direction, but I can't help but feel like there's something I can make better.

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Iscalio
Commander

Joined: 29 March 2023
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 224

Posted: 11 October 2019 at 8:12pm

What size will this be shown? Right now it's very blown up. Do you intend to show it at this size? This will decide how clear and readable various shapes need to be.

Where is your light source? How many lights are shining on your character?
Right now it feels like you have very pillowy, general "light reflection".

The lines on the arms read as strange veins rather than muscle divisions. If your character is really this skinny it's probably not going to have extreme definition in musculature, and the lines don't line up with where muscle groups are, certainly in your arms.

Not sure how much reference you are using but I'd suggest using reference for everything.

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Vertiblue
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 08 October 2019
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 4

Posted: 11 October 2019 at 9:21pm

Originally posted by Iscalio

What size will this be shown? Right now it's very blown up. Do you intend to show it at this size? This will decide how clear and readable various shapes need to be.

The size of the original is around 100x100. I scaled it up for 500x500 which I now realize is a mistake for posting on the forum. (Forgive me this is my first).

Originally posted by Iscalio

Where is your light source? How many lights are shining on your character?Right now it feels like you have very pillowy, general "light reflection".

Yeah my fault there. I originally had a light source and I forgot about it as I moved on to other parts of the drawing.

Originally posted by Iscalio

The lines on the arms read as strange veins rather than muscle divisions. If your character is really this skinny it's probably not going to have extreme definition in musculature, and the lines don't line up with where muscle groups are, certainly in your arms.

Doing good looking muscles is one of my hurdles that I'm trying to overcome. I can never get the to look right even when looking at other people's art for examples. It never really looks right to me for my drawings when I try to follow examples.

Originally posted by Iscalio

Not sure how much reference you are using but I'd suggest using reference for everything.

I used a variety of references for help. Maybe they weren't good enough for this. I try to follow references as close as I can, but I guess I still need work in studying them.

I appreciate the feedback! I want to improve and your comment helped!

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Iscalio
Commander

Joined: 29 March 2023
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 224

Posted: 12 October 2019 at 8:13pm

I tried messing with a paintover of this. Be happy to talk more. Maybe focusing on a single thing first would be useful. I can help out with those muscles when have a bit of time later on.

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WIP (Work In Progress)
Pixel Joint Forum : Pixel Art : WIP (Work In Progress)

Author	Message
Vertiblue Seaman Joined: 08 October 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Topic: How can I improve this drawing? Posted: 11 October 2019 at 10:36am
	I've been seriously trying to improve my drawings recently and I'm wondering if there is anything that I can do to improve this drawing. I feel good about the drawing and I feel like it's a step in the right direction, but I can't help but feel like there's something I can make better.
	IP Logged

Iscalio Commander Joined: 29 March 2023 Online Status: Offline Posts: 224	Posted: 11 October 2019 at 8:12pm
	What size will this be shown? Right now it's very blown up. Do you intend to show it at this size? This will decide how clear and readable various shapes need to be. Where is your light source? How many lights are shining on your character? Right now it feels like you have very pillowy, general "light reflection". The lines on the arms read as strange veins rather than muscle divisions. If your character is really this skinny it's probably not going to have extreme definition in musculature, and the lines don't line up with where muscle groups are, certainly in your arms. Not sure how much reference you are using but I'd suggest using reference for everything.
	IP Logged

Vertiblue Seaman Joined: 08 October 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 11 October 2019 at 9:21pm
	*Originally posted by Iscalio* What size will this be shown? Right now it's very blown up. Do you intend to show it at this size? This will decide how clear and readable various shapes need to be. The size of the original is around 100x100. I scaled it up for 500x500 which I now realize is a mistake for posting on the forum. (Forgive me this is my first). *Originally posted by Iscalio* Where is your light source? How many lights are shining on your character?Right now it feels like you have very pillowy, general "light reflection". Yeah my fault there. I originally had a light source and I forgot about it as I moved on to other parts of the drawing. *Originally posted by Iscalio* The lines on the arms read as strange veins rather than muscle divisions. If your character is really this skinny it's probably not going to have extreme definition in musculature, and the lines don't line up with where muscle groups are, certainly in your arms. Doing good looking muscles is one of my hurdles that I'm trying to overcome. I can never get the to look right even when looking at other people's art for examples. It never really looks right to me for my drawings when I try to follow examples. *Originally posted by Iscalio* Not sure how much reference you are using but I'd suggest using reference for everything. I used a variety of references for help. Maybe they weren't good enough for this. I try to follow references as close as I can, but I guess I still need work in studying them. I appreciate the feedback! I want to improve and your comment helped!
	IP Logged

Iscalio Commander Joined: 29 March 2023 Online Status: Offline Posts: 224	Posted: 12 October 2019 at 8:13pm
	I tried messing with a paintover of this. Be happy to talk more. Maybe focusing on a single thing first would be useful. I can help out with those muscles when have a bit of time later on.
	IP Logged