I like the platforms you have placed in between the cliff edges. One major issue I see is that it lacks a value change, so the image appears a little flat.
Going back to the initial silhouette in the thumbnail, I see a stronger composition there, than the resulting final. I think one of the issues you ran into was jumping ahead and adding too much detail and texture before your basic forms were solidified. I like the rock texture, but it becomes noise because the eye is drawn to it and has no underlying form to follow. When working on anything, an environment, character, object, or even GUI, its important to keep focal point in mind. One of the ways an artist will direct a viewer's eye is through use of texture and contrast, we are naturally inclined to linger on visual areas that have high contrast/texture. Because there is so much detail work on your final piece, it's difficult to focus on a single area or section. I would suggest if you were doing a revision of this assignment to return to the initial thumbnail, which had a nice suggestion of depth and composition. Then define the major forms of the cliff faces (look at references and break them down into their most basic forms, oftentimes intersecting boxes is a good way to start) and add your platforms at the base of the valley. Then define your medium to large forms, (the platforms, largest clusters of foliage {do NOT define individual foliage yet, just their overall clustered mass}, and any medium rocks/crevice/outcroppings). Then move to your smaller masses (start to define some of your individual plants, some major structural details on the platforms, a few key focal areas of your cliffs). Nail those major forms and their babies and then your lovely detail work will serve to accent rather than distract.
I like the platforms you have placed in between the cliff edges. One major issue I see is that it lacks a value change, so the image appears a little flat.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the initial silhouette in the thumbnail, I see a stronger composition there, than the resulting final. I think one of the issues you ran into was jumping ahead and adding too much detail and texture before your basic forms were solidified. I like the rock texture, but it becomes noise because the eye is drawn to it and has no underlying form to follow. When working on anything, an environment, character, object, or even GUI, its important to keep focal point in mind. One of the ways an artist will direct a viewer's eye is through use of texture and contrast, we are naturally inclined to linger on visual areas that have high contrast/texture. Because there is so much detail work on your final piece, it's difficult to focus on a single area or section. I would suggest if you were doing a revision of this assignment to return to the initial thumbnail, which had a nice suggestion of depth and composition. Then define the major forms of the cliff faces (look at references and break them down into their most basic forms, oftentimes intersecting boxes is a good way to start) and add your platforms at the base of the valley. Then define your medium to large forms, (the platforms, largest clusters of foliage {do NOT define individual foliage yet, just their overall clustered mass}, and any medium rocks/crevice/outcroppings). Then move to your smaller masses (start to define some of your individual plants, some major structural details on the platforms, a few key focal areas of your cliffs). Nail those major forms and their babies and then your lovely detail work will serve to accent rather than distract.
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