I started this long time ago and didn't finished it, yet...
I want to make it,already, but I stuck with one problem: how to make metal reflection nice?


Edited by Killar - 09 December 2012 at 5:27am

that's cool, thank you!
It's magic, if changing color a little bit, just wow!

Now I stuck with background problem, I just can't decide, will it be open place like plains or something like ruins. How do you think, guys?


Edited by Killar - 12 December 2012 at 7:36am

I prefer the awing expanse of the second option.

What are the characteristics of the bubble-butts? Are they timid? If so, they would probably be deep in the forest. If they live comfortably, then they might live in the open field. It's up to you to compose the picture.

Edited by AirStyle - 14 December 2012 at 1:05am

Google some rushing rivers. However, I like what background you've chosen. The trees help pull the foreground into the background some more.

looks good so far :) ... but no hands on the golem? and also some weathering like moss and dirty would look good on it....

like this:


by the way have you seen this movie? is really awesome!

light source for golem is still kinda indeterminate, I think there should be some darker darks in there as well. and the straight-grey ramps are still boring. keep it up, but think about the importance of values and not just colors as you work, look at greyscale photos of actual outdoor sunlit scenes.

I'm kind of scared to touch it right now...will return later, don't worry)
making background right now and I'm starting to really love pixel art)


Edited by Killar - 08 February 2013 at 1:44am

you have banding all around the golem, blue characters and a little of the background.  See cure's Pixel art tutorial for the deal with banding

Ok background is more detailed, now return to golem. Tried to upgrade it's chest, what do you think?

damn, you're right...but how to make metal convex? I see it's the only option...

Thanks for your help but I need to make it by myself)

the genral cyan tint makes your picture seem very washed out and flat...
try to make the highlight in a different tone than the shades... warm vs. cool colors to add a more natural look
also its lacking a lot depth which can mostly b attributed to the flat lightiing.
try playing with your light sources. for examlpe they are sitting in a shaded area under the trees but the luminance of the robot does not really convey that...
dont be afraid to exaggerate your lighting to give ur image a much miore striking and dramatic feel.
a made a quick edit playing with colors and lighting
as u can see it has much more depth by adding more contrast and seperatzing the image in light and dark areas that also lead the eye and tell more of a story...
for example i put the foreground figure in much more shade which emphasizes the shyness of that character and adds to the daring nature of the other
also if u want a metallic structure u should avoid dithering atz all cost... i achieved a more metallic looking texture by adding some flashing highlights and overlaying stripe-like effect



Edited by onek - 18 March 2013 at 9:00am

I'd say, if you were willing to say, just try to draw reflections of the environment, because that is really all the metal texture is with distortions on the curved parts.

Not crazy about some aspects of the Golem\robot, especially the surface rendering of it.

I would advise against going with a super shiny reflective surface, hard to do well if your inexperienced and not really that suitable for this kinda  character methinks.  He looks more like an old kinda robot rather than something in the style of Sorayama Hajime.
http://www.sorayama.net/

I like the advice that moondrome gave you/picture he showed. Also heres a picture of a robot a friend of mine did.  He does nice old robots and ladies :)
http://www.mattdixon.co.uk/g43.htm

my 2 cents.

Ment to add i would have put the enviroment setting deep in a forest.  Forests are very magical/mythical places and i would have gone with some nice soft yellow light with some blue ambient.  Propped the robot up against an old tree and made the 2 little interesting characters slightly luminous.

current setting doesnt do much for it.  Not much of a sense of wonder/intrigue, you are not been drawn into the scene.

I do like the idea of the 2 characters helping the old robot, nice.


Edited by paler123 - 19 March 2013 at 8:33am

"Thw idea was these 2 are aliens and, yes, robot meant to be rusty, helps them, give them what they need(part of the ship, fuel, etc.)"

yep, like this a lot.  Just the setting isnt working.  like i said, the enviroment should maybe  be set somewhere deep inside a forest or somewhere like that, think mystical/magical, somewhere off the beaten track.  Make the scene quite dark illuminated by some yellow light filtering through trees or whatever, also letting the slightly luminous nature of the alien beings easy to see and ye can have some fun with the bounce light.   Not too much detail in the enviroment except for where you put the focus of attention, ie in the area with the aliens and Golem.   Also add some ruined stone monumet coming out of the undergrowth with some glyphys\geometric designs to hint at something past.  maybe something like that :)

When attempting to paint\draw something like this.  take some time out to write down a few little things about what you wanna portray.  set the scene,  what do you want the viewer to feel/emotions.  what kinda lighting are you gonna use,  where to put the focus in the scene, etc.  All the while visualising it in your head.  Sit in a quiet dark space helps this i find.  do a couple of early tests/thumbnails for layout/colour/framing/character shape/positions etc.   Dont commit to something too early and then spend most of your time trying to reorganise it/make it work.

At the moment the setting would suit something more akin to two people sitting on a park bench eating ice cream enjoying the moment.  do ye get what i mean?

just thought id share my thoughts, like i said cool idea, just try get the most out of it.


Edited by paler123 - 20 March 2013 at 6:14am

hehe, good stuff my friend!

of course u can use the background somewhere else.  Even if you didnt it wasn't a waste of time, all is experience.  But what do you think yourself of the background yourself??  dont discard it just cos i said so.

Anyway, the main point i was trying to make in my last post  is that when approaching a full painting/background pic that has a lot of work in it.  Give it plenty of thought initially.

When you have that cool initial idea in your head, write it down on paper, dont have to make a story or anything just5 write down some key aspects of whats cool about it or what you want to achieve with it.   Spend some time thinking about it, let the image\possibilities form in your mind.  Do plent of quick pencil sketches about how it might look, really important this, i feel.

Also maybe do a google search online for some images that might inspire.  I find it very hard to do something from a blank slate.   So if i am gonna paint a background with a forest i will google it and save a bunch of images that appeal to me.  I will do this for each aspect of the image that is important to me.  Same thing done for "Iron surface"

Everyone works there own way im just giving you an idea how I would approach something like this.

Like you said it can be titanic work when pixelling so best be prepared if your gonna do something large scale.

Hope i encourage you and not dishearten you :)   sometimes people dont like their work criticised\taken apart as art can be a very personal thing.

the people that take things personal\get offended can be limiting themselves in ways.  the people that can take the critisism/observations on board and objectively try see what the other person is saying has more potential to move forward. 

anyways,  just my 2 cents, not saying im correct about anything just that ive had my fair share of trouble trying to pixel large backgrounds and when ye have to scrap/rework something it can be a pain. like i could have just made an observation of the grass or the robots head or whatever but i like to look at the overall picture.  Making an observation of the grass colour for example wouldnt have really helped you.

good luck my friend!

paler


Edited by paler123 - 21 March 2013 at 2:57am

yes, Night and paler! you are very helpful)
I was too narrowminded when started to do this piece of..art? I didn't asked myself how I should paint it. Just started and hope it will guide me somehow...But I should consider what I need to get. The last image tip from Night is very helpful, too.
Thanks!