Stylized Sword - brutal criticism needed

Dread Pirate Roberts

Hi everybody, thanks for checking out my thread. I've been working on some low-poly game assets recently, trying to develop a graphical style with realistically proportioned silhouettes and stylized textures with mainly flat colors (somewhat similar to the Sims 4 and Sunset Overdrive). 


The sword





I think the model turned out ok, but I'm a little concerned that the texture makes it look like I don't actually know how to create textures. 

In creating the diffuse, I used flat colors with an overlaid occlusion map to add some shading and a curvature to add edge highlights. Thanks for your time and your thoughts.

bkost

I think the model turned out ok, but I'm a little concerned that the texture makes it look like I don't actually know how to create textures. 

 I used flat colors

 Hey Robert, I'm digging the model. But I think you just answered your own question... Try handpainting it and adding in some minor detail. Look for some reference pictures and add some more basic details. Here's some inspiration for you mate https://www.reddit.com/r/handpainted/

Raane

If you want it stylised, blow out some proportions, avoid straight lines and perfect parallels.
Atm it looks like an early realistic game model.

http://www.autodestruct.com/thumbwar.htm

It's about concept but a lot of the principles translate 1 for 1 to our trade.

Dread Pirate Roberts

Thanks a lot for the input

jose.fuentes

If you are going for stylized really push the shapes.  The example that Raane gave is dead on, and what a solid reference

look at the sword image from that link

 

A good silhouette can make up for lack of texturing.

Keep it going! I'd love to see the progress