Lightning Struck

I would like to submit this to capture a voltorb please.

Dificulty - Medium
Target - Voltorb
Points needed - 45

 

CLAIM!

 

Hi ghost! This is about three or four steps up from previous rank. Are you sure you're just wanting a voltorb? He is medium. I mean this clearly passes even from the outset but please do read on as I would like to talk about your artwork because I do think there are some pointers I can give out to you to look for in your next works! But otherwise bravo!

I guess we can start with your subjects:

You have a very simple, yet effective scene. Zapdos stands dramatically in the center, surrounded by two lightning bolts, with two onlooking voltorbs. Your scene is very up front and immediately takes you in and doesn't let you out which is a very good thing. The shading and point of view in it helps emphasize the drama of the whole scene. I think that it is fun and makes you revel in Zapdos's awesome power.

Though, I do think Zapdos has been a bit simplified in this scene and I think its wings are longer. Its eyes are a bit big and feature prominent outlines. I'm reading as a stylistic choice because I see that you have carried the similar shading to the other figures. I'm kinda wishing you've carried it over to the background though. I've noticed this style a lot in animation where the animated characters have tick outlines and are more simply rendered than the surrounding landscape design. That is done on purpose to cut back on the time meant to draw the subject in each frame. In static art it usually comes off a bit disharmonious. In the case of your work, I think it would have benefited more if the outlines in both Zapdos and the two voltorb has less prominent outlines.I think like around the wings it was done to differentiate the wings of Zapdos and the lightning, but it is a little jarring as there isn't an outline on the other side. If you wanted to, you could have opted for the purplish/bluish electricity that one sees.

Really, the only other qualm I can find are the clouds. They're a little oppressive being so lightly colored. Thunderstorm clouds are usually a dark, dull blue grey rather than white and light grey. That ugly, murky color will recede more than the bright white of the clouds that are pushing forward. Right now I think you have given the atmosphere a very heavy feel with looking straight up at Zapdos smack dab in the middle and the two voltorbs squeezing us in tight. I definitely think you could open the space up just a little; it would keep the drama but still give me some room to breathe (unless that was what you were going for).

Other than those minor qualms, this far exceeds what I have expected for a Voltorb! 65/45 You got your electric ball!