CGMythology's Sketchbook (nudity)

Charlotte:  Thank you, glad  you enjoy the oracle image!  Went ahead and fixed the issue you stated, good eye!  I'll post the updated version on my website shortly for those interested.  Excellent feedback regarding the new sketch as well, went ahead and fine tuned the face - hopefully it looks more natural now!

......................

I went ahead and painted the image in.  The painting process went by extremely smoothly, probably because I got the values the way I wanted them very early in the painting process.  Slowing this down really is helpful during the early stages! Here is the current progress followed by the steps for those interested.  Any feedback on the image would be greatly appreciated as there's still time to correct things and fine tune things if needed, so please let me know!

 
  

 

I went ahead and updated the column so they both match and did some subtle improvements through out.  I think the image is finalized for now:  





 Next up I started on a new sketch, wanted to paint a figure riding a horse again, although at the same time significantly different than the recent illustration I tackled.  I had a reference for the general poses, although in the reference the figure's leg was covered up by drapery so I drew that form imagination, hopefully it looks natural enough but please let me know if you feel otherwise.  Overall I'm pretty satisfied with the sketch, but I would love to hear any input on it before I begin painting, so please feel free to let me know if anything can be improved.  Here is the current sketch:  

 

 

I do think the leg looks off, to be honest. Both because horses are rather barrel shaped and because she's turning her torso in a way that would make her leg follow. Basically I think her knee would be somewhere around "two knees" to the right.

I also think the way she holds her dagger looks odd - kind of like she's using it like a spyglass...

And finally it looks a bit like the horse is missing the lower part of it's mouth? (And do the reins fall so symmetrically in the ref? Seeing as she holds both sides in one hand I would assume the tension in them was a bit different - though not so much as to steer the horse, I guess!)

Charlotte:  Thanks for your feedback and your honesty!  Best I tackle the major issues now before spending hours painting it and revising as I go along so I'm very thankful you pointed our what wasn't working.  I addressed all your feedback with the update below, I feel it works much more natural now but please feel free to let me know!


 

 

The leg and horse's mouth both look better - though I think maybe the middle line on her boot should be a bit more back towards our left (facing more forwards).

She still looks like she's staring at her hand, though it might be easier to tell where she's looking once she's coloured. The new dagger and the way her hand is held looks like it's forshortened towards the viewer and as such I think the guard should overlap her hand a bit more while her hand in turn would overlap the pommel quite a bit more.

Charlotte:  Thank you, glad to hear it's heading in the right direction!  I altered the line in the boot for a more 'center' orientation, hopefully it looks more natural now.  I dropped the 'dagger' concept as well, it just wasn't working.  Thanks for you input as always!

..........................

Made some changes based on the input received, I feel it's stronger now.  Feedback appreciated as always:
 
 

Edit:  Removed the flag since it wasn't working.





 

I finished up the painting process after incorporating various feedback, and I'm fairly satisfied with it.  Below is the current preview followed by the steps for those interested.  Of course there's still time to incorporate any final feedback, so if something feels off please feel free to let me know! 



    


Next up is a new illustration with a Halloween theme!  For this image I referenced Jessica Truscott's excellent Witch stock for the figure, pretty much tried to recreate the reference photo as closely as possible and I feel I was quite successful in that regard.  Before I paint it in I would love to hear any input on the sketch, so if something feels off or can be improved I'm all ears! Below is the current sketch: 

    

For the finished one, I do think the face lost a bit of it's structure in the painting process, though I can't really put my finger on it. Maybe the face looks a bit flatter? Something kind of happens in the last one or two steps you show in the process, I think.

The new one looks good and I love the eyes. I like the mouth too (reminds me of Geena Davis) but I think maybe the lower lip should be like 1 pixel forwards (to the left)...

Oh just noticed: I think maybe make the pestle longer so it reaches into the bowl - as it is it looks like the bowl is full to the very brim as both it and pestle (or is that the mortar...?) ends at the exact same height.

Charlotte:  Great input!  I agree about the horse image, but I probably won't return to it anytime soon as I'm not completely satisfied with it to be honest.  Excellent suggestions regarding the witch, went ahead and updated the sketch per your input and finished up the painting process as well.


................................


Did some minor tweaks to the sketch and painted it in.  I'm pretty satisfied with how it turned out, really fun to do something for the Halloween season!  There's still time to refine it further if needed so if something is off please feel free to let me know.  Below is the current preview followed by the steps for those interested: