Galneda's art Reviews on Newgrounds

[Random concept 2]

Wow. The foreground is efficient in simplicity and....that sky...that BACKDROP.... Just "Wow."

[Sketchswap]

"For the sake of lulz"

That really sticks out to me...sticks out more than the dude's man-cleavage.

You should know that I was legitimately stressing over the sketch you had sent me for this contest.

First and foremost, because the theme was Beauty and the Beast, and what you sent me was, in my initial impression, a stretch of an interpretation on that theme. But, it had damn good potential; the poses you sent me were dynamic, it had challenging perspectives and angles on characters, and there were even elements you threw in to be included...from the people in the background to the toothy grin within the dark, cave-like reflections of the water.

I stressed out, and busted ass on that thing to make it look good. I just couldn't wait to see what you had done with my sketch. As more and more completed sketches began accumulating in the Sketchswap thread, I couldn't wait to see if we qualified to win anything...just to see where we stood among these talented contestants.

I perused through your art when I was thinking about what to sketch for you. I had gathered the impression that you seemed to really like furries, and you're pretty talented at handling them...but as indicated by the sketch you sent me, you weren't afraid to draw a human. I wasn't about to go av-ante-gard on my interpretation of "Beauty and the Beast" when I submitted you my first sketch, but I wanted to challenge you like you challenged me. I gave you a stocky balance of two characters, and a sufficient reminder of an environment.

The raptors legs were drawn too long, in what I had sent you...some details were really out of place, or were simply the wrong size, but I trusted your artistic integrity to hone it right, adapt or alter anything in there and make it work. Even if it came down to completely changing the appearance of the Trapper/Hunter/Poacher, it would've been fine to me. Hell, I was looking at some of the sketches sent to some of the other contestants, and they were SUPER LOOSE, the bare necessities of what that user had in mind, and the other artist turned it into something frame-able.

Any adaptation, I would've been down for it as long as it looked good.

But this is really underwhelming. I will not lie to you, and I gotta get this off my chest, because I really think about it a lot.

I was looking forward to how you would have made the female velociraptor more elegant. I am met with a cartoon derp grin.

I was looking forward to how you would have handled the raptor toe-claws. They have been replaced with just toes.

I was looking forward to how you would have detailed the shotgun. It is replaced by a hip-strapped, still-sheathed dagger.

I was looking forward to the man's grizzled, bearded facial expression. Then, this. Then a big 'ol Texan belt buckle, and instead of patches, a smiley face pin, and that two-strap saddle, and so on and so forth.

There are two details that I like. The sky's color pallete looks good, very believable overcast, yet kinda happy. The other is you included the original sketch into the frame...what happened dude?

What could have happened?

I know you submitted this thing at the last possible moment, (and that's cool; so did I and a whole bunch of other contestants)...and you even revised it during the period of time when the deadline was extended, so, I get the impression that you're really busy, taking priority to other arrangements...school, family, work, bitches, it's none of my business, but hey, we all have lives.

Time-management is a factor, and it's especially stressful when working with deadlines on ANY project...and, fuck yeah, "Life gets in the way." Believe me, I understand...but the overall creative decisions you made in how this piece turned out is really a let-down to me, dude...and THAT is the bulk of my criticism and negative scoring.

You handed me your sketch, and I stressed out...I even had a convo with you and one of the judges to change it early on in the competition, but at the beckoning of the rules, I TOO finished what you had sent me at the last minute. I felt really stoked that I was designing characters in a way that I did NOT typically design characters. It challenged me, and it was kinda exciting as the sketch filled out to what it became. I had hoped that you had looked upon the sketch I sent you similarly.

You finished somethin'...but it wasn't what I sent you. Even without my bias, as just a completely original art that had nothing to do with me or a contest, outside perspective, I don't dig it. And I look around at your other art submissions and I know you're capable of effort. So, what happened? Were you not digging the content, the contest, or was it time?

