MaevesChild
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Calanais
Pencil on Bristol.
I would appreciate comments on what can be improved for future pieces. I'm also debating making a color version of this. I paint digitally with many of my pieces.
Have at it!
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11/29/2008, 5:01 pm
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TexasMadness
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Re: Calanais
There is good use of the full spectrum of light and dark throughout the whole piece but I'm wondering if the figure could use a little more contrast. I like that he is much lighter than the background, but perhaps just some "low-lights" for interest (like his eyes) - the pendant could be darker, etc. I'm not sure if it would be an improvement, but worth a shot.
Ummm....gee, I'm having a hard time seeing anything else...
I really like it in black and white. If you did a color version, I would use really muted earth tones. The form shouldn't be overshadowed by the color.
Great work!
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12/1/2008, 12:59 pm
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de Corbin
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Re: Calanais
OK, now that TexasM has broken the ice, I'll give it a try...
First the easy part. here's what I think is particularly good:
Excellent composition. It moves my eye from the figure, along the hand holding the wand, into the background, and then back to the figure so that everything is bound together into a meaningful whole. the figure tells us something about the background, and the background tells us something about the figure.
Your skill at protrature is extraordinary. I don't know if you're using a model, or reference photos, or pulling the images out of your head, but, whatever it is, you do it marvelously. The draftsmanship is impeccable (even in the hand. I'm painfully jealous), and the face, and the angle of the face, and the gesture of the hand are very expressive.
In my view, you show the most skill in your rendering of the hair, and the fur of the robe. I'll have to study how you got the furriness of the fur. I'd like to be able to do that!
And the hair - which is often so hard to do well, but, when done well, is one of the most beautiful parts of the human form, is done wonderfully. You've shown exactly enough - without doing too much - of the strand quality of the hair - with the texture of the beard and moustache being different from the head hair. Lovely work.
And, like TexasM, I really have to strain to make any suggestions for improvement. I'd say the same thing - If you were to increase the contrast - darken the darkest parts - that would give you a greater range of tones to play with in doing the skin. With your skill, you could really go wild in working details into the skin.
But I'm not sure I'm really on firm ground suggesting that. It seems that what I'm critiquing there is more of a stylistic choice than an actual area to improve on. But if you wanted to try something, that might be something you could try.
But I don't know...
P.S. I forgot to mention the wand. I really, really like the way you've captured the thin, twig-like quality of the stick.
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12/1/2008, 9:03 pm
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MaevesChild
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Re: Calanais
Thanks. And actually, the contrast IS the predominate suggestion I get for this, so you are totally on track.
I'm working on a new piece right now, and I'm trying to keep that in mind as I work.
Thanks again!
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12/3/2008, 9:11 am
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PerpetuallyCurious
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Re: Calanais
A non-art educated, untalented persons opinion 
I really like it overall, but the figure is too bright against the background. I find myself instinctively drawn right past him to the background. I'm guessing that's what you guys mean by contrast??
The size of his hand bothers me. He is holding his hand back a bit from his head/body and it's just to big overall in comparison (in my humble opinion).
I love the details of the hair, the beard, the fuzzy part of the robe, the grass, the stonework, the sky above the stonework....
I really like his eyes. Most people try to make them identical or "matching" which no one's is in real life.
Anyhow I really like it. My favorite part of the drawing is the hair/beard detail.
(from someone who still draws stick figures  )
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1/3/2009, 11:44 pm
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Saijen SilverWolf
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Re: Calanais
I'm at about the same place Curious is when it comes to this kind of thing, but I know what I like....and dislike about a piece.
I like how you managed to get the hair to look like hair and the facial hair to look perfect! The fur of his robe is also awesome. I have to say, he looks a bit like Willie Nelson, though...not that that is a bad thing!
The pendant seems to ultimately get lost in his clothing. It needs a bit more detailing at the very bottom and that one side where it's so light. And the wand, while I love it, the crystal gets totally lost in the sky. I didn't even notice the crystal until I really looked at the picture. It also needs a bit more definition.
I wonder if there may not be just a little (and I mean just a little) too much definition of the lines around his mouth. Taking too much away there would leave you with the impression that this Wizard/Witch hasn't seen a lot in his life, but as it looks now, to me anyway, it seems to just make that part of his face look a bit fat or swollen. Which direction is the light coming from? Does the right side of his face (his right, not ours) need that much shading around his mouth? Or, if the light is coming from behind him, then his entire face needs more shading. From in front of him? Then more light, less shadow. From his left? More shadow on his right side, less on his left. It's not very obvious which direction the light is coming from. Just something to think about, perhaps.
Over all, I love the piece. I'd love it if I could draw like that!!! You have an amazing talent/skill/gift and I'm glad that you're willing to share it with us!!
Keep these amazing pieces coming!
--- Blessed Be,
~*~ Saijen ~*~
~~*~~  .~~*~~ |
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1/5/2009, 2:56 pm
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draconis100
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Re: Calanais
this piece is amazing i don't see anything that needs to be changed
---
Sweet bitter words
Unlike nothing I have heard
Sing along mocking bird
You don't affect me
That's right
Deliver it to my heart
Please strike
Be deliberate
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4/20/2009, 11:09 am
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