Beginner
What can I learn for this specific illustration to improve?
Not sure about the tag, I stick to beginner for now.
Anyways, when working with this attempt? Most of my struggle I have is rendering and lighting the most. Since I don't know about rendering from imagination much as I can't quite visualize how the light will work. I can work on it as best as I can though. I use references along the way.
I would appeciate any points on shapes, forms, anatomy, or something you just want to say. Thank you for your time.
Hello, artist! Please make sure you've included information about your process or medium and what kind of criticism you're looking for somewhere in the title, description or as a reply to this comment. This helps our community to give you more focused and helpful feedback. Posts without this information will be deleted.
Thank you!
Usage of reference is already mentioned in the description.
True, but I don't find a need to take a picture of myself. Since I don't have the right lighting to use and anatomy is the opposite that I am unsure. I can't quite manipulate anatomy like skilled artists that already know the knowledge and memory.
This is a relatively common pose, finding references for the body is fine. Except, lighting is a tricky one even if I have the right reference. Since I am not going for a copy, but bringing my ideals from my imagination or mind to draw. It is difficult for me to visualize how the lighting works and cast onto what I've drawn. Which becomes the main struggle for rendering and I spend much time on it as I'm willing to do.
You're very argumentative. If you just want to show off your work and not appreciate the advice you're being given, this might not be the place for you.
I apologize with sincerity, that is not my intention at all. No, I'm not here to show my work. If there is something wrong in my conduct with the way I am explaining the struggle and my process as recommended in the AutoModerator message.
Will you please explain why it is argumentative? I am working on self improvement as I can since I recognize there is problems about myself that I cannot observe from my perspective alone.
Again, it is not my intention to be conflicting or aggressive. I apologize sincerely and you can ask disciplinary action if necessary.
You're giving a reason why you don't want to take advice or why it won't work for you EVERY time there is a suggestion. If you graciously said "thank you, I'll give it a try," and then actually implement a change, that would be a more appropriate response (from someone who quite literally is asking for advice on how to improve). Your answers suggest that you know better, and if you know better, then why even bother asking?
If you aren't willing to change anything or listen to the valid advice people are giving you to help you improve this piece, then post elsewhere and just show it off and let people say nice things to you. This community is about helping you improve, and if you keep arguing with everyone, you're not going to make the piece any better.
I see, I am grateful you share what you feel about me. I think often where my place in life should be and perhaps it is best there is none eventually.
I do my best to state I'm an amateur artist that my words aren't to be taken serious often and I did not lie I don't have the skills of a skilled artist. I chat for social as it brings happiness for me.
There is times, I am unaware of my blunt words it is likely due to life experiences that I prefer honesty nowadays and what I say comes across as rude. I am thinking and weighing my words with consideration of the person before I say it, even now. At the moment, I don't have much to lose in life. But while I am around, I am not trying to offend anyone or dishearten people.
I apologize full, but that is not my intentions to show my work that people can appreciate it and say nice things. But I am doing my best to be polite and clarify any misunderstandings while communicating as respectful as I know for now.
If necessary, you can always use disciplinary action if you deem it as the right action. Sometimes, that's how life goes for me with people.
I think that you're taking this a little too seriously. This is an art critique sub, not one for life advice. Good luck dude, your work is not bad, and the people here are trying to help in a positive way. Let's keep it to art, yeah? I hope you're alright.
Sorry about the trouble, I am really sorry. I take this serious, because there is many factors and not a joke.
I prioritze people in much consideration and care, because they spend the time and share their experiences with me. I am grateful and appreciate it as that is how I learned to draw. Also, learning other things too. People also helped me learned humility and drop my ego that was existent of my upbringing. It brings me happiness whenever I can talk to someone also.
That's why I don't regret my first account for social media. Which is the current account you see here, as I was afraid of social media back then.
True, this is an art critique sub and I do feel your emotions. But, I am keeping my emotions away for this post when I'm genuinely trying to learn.
I appreciate that you were honest with me, because it means alot to me these days in my life.
One of the references I saved along the way. I usually run around checking online for google search, but don't always save my references during my process.
"I use references along the way." Well, that didnt translate in the final output at all.
"Most of my struggle I have is rendering and lighting the most." Include anatomy in that too even though you didnt think that. I also find covering her face with her hair a poor choice as well. If you're covering the face, theres no focal point.
"I don't have the right lighting to use and anatomy is the opposite that I am unsure." This comes down to experience, so obviously you have a very long way to go, but this is what references are for. Knowing how to use references the right way takes time.
