Great job on the art and a wonderful gift!
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A "super" WIP.
(link to dA)
This is just something I been messing around with lately trying to get a better handle on my tablet I got last month. This is ultimately becoming WAY more refined then I intended to start out with. The subsequent new sketches I have in the works (out side of the FArt stuff) I hope to be a little more quick and loose in style.
Comments would be cool, but since this is still a WIP (ie, a lot of lighting tweaks, background, broken chains and a background lol)...I'll understand if there aren't any. 
Globals: Johnnykat & Johnnykat2
http://johnnykat.deviantart.com/
Finally got this done...spent WAY too long messing with it then I intended lol. Now switching gears to my Feb. FArt entry!
(dA Link above for full image)
Globals: Johnnykat & Johnnykat2
http://johnnykat.deviantart.com/
Sorry, somehow missed this when you were in the b&w stage... Not that I would had useful comments anyway 
anyway, this turned out awesome... All kinds of win. My only comment is that the face may be defined too much? The cheekbone and such. Looks almost as if he had been all withered up and is now regaining the natural plumpness of his flesh along with his strength, if that makes sense?
And as far as I know it's the look you were going for. Never been a big sipes follower but I do know they portrayed his kryptonite weakness several different ways over time... (shrug)
anyway, for me that doesn't take away from the coolness factor at all, I just think maybe it was overdone just a tad is all... Looks great on the muscles but maybe a bit much for face is all.
Superman turned out AWESOME, JKat!! Now that you have a feel for your Wacom, your February FArt entry should be sizzling hawt!! 
~*~VexXxa~*~
The City Scoop Art Correspondent/Writer "ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"//"Don't hate because VexXxa is HOT and you're NOT." - JOHNNYKAT
Good job Johnny! It is obvious that you have put in a lot of effort into the piece. I think this painting has a lot of potential, and offer following comments only to help identify what could be improved, and also to achieve your goal of being "more quick and loose in style".
I believe an effective painting should have a balance of contrast: Contrast between light and dark, soft and hard edges, saturated and muted colors, precise detail vs illusion of detail, etc. When I look at him, every area receives an equal amount of attention. There is light and shadow everywhere, but no real seperation of the two to indicate big forms. It is crucial to divide your painting into areas of light and areas of dark, and decide where you want the main focus to be. You won't be able to loosen up if you go putting in incidental details all areas. You can polish the main focus as much as you want, but don't be too concerned with detail in unimportant areas (usually in the shadows, which is why light and dark need to be separated instead of being treated equally.) I think looseness is really the ability to create an illusion of detail with minimum effort, and it will help if you have a clear idea of where you don't need a lot of detail.
Colors seem a bit dull as well, again, due to lack of contrast. Color is one of my weaknesses too, but I think adding more saturation to the edge where the light area meets the dark area (again, the need to seperate the two. can't emphasize this enough!) will add more life. Also, you mentioned sunlight shining upon him and giving him power, but the light doesn't seem to have a color. I think you have a real opportunity here to play with warm light vs cool shadows. I would also make the dark areas much darker for maximum impact, to show that there is a light breaking through darkness, and also to bring more attention to breaking of the chains. A direct sunlight usually has a pretty strong shadow anyway.
I posted this link in another thread, but I will put it up here too:
http://alexhays.com/loomis/
All of Adrew Loomis' books are amazing, but I think a good place for you to start will be part 2 on tone in Creative Illustrations. I am reading that section now too.
One last recommendation I have for you is to post it in Steven Stahlberg's paintover thread. Don't just ask him to make it better, but state your goals. Explain that there is sunlight shining on him and you want the value and color to show that. Also that you want to be loose and not get caught up with unimportant details and want to have a clear main focus area. When you have some free time, also go through his thread and study how he has overpainted other people's stuff.
I hope you don't take this the wrong way, and good luck on your February entry!
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Thanks for the feedback guys. Some really good points on yours LD. I had a professor in college a few years back that was a very big fan of Loomis - he had most of his books and would let us look through them in class. Needless to say, I wish I could find some printed copies in decent shape and a reasonable price. I am currently trying to download some stuff from the link you provided, but I am always hesitant to do that and it seems to be having issues on the download. Anways, thanks again - I appreciate it!
Globals: Johnnykat & Johnnykat2
http://johnnykat.deviantart.com/
Aaaaargh...time to walk the plank you scurvy dawg!
For all you land lovers - this is my 2010 February FArt submission.