That's my real-talk man, I don't want you take this as an attack. Its my honest, no-bullshit critique, and I needed to get it off my chest. If you only took ONE THING WITH YOU from this review, just remember me when you participate in another sketchswap, dude. That's all I ask. The future partner might not be so receptive to the sake of lulz being catered, when it was craftsmanship they were hoping for.

Thanks for reading.

-G-

maficmelody responds:

I see where you're coming from, and I stressed a tad as well unsure of what I could and should do.

The image I sent you had quite a bit of careful thought with layout and emotional appeal. I'm MORE than impressed on how well you translated it and that people who reviewed it were able to appreciate the message.

The challenge was "beauty and the beast", yeah, but I wanted people to READ it, not SEE it, and to draw their own conclusions. It's a higher form of storytelling I anticipated the judges to appreciate and for you to take the cake for execution.

The reason I gave you that picture was because I knew what you could do with it, especially because of your style. I couldn't pull that off with my curvy and soft cartoon lines and color pallet at this point in the game.

In the time we had I drew pages of raptors and barrel chested dudes, each time bettering myself with knowledge of shape and form. The picture you sent me had no real character dynamism telling of their relationship other than 'here is my steed'. I understood it as a reference sheet, actually. My background in animation often prevents me from nursing my lines and tossing in superfluous detail, which I believe is evident in my gallery and cartoons. I'm surprised you're surprised that I didn't reference your drawing 1:1. I was tempted to draw OVER your drawing with slight modifications but I figured you would take that as a cop out and perhaps you did actually expect me to cartoon it up as my gallery would imply.

Time was also an issue, but besides the usual factors of school and work, I spent every minute I could with my visiting nephew who I haven't seen in years and probably won't see again without flying across the country because of a custody dispute. Drawing in front of a computer that week wasn't something I really wanted to do. To top it off my internet provider was doing area maintenance that week so my last post and upload was on public wifi. Not fun, to say the least.

Anyway, participating in this challenge has made me think that I need to expand my scope with less cartoony things and more practice with art like beksinski, which I really like. Essentially you've participated in changing me as an artist and led me to pursue other avenues. So you can take that as you will.

[Hunter Space Fighter]

That looks fun to fly! Kudos on keeping everything proportionate, symmetrical, and overall looking great!

Since the metal plating shade of grey is kinda trying to blend with the grey fuselage of the fighter, it would be a good idea to make the background either a black tarmac kind of look (so the machine pops out more) or to give the fighter a paint job for the same effect.

In a futuristic setting of stealth-defeating detection, I'm sure blending in to the blackness of space is the last of their worries. :P

The 3-Dimensional attention to detail all over the Thermal Radiators are really eye-grabbing, and I'm loving the plausible details all around the cockpit. Like the Rescue release latch, the cut of certain panels, it all looks great.

The idea of the Omnidirectional Engine Pods on the very tip of these slender Predator / Reaper Drone looking wings raises concern of the payload capacity of the wings. They're long and slender, and I'm sure they're made of intense materials. SPACE materials, even...but its really the only detail in the design that I'm curious about.

Granted, in an animation, it would frantic and awesome as it's doing spins and maneuvers, absolutely TESTING the wing's ability to not snap off...and then it needs to abruptly pitch down, so the pilot is blinded by a pillar of fire shooting upward right in front of his line of sight...hope it's not leaking fuel, or catches on fire, because now the pilot is terminally IFR for the rest of the mission.

Also, there's an additional set of wings or kind of "fins" that are in between the Thermal Radiators and the cockpit. They're prominently featured in the top view, I think I can see where they end, aligned with the rear "X-wing" stabilizers, but on the side view...I suppose they're mostly hidden behind the top OmniDirectional Pod, but they don't seem to lend any significant stability to the design. If they were shaped to look more like a long-range comm or sensor array, that would lend strength to the design, in my opinion... wings have no function in space but a surface. There's no airflow, and no real need to generate lift. It's got plenty of thrust to compensate for that! :D

Great design! Reminds me of many a cool sci-fi. Can't wait to see it animated!

