I really like the third palette for the wood. Makes it look more like wood in my opinion.

I actually like 4 the best because I feel like this style doesnt call for super high contrast.

Thanks for the comments guys. Here's the tower plus another building with the 4th tower's palette.



There's two versions, one with bricks put in and one with just a flat surface. Was wondering if the bricks take away, rather than add to the piece.

Exactly! Pixel the least you possibly can and let the viewer fill it in by suggestion.

I like where this is going. Remember that wood, and basically all materials, are context-sensitive. There is no general "best" color to use for every time you draw wood! It all depends on where the wood is, how it's being lit, etc.
But regardless of that, your current colors are great and the piece is looking very good. Your second edit might be the best one to use, in my opinion.
Keep on pixelling!

Clouds are ok but far too many...remember that 'less' from before.
The building's problem seems to be that its not matching the scale of the tower as any drunk in that bar is just as high in the window as the tower.
If the tower is supposed to be farther back in the horizon then it can't have the same level of detail as the bar up front.
Scale, proportion, and colors are crucial in this type of perspective if they are to real well.

Aside from all the technical stuff, I have to ask: are these buildings to be used in a fantasy setting, with all your shields and armour and swords?

Because right now, the style looks more like American civil war / wild west than anything else, at least to me.

Another change, tried to make it look more fantasy medieval.



Tried also adding people, made certain buildings smaller, etc.

Apologies if im posting too much!

Thanks for the illustration R1k, here's my attempt at introducing some of those elements to the buildings:



I'll probably try more buildings at somepoint. Thanks everyone for bearing and putting up with me so far.

Thanks for the advice again CELS, will make an edit with your words in mind. Sorry for making so many mistakes 

I only did one building with the diagonal wooden beams, only just to see what input i get in regards to them, so i can change them if need be.

I also took into account the contrast, windows, size of windows and the shadows. (Although i left the shadows on the beams because without them they seemed flat to me at least).

Not sure how to increase the contrast of the bricks, without making them look noisy. Might possibly go back to the previous shade if it's an issue

One reason why it looks noisy now is because the darkest parts on the bright side of the building are exactly as bright as the darkest parts on the dark side of the building (lum 109), which makes no sense. They also have the same hue, which makes them look warmer on the dark side, because they're contrasting a colder colour. (Grey looks cold next to yellow, but warm next to blue)

I agree that it looks noisy now, but I think you've gone too far in the other direction by having such an extreme contrast on very thin lines.

For me, another thing that gives this a "wild west" feeling is the very bright wood. Bright wood is usually wood without any kind of treatment (varnish, tar, etc). You'll notice that the half timbered houses in old europe (and in the picture provided by r1k) have very dark wood, because it's covered with tar to stop it from rotting. Quite often, the wood is black, not brown.



You can ignore all this, if you want. But realism isn't just a goal in itself, it's also about helping the viewer understand what you're trying to draw. If you draw a soldier from the Roman empire without looking at proper references, then it might end up looking like a Greek hoplite, for example.

To me, the prison reads more like a Spanish / Arab structure, because of the flat roof and tiny teeth (battlements) on the edge of the roof. I don't recall seeing small, medieval European buildings with a feature like that. It looks like something you'd see on a mosque. Maybe I'm wrong.

If we're REALLY going to nitpick, you should also note how windows in medieval European half-timbered houses were just openings created by the wooden framework already in place. Basically, they just left some of the holes in the wooden frames unfilled by bricks, etc. So they didn't actually construct windows separately, with window frames that break the framework of the surrounding wall, like in your piece, and like in modern houses. The edges of the window should follow the lines of the entire framework on that wall.



Quick and sloppy edit. I'll just leave it at this. I would argue that more realism is better, but I totally understand if that is not your goal.

Edited by CELS - 25 March 2014 at 2:31am

Just wanted top pop in here to give you some praise for your excellent attitude and hard work. The way you approach learning and taking critique is truly commendable.

