09-10-2015, 06:42 AM
Another thing to think about it is to really get into the scene of what you're painting. What makes sense for embellishing the ideas behind that you're conveying in your piece? A magician enveloped in curiosity? Make a background of bookshelves and curious elements that add to the situational story of the piece. Also how would the table's doodads realistically be put in when someone's working on a potion? Books closer to the character? Maybe the book is propped up to give the magician a better look at the content? Maybe there are diagrams around? Maybe there is a prep area for making the content of the cauldron, like cutting board and random ingredients around? This is part of what makes Bethesda role playing games so intriguing, they absolutely FILL the environment with relevent "lived in" qualities. Baskets of ingredients, cauldrons, knives, mortar and pestle, smears and papers strewn about. All about that realistic look of the situation.
Also, take a look at other artists that you think do really awesome work with storytelling and lighting and composition. Break down what they do and ask questions about why their content looks so damn good. Backlighting? Dramatic lighting? Cool facial expressions? Awesome compositioning with environment elements framing the character and their personality? All sorts of things to consider for your arsenal of making a badass piece of art that conveys a story for people to get absolutely lost in :)
Also, take a look at other artists that you think do really awesome work with storytelling and lighting and composition. Break down what they do and ask questions about why their content looks so damn good. Backlighting? Dramatic lighting? Cool facial expressions? Awesome compositioning with environment elements framing the character and their personality? All sorts of things to consider for your arsenal of making a badass piece of art that conveys a story for people to get absolutely lost in :)