Hello fellow artists,
Here's a sprite I've been working on for my game project. He's a Police (or militia) officer in some vague eastern bloc country.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/zk_front_side.gif)
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/zk_front_side.gif)x3
The problem is I can't get his feet look proper. Because he is wearing a uniform, his pants should probably have creases (is that the correct word? I mean the folds in the front of the pants that come out when you iron the carefully) in the pantlegs. I haven't managed to find a way to draw these in a way that would not lock the direction of light.
Other criticisms and suggestions are welcome too, especially considering his neck in the side view
Sprite is small, so I don't think you would be able to make the right sized folds at such scale. Besides, it looks ok to me :)
One thing about art is that you have to know when to stop. Sometimes too much detail is not good and can make the overall look quite messy.
Usually, area above knees is lighter. It gives some sense of realism.
As always, I suggest to see how japanese artists do it ;)
(http://www.increator.pri.ee/i/critshelp/shingo.gif)
(http://www.gsarchives.net/neogeo/art_of_fighting_3/sprites/animated/Ryo_breath.gif)
Second image shows very nicely how and when wrinkles occur.
I quite like the image, but skin tone could be less... gray. It looks almost like a zombie. Also, give him a bit of torso (side view). He looks extremely thin right now and militamen had usually good physical form. Also, with shirt so wrinkled, this militiaman would be fired in a minute.
Usual european office worker is quite gray actually, at least in baltic...
But the upper knee part doesn't need to be lighter because:
1) he is standing straight and is not bending his knees
2) his pants are quite loose and not tightened around his leg
3) the japanese sprites are totally different style with different contrasts, plus they have different anatomy.
If you look at some photos, where are some men in suits etc, there isn't much reflection and pants are quite dark. Yes, it depends on material also. Jeans tend to shine up a little, for example (but still matte).
I don't mind the pants. But I have a problem with his protruding forehead in the side-view. Here's my idea of how it could look: