I think this piece definitely has a lot of potential. I do recommend checking your values often and use references when you render. For the composition, I tried adding more atmospheric layers like a mist effect, petals in the air, and light shining down to just make it feel more spacious without changing the positions of anything. For shading, checking your values can help, I used more value range and for the focal point, which is the face, I use the lightest values and with more contrast too. Your values also helps with your composition, if you are unsure you can try thumbnailling in grayscale to figure it out. Colour, again, values! If you can manage your values well, you can definitely add any colours and it would still be coherent. However, if you aren't too sure about it just go with more analogous hue shading, or mix the colours you already have in the piece and work from there. I'd love to see how you would continue with this piece though, cause it'd definitely be more interesting with some embroidery or metallic accessories!

Chrysanthemums

Artist's notes:

This is the piece with base colors + rough shading on the woman. I still plan on adding some patterns to the clothing and some small accessories. I want to increase the interest in the piece as well as improve my shading as I move on to the rendering phase. I'd appreciate advice/crit on the following: 1. The composition, I feel like it's missing something, especially on the top left. What can I add/place as I render to make it come together? 2. The shading - I'm not confident in my shadow shapes in her clothing, some help on that front would be super appreciated 3. The coloring, what are some ways I can introduce stronger contrasting colors to the piece?

Comments 1

@waitaminute3 days ago

I think this piece definitely has a lot of potential. I do recommend checking your values often and use references when you render. For the composition, I tried adding more atmospheric layers like a mist effect, petals in the air, and light shining down to just make it feel more spacious without changing the positions of anything. For shading, checking your values can help, I used more value range and for the focal point, which is the face, I use the lightest values and with more contrast too. Your values also helps with your composition, if you are unsure you can try thumbnailling in grayscale to figure it out. Colour, again, values! If you can manage your values well, you can definitely add any colours and it would still be coherent. However, if you aren't too sure about it just go with more analogous hue shading, or mix the colours you already have in the piece and work from there. I'd love to see how you would continue with this piece though, cause it'd definitely be more interesting with some embroidery or metallic accessories!

@hobocat3 days ago

Thank you so much! And your paint over is beautiful ❤️! I'm going to keep that in mind going forward and pay extra attention to my values. I'll def post the finished piece when I get finished eventually!

@artwodguy3 days ago

That is one beautiful paintover