How to add more impact?

[AdamMiconi]

Adam hey!

I'm pretty much a noob here, but I'll go ahead and give my two cents and hope, that at some level, I can help you a little. From looking at what you've done, I believe you have a lot of the necessary skills to achieve your goal! So the first thing I would like to address is composition. This is something that I'm still struggling with, and I think this really just takes practice and in a lot of cases it helps to look at others' work to see how they achieve a certain 'feel' or emotion with their compositions.

For example, you want the tree golem to be imposing, and invoking fear on the little traveler beneath him. When I look at this, I feel being closer to the traveler and looking up with him towards the sky at this looming beast, would convey that emotion best (empathy). So with that said, your horizon line would probably be low, almost head to head with the character, but you would be looking up at this huge looming creature as debris, and swamp crap falls from arms/limbs. I dunno, what do you, or anyone else think about what I've said?

As for your third image; is the creature supposed to be aggressive, or is he just a sick twisted little thing designed to creep out and 'eat' you? Lets see... Let's say he's aggressive and he's exposing himself to go on the offensive. You want him leaning forward and you want him to look imposing as if he's moving in on you. Right now he's just chillin' near a wall flashing his insides like some creeper with a straight jacket and no underwear. ;) If you want him to creep us all out... well, I can't say for sure, but twist him up a little... make him appear more unnatural...

Regardless your stuff looks great, and I see little 'wrong' with the images. I just think working out different compositions before you do your final painting will help in this regard. Ummm... Watch how this guy starts out his sketches in the initial part of this video if you're not familiar with what I mean: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIkCNCeYy_s

Finally... your first image. From what you've given me, the one thing I think of doing here, is treating the flames as primary lighting sources since you're going for a more dramatic feel... Basically use the form you've already created, and use the light cast from the flames to illuminate and shadow the figure. As for any better suggestions, I leave that to the more experienced here... so I defer it all on them.

Hope I helped, and sorry for being so long winded. Keep it up, and don't quit! =D

CG

Thanks for the reply, and so quick!

First, thanks for the compliments on my work and the link to the video, that gaves some pretty helpful techniques.

I can see what you mean with composition. I too struggle with that a lot. I understand the theory but actual implementation I struggle with. For instance, making the tree golem towering as looking up is very difficult for me to understand but you have brought to my attention that it's a weakness I need to address! I like your suggestion about the debris falling as well. I've got some falling already but it's more like swamp water, I think it would be pretty cool to kick it up and have actual pieces of bark falling from him. I think you had some great advice here.

The creature is supposed to be something that just lurks in the darkness and then rips itself open. I feel it's stiff and needs more action. My problem is, I thumbnail these and they are full of energy and life but as I start to paint they stiffen up a ton and loose all motion and feeling. I have yet to figure out how to fix this

For the current image. I like your idea about using the flames as the main light source. I'll have to play with that idea but I'm so damn slow at painting (and this is so bad to say) but I'd hate to kill the hours I've put in just to get it to this stage. However, in the name of art, right?! I guess it's better to build the skills than to just finish another one.

Thanks for the in-depth review of my work. I really appreciate it!

---

I think you're artwork looks trully good, it seems to be part of a book or something like this, I think what your artworks lack is some kind of focus, it's all so lit that I don't exactly know what to look, what's important in the image, what should I look first and pay more attention! That's something I must work as well!^_^/
You're art is technicly very good, there's always room for improving, but I'd tell you to increase the focus, chose one specific part to give more details and light!
I hope I could help!

Thank you, it really helps drive motivation hearing that the art is good!

I agree that it lacks focus, I think if I learn how to do some more dramatic lighting that would definitely help. I've noticed Dave Rapoza's work always has great dramatic lighting but I still have yet to figure out how to add that to my work. When I try to focus in on an area it seems to flatten out a lot so I'll have to keep working on that to try to learn how to kick up the lighting. I think it's time to pull out my Color and Light book again. Maybe this time I'll understand a bit more than when I read it last year.

Thanks for the reply!