Also, I'd like to argue for the merits of stylization. Seems that the general attitude in this thread has been to push for more and more realism. That's completely valid, and if realism is your goal you have received some tremendous advice. However, I'd just like to say that my favorite of all your iterations is actually your towers in the first post. It's a strong and bold style that stands out. It give me an exotic vibe and intrigues me more than the more standard looking later versions. I'd have loved to see a game or simply a scene done in that style.

Finally, make sure you keep your lighting consistent - now that you've flipped your tower, the shadow's on the wrong side (unless its temporary and you plan to flip it back).

Thank's MrHai,

The main reason im so keen to hear other people's opinions is because i personally find them very important and useful in learning what i've done wrong, what i could do to improve. Sometimes i feel like i'm done with a piece, but i make sure to post it on the WIP for critique just in case i missed something or if i need to improve or redo certain sections.

With CELS words in mind, i have done two versions, one without the shadows beside and underneath the beams and one with.

Im my opinion the one without the shadows makes it look sort of flat, I am sure if that is a good or bad thing.

Here's both for a comparison:

No Shadow's on the beams:



With Shadows:

Possibly my last update:



Made a few changes, most notably with the roofs. I wanted them all to be roughly the same. Wasn't sure i should go for the sort of thatched roof CELS depicted. I intend for them to look like thatch, not sure if it comes across that way.

I'll await further critique before i decide to post this.

Hello Jalonso,

I gave it another go with your words in mind, haven't fully completed the thatch, not sure if it looks "thatchy".

I've increased the contrast on the shaded areas, moved the clouds closer, made the sky darker at the bottom and added a highlight to the thatch.



Personally im a bit dubious of the thatch, i tried to emulate your edit's suggestion but i can't seem to get it down.

Thanks for the advice and suggestions btw, I always appreciate it.

Edit: Finished the thatching for the buildings, might leave the tower with a wooden roof.


Edited by AshCrimson - 26 March 2014 at 11:56am

you can certaintly have bright or rich colors in a medieval setting.  Check out some medieval artwork

http://karenswhimsy.com/public-domain-images/medieval-art/images/medieval-art-7.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mavihtcbWC1qejjo9o1_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/7729dc04cc60b4571158409f35bd6193/tumblr_miunycWu481qd4ufdo1_500.jpg
http://my.firedoglake.com/peasantparty/files/2010/12/TheRightHandOfGod_JeanFouquet-MetMuseum.jpg

Thanks for all the comments guys!

Here's my edit based upon your suggestions:



CELS: I've increased the contrast of the darker side of the buildings again.

Superturnip: Tried tufts of grass at the bottom. Also implied that the top of the tower's roof is made out of planks.

R1k: In regards to colours, here's my palette if you and CELS are interested:



Thanks again for all the comments. I really appreciate them, even just looking a at the beginning of the thread to the edit just now, I feel like i've perhaps improved. I feel a tad silly for making so many edits, but i feel like i've really learnt from the mistakes, critique, advice and suggestions.

Unfortunately i had to delete some of my previous edits, as my account on IMGUR was full of them, unfortunately. Apologies for any inconveniance this causes.


Edited by AshCrimson - 27 March 2014 at 12:49am

Apologies for misunderstanding!

Here's a quick edit, hopefully this is what you meant:



Maybe i should make the darker beams lighter or keep the current colours?

Sorry if i seemed stubborn, Jalonso. I genuinely appreciate all advice and criticism.

I'm thinking of submitting it, barring any further need to edit it.


Edited by AshCrimson - 27 March 2014 at 11:26am

Here's my attempt with the people added in:



Not sure if they are readable, if they aren't i'll most likely just submit it without them.

This has now been added to the gallery but I don't want any confusion.
I mistakenly said that skies get darker on the bottom and was not entirely what I meant to say.
Of course the submitted sky I don't like anymore because I only suggested flipping vertically when the grass had the same shading 'pattern'.
My thought was that by flipping so that both patterns met then because of its graphic nature it would both blend and create a horizon that fades front to back which seemed to match the simple graphic style that was being shown when I said that.
I do know skies are darker on top, k. k.