Pixel Joint Forum: Illustration WIP

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Mortar
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 08 August 2024
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20

Topic: Illustration WIP
Posted: 05 December 2009 at 12:53pm

I started working on an illustration of a book i read for my Art Class,

this is just the frame.

anyways, any tips/critique is much appreciated!

Edited by Mortar - 05 December 2009 at 12:53pm

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Mortar
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 08 August 2024
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20

Posted: 12 December 2009 at 1:06am

Sorry for the bump, but i didnt get any response, and i have an update!

(i think) i'm almost done, i just need to put a little box/border thing around the text on the bottom rope (reads: Teke 'li 'li. a referance to the scene i'm illustrating) other thatn that it's pretty much just refining, refining, and more refining!

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Manupix
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Joined: 07 May 2026
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Posts: 771

Posted: 12 December 2009 at 10:16am

I think you could still improve it, about lines and shading.

Lines: the snakes look jaggy, and the rope has no detail at all. Find ref pictures: some ropes, a pixel snake (use the PJ search engine to find more).

Shading: there is none on the rope, and the snakes are pillowshaded (meaning, without consideration of an actual light source). Choose a main light direction (from above?) and stick to it, imagine where shadows and highlights would actually be.

I don't really understand what's in the mirror, but it looks nice so far.

Keep going!

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Mortar
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 08 August 2024
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Posts: 20

Posted: 15 December 2009 at 11:08am

I would have responded earlier, but i thought it would be better to actually have someything to show too. so:

i tried doing what you suggested, i added a light in the uper-left corner, i also put a light source in the scene in the frame as well. i also tried a different style of shading instead of little highlights here and there.

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Manupix
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Joined: 07 May 2026
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Posts: 771

Posted: 15 December 2009 at 3:36pm

You didn't really check those refs, did you? Ah well. :S
No one can really draw a convincing rope or snake out of their heads ya know, unless they've practiced it lots.

Messy doodly edit:

Your idea of a light source is a common mistake: that nearer = lighter. This is true indeed for close light sources, but here it doesn't have to be close; and light and shadows mostly depend on the direction surfaces point to, much more strongly than distance. A surface points directly towards the light source: your lightest tones go there. Another faces away: insert your darkest shades here (unless there is some reflected light from somewhere, hehe).

A rope has countless little hills and valleys: each of them has to be shaded, only that will give the volume of a rope.

I tried to give the snake better lines, fluidity, strength and weight, but I didn't check a ref so it's not so good. Please do that! Then you might try some scaly texture on it. That won't be the easiest part though.

Colors: you have far, far too many (> 60). There are so many blues as to be indistinguishable, meaning you lost control of your palette.
Also, think unified palette: instead of a yellow rope, green snake and blue water, try to shift hues and find some common tones here and there, mostly in shadows and highlights.

Have fun!

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Mortar
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 08 August 2024
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20

Posted: 15 December 2009 at 5:15pm

looks like i have some work cut out for me during the winter break! thanks for all the suggestions/tips, they're a great help!

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Mortar
Seaman
Seaman

Joined: 08 August 2024
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 20

Posted: 08 January 2010 at 3:03pm

k, got to work on this during art class again, here's my finished product, i.ve re-done the rope, it's more of a ribbon now, and made the snakes slightly yellow-ish to tie in with the ribbon.

well, i'd say that's about 12-14 hours well spent! thanks for the tips manupix, they were very helpful! though I decided I liked my snakes and they didnt have to be completely realistic. with the ribbon there's a little less colors i guess, i may see if i can recycle some shades of blue when i get home tonight, but other than that im happy with the result and i consider myself done.

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

Author	Message
Mortar Seaman Joined: 08 August 2024 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Topic: Illustration WIP Posted: 05 December 2009 at 12:53pm
	I started working on an illustration of a book i read for my Art Class, this is just the frame. anyways, any tips/critique is much appreciated! Edited by Mortar - 05 December 2009 at 12:53pm
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Mortar Seaman Joined: 08 August 2024 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 12 December 2009 at 1:06am
	Sorry for the bump, but i didnt get any response, and i have an update! (i think) i'm almost done, i just need to put a little box/border thing around the text on the bottom rope (reads: Teke 'li 'li. a referance to the scene i'm illustrating) other thatn that it's pretty much just refining, refining, and more refining!
	IP Logged

Manupix Commander Joined: 07 May 2026 Online Status: Offline Posts: 771	Posted: 12 December 2009 at 10:16am
	I think you could still improve it, about lines and shading. Lines: the snakes look jaggy, and the rope has no detail at all. Find ref pictures: some ropes, a pixel snake (use the PJ search engine to find more). Shading: there is none on the rope, and the snakes are pillowshaded (meaning, without consideration of an actual light source). Choose a main light direction (from above?) and stick to it, imagine where shadows and highlights would actually be. I don't really understand what's in the mirror, but it looks nice so far. Keep going!
	IP Logged

Mortar Seaman Joined: 08 August 2024 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 15 December 2009 at 11:08am
	I would have responded earlier, but i thought it would be better to actually have someything to show too. so: i tried doing what you suggested, i added a light in the uper-left corner, i also put a light source in the scene in the frame as well. i also tried a different style of shading instead of little highlights here and there.
	IP Logged

Manupix Commander Joined: 07 May 2026 Online Status: Offline Posts: 771	Posted: 15 December 2009 at 3:36pm
	You didn't really check those refs, did you? Ah well. :S No one can really draw a convincing rope or snake out of their heads ya know, unless they've practiced it lots. Messy doodly edit: Your idea of a light source is a common mistake: that nearer = lighter. This is true indeed for close light sources, but here it doesn't have to be close; and light and shadows mostly depend on the direction surfaces point to, much more strongly than distance. A surface points directly towards the light source: your lightest tones go there. Another faces away: insert your darkest shades here (unless there is some reflected light from somewhere, hehe). A rope has countless little hills and valleys: each of them has to be shaded, only that will give the volume of a rope. I tried to give the snake better lines, fluidity, strength and weight, but I didn't check a ref so it's not so good. Please do that! Then you might try some scaly texture on it. That won't be the easiest part though. Colors: you have far, far too many (> 60). There are so many blues as to be indistinguishable, meaning you lost control of your palette. Also, think unified palette: instead of a yellow rope, green snake and blue water, try to shift hues and find some common tones here and there, mostly in shadows and highlights. Have fun!
	IP Logged

Mortar Seaman Joined: 08 August 2024 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 15 December 2009 at 5:15pm
	looks like i have some work cut out for me during the winter break! thanks for all the suggestions/tips, they're a great help!
	IP Logged

Mortar Seaman Joined: 08 August 2024 Online Status: Offline Posts: 20	Posted: 08 January 2010 at 3:03pm
	k, got to work on this during art class again, here's my finished product, i.ve re-done the rope, it's more of a ribbon now, and made the snakes slightly yellow-ish to tie in with the ribbon. well, i'd say that's about 12-14 hours well spent! thanks for the tips manupix, they were very helpful! though I decided I liked my snakes and they didnt have to be completely realistic. with the ribbon there's a little less colors i guess, i may see if i can recycle some shades of blue when i get home tonight, but other than that im happy with the result and i consider myself done.
	IP Logged