Pixel Joint Forum: Self Portait Practice

Author

Message

Vertiblue
Seaman
Seaman

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

Topic: Self Portait Practice
Posted: 03 April 2020 at 2:20pm

I've been practicing and trying to find a style I can land with. I like certain parts of the drawing, namely the head and beanie, but everywhere else feels a little off. If there's anything I can improve, let me know if able. Thanks for checking this out!

IP Logged

NancyGold
Commander

Joined: 27 October 2021
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 526

Posted: 03 April 2020 at 2:56pm

As usual for new artists: a lot of banding, unnecessary color shades and strange anatomy, like missing chin. Unless that is intended for comical effect or the character experienced some serious damage, some chin is expected for that resolution.

Hoodie's hood appears to be glued to the back of that character's head. Jeans look like they are made out of some shiny plastic and got teared around crotch. Does he hide something in that hand behind his back?

Then there are some questionable design choices: that character wears a hoodie. Why does he also have a hat?

everywhere else feels a little off.

With comic characters you should have some initial idea, which would hint you which parts to exaggerate and how. Then you put that in motion.

IP Logged

Vertiblue
Seaman
Seaman

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

Posted: 03 April 2020 at 6:33pm

Thank you for the suggestions! I'll tinker around with this sprite, but I may just have to make sprite smaller. Shading bigger characters is pretty difficult for me as I can't tell if it looks too flat or too noisy. I feel like the head would be great for portrait box though.

The original intention was to be a little comical for the sprite, but I guess I tried to make it a little realistic and got lost along the way.

IP Logged

Damian
Commander

Joined: 24 February 2023
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 455

Posted: 04 April 2020 at 2:17am

Hi, thats a good start you have here.

Maybe pull up a reference on google to help guide you while you're making this. So as SNV said, the hood part of the hoodie looks a bit odd, I think thats because right now its not really effected by gravity. If you're wearing a hoodie, think about how it lies on your shoulders and drapes over them.

Just a few things I think that would immediately help. Broader shoulders, wider hips, show some of his neck and lastly that hand doesn't look like it goes into the pocket which you might find a bit frustrating to fix as it will require better volume metric shading and shadows, maybe leave it out until you're more comfortable with those fundamentals of art. That or just tackle it head on, best way to learn sometimes!

There are more things I think that can definitely be fixed, but I think the above is a good start.

Also the beanie on the head + a hoodie is definitely not a questionable design choice, its actually very common. Got to keep warm in the winter!

IP Logged

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: Self Portait Practice Posted: 03 April 2020 at 2:20pm
	I've been practicing and trying to find a style I can land with. I like certain parts of the drawing, namely the head and beanie, but everywhere else feels a little off. If there's anything I can improve, let me know if able. Thanks for checking this out!
	IP Logged

NancyGold Commander Joined: 27 October 2021 Online Status: Offline Posts: 526	Posted: 03 April 2020 at 2:56pm
	As usual for new artists: a lot of banding, unnecessary color shades and strange anatomy, like missing chin. Unless that is intended for comical effect or the character experienced some serious damage, some chin is expected for that resolution. Hoodie's hood appears to be glued to the back of that character's head. Jeans look like they are made out of some shiny plastic and got teared around crotch. Does he hide something in that hand behind his back? Then there are some questionable design choices: that character wears a hoodie. Why does he also have a hat? everywhere else feels a little off. With comic characters you should have some initial idea, which would hint you which parts to exaggerate and how. Then you put that in motion.
	IP Logged

Vertiblue Seaman Joined: 08 October 2019 Online Status: Offline Posts: 4	Posted: 03 April 2020 at 6:33pm
	Thank you for the suggestions! I'll tinker around with this sprite, but I may just have to make sprite smaller. Shading bigger characters is pretty difficult for me as I can't tell if it looks too flat or too noisy. I feel like the head would be great for portrait box though. The original intention was to be a little comical for the sprite, but I guess I tried to make it a little realistic and got lost along the way.
	IP Logged

Damian Commander Joined: 24 February 2023 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 455	Posted: 04 April 2020 at 2:17am
	Hi, thats a good start you have here. Maybe pull up a reference on google to help guide you while you're making this. So as SNV said, the hood part of the hoodie looks a bit odd, I think thats because right now its not really effected by gravity. If you're wearing a hoodie, think about how it lies on your shoulders and drapes over them. Just a few things I think that would immediately help. Broader shoulders, wider hips, show some of his neck and lastly that hand doesn't look like it goes into the pocket which you might find a bit frustrating to fix as it will require better volume metric shading and shadows, maybe leave it out until you're more comfortable with those fundamentals of art. That or just tackle it head on, best way to learn sometimes! There are more things I think that can definitely be fixed, but I think the above is a good start. Also the beanie on the head + a hoodie is definitely not a questionable design choice, its actually very common. Got to keep warm in the winter!
	IP Logged