Style vs Detail, Augmented Male WIP
polycounter lvl 10
Hello. As I've yet to feel I have developed much style, I was practicing on style, expression, and characterization. And here we have an "augmented male" - someone whose body has been somehow pushed beyond the normal limits of human strength, a half demon or the result of military enhancements...this time I wasn't just trying to learn anatomy but also working on style and expression of character. You can critique that if you like.
I have taken 3 pics of various states of small changes in detail. I was wondering whether the small difference give a different impression about the character himself.
The main difference between number one and number three is that number 3 has meatier jaw, cheekbone, brow and sharper crease in bags under eyes.
I have taken 3 pics of various states of small changes in detail. I was wondering whether the small difference give a different impression about the character himself.
The main difference between number one and number three is that number 3 has meatier jaw, cheekbone, brow and sharper crease in bags under eyes.
Replies
A focus on expression and characterization is a good one to have, though! I would find some references of interesting faces with interesting expressions, and try and capture their likeness as accurately as possible. The real world already provides very striking characters, realism doesn't need to be boring!
Once you really have that down, you can experiment with ways to simplify or exaggerate them.
On these faces, the ear anatomy is very off and very distracting. I would find some good ear references (from multiple angles) and really work on those. Right now, they appear to be melting, almost.
Also, it seems the eyes are a bit too large and too close. It doesn't really read as stylization, because the other proportions seem relatively realistic (aside from the ears).
I think the eyes and ears are fine since hes going for an augmented human thing but the rest should match it too like you said. its weird to mix normal humanness with random body parts not being normal
I'll just post something else here. Any critiques? Just various body proportions. Still not sure where I stand overall with style v detail. I love detail and realism but maybe I should give a stronger emphasis to style for a time. I'm not looking for a "which one is better". Um, they may all be bad to you - but I am just looking for any reaction you might have.
It's obvious I love hips and shoulders. I'm just thinking about how far I should exaggerate these things, not that any of these proportions are overly exaggerated. Or are they?
See if you can guess his age and ethnic origin is.
you should not take stylization as an excuse for not having to constraint to the rules of anatomy.
don´t try to "save" a model you couldn´t get as realistic as you wanted by abstracting it.
you will never get better at anatomy if you always turn around after half the way.
to create a good abstraction or "stylizized" version of something, the original you are abstracting from has to be very good.
you don´t realy need to sculpt it hyper realistic before abstracting it, but you need to be able to.
so my advice to you is to stop finding excuses for yourself, why your artwork is not on the level you want it to be, and instead try to get better at recreating reality.
You shouldn't assume things or launch generic rants at people you don't really know. I started this thread to open myself up to others' critical eyes not to be lectured at like a child. If you have a technical observation to make about a model that is depicted here you are welcome to make it.
You were blunt, so I was blunt with my reply. Thanks
I would study the work of charicature artists because those are the ones that are masters of realism but are so confortable on it that they can twist it and exagerate at their own will still maintaining a believable anatomy.
what i would recomend you is to start with a simple basemesh and try to practise on real world photorefs , but dont subdivide much , lay down the facial planes and when you have the anatomy instantly recognizable move onto another face , this would take around 1 to 2 hours depending on the head and helps immensely with head studies.
good luck and dont get so defensive with criticism , gives the wrong impression
i simply read through the thread and this is just what i figured, since most of your chars are somehow "augmented" or stylizized etc.
also this is what i told myself too, because i just couldnt get my models where i wanted them to be, so i made excuses, and it felt to me like you are doing the same.
i still recognize this attitude sneaking up on me, but you have to fight it as hard as you can, because it will only hinder your progression as an artist.
this is not about personalitys or anything, just you as an artist.
and if you don´t like what i am telling you, you are free to ignore my critics.
i am just trying to help you become a better artist, like everyone else here is.
read the Pro-Tip:
"When i first started, I thought I had no style. I was so conscious of it that I used to try and 'manufacture' one.
Then i found out, years later, that people were recognizing my stuff even though I didn't think it was recognizable!"
the lesson to take away there, is to focus on becoming a better artist, focus on the fundamentals, focus on getting things right. and your style will develop on it's own.
The problem is, that you can call every single piece of work as stylized, taking away any base to C&C it, leaving just a personal opinion (you like it or not). If you want to receive useable C&C you need to compare it to something existing, either realism or an existing style (references). Defining a new style will alienate when first seen, changing the style often will leave just a weird impression.
If you really want to define a new style, you need more pieces, a complete collection or scene, but if you start with a stylized version, it could be harder to learn realistic pieces later ("bad habits").