Nanashi responds:

What a thoughtful and comprehensive critique. Thanks!

In response, I'll try to address some of your concerns.
First, the engine pods. The idea is to move the thrusting units as far away from the center as possible in order to gain a mechanical advantage over moving the ship in zero gravity. You'll notice that the 'wings' or engine booms are actually quite thick compared to an aircraft wing, as they have no aerodynamic needs. To add to your concerns though, you should also know that the wings hinge back 90 degrees for storage, so the structural challenges in this area are vast for sure.

The rapid pitch thrusters are a serious design flaw that I chose to leave as is. Without going into too much detail, these fighters are generation two, but are still the result of a VERY rapid development cycle with very little testing (The colonies needed some sort of defense craft while capitol class ships are being built). Additionally, these thrusters are actually high-energy ion engines, which emit very little visible light when operational. Fire is a non issue, as the cockpit is the only pressurized and oxygenated location, and the engines use an electrical fuel source.

The craft is actually designed to undergo some basic atmospheric flight to facilitate emergency landings, so you'll notice the wingletts actually do have flaperons. The computer controls all flight surfaces during atmospheric flight because of the crafts inherent instability (much like a B2).

Finally, I'm kinda torn on how I want the craft 'painted.' I feel the somewhat boring grey lends to the fact that the craft is rapidly developed (You'll be happier with the MkIII in this area).

You're welcome to PM me if you feel a need to respond to any of the above, and again, thanks for the thoughtful feedback. Though I have responded to most of it, I am not ignoring the concerns you've raised.

[Beauty of the Beast]

Wow. So far, this is absolutely my favorite submission in the sketchswap!

It's majestic!

I've yet to master the technique of NOT drawing everything with a sort of a black ink outline / comic booky style. I would LOVE to learn how to do NICE LOOKING art like this.

The expressions say everything that needs to be said. The body language is perfect, the fire looks amazing, the trees are a thing of beauty, and the color pallette leading up to that AWESOME spirit wolf.

Tops, man. This is really cool.

What's your favorite submission that YOU designed? Point me in a direction and I'll review it. You've earned a fan in me, but "WE MUST GO DEEPER."

Fived and faved, good luck in winning the contest! :D

gayhobbit responds:

Wow, thank you so much for that encouraging review. Painting is certainly enjoyable though I'm also still getting comfortable with it. I like doing comic book style art myself, but with a classic look. 'Or that's what I attempt anyway, haha.

For the rest I have posted, there's nothing I particularly dislike, though I wish I had a favorite up and finished because I really enjoyed your review. 'Very much made my morning. =)

[sniper in the night]

WOW! Cool cool cool! The shading on the character is pro! The RAIN looks fantastic! Maybe they go a little too persistent, in-a-row, those rain lines that are 8-in-a-row over the rock in the pond? But they look fantastic, the rain drops....and hell, I'm impressed that you actually found a TASTEFUL usage of the Lens Flare. I've never seen that effect done with the lens flare, and of course it would be as simple as just tuning down the opacity.

You are RAPIDLY growing as an artist! If you carried on the same density of the shadows into the background and among the foliage and even some of the lake, this would be PERFECT. While I understand the creative decision to hide most of the animal carcass, I kind want to see more of it...y'know...challenge yourself with animal anatomy. lol

I'm so stoked for you, I can't wait to see what you do next! Keep that momentum rolling and kick some ass, dude!

justice511 responds:

thank you :') i didnt know too much on how todo the rain but studyed for like an hour and i guess it payed off :) i just love your reviews they are the reason i improve :)

[A skull]

Strong, great composition on where everything is laid out. You got a great feel for the "Rule of Thirds."

It leads the eye. The skull is dominant in the frame because the eye is lead almost DIRECTLY to the bleached skull amid all of these vibrant water colors. What immediately becomes apparent is the misshapened top of the skull. In my personal opinion, I think the skull would work better if it were more rounded off.

