79 replies to this topic

[Miloch]

Here we go, two portraits I recently made. I used Eliza Dushku's photo as a ref for the elven girl

Eliza Dushku... yum . They all look very good. In particular, I'd like to see the first two with darker shadows and edge shading.

[Ilmatar]

BGhead - That's odd! My guess is that your monitor is quite dark, since I've asked many others and they have said that they can make out the man pretty well from the picture.

Miloch - Thanks! I could try tweaking the contrast etc on the first two portraits and see if they are more to your liking then.

Meanwhile, here's a new one!

Attached Images

• 

[Ilmatar]

Here's a druid or a witch or something!

Attached Images

• 

[Kellen]

I first read, He's a druid or a witch or something!

I'm like. And also very feminine.

But good portrait.

[Miloch]

That is nice... might even work for a dryad. Though again, I tend to like the contrast quite a bit darker, like in your own portrait .

The guy with the scar looks oddly familiar but I can't quite put my finger on it. Did you use an actor for a reference or something?

[Ilmatar]

The guy with the scar looks oddly familiar but I can't quite put my finger on it. Did you use an actor for a reference or something?

Belive it or not, James Gandolfini (aka Tony Soprano).

[Miloch]

Heh heh. Yeah, I see it now, though he's usually not smiling like that .

[Discord]

Ilmatar, I must admit I am a HUGE fan of your work.


I especially like the newest one, the druid-ish girl. Beautiful!

[Riviera]

Me too! I especially love how you do hair.

[Ilmatar]

Theehee! You girls are too sweet! Thanks!

[Bane]

Awesome pics

My only advice is that if you don't make more, then I'll have to punish you .

[Ilmatar]

In order to avoid Bane's fiersome punishment - here's a random sorceress.

Attached Images

• 

[theacefes]

*How* does she *do* that?

[WeeRLegion]

Awesome!
I love the colors and the shading and and and...
You know, I think you often use quite... du... err, no, lowly-saturated, grayish, colours.
But this pic breaks the "rule", strong colors, strong and sharp shadows and lights and...

...

Everything seems to work technically, and it's pretty to boot!

[Kellen]

I really really like that last one.

Can I threaten punishment? Mayhaps we can get some little folk in here...

[Miloch]

Very nice. And yes, I like the contrast much better too (I guess I just prefer darker). And I also think you should disclose your technique so I can attempt to steal it .

[whatbrick]

Good stuff, though aside from the sorceress pic most could use more contrast. I've heard the words "more contrast" so many times I could scream but it does help. In your case, the contrast isn't with the extremes between light and dark, it's mostly with the shadows. They don't seem to be deep enough, like where the hair is overlapping the face/neck and clothes.

Besides that, I like the facial expressions on all of them, they bring out a lot of character. Nicely done.

[Ilmatar]

In your case, the contrast isn't with the extremes between light and dark, it's mostly with the shadows. They don't seem to be deep enough, like where the hair is overlapping the face/neck and clothes.

Now THAT was the clarification I needed! Thank you so much for the tip!

[Miloch]

In your case, the contrast isn't with the extremes between light and dark, it's mostly with the shadows. They don't seem to be deep enough, like where the hair is overlapping the face/neck and clothes.

Yes. Now that I look at them closely, that is generally true. In the case of the "Gandolfini" portrait at the top of this page, the darkest bits in the picture are almost black, so nothing wrong there. But the right side of his face (his right, away from the scar) and his neck could be quite a bit darker.

The dryad or druid on the other hand is quite light overall. But you might expect that, given the bright setting. As whatbrick said though, the right side of her neck (her right again) under her hair should be quite dark. As could her temples where her hair overlaps a bit and even her left side between her face/neck and hair. You do this quite well in your own portrait and the sorceress.

Going back to your first two portraits, the armour and clothing seem to be fine. But the faces could use some darker shadows around the cheekbones, the neck and where the hair and faces overlap. The "Edwina" portraits are just fine in this respect (is it just me or does she look a bit like Carrie Fisher a la "Princess Leia?" ).

Not trying to be over-critical, but when the portraits are this good, it's easy to nitpick on one thing that would make them even better .

[Ilmatar]

Miloch, you're absolutely right. Though I don't know about the Princess Leia thing.. Thanks for the critizism, I really need it and want it. I really have to be braver with the shadowing in the future.