the background is just a rough sketch using random colors :) it's basically on that stage where I turn myself into a little kid and play around paint with it :P

can you post ref. pictures of objetcs and things (including the wall) from the game that I can relate to it?

*sigh.. constructing backgroung/scenes are the hardest part imo :P

just cuz i want to"
I've seen that before, itz amazing haha but thanks for the images

You should talk to The B.O.B. He's got this really cool pirahna plant style, which would go great with your piece. I think you should ask him if you can do a similar style (asking is always a good idea)

Here's the link: Pirahna Plant

You basically spoke another language right there >_< confused..
ughhh I should of done the bkg first hahah it's getting to hard now to figure out what to do for it..

Oh man, I left the first page of your thread open in my browser, and didn't realise it had switched over to page 2!

Jalonso's description of the Street Fighter staging is excellent, and Mario is the perfect game to match to that concept, since the strip of ground that you run along in all the games can be thought of as the stage, with an obvious scrolling background behind.

Your first concept drawing (or your second one) ought to be easily adapted to this idea, as in these four Mario images.

I would say that in your first background sketch, the horizon line is the top of the lime green area, and it should be brought down closer to the floor. I also agree with StepDragon that the main purple warp pipe is a little intrusive, but it makes a great focus piece (like a coffee table book) so I would suggest making it not overlap your green area in the front (the "stage") and making it look like it is located closer to the mountains (on the plains between the stage and the mountains) than the stage.

I hope that's a simple enough modification of what you already have. If it inspires any ideas, can you post a new sketch with the new perspective, so it can be further refined? Thanks!

okay so based upon the explanation and things i understood i redid it..
the first layer on the bkg it's supposed to be a castle wall with a plant going around of the detailed part of it..
then on the background we have mario mountains, ocean, and another castle..
Of course I plan to add more details along the wall like the broken brick i did and hopefully some cracks and etc..
also i placed mario and waluigi with the word just for the fun of it :P

Thanks Jal, I will work on the ground first and yes I plan to include the GUI elements on the top

I think a sunset type palette for the background would work nicely. Kinda like fighting at dusk. idk just a thought.

a sketch using bold colors and very rough..
idk if I will ever be able to manage this mock up into a successful result
but oh well..

Wow, that is a fantastic update and improvement on your first version! Keep it up!

I love the weight things have now, and the organic feel of roughness to everything - like a master artist spashing a canvas with bold strokes of colour.

The higher horizon line is a great improvement, and the sparkles on the water look very cool.

I like the colours for your sky, just remember to put the lighting on the clouds on the bottom, since the sun is below them.

Try making the base of your ivy column stick down onto the floor a bit, so that it looks more round.

And you might want to make the floor stones a bit larger so that they don't drive you crazy (unless you're already fine with them!).

To wrap up - terrific job, this is going really well, and is going to rock!