Zoned's Art topic

I'm going for a Numel!

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If you would grade this I'd be very happy!

 

Joltik - Medium, 2 pieces scoring over 50

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http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd128/koeiman11/2013-02-21224245_zps0e181d42.jpg

http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd128/koeiman11/2013-02-22210232_zpsbad75a39.jpg

Seedot - Simple 1 piece scoring over 40

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http://i224.photobucket.com/albums/dd128/koeiman11/2013-02-23134456_zpsd7777fd9.jpg

 

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Combee - Simple - 1 piece scoring over 40

 

Curating Numel, Part One

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Overall

The first piece of art you’ve done here is a banner, which actually looks pretty neat! I would more than likely use it in my Pokemon stats if I had a Numel. The colors are well coordinated and I like the text, as well.
Dynamics

I love the text choice here; simplistic but clear and spaced just right, so that it isn’t overwhelming, but it’s obvious. The dark black against the soft browns and reds/yellows is a good choice—I also like that your ‘signature’ on it isn’t too cheesy or ‘in your face’. It’s classy and neat. I also like the spacing of the stripes of color in the background, as well as the little speckles of light that look like light bubbles or something. Very neat. The fact that the stripes are arranged to put focus on Numel is also very cool and works the art to make the viewer look where you want to. However, this being a banner that doesn’t use original art, it won’t get as many points. All in all, though, I like the patterns and the visual interest of this.

Colors/Shading

The color choice in this is subtle, but powerful. You lightened Numel up a bit to match what you were going for; a soft palette of yellows, browns, and reds, as well as a hint of green to accent the spot behind the Pokemon to match his green speckled hump. The darker shadows on the left bring secondary attention to the text and signature, as well. I love how you’ve manipulated the colors and patterns to make people look where you want to. The light in this is also very neat—it really looks like glowing lights under Numel, with specks of sparkles/dust coming out from the central point and giving the impression of fire or lava. I really don’t have any complaints about the colors at all.

Pokemon Accuracy

Numel is accurate but this is not original art, so I can’t really give you points here.

Advice

1. Try out your own original artwork in a banner like this. It’s harder, yes, but it gets you more points in the end; plus, I think you’ve got the concept of color and shading down pat. Try it out!
2. Maybe try not to make the lights at the bottom quite so bright. Yes, it draws attention to the Numel, but I’d rather see him than the light.
3. Don’t use the same image twice on two pieces. At least try out a different sprite or drawing to play around with.

SCORE

You know, I think you’ve earned the 50/100 on this one. I really like this and it looks like you worked hard at the lighting, patterns, and color choices. It’s a very cool work of graphic design, though I don’t recommend you try for a Pokemon above Medium level for it.

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Curating Numel, Part Two

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Overall

Again, very cool graphic design, though I think this one is a bit too busy. Other than that it’s a rather enjoyable piece of art.

Dynamics

Again with the cool text! This time, though, it’s just a bit overpowering. I don’t look at Numel first; I look at the text. Numel himself is the same image as the above one, making for less of an impact in this image. It’s also a bit cluttered with too many patterns and colors, like you couldn’t quite make up your mind about what you wanted to do. You have the black branches (?) up top, over a striped light orange background, and then lots of lights of varying colors and shapes, and then you have Numel sitting on grass or something? It’s a lot to take in and it just doesn’t have that ‘clean and polished’ look that the first one had. It’s sort of a higgeldy-piggeldy of effects.

Colors/Shading

Again, the colors are pretty crazy in here. While there are some cool effects, like the white text on a dark background striped with black, other things, like the random pink light above Numel and that ball of orange light to the right of him are very distracting.

Pokemon Accuracy

Same as the first piece: You didn’t draw this, so I can’t really give you points.

Advice

1. Simplify! Take away a bit of the clutter and try to get the focus back on the Pokemon; less crazy light patterns and decide if you want an abstract background or a real one (grass vs. stripes).
2. Again, original art catches you more points. Keep that in mind for trying to catch Pokemon.

SCORE

This one gets you a 40/100, meaning that you didn’t catch Numel this time. Try again, though, you’re close and these are cool works of art!

 

Curating Joltik, Part One

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Overall

This is really adorable, and I love the colors you’ve used. The shading is very nice and I love the close-up of our favorite fuzzy spider baby! It’s a bit sketchy, though; I think you should have smoothed it out a bit.
Dynamics

I like that Joltik is close up here; however, it’s a bit hard to tell that from first glance. He looks like a giant ball of terrifying spider at first. Perhaps next time you could put some close-up sprigs of grass to show that we are looking at him from a closeup angle, instead of nothing there to help the viewer grasp what they are looking at would work next time. I like the lines in this, though. The lines are dark, precise, and fairly neat, though in some places, like Joltik’s butt, it’s a little sketchy and wobbly. The trees in the background are cool, becase the front ones have darkened outlines, to show that they are more in the foreground, while the back trees lack outlines and look further in the distance. I also noted how you drew in each individual leaf in the background, as well as all the blades of grass… very nice attention to detail.

Colors/Shading

The shading in this is pretty good, especially when it comes to the trees in the background. The colors you used made them look three dimensional and ‘twisted’, like a natural tree would be. Joltik itself has shiny eyeballs and a fuzzy looking body with a brown shaded undertone, which looks excellent. I also noted the brightened backside and the fur around his face, highlights from lighting. Very good, consistent shading there. However, I will say again that I wish the coloring was smoother and neater. You have all of these white gaps between pencil strokes, showing that some of this was done in a rush.

