FanArt: A Work in Progress

[KayaHime]

I'm kind of hesitant to post any artwork here, since I doubt my talents. XD However, I thought I might share something I've been working on anyway.

I'm rather new to digital painting (I have a preference for vector art, rather than painting), but I really wanted to give it a shot.

Now, to explain the piece a little bit, I can't afford to buy AoI yet, and one of my friends did. When he installed it and started playing, he started sending me screenshots (making me very jealous, but that's beside the point). I LOVED the outfit he put his wartecher in, so I decided to draw him.

Here is the sketch I started with (it's VERY rough, even for me):
http://www.demithomas.com/private/trevorprogress.jpg

This was the first progress shot I took, to show my friend when he asked to see the picture:
http://www.demithomas.com/private/trevorprogress1.jpg

More progress:
http://www.demithomas.com/private/trevorprogress2.jpg

And, where I'm currently at:
http://www.demithomas.com/private/trevorprogress3.jpg

Thoughts/opinions, anyone? I'm totally open to critique/advice (especially since this is still an in-progress piece), because I've only done digital painting a couple of times in the past, and I'm not that great at it. XD

For reference, software is Corel Painter 8, and this was done using a Wacom tablet.

[Deja]

I think you should stop doubting your talents.

[Mwabwetumba]

I agree with Deja here, this looks great!

[qoxolg]

thats some good stuff http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_smile.gif I gave up on digital painting.. >> to hard http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_razz.gif

good luck!

[KayaHime]

Haha! I can agree with that. I've been doing vectors for years, but gave up digital painting right away because I found it to be so much harder.

All the same, I'm glad you guys like it. Notice anything that could be improved, though? Or any tips for fixing the foreshortening on his bracer/gauntlet thing? That's the part that stands out to me as looking the worst.

[Sagasu]

The bracer?

Whats messing that up as it seems to me, is the angle of the hand itself. Theres not enough foreshortening altogether to make it looks like hes holding his arm straight out, so, instead its like hes stretching it out in some kind of funky arc where its thicker in the middle and then thin again at the end.

If you were going for a more straightforward angle, the wrist and everything of the hand would start to exceed the size of the bracer itself. Trying a different posture for the hand would help as well.

Gestures that have meaning or make sense are usually best. http://www.pso-world.com/images/phpbb/icons/smiles/icon_smile.gif

Playing with proportions in perspective is tough, specially when you're taking the time to do it in a "painting" style.

Good luck.

[KayaHime]

Ah, I see what you mean. What I was kind of going for was an over-exaggerated anime spell-casting kind of pose (that's also kind of feminine, because the character's creator and I constantly joke that this character is really a girl). So what I had in mind was having kind of a reaching motion that's angled a little downward with the fingers outstretched and fire or lightning coming from them. XD We'll see if I ever get there.

Thanks very much for your advice, though. I'm going to try reworking that later tonight.