Abstract Forest
Printed From: Pixel Joint
Category: Pixel Art
Forum Name: WIP (Work In Progress)
Forum Discription: Get crits and comments on your pixel WIPs and other art too!
URL: https://pixeljoint.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18696
Printed Date: 14 September 2025 at 4:39am
Topic: Abstract Forest
Posted By: SuperTurnip
Subject: Abstract Forest
Date Posted: 18 April 2014 at 12:06am
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Hi everyone,
I've got some new inspiration, moving in a more abstract, minimalistic direction. I decided to draw a forest, emerging from the canvas from a few scattered lines. Here's my work so far: 
I'm inspired by the swirling layers in some sedimentary rock, combined with the powerful lines of open countryside. My course of action is to add lighter, complementary lines to this, to create that layered, smoothed effect. What are your thoughts on it so far? Thanks in advance for any comments and criticism! |
Replies:
Posted By: Hadi
Date Posted: 18 April 2014 at 12:18am
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Nice and solid AA! Can't wait to see how it turns out :) |
Posted By: inphy
Date Posted: 18 April 2014 at 2:22am
It's a cool idea for sure. One thing that pops to mind is the bright white background, it quickly overpowers your colors and makes them look darker, makes it harder to pixel and choose colors. Would you be willing to consider another color for background, for example light green? In the example, I used a light blue too for sky, but that of course may be too "conventional" and not what your vision for the piece is. Also circled with red is one relatively sharp corner in the wave, it's super subtle but it breaks the smoothness of the wave. |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 18 April 2014 at 5:56am
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The area circled by Inphy shows a bit of 1:1 lines. While nothing is set in stone and there are no rules in art... ...the conventional wisdom for pixelart is that 1:1 lines are never AAd. Farther up that line you have more 1:1 lines where you SelOut which is the better option on the pixel level/technical way of handling such lines. At 1X stand back from the monitor and look at those two sections and notice how blurry/ugly the AAd bit is compared to the SelOut part. ------------- |
Posted By: SuperTurnip
Date Posted: 18 April 2014 at 6:43pm
Updates, two of them:
I figured that the canvas should remain one color, in homage to pen-and-paper line drawings that somewhat inspire this piece. But I did alter it from white, to a creamy, papery color. The lines are still a challenge, but because they are the most important element, I am not saying they're done by a long shot. 
I cut out some of the canvas. The clouds aren't the best, still. I'm not sure what to do with them. |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 18 April 2014 at 6:55pm
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I rather like that broken edge on top right. Its a nice touch that says paper yet looks digital-ish. ------------- |
Posted By: SuperTurnip
Date Posted: 20 April 2014 at 3:23pm
Update:
I've worked some more on this, and I think I'm doing fairly well. Any outstanding failures of style or conveyance you can see? I personally do not like the horizon, but I left it in for this update. Update #2: 
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Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 20 April 2014 at 6:22pm
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I fail to see what the horizon and clouds contribute. Do you intend for the viewer to only see a landscape? ------------- |
Posted By: CELS
Date Posted: 20 April 2014 at 8:28pm
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As an art noob, I wouldn't see this as a landscape if it wasn't for something resembling either clouds or a horizon.
To me it looks like unicellular creatures under a microscope. It's very well pixelled though, in terms of working against the limitations of pixel art. Very nice AA. I guess it depends on whether you want to cater to the educated or uneducated PJers. To make the weekly showcase, you may need a horizon. And maybe a Super Mario. |
Posted By: showtime
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 12:10am
| I'm really digging this so far, the lines feel delicately balanced. I love the idea of having a wispy streak of cloud, but I'd have to agree that the horizon looks out of place. |
Posted By: SuperTurnip
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 11:40am
Update:
Dropped the horizon, I hope that helps. I also did some more clouds, because their lines compliment the piece, in my opinion. I lowered the whole thing a few pixels to give those things some space, and also plonked in some lower and upper borders. |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 1:14pm
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Another way to suggest a landscape is to add more of the lighter farther back slopes/hills as the one tiny one you have already. If not too lumpy it could bring the horizon back without it being so horizontal. Don't get the border. It adds nothing, imo. ------------- |
Posted By: inphy
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 2:31pm
| I'm not feeling those borders and clouds either, along with the cut canvas they make it feel kind of cramped, I thought the white space in the first version gave it a sense of air and freedom. Of course this is an uneducated layman opinion, so take from that what you will. :) |
Posted By: SuperTurnip
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 6:16pm
One more update(!):
This is nearly done, in my opinion. I'm keeping those clouds, but if there's anything else that's just not working, please catch me out on it! |
Posted By: jalonso
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 7:09pm
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I use Macs where images a bit lighter than PCs. I hardly ever mention this because monitors are relative and its always different for all. Fyi, the green used on the clouds is very light for me. Its plain yet suggestive and even mysterious, lovely looking and very well pixelled :) ------------- |
Posted By: SuperTurnip
Date Posted: 21 April 2014 at 9:05pm
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Excellent note about different screen brightness. I think I'll move the green down just a few percentage points, just in case. Thank you for all your help!
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