Pokemon Accuracy

He’s a little ‘skinnier’ than a normal Joltik, but I attribute this to style and not inaccuracy. Other than that, you’ve got the little bug down to a T.

Advice

1. Smoother lines and coloring, please. Take the time to fill in every space; I have some cool videos that show you (if you'd like)how to use colored pencils to color, and crayons basically have the same rules as a colored pencil. Start off lightly and color in the whole piece before going back and lightly adding each layer, adding to the spots that need shading and leaving highlighted bits alone.
2. Try to show objects near your Pokemon to give the viewer an idea of what angle we’re dealing with. I know Joltik is close-up, but a few blades of grass at the bottom of the page that are bigger would have helped with this illusion immensely.

SCORE

This definitely gets a solid 55/100 for good shading, attention to detail, and effort.

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Curating Joltik, Part Two

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Overall

Okay so this is irresistibly cute. Can I take him home?

Dynamics

All right, we’ve got a Joltik on his own little spider web up in the trees. The lines in this are a bit wobbly and shaky, but it’s clear what this is. I also have to pick at the fact that the spider web has only straight lines and not the in-between lines leading from each ‘spoke’ of the web, like a real spider’s. The branch in the foreground works as a nice size indicator, though; it makes it clear that Joltik is teensy in comparison to the whole tree. The fur is done well, as well, though nearer to the feet it gets a bit messy and the lines aren’t as neat and precise.

Colors/Shading

The blending of the greens in the background is really cool, and I like how you lightened the colors on that right side to make everything look like it’s being illuminated by the sun.I see some expert shading on Joltik, as well, you have his furry body highlighted in the spots he needs to be, with some light brown shading being used in the left side for the darkened area. I will say this, though; I really think that your pencil stroke need to be smoothed out. If you take your time, you can create more blended and smoother colors and artwork. His shiny eyeballs are great, though and are probably what make his face look so endearing and cute.

Pokemon Accuracy

He’s very accurate to the games, but one thing that I’ll nitpick at is the fact that his legs are kind of small and skinny for his body. He’s also less round and ‘fluffy’ than the game Joltik, but that part isn’t really relevant.

Advice

1. Blend your colors, take your time and smooth out all your strokes!

SCORE

50/100 for this one, for the cool color blending and neat background. Joltik has been caught!

 

Curating Seedot

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Overall

Overall, this is a fairly nice piece. It’s a bit dull in color but I like it nonetheless.

Dynamics

That tree in the background looks great! I love how you drew the gnarled roots with bits of grass in the foreground to create a more three dimensional effect. Seedot itself has clean lines, though his form is a little shaky. The stem is a little bit off and his right foot is slightly bigger than the left, though this may just be extreme foreshortening. Overall, though, I like this piece. The lines are clear and visible.

Colors/Shading

The overall color in this isn’t quite as pretty and well-done as your Joltik pieces, but the shading is consistent and I can see a bit of gradience in the grasses in places. I do notice that there’s a patch of out-of-place dark green next to the tree roots that’s just kind of… there for no particular reason. The scratchy effect on the tree actually works, though. One other thing is that the grass doesn’t seem to have a purpose or reason other than where you emphasized it—there’s just a mass of green in the majority that doesn’t contribute much.

Pokemon Accuracy

Seedot looks good, nothing to note here!

Advice
1. Give you grass a texture throughout the whole drawing if you’re going to do so in certain places. Draw it in consistent pencil lines in that ‘scratchy’ style you have, perhaps, and make it all look like it’s going in different directions for more realistic grass.
2. Smooth out your colors!
3. Add a pop of brightness here and there. A bit of yellow, maybe, or something to oppose the green… a little pink or red, perhaps?

SCORE
You get 45/100 for the effort, clean outlines, and shading job on Seedot. He’s caught!

 

Curating Combee

Spoiler

Overall

This is pretty cool, and tells a simple but effective and obvious story. The background is a little plain but the Pokemon look great!

Dynamics

This is a cute story you’re telling here. Teddiursa has stolen some honey from Combee, who looks angry nearby. While your lines are a bit wobbly, they are clear. The rounded edges of some parts of each Pokemon look warped… any time you draw something circular in nature I notice that you struggle with keeping it neat and straight. However, the mini story and addition of another Pokemon make this cute. I have a bit of a problem with the background—it’s super simplistic when you’ve put so much detail into other works. The mountains look like tepees or something, I’m not really sure what the ground is supposed to be, either. The mountains make your Pokemon look giant, especially with Teddi’s positioning. Watch the proportions and foreshortening! One last thing, though; I like that you made each Combee’s face a little different. Nice touch!

Colors/Shading

The colors are nice and dark, and I can see that at least on the Pokemon they’re smoothed out a bit more than previous drawings. I also see some lending of colors on Combee as well as a few gradients here and there. The shading is consistent but not particularly impressive. Overall the coloring job is pretty good but not super amazing.

Pokemon Accuracy

Both Pokemon look accurate. I like that you remembered the middle Combee head’s stripe on the bottom.

Advice
1. Smooth the colors out a bit.
2. Make you background more detailed or dynamic.
3. Watch your proportions and check to make sure your Pokemon’s sizes aren’t off!
4. Go slow and steady with lineart. Rushing it will make it more wobbly and less neat. If you have trouble with a steady hand, try turning the page/sketchbook a bit and doing short, slow strokes. For straight lines, use the edge of a ruler or another piece of paper. It will make your life easier!

SCORE
I give this one a straight 40/100 because I think the colors and cute story make this piece able to pass for a Simple Pokemon. This means that Combee is caught!