Carnieval Cruise - Valentine's Day "Pirate Themed Vacation"
Set sail for a true Carnie adventure! Learn how to raid nearby ships, find buried treasure, or walk the plank. You'll have so much fun, you'll never want to leave...EVER!
Please check out the February FArt contest thread for a link to a larger viewing file on my dA page as well as a version of the art-only image. Thanks!
http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showthread.php?t=206851
Globals: Johnnykat & Johnnykat2
http://johnnykat.deviantart.com/
WOW Johnny!!! FANTASTICO!!! 
~*~VexXxa~*~
The City Scoop Art Correspondent/Writer "ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"//"Don't hate because VexXxa is HOT and you're NOT." - JOHNNYKAT
It is a very cool pic...
I think Carnival ladies could easily have done a pin up justice even without the Pirate/Cruise theme thrown in but the combination works really well...
~*~VexXxa~*~
The City Scoop Art Correspondent/Writer "ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"//"Don't hate because VexXxa is HOT and you're NOT." - JOHNNYKAT
Hey all! I was hoping to post some other works I have been working on, but "The Alice Plot" which was my submission to the March FArt contest is all I can show at the moment. Thanks for looking!
Click HERE to see a larger version on dA.
Globals: Johnnykat & Johnnykat2
http://johnnykat.deviantart.com/
I really love how this turned out, Johnny! Especially how it appears to have a dimensional illusion to it!
~*~VexXxa~*~
The City Scoop Art Correspondent/Writer "ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"//"Don't hate because VexXxa is HOT and you're NOT." - JOHNNYKAT
I love the mad hatter statue ^^
Thanks Red and VexXxa! Yeah, I want to revisit this soon and get the slaughtered Tea Party Phalanx in here some how!
Globals: Johnnykat & Johnnykat2
http://johnnykat.deviantart.com/
Whoa. Johnny brought his A game to this month's theme.
Excellent work, JohnnyKat!
I like the different proportional perspectives. I would daresay that Alice is closest to the camera, then Tweedledee, the Hatter, and Tweedledum.
The only thing which could've made this even better is if you had the Cheshire (*cough* Amerikatt *cough*) Cat (<--obligatory shameless plug).
Two paws up (since I don't have any thumbs 
)!
AMERIKATT: Star of Stage, Screen, and Saturday morning cartoons! (Art by Psygon and ChristopherRobin)
"(Katt-Girl) obviously reads a lot of encyclopedias" -- Kiken
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I wonder if anyone found the rabbit heads. 
~*~VexXxa~*~
The City Scoop Art Correspondent/Writer "ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"//"Don't hate because VexXxa is HOT and you're NOT." - JOHNNYKAT
Quote:
You mean the ones at the ends of the Warhulk flamethrowers? |
Originally Posted by VexXxa
I wonder if anyone found the rabbit heads.
|
AMERIKATT: Star of Stage, Screen, and Saturday morning cartoons! (Art by Psygon and ChristopherRobin)
"(Katt-Girl) obviously reads a lot of encyclopedias" -- Kiken
Dark_Respite's video -- Avatar: COH Style!
I Support Nerd Flirting and Even More Nerd Flirting!
Quote:
Yep, those are the ones! Good eye, Amerikatt! |
Originally Posted by Amerikatt
You mean the ones at the ends of the Warhulk flamethrowers?
|
~*~VexXxa~*~
The City Scoop Art Correspondent/Writer "ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"//"Don't hate because VexXxa is HOT and you're NOT." - JOHNNYKAT
Quote:
Thanks, Miss VexXxa! Of course, I have a major advantage over the Furless Ones in this thread, since I *do* possess Supa-Kittehvision, which is a combination of telescopic *and* microscopic vision.|
Originally Posted by VexXxa
Yep, those are the ones! Good eye, Amerikatt!
|
I also have an impeccable Fashion Sense, too!
AMERIKATT: Star of Stage, Screen, and Saturday morning cartoons! (Art by Psygon and ChristopherRobin)
"(Katt-Girl) obviously reads a lot of encyclopedias" -- Kiken
Dark_Respite's video -- Avatar: COH Style!
I Support Nerd Flirting and Even More Nerd Flirting!
I saw them... I just didn't get them.
I assume it's something that makes more sense if you've read the story or seen the movie? I've actually never done either...
~*~VexXxa~*~
The City Scoop Art Correspondent/Writer "ART IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER"//"Don't hate because VexXxa is HOT and you're NOT." - JOHNNYKAT