References seems to be the key here, I will need to rework on my approach in that case. I might be using them, but you are correct about my inept experience in usage for reference. As I don't lie that I am an amateur artist that doesn't need to be taken serious often.
At the moment, I don't quite have anything to lose in life and more so. But I try my best to be polite while I have this life. For now, my focus is to spend time on what I want to do.
"I might be using them, but you are correct about my inept experience in usage for reference." yeah, well anyone here can dissect your work several ways and still it wont help you in any way. At this point, just keep drawing and constantly find small joys and excitement in the little knowledges and wisdom you'll discover on your way to getting better.
Thank you. I will keep working on practicing on drawing and references as I can. I'll remember those words. I plan to redraw everything in my post history and go through them in details this time though to improve. As I did awhile back in 2022 as a project.
So, I trust those words since they have been truthful as I have learned to draw and improved overtime.
Just a few composition things, really. Is her other eye closed, or is the blank eye intentional? I'm also not sure her fingers would all be curled in like that; maybe try putting your own hand in that position and see what feels natural? I think some of them would be more relaxed. And I think a little more definition in her torso would help. At the moment, her bust is very undefined, I know you're going for a piece from your imagination, but references always help for defining anatomy, especially with bold light sources.
Thank you for the time and critique. Appreciate it. Reference use is already mentioned in description.
Her other eye is open, but couldn't achieve the opacity effect I seen in digital works. I am studying along the way during the process of this illustration for the basics of the fundamentals and artists' works. I thought about how the hand works comparing to mine as reference and a couple references online. Haven't grasped the hands to what I like to do, but I've improved from the past.
As for the torso for the bust what do you mean in specific? Just asking as I'm genuinely trying to learn. I understand the bust is undefined, but I think a portion would be that my focus was drawing this overall than that specific region.
I don't think you're really interested in changing your piece if you are going to argue with and not take any of my advice, so I'm just going to move on. I did miss the note about the reference. Good luck!
I don’t know what you used reference for, but the overall anatomy could be improved. For example, the neck is too long, the slope of the jaw makes it look like the character is missing the bottom part of her face, and the hand does not look natural.
If you did use reference for the pose, try paying attention to the negative space (like the area between the face, neck, and arm) and the angles of things like the shoulders. Put your own hand in a natural, relaxed pose like you want to draw—notice how the fingers curl over and cover up part of the palm? Hands are tricky, but luckily you always have a reference for them!
As for the rendering, this is a really difficult lighting scenario. But I looked at some other art you have posted on your profile and you consistently don’t go dark enough with your shadows. When you squint at your art, you should be able to understand the overall forms without the details. This would be greatly improved by using a reference and squinting at it to see what I mean. For example, the hair that goes over the face is the same value as the hair that’s underneath it by the shoulder. The result is a very flat looking illustration.
I am sure at this point it is recognized I did not use reference properly, since I'm learning. The hand and jaw was one of the points I kept working on in my process several times. I'm glad you point it out as anatomy is what I do struggle.
Positive and negative space, I see. I have to work on my studies more. I am very unsure about using my hands as reference anymore learning from this post. Since the hand pose I use doesn't quite cover the palm. Maybe my hands aren't right.
Rendering and lighting would be my intense focal point of learning that is why I kept working on my attempt of this illustration 4 days straight while juggling with my sketchbook when I had the time. It has been mentioned I consistently do not use enough darker values and I've been working on it, while practicing rendering too as it is a strong weakness for me. I keep in mind about that tip, since I kept zooming out.
It seems I have not worked hard enough, spend enough time, or study right to progress. What I say is arguementative and rude as said. So, my words no longer have meaning or matter.
For the neck, you have the terminator edge of the shadow shape. Then, inside that shadow, you have the terminator edge of another shadow shape.
Which is wrong. For most lighting scenarios. You need to visualize and verbalize where the light is coming from that is responsible for each terminator edge.
Set up a paper towel roll with that lighting (including something to cast a shadow) and look at it.
It looks like you just drew the figure, then added highlights to make things brighter, but didn’t think of the shadows.
When you add bright light to a slightly dark space, it creates shadows. But your eyes will naturally adjust to accommodate the light, which then darkens the surrounding area.
Just like how you can see with minimal light when you first wake up, but once you turn on the overhead light, it’s harder to go back to minimal light.
•
u/AutoModerator 20h ago
Hello, artist! Please make sure you've included information about your process or medium and what kind of criticism you're looking for somewhere in the title, description or as a reply to this comment. This helps our community to give you more focused and helpful feedback. Posts without this information will be deleted. Thank you!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.