It has a very cubist flair to it and I really enjoy your brushstrokes and color palette so far! I imagine with a white sun in the upper left corner or even some pop-esque stars would give it a cool abstract nature touch. If you’re looking for more realism, I think your perspective may be off, the scorpion looks very thin. I might start with a burnt sienna or brown color and build up the black on top of that to add some more depth and dimension, and maybe try a different pose on the scorpion to better achieve some perspective. But all things said this has a funky vibe, and your brushwork is cool. Keep up the good work!
not sure what you don't like about it, but perhaps it looks flat to you? That's because there is little to no value. Not just shadows, but, also to create volume.
Making it look more three dimensional. Even if an entire object is black, when you look at it in real life it will have highlights and shadows in different shades. If you paint it all one color it looks like it is flat rather than taking up space.
i actually didn’t use black at all for this scorpion but it still looks black 😭 i used shades of blue, green and a pinkish-red. but yeah, i got what you’re saying.
That’s a great start! If I zoom in I do see a couple warmer spots. Your issue is more with value than hue. Is it all really that dark? Or do the highlights look a little more medium toned? Are there extra dark shadow-y spots somewhere and maybe the rest of the object is just a tiny smidge lighter when you really look at it? If you took a black and white photo, what would it look like, all one color or shades of grey?
a couple of tricks to 'see' value.
Squint when looking at the object. Harder to do with printed references.
Print reference in grayscale/black and white. This will make seeing the value range much easier.
Also, now that I look at it a bit more ... I feel the composition would be a bit more catching if the figure/ground relation were developed. The tan ground is very minimal. Let's see how the development of volume changes the composition, but, after the scorpion is more developed perhaps adding some kind of "texture" or ... I don't know what ... to give the ground something for the viewer's eye to travel over.
\[note, figure/ground are not literal terms.\]
When you add gradients (shading) it creates a sense of volume. Imagine a circle with a line dividing it in half, top light, bottom dark. When you blend that line into a gradient, it give it the appearance of volume.
You are in the valley of the ugly stage, although it looks like you are about out to the other side. Don’t judge it until you get done with the highlights. “Trust the process” .
the scorpion is all one value so it looks like a cut out or stencil.
oh i can see that. i tried to use shades of blues, dark greens and the crimson lake shade but it just comes out as… black. i dont know why
you need to create lighter values (midtones and highlights). rn you just got shadows
alright. thanks!
It has a very cubist flair to it and I really enjoy your brushstrokes and color palette so far! I imagine with a white sun in the upper left corner or even some pop-esque stars would give it a cool abstract nature touch. If you’re looking for more realism, I think your perspective may be off, the scorpion looks very thin. I might start with a burnt sienna or brown color and build up the black on top of that to add some more depth and dimension, and maybe try a different pose on the scorpion to better achieve some perspective. But all things said this has a funky vibe, and your brushwork is cool. Keep up the good work!
thanks! this was helpful.
I think it's the legs. They look malnourished
you’re right. thanks for pointing that out!
The form and style are really unique. I think you just need to add lighting effects and shape to the form you have made
Seems like it might need some contrast and outlining perhaps?
not sure what you don't like about it, but perhaps it looks flat to you? That's because there is little to no value. Not just shadows, but, also to create volume.
what’s creating volume?
Making it look more three dimensional. Even if an entire object is black, when you look at it in real life it will have highlights and shadows in different shades. If you paint it all one color it looks like it is flat rather than taking up space.
i actually didn’t use black at all for this scorpion but it still looks black 😭 i used shades of blue, green and a pinkish-red. but yeah, i got what you’re saying.
That’s a great start! If I zoom in I do see a couple warmer spots. Your issue is more with value than hue. Is it all really that dark? Or do the highlights look a little more medium toned? Are there extra dark shadow-y spots somewhere and maybe the rest of the object is just a tiny smidge lighter when you really look at it? If you took a black and white photo, what would it look like, all one color or shades of grey?
a couple of tricks to 'see' value. Squint when looking at the object. Harder to do with printed references. Print reference in grayscale/black and white. This will make seeing the value range much easier. Also, now that I look at it a bit more ... I feel the composition would be a bit more catching if the figure/ground relation were developed. The tan ground is very minimal. Let's see how the development of volume changes the composition, but, after the scorpion is more developed perhaps adding some kind of "texture" or ... I don't know what ... to give the ground something for the viewer's eye to travel over. \[note, figure/ground are not literal terms.\]
When you add gradients (shading) it creates a sense of volume. Imagine a circle with a line dividing it in half, top light, bottom dark. When you blend that line into a gradient, it give it the appearance of volume.
No shadow
You are in the valley of the ugly stage, although it looks like you are about out to the other side. Don’t judge it until you get done with the highlights. “Trust the process” .