Leather boots WIP

SqueakyFloorboard

I have been working on some boots for a character and I've got to the point where I need some fresh eyes to give me some critique on the textures and the presentation. They were based on this concept https://www.artstation.com/artwork/k0m3y and they are presented in marmoset.
So how do they look?

Ashervisalis

They look pretty cool. I feel they look new, not much wear and tear. You could make the laces a different colour leather, such as lighter brown, to help them stand out more. Also, the leather could use a little colour/rough variation.

SqueakyFloorboard

Thanks! Ok yeah, I’ll push those things more, I do tend to make things quite subtle. Thanks

Alex_J

some kind of liner or something liek that on the inside may be nice. You know how the inside of leatehr usually has that fuzz bit? Since these are like military boots or something like that, I could imagine the wearer may first put on a padded cloth liner, which could look pretty cool poking out the top.

There should be some AO or maybe even shadows on the tongue. I might expect more folding/creasing there as well. Leather boots like this need to have some extra material thhere so you can get your foot inside, then lace it up tight. Getting your foot into a leather boot that is too small is very difficult. Nowadays boots have zippers, but before that you had an extra wide tongue, then you fold it over and tie the laces.

I think the wrinkles should be more localized to areas that will deform the most. Maybe what you have is perfectly realistic, but I think this would look more interesting. 

What are the round divots on the toe? 

About the metal, I am having trouble pinpointing what I think isn't working.... they seem like a solid block of iron. Not like a relatively thin piece of stamped metal or even if it was milled it would still need to be kind of thin. I don't know what to suggest, but that's the impression I get anyway.

Lately I've found that the best way to improve my models usually isn't learning some new technical skill or magically gaining some kind of wizardly sculpting ability, but just to spend more time really studying and trying to understand the thing I am making. I think that will help you here to.

SqueakyFloorboard

Yeah I agree that the insides could do with something, the fuzz sounds good, I'll have a look at some reference for some more ideas.

Ok, yeah, I'll push the AO a bit more and put some more folds on there.

I'm not sure what the divots are, I think they're just for aesthetics.

Ok, I'll see what I can do to make the metal look right, maybe some pins that look like they're holding the metal onto the leather underneath.

Yeah I find that too but I also need to spend much more time looking for real world reference and studying it. I tend to rely mostly on the concept art.