What happens instead is, from the stage-right eye, it goes straight up (like it should) but keeps going and then it elbows in a sort of acute angle to flatten out the top. To take into consideration the black line that outside of the stage-left eye, running up and detailing the temple, provides dimensions on where the front of the face begins and ends, it makes it appear that this particular skull has a nob at a high, frontal part of its skull...and it just looks weird.

With the proportions that you've given us with the eyes, nose, mouth and chin of the skull...it IS BELIEVABLE that the top of the skull could END at that point, where it elbows out, creating the nob...what I think is making it look askew is the angle that's creating the top of the skull, facing the left of the frame...makes it look like he's got a flat head!

You'll note that there's a thin line of purple, from the background, that runs along the top of that surface I'm talking about. I'm willing to wager that if you filled in all of that white, and extended the skulls cranial dimensions out to the two distant tree things in the background? The lower tree would be completely consumed, and as long as the top of the skull is slightly curved, that would look a little more correct.

To counter that! That skull's face is goddamned impressive. To the missing teeth on the side...it provides details that hint at a greater story, and I'm an avid fan to those kinds of details because it's stimulating to the imagination.

The water colors themselves help add to the mood. I'm not exactly a fan of the line of orange on the left side though...it doesn't do anything for me personally, and there's not enough of it to really be bothered with....that whole thing of orange could've easily just been more purple, and that would've been fine. You would have had a consistent cool-color theme going on, and that could lend with the gloomy dark plantlife imagery, and the skull to help entice some grimmer moods.

Intentional or not, I particularly enjoy the hidden face within the blue water color. We can see her profile, facing right, nose inches away from the mid-right border, her eye right below the lowest major branch of the tree. Its a nice touch!

Finally there's the graphite trees. They lend a bit of necessary atmosphere to piece, but could use some expanding upon. For instance, we see no plantlife rooted, no real idea of horizon or background besides neat colors. Even if it were just a nice, brushy, horizontal line implying solid ground, that would've helped a bit....even if it didn't fully commit to the right border. (but, I guess if you did that, it would compromise the hidden face, so idk wtf I'm talkin' about)

You had the right idea for adding additional graphite scenery in the top left...but I begin to wonder what came first...the plants or the skulls? Or was it JUST graphite? Because I'm beginning to feel like as you were fleshing out the skull's dimensions, you cut it in a little short so you didn't compromise those top left background trees...hence the weird flat top, am I wrong?

Regardless, down to every detail, this is some COOL art, dude. In the future, take greater detail in the pre-composition concept stage. Make it so your filesize is larger, your palette larger, so you can stretch and breathe more detail into every piece. Make no mistake: this is STILL good...but its an even better platform to launch upon higher.

Voted 5! Keep up the awesome artwork man.

372 responds:

Thanks so much! The original design actually extended to the left and went from green, light green, yellow, orange, red, and then purple and blue with very dark brown strokes as trees overlayed in the color but I didn't like it and chopped it down to this. As for the shape of the skull, you're right it does make a rather odd shape. The skull came first then the trees and the watercolor
I appreciate the great reviews!

[Heart Tattoo]

Its a fantastic idea for a tattoo!

I find it odd how it turned out, though....you mention that it was drawn, then colored digitally. But the blotted, reflective liquid effect around the inkwork would lead me to believe that this was all painted. Thats where things get weird when there's this odd artifacting going on around the black lines...but this could be a fault of mine for looking too closely at the canvas.

What effects were used in Photoshop when you mastered the piece? Whatever it is, its effected everything...there's a sort of a blur or a mosaic effect that I personally think was added on a little too thickly...if it were more moderate, it would be stronger.

...but that's only referring to the effect, if there was one, used. The color choices are perfect, and as a tattoo, it looks strong and believable. I especially like the detailing done with the coloring inside the heart and leaves. Its high in craftsmanship, and there's no denying that. I only wish that the upper corners didn't cut off where the rest of the flower's leaves extended, so we could really see the full picture. Try to avoid chopping off the entirety of a tattoo design...especially since when it actually goes on the body, its very rare to document the entire piece on the person, because it bends around dimensions and it'll take several pictures at different angles. Y'know? Unless she's getting a tramp stamp, that is :D

Good job, definitely keep it up! I'm sure you'll hear lots of gushing urging you to become a tattoo artist...every artist gets that, take it with a grain of salt. (Though it IS good money...ehhh, do what you want.)

