NDA Art Critique Message Boards

Ahh, new WIP, this time a bird/ice phoenix.
The red lines are possibilities (drawn with my mouse, mind you) , black are 'solid' lines.

Critique is strongly recommended, please!

I like it so far, I think you should keep the long designs on it's head and at the tip of its wings. Continue to clean up the sketch and soften the feathers and it will turn out great^^

Thanks! :D

I'm hoping to update it today, might not get the chance because it's Easter, though....

Looks good so far You should check out a phoenix that Neon did for the first dragon art book , it could give you some helpful pointers
http://neondragonart.com/Art/display.ph ... x%20Rising

Thanks, biddly, for the link :D I now have some more ideas for the phoenix

Ok, well I have updated the Ice phoenix in question. The feathers are sort of pointy, until about half-way through, because I was debating on whether to make the feathers icicles. Y'know, normal phoenixes sometimes have feathers of flame, therefore ice phoenixes should have feathers of ice and down made of snow. (?) So, do you think that I should make it normal feathers, or more icicle-like?





Also, do you like the ideas for the nice swooshy stuff at the end of the...uhhh, longer feathers ? Again, any ideas for them, or do you like what I have now? (I might change the tail one to match the wing ones).

(And I am well aware that I didn't put one on the back wing.)

Thanks

Ok, I have a new piece of art, a seadragon. As you might remember with the Amphlora, I had trouble with making it fit into the picture. I have the same problem here. Any help?

And I need some suggestions for this. I went on an art roll, but once I finished to main part, my mind became blank. I have no idea on what I should do now, or fix up, or anything, really. Should I add some more deepsea creatures? You tell me

Thanks!!

I think, with the sea dragon, there just isn't enough light in the background, yes it does seem to be deep down into the water, but still, there needs to be light ;}

hmm well in the deep areas i mean REALLY DEEP areas, there isnt any light, only light is the stuff the things down there make... so i think if this is a deep sea creature the background is great! But then again a little highlight in the high right corner of this pic might make it look like he's really far down.. hope i make sense

Another idea is to create a glow around your creature. Sea creatures that live deep enough in the ocean to have bioluminescence generally are their own light source. So, for instance, you could create a gentle sea green, blue, yellow, or white glow around the body of the creature, but remember to make the glow stronger where it's closest to the dragon, and diffused as it disperses outwards so that people understand that it is the dragon glowing and not the sea around it. This technique could also be used to light a small scene around the dragon, like a cave wall or the visage of another creature, just like any other light source.
Here are some reference photos for you.

Wow, that's gorgeous!
I'd just suggest making some white-floaties(for lack of better description) in the water...just noticed them science class today when we were looking at deep-sea photos. :]