Morru's Pokéart: Electrike

"Howl at Lightning Ridge"

Spoiler

I used lightning brushes found here. I couldn't get the clouds to look any better than the way they are now ;-;

"The Thunder Kami's Familiar"

Spoiler

I probably got the characters wrong, but eh. xP
This one's blue since it's ~shiny~.

Going for Electrike, Medium, 2 pieces scoring 50+

 

Awesome, first curating / critiquing here! XD Man, I wish I hadn't read that PM because now I don't know if I'll EVER get to sleep.

"Howl at Lightning Ridge"
.:~*Effort and Detail*~:.
Wow, this is a pretty nice illustration, here. It has a very dramatic feeling to it overall. However, I do feel as if perhaps instead of just using the airbrush for creating the rocks in the foreground, maybe you could have used a rougher brush setting? The airbrush makes something as rough and rocky as the rugged terrain here soft and pillowy. This is where I would start out: see if you can't use varying different brush settings if a more realistic approach is what you're going for. Don't be afraid to experiment, because you might end up with something pretty spiffy. I also can't help but wonder why Electrike's pupil(s) are missing, but on the other hand it adds this effect / mood to it that makes it seem like it is gaining multitudes of power and energy from the surrounding thunderstorm.

.:~*Color and Shading*~:.
Overall the colors really set the empowering and dramatic mood here. However, the thing about light is that, when casted down through any kind of color filter (be it a blacklight, the moonlight, or even the blue tint a clear sky gives, or the gloomy and gray tint an overcast sky brings), the light would be reflected with that tint of color. It's a really interesting point that, for some reason, we all encounter every day but for some reason never actually take any notice to it. Funny how we take such interesting things for granted.... Usually it's not INCREDIBLY prominent, and is moreso just a subtle but effective addition.
Also, perhaps as a result, Electrike's color saturation would not be nearly as high.

.:~*Texture*~:.
I have elaborated on the problem with the texture of the rocks in the first section. :3 Try not only using different media / brush types, but also different techniques and add extra details. If ever you need to, you can always look up tutorials for application of texture on DeviantART; you will find so many results that you are bound to find at least one or two useful gems.
I would probably try to shy away from the airbrush in general, because it gives everything a very pillowy effect (although this is ideal for clouds and the like). It also appears as if some of the colors are leaking out onto both the background and other parts of Electrike's body along with its outline. Another useful tool I would keep in mind and use to my advantage would be the layers setting on the majority of advanced image-editing programs. You can also find some pretty in-depth guides about all the technicalities of layering as well, because it can get a little tricky. I would start off by using a layer for the background, one for the foreground, and one for the focal point of the image (Electrike). Layers are incredibly useful for making sure you don't go outside of your lineart, and when you make a mistake on a certain area, it's a lot easier to go back and correct it. Maybe if you're going for a more realistic portrayal of things, I would just stay away from lineart for the most part (or at least make it very subtle and not quite so prominent)

.:~*Creativity*~:.
This image, creatively speaking, has a lot of potential. I love the setting, the overall color scheme and mood of this piece. As I said before, it feels as if Electrike is just being so empowered by the combination of Howl and the thunderstorm taking place.

.:~*Anatomy and Proportions*~:.
I honestly have no complaints with either of these, as you portrayed Electrike in a perfectly canon matter. Just how some of the lines are a little wonky here and there bug me, but it's a minor flaw.

.:~*Perspective*~:.
Once again about the empowering feeling of this, the perspective really adds to it. Sure, it is rather basic, but then again also suits the mood of it. I don't really have any extra comments to add about this, though.

.:~*The Score*~:.
I feel as if you deserve a 65 for this, which is plenty enough for this Pokemon. Marvelous job!

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And last, but certainly not least...

"The Thunder Kami's Familiar"
.:~*Effort and Detail*~:.
For some reason, I want to think this is based off of the Okami series.
Ultimately, your previous piece was an improvement by far. Just keep in mind about the airbrushing and trying out different styles, and about the line wonkiness. If anything, you can use the pen tool; it's a little weird at first, but VERY useful for smooth lines once you get the hang of it. The lineart is especially rough and unpredictable on this one much moreso than the other one, so I feel as if trying out the pen tool could maybe be a pretty nice benefit? :>

.:~*Color and Shading*~:.
It seems to me that you could have used a background color that is not so similar in both hue and saturation as the Electrike's main body color, because that really takes away from Electrike as being the focal point. Seeing that the background is so blurry, it's difficult to distinguish what it was intended to be, originally.

.:~*Texture*~:.
Once again the thing about different brushes and yaddah-yaddah-yaddah applies, but at the same time I want to mention that this illustration is meant to have more of a realistic, if not fantasy-like feeling much moreso than the other one, correct? In order to further this, adding some faint traces of texture will really help; mainly with the fur. You can find some spectacular fur tutorials on DeviantART for sure. :3

.:~*Creativity*~:.
This is definitely interesting, and is in a much more stylized...style...than usual, almost appearing as if it is in the style of a lot of illustrations of Japanese mythical beings and gods. This is definitely a refreshing portrayal of this Pokemon, so I'll give you credit for that.

.:~*Anatomy and Proportions*~:.
I won't chew you out about the realistic portrayal of Electrike not being loyal to the original and blah blah blah, or anything like that. XD However, is Electrike's head facing more downwards? If not, then the spikes at the back of its head would not be facing upwards as they are. A good example for how to draw these kinds of "spines" from this point of view is no one other than some of the official illustrations and models for Sonic the Hedgehog; when Sonic (or Shadow, but I'm digressing) is portrayed as facing directly forwards, his top front spine is shown as a slight arch that branches out...basically like an upside-down "v" shape.

.:~*Perspective*~:.
Frontal views can be a lot more difficult to pull of at times, but good job on pulling this off! My only complaint about the perspective I already mentioned in the previous section. :3

.:~*The Score*~:.
I really don't feel as if this is an improvement from your first Electrike image, but I still think it deserves a passing grade. I'm going to give you a 55 for this.
Alright! Electrike was caught!

Nice work, you deserved it.

 

Thanks for taking the time to grade my art, I really appreciate it! I'll keep in mind the things you've told me, especially about staying away from the Airbrush tool when painting hard stuff like rocks. The second piece was inspired by the Kamigawa expansions in Magic: the Gathering. I was really having trouble with its ears, I wish I could have thought of looking at pictures of that speedy hedgehog! (I'm a Sonic fan myself, yay!) Again, thanks for the Electrike and for the art grade.

 

Oh, its my pleasure! I really enjoy helping to the best of my ability when it comes to critiquing art. ^^; I am honestly glad my overview helps out!

And yeah, Sonic happened to be the first example that popped up in my head since his spines stick out similarly to Electrike's. XD

You're very welcome! Have fun with that Electrike. :3