372 responds:

Thank you for the review! This is the original sketch http://www.newgrounds.com/dump/item/ebce3d41035138a899750e19cb74d820
I went over the lines I wanted to keep with the paint brush tool, and colored it in with high opacity in many layers. Then a water color effect was applied, although I agree it did come out almost mosaic looking lol.
This is a phone picture of a printed out copy. The white spots are blotches of missing ink, which I don't understand. I agree that I may have made the outline to thick, when making it I guess I sorta brushed it off because of the concept of it being a tattoo. Although looking back that dosn't make much sense haha.
The corners are missing of because it's instagramed' , which forces me to cut it 606x606. I'm gonna try and get a better copy up.
As for being a tattoo artist I sort of decided I wanted to it at a young age. I like the history and the style, the way the body looks as a canvas and how the shape of the body can complement or break a piece of art. Also I have no clue how else I would make money through my artwork

[deserted mystery]

Very nice color palette! The foreground dune which dominates the shot is shaded very efficiently, it looks really good, and there's no denying that's sand. Tops on that.

The midground dune looks really good, of what we can see. You did a great job at making it seem like it's waaaayyyy back there, and you were wise to make it a much lighter hue than the dune in front of it. My only problem is that as you follow it from right to left, it just kinda drops off and ends behind the peak of the foreground dune. If it had continued going, flat as can be, to the other side of that peak, it would've been stronger in my personal opinion.

The clouds look fantastic, almost oil painted...that sky is truly a thing of envy. My only other negative criticism is the yellowness of the sun, but take that particular critique with a grain of salt; every artist does things their own style...so your sun happens to be yellow. Happens to be spiky. Happens to bleed out a yellow aura around itself, and that's totally acceptable. If it were me, and the sun HAD to be in the shot, I'd make it a diffused white orb. But like there's no mistaking that's SAND that you've drawn there, there's also no misconceptions that the thing in the top left is absolutely the sun.

The positioning could also be improved...like, making it not cut-off into the corner would've lended some additional strength too. I want you to google or wikipedia research the "Rule of Thirds" which is a very strong and important rule of thumb when it comes to composing your art. It would really hold you over to implement the Rule of Thirds in the future. That way the frame, in it's entirety, really pops and nothings cut off.

You're doing great, man! Never stop!

justice511 responds:

thank you :D the sun was definitly the part i wasnt too sure of in then end but i had the shadows done and all so i thought shit... to i tried to make it work and i honestly think it turned of alright not grate but not bad either and the clouds :'P the clouds my fave part i spent the most time on those to give them a really satisfying look :') and im gonna go and look up the rule of thirds right away :)

[Princess Peach on a Jog]

Is she running from the cops? (red/blue/red/blue bg)

Pretty good jiggle physics, I even like the subtlety in her hair movement. The cheeks look peculiar to me, but I suppose they're sort of portruding out while she's wheezing and lugging around that rack.

I just wish I saw what was going on below...maybe a little camel toe action going on, idk.

Gratz on getting this featured content! (scroll down from here, hit "art")

[Inner Demons]

Spectacular! The detailing EVERYWHERE is really addictive. The clothes look photoreal, the hair looks legit, the faces look WICKED COOL. I love the horns and missing patches of skin over the mouth on the top demon, the bottom demon probably has my favorite face, and I love it's hair. Middle demon is all about that tongue and the mangy corpse-hair.

I can't tell if the dude has his eyes mostly shut and concealed in the shadows as he's looking down at his fist, or if his eyes are sunken in and glowing white like his demon buddies back there, but head to toe, this thing looks spectacular. It can STILL make for an awesome book cover; it needs no color, nothing added to it, it's just stellar, man. Great job!