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(WIP) Ember
by Icebird
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My first serious painting in ages and of course I have to choose a difficult type of lighting. I swear my mum must have dropped me often as a child 
Anyway, this is still a work in progress (obviously) and I'd really appreciate some advice on how to tackle highlights/shadows with this kind of sunset lighting. Actually I'd appreciate any and all constructive criticism you have to offer, I want this to be awesome once it's finished
Posted April 05, 2012, 09:28:53 PM
April 10, 2012, 07:58:24 AM
Ember Work In Progress WIP
Anyway, this is still a work in progress (obviously) and I'd really appreciate some advice on how to tackle highlights/shadows with this kind of sunset lighting. Actually I'd appreciate any and all constructive criticism you have to offer, I want this to be awesome once it's finished
Posted April 05, 2012, 09:28:53 PM
April 10, 2012, 07:58:24 AM
Ember Work In Progress WIP
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Maggie
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Comment #1 - Posted April 05, 2012, 03:59:00 PM
Woo woo, looking good Icebird, can't wait to see this finished.
Sadly I can't offer much in the way of help with lighting, I am so bad at that. I kind of cheat and in Photoshop I use a light sort of peachy colour and then overlay at 2% to add highlights to stuff, it works most of the time and gives the illusion I know what I am doing.
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Treefox
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Comment #2 - Posted April 05, 2012, 11:18:03 PM
So lovely looking already! I always love the body shape you give your ladies. <3
Concering C/C, I'll try to point out some things, not sure if it's helpful, though. You are probably going to do this anyway, but I would darken the shadows on her body, like you already did on her arms. I think a sunset like this casts quite a dramatic shadowing. Same for the rock, maybe give it some sharper shadows on the side turned away from the sun. Also, put in more contrast in her hair, make the highlight a sliiiight bit lighter and darker where the sun doesn't hit. Concerning the highlights on her body, I would try to make them a bit more yellowish. Maybe try and undo if that doesn't look good. Just to reflect the surrounding colors a bit more. Same for the fur cloak. Being white, that should definitely reflect more the colors around it. Take some of the sunset colors and try and put them on the cloak, especially the shadows. One last thing: looking at it full size, I am not sure if her mouth is quite correctly aligned with her nose. Maybe try to shift it ever so slightly to the left? Wow, this is quite a lot... I hope you don't take it the worng way, because the pic is awesome and you are already so much better than me! It's amazing! |
Icebird
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Comment #3 - Posted April 05, 2012, 11:31:32 PM
Maggie @ Thank you, and thank you for dropping in with a comment anyhow
 Treefox @ Thanks! Oh, and don't worry about that, I asked for it, didn't I? It's easy to go "blind" when working on the same thing for a while - for me the only remedy is having other people take a look at it to find the mistakes. Like now, I didn't notice that her mouth was askew at all
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silentleaf
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Comment #4 - Posted April 06, 2012, 08:56:14 AM
I love the way this is looking! the colors are really great!!. what i do when I'm coloring is start out with the spots where the light is going to hit the hardest. creating my hard edges with light rather than rounding everything. It feels like she is missing a direct light source here but that can be fixed easily ,I agree with Treefox try a light yellow for your highlights You could even throw some red into the shadows on her legs arms and torso.! I also am loving the purple for her shadows but I feel like them might need to be sharper and maybe wrap around the figure more? You might also throw some of that purple into the back side of the hair to give it more form. Oh you could throw some reflected light into the rock by her legs. But really its looking very nice! I hope all that made seance... lol
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Amberfox
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Comment #5 - Posted April 09, 2012, 01:42:49 PM
I agree with Treefox that the mouth is slightly out of alignment with the rest of her features. It's a lovely set of lips, but they should be moved over slightly to the viewer's left. I am not sure what I can offer in terms of shading and lighting, since I'm not sure what direction you want to go with this. It seems that your light source is actually BELOW Ember, since the lighter yellow and softer hues of orange and red are below her and more to the viewer's left. If that is the case, the shading is a little off; there should be more highlight rather than shading on her neck just below the head, under her nose, lips, and eyes. The stronger shading would still be at her back, butt, and behind her things and upper arms. The cloak needs a stronger shading behind her, leaving the lighter highlighted areas where you have since the light would strike that but darken quickly since it can't reach beyond that (if that makes sense). I don't know if your intention was the light source below, so I don't know if this helps. It's a gorgeous Ember so far, though; I can't wait to see it finished!
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Icebird
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Comment #6 - Posted April 10, 2012, 08:12:22 AM
I've uploaded my progress with this painting, I've worked a lot on the shadows and highlights--a big thank you to all four of you, your advice has really helped (and still helps). I'd still appreciate advice and critiques of my progress (http://www.elfquestfanart.com/index.php?action=media;sa=item;in=3987)
 @Amberfox - The light source is supposed to come from the side. I see what you mean about the background, I actually didn't catch that until now. I haven't put any work into it since blocking out the colours in the very beginning. I'll definitely have to look into fixing that, the light should come out from the left 
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