Troisnyx 2016-07-07 03:36:36

On the one hand, yes, screw ratings. They're fine for a general idea of how food your work is, but not for a specific idea (that is, if they haven't been zeroed).

On the other hand, I have to say that KoppoKoppo's artwork was INDEED better than yours. It was clear, well-defined and easy on the eyes. Artistically speaking, anyway, the two pieces could stand to improve a heck of a lot more, but yeah. (This is also coming from someone who didn't, or couldn't, see anything in your picture as to why you rated it A. An M would have been called for, methinks.)

Troisnyx 2016-07-07 09:34:25

This year's. Spacing is much needed in artwork in addition to the subject matter and all sorts that you throw into a piece. And once a piece of art gets too busy, it's hard on the eyes, unnecessarily so.

The other piece you showed me, though too simplistic, had a clear idea of how to space things. The background didn't encroach on the front.

Imagine a comic. You wouldn't make a frame like this, where it covers all the screen, unless you had context. For a single picture, you'd want the front and back to be distinguishable. You did so by the size of your characters (bigger in the front, smaller in the back), but not by colour, and things that struck out. Everything was equally bright except for the floor. Nothing stuck out, giving me no perception of space at all. I mean, that's what I think anyway.

It reminds me of this drawing of mine which, also lacks space, and I need to do an improved version of someday.
http://www.newgrounds.com/art/view/troisnyx/sweet-regina

Troisnyx 2016-07-07 11:12:30

Okay, I've put a copy of the image on my Dumping Grounds along with numbers signifying strong points, or points of concern. I'll explain them as I go along.

http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/item/188775cbd44d056e4c66d0f1ebd90c6f

1. Nice concept for the monster. I have to say that I didn't find the image sexual in any way. Impalement through the private parts was a historical death sentence in some parts of Asia (especially Southeast Asia), and if anything, it brings fear at the immense torture and pain that would result from it.

Only thing I would say for section 1 is to define a bit more those bulbous pink things on the main structure of its body. Is it intended to look like brain tissue, much like a Metroid? A little bit more light will go a long way. When you see brain tissue, it's all smooth and slippery. This one doesn't quite look it.

So basically, add more gloss to what is meant to be glossy, and add less gloss to what isn't meant to be glossy. The difference between matt and gloss can provide a dramatic contrast, much like fur vs scales.

2. The expression on the girl's face is not "Help, this is an emergency." It's more like "ew, what am I doing here with those plebs."

3. Amazing expression there. That actually reminds me of Cell's face in the Dragon Ball manga and the Androids' faces when they are hurt, especially when they are impaled through.

4. The background is too bright compared to the rest of the image. While I am aware that you were doing this to bring to light the many people impaled on stakes and all that stuff, it doesn't provide enough contrast with the rest of the image. There is also an issue of perspective: perhaps the image itself needs to be longer, to account for the monster in the centre, and also to give space in the background for the dead people in the distance. Which leads me to...

5. The monster's tentacles don't contrast with the background at all. The colours are too close. I can just about see them, but that's it.

What are we going for, though? A dark, grotesque thing? Or something that emits its own light, which is visible at the tentacles? I can't decide which way to critique this unless I know what direction we're headed towards.

6. Again, lighting issue. Point 3 was away from the light somehow and you conveyed it well. Points of concern 6 seem to have an unnatural amount of light.

7. Lastly, the dialogue is too long for that small space. Unless you are counting on people to look at the full res of the screenshot instead of taking a quick glance, it'll come across as hard to read. Keep the dialogue short and succinct.

------

I think the questions to raise here are:

1) What impression is this monster meant to give? What is its physiology?

2) What is the background trying to convey apart from telling us that there are dead people?

3) If there is light in the image, where exactly is it coming from?

These questions should hopefully answer criticisms about the image, and help you better it.

Troisnyx 2016-07-07 12:27:41

In that case, the background might need a bit of eerie light to it -- but also go the Metroid route with the monster, and make the light brighter as well. : ) A bit like if you had an image of a Metroid against a bright background light; ultimately the foreground has to pierce the background light.

Troisnyx 2016-07-07 13:04:17

I'm no art scholar, but I did learn a lot from people around me on NG, through Andrew Loomis' books, and through my fiancé who himself was an art scholar. Just passing on what I know, really.