Miyuki

Posted Jul 28, 2007, 4:29:27 AM UTC

Yes, I'm finally posting again! And look! I have BACKGROUND! HOMFG! And I just love this piece. I'm sure in like, a year, I'm going to come up with something way cooler and absolutely hate this drawing, but until then - WHOO-HOO! *party!*

And there's a lot going on in this picture. So I guess I should start talking. Get a sandwich or something. You're in for a long one.

Miyuki is the best friend of the main character of a roleplay/story-type thing that I've been working on for as long as I can remember. It's based very heavily on Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and Through the Looking Glass (and what Alice found there). I've been working on it with :pdwing: Cherry. Miyuki isn't that important, but sometimes she models for the main character's older brother, Terry. Hence the funky outfit.

This picture was ORIGINALLY going to simply be Miyuki modeling. Then I drew the little tree in the background (and I love that tree to death. It's my favorite part of the whole thing. :lol: ) Then I started on the hills, and the other tree. Then the path. Ooh, and the shading for the path was probably the best accident ever. I shaded it in, totally black. And I didn't like it, so I erased it. But my erasing was kinda sloppy, and it turned out the way it is now. I know. Lucky, right?

But anyway, then I added the two flowers in front of the little tree (they're arguing, if you can see that.). Then the mushroom with the caterpillar on it (he's too small to really see himself, but you can see his smoke rings.). Then I added the chessboard pattern on the hills. And after a lot of procrastinating, I finished the other tree (and I hate it so much.), and worked on the sky. I put in a mirror with the Jabberwock reflected in it (referenced from the book it came from), then the pocketwatch (referenced from my own), and last, the teacup (which looks like absolute crap). All in all, this took me a couple of weeks (on and off) to finish. This is easily the longest time I've ever worked on a picture. My Fairy picture (it's in my gallery somewhere) took a long time, but mostly because I put off coloring it for so long. That picture's crap, anyway.

Uhh...let's see. I'm totally open to a roasting, but please don't mention the fact that Miyuki's lopsided. I know. :cries: I found out when I was almost done with the background, and it tore my heart out. I'll have to fix it if I ever decide to color it.

And last, the shading. It's kind of crappy, and there is no definite light source. I'm hoping to get away with the fact that it's Wonderland, a land of nonsense, and therefore needs no definite light source...but we all know it's just because I bite at shading. :doh:

Thanks for looking! :wave:

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Constructive Critique requested.

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Comments

  • Sep 3, 2007, 6:50:05 PM UTC
    I don't see what's so bad about your shading, the only thing is you should focus more on your light source. Start with one (or even 2 if you're more daring) fixed light points, and basically "see" your drawing as it would be in 3D. At least that's how I do it. Think of how it would be in real life so to speak, I'd have to make a big tutorial to explain it in detail, but it shouldn't be too hard. If you want any tips just ask, I'd be glad to help =D
    • Sep 4, 2007, 4:17:33 PM UTC
      Laughing Yeah, I have a looong way to go. I can't seem to fathom how shading's come so easy for other people. I can't seem to get the hang of it. Slant But I'm trying. Really, I am. Yes

      Thanks so much! Hug I'll try your advice out! Bounce
  • Sep 1, 2007, 4:16:00 PM UTC
    I think, going through your gallery that this is my favourite piece. I love the tree! and all the little details are awesome. If i was to give you one critique i would say that since you are trying to get into realism that you work on the preportion of the girl. I like the jabberwocky in the background but i only noticed it in full view. So maybe you could darken it a bit. However in saying that you obviously put a lot of time into the drawing.
    • Sep 1, 2007, 11:53:10 PM UTC
      Yeah. People keep telling me I have to work on my shading. Laughing I had to start somewhere.

      Thanks for the comments!! Hug
  • Aug 27, 2007, 12:00:39 PM UTC
    I'm so proud of you!!!
    You did pretty shading XD
    • Aug 27, 2007, 5:17:37 PM UTC
      Aww, yaaay! Hug

      *pssst* I'm kind of on a promotion for PD tangent. So GO HANG IN THE FORUMS! Mad

      Wink
  • Aug 24, 2007, 9:11:18 AM UTC
    Sorry to post again. I was finally able to play with the image a little. I just added some crude shading to her torso and face just to illustrate what I'm talking about and give you the basic idea.

    Hopefully it helps. Smile
    Image attached
    • Aug 24, 2007, 4:33:55 PM UTC
      ooOOoOOOooOhhhhh. Okay. I totally see where you're getting at. Smile Yeah, this was my first time at extreme shading, and I know I got a looongg way to go. Laughing And this helps a bundle.

      I DO need to get some shading pencils. Slant First I have to find a place that sells them. *sigh* Woe is me.

      Thanks so much! Glomp
      • Aug 24, 2007, 4:57:59 PM UTC
        Well, I don't know where you live but even Walmart has little sketch sets in the craft department--and they have decent pencils (they're General's usually which is a pretty known brand as far as drawing materials go). Any other craft store would have small sets like that as well. You don't have to go to a fancy only art supply place. Smile
        • Aug 24, 2007, 5:01:39 PM UTC
          Ponder True this. Now it's just a matter of getting to Wal Mart. Laughing I'll do my best.

          Glomp Thanks again.
  • Aug 24, 2007, 8:54:17 AM UTC
    Very nice work. Good composition, good character design and interesting background.

    What could be improved is contrast. There is very little change in value across the whole piece--there aren't any really dark, darks anywhere. The whole thing is comprised almost entirely of middle tones. There are a few really light areas but they don't stand out because the shaded areas are too light.

    I would really recommending going back with a softer lead (I read that you usually work with regular mechanical pencils, right?--you may want to either buy some softer drawing pencils--like 2B or 4B--for shading if you're going to continue to work in graphite) and working in some deeper shadows.

    In black and white, that contrast is really important because there aren't color values to add contrast. Right now your character blends into the background.

    Also, right now there's no visible light sorce because we can't see any real shadows being cast.

    I was going to sort of upload an example of what I was talking about but my programs are being difficult. So I thought I'd print it, shade the print out and rescan it back in...but my *printer* is being difficult. So meh. Sad

    At any rate, hope my thoughts helped. Smile

    (I just noticed the grinning face in the tree. Creepy...it looks kinda...evil.)
  • Aug 24, 2007, 5:05:32 AM UTC
    You know what this reminds me of? Alice in Wonderland. Must be the checkered grass. I like the composition of everything. It kind of has that whimsical appeal. I like.
    • Aug 24, 2007, 4:34:43 PM UTC
      Yes, a lot of it is taken from Alice in Wonderland content. Yes I mentioned that in my description of the piece.

      Thank you. Big Smile