Character Arm help(feedback appreciated)

Dartist

Hey!  So making this character and I am having a really rough time with the arm(the one not holding the sword), and how to make the metal armored wings feel more metallic.  Also, if anyone else has any recommendations for hair, let me know   Thanks again guys!  

KerryAislinn

I think the perspective is off a bit on the arm. It looks to me like the arm should be moved up slightly so it looks as if it would be attached at the shoulder. Right now, it looks to me like her arm is dislocated. Her hand might also be a bit too tiny.  Have you tried looking at reference? Sometimes I find it helpful to take a picture of myself doing the same pose with a camera at the same angle (or have a friend take it if you don't have a tripod and timer). The way you have rendered the image is quite nice so once you fix the arm up it will look great. 

As far as the metallic wings go, you have a lot of smooth shading which looks reflective but you can push it more with some more hard edged brush strokes. Reflections differ depending on the environment around the character. The image below has some examples of harsh light reflections that might help show what I am saying. Overall, great job. 

Dartist

@kerryaislinn

Thanks so much for the advice!  I should gather reference for the arm and change this for sure.  Also, thanks for the information on the wings.  Will try to push it some more   Thanks so much on the compliment!  Will post an update soon!

Dartist

Roxirin

I don't know if this will help you, but here's a trick I use when drawing arms: Draw a little circle for the shoulder joint and for the center of the hand, and then draw a straight line connecting them. Find the halfway point along that line and draw another line from there extending to where the elbow should be (the length of this line depends on how bend the elbow is, mess around with it a little). Then draw new lines (in blue here) connecting all three points (shoulder, elbow, and hand). It tends to help get proportions right, and from what I did briefly in MS paint, I think your character's elbow is tucked in too far and the foreshortening on her forearm is making it look odd. Hope this helps! (Also, get some armor on this lady, she's gonna get stabbed in the stomach )

P.S: You very likely know this already, but proportions for arms are as follows: the elbow joint lines up with the waist, and the fingertips should stop about mid-thigh (the wrist is therefore usually at crotch level). You've got it just about right on the sword arm ^^

Dartist

Thanks so much  @Roxirin!  I will do this for sure for my other drawings and hopefully get better at it.  Haha, I know the lack of armor is not great, but she was a study piece for me(she's meh in terms of design).  I wanted to practice stomach anatomy, armor and cloth and incorporate it into 1 character

Roxirin

Dartist said:

Thanks so much  @Roxirin!  I will do this for sure for my other drawings and hopefully get better at it.  Haha, I know the lack of armor is not great, but she was a study piece for me(she's meh in terms of design).  I wanted to practice stomach anatomy, armor and cloth and incorporate it into 1 character

No worries! Glad I could help, the piece looks awesome otherwise, your shading and rendering skills are very good Good luck in your future artistic endeavors!

Dartist

Thanks so much!  Happy New Years! @Roxirin

Roxirin

Dartist said:

Thanks so much!  Happy New Years! @Roxirin

Happy New Year