(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/earlslick.png)
2x:
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/earlslick.png)
OK, so this is my character, Earl, based to a certain degree around Earl Slick. I tried to make him the best I could, and I also tried to shy away from drab colours (as I've been advised to by other members of the Lounge when submitting my earlier [see: crappier] work). The whole character has not a single actual /black/ or grey in it, all of these are shades of blue to my knowledge. The boots are probably the worst feature of the sprite, I did not spend much time on them at all, I just couldn't get them right no matter what I did, so I went for the least wrong of the lot. :P
Main areas of concern that I can think of are maybe the elbow areas, they didn't work out too well, possibly his legs are a little off. I am not certain, but I'd love to hear from one and all.
Oh, yeah, and there's a single colour missing from the colour block. Buggered if I know what it is, though. It's driving me crazy. How does one find a needle in a haystack when the needle is made of hay? :P
Paintovers, positive and negative feedback all welcome. :)
It's the second lightest blue, as used in the drop shadow on 'EARL'. The bottom left and second from top right blocks in the colour block are the same, slightly darker, shade.
It gives me the impression of a shambling Frankenstein's moster kind of thing - I think it's the squared off head, which is probably difficult to avoid at this size, and the shades looking like sunken eyes. Never having heard of Earl Slick, I can't say if you've captured him. ;)
However, to me, the colour choices are still very drab. The fact that his hair, shades, jacket, shirt and trousers all seem to be a similar, washed out blue/grey makes it look quite dull, IMO. Better than pure black/grey but still drab, as I would use the word.
That said, I do like the shading, and I'll be interested to see him animated.
(All of this should probably be followed by "... but I'm no artist, so feel free to ignore me.")
Ahhh, bloody hell, thank you very much, Ashen. Thing was giving me horrendous gyp. I'll fix that tomorrow.
And I see your point, I does. I think what I was aiming for here was as few colours as possible, hence the use of dark and light blues only, with the exception of his three tone skin. Not an excuse, but an explanation for the colour choices I've made. In the past I've always been unable to keep my colour count down, so here I made a conscious effort to do what I could with eight or so colours (technically nine with that bloody 'missing' colour you so helpfully found :P).
As for the square head, aye, that was a tough one to fix, my problem was that I only had, what, five pixels across to work with, as you said. It's a bitch. I'm trying to think of a way around that. The Frankensteinian-gate is most likely, after further examination, caused by his shoulders, I think they're sloping. Bugger.
Amazing what you see when you get some fresh eyes, isn't it? I have a feeling I should go back and worth an extra four or six colours into Earl, here, to give him more life. What colours I should work with, I have not a clue.
Also, that you liked the shading pleases me, because if there's one thing I always, ahem, prided myself on not doing well, it's shading, so that you like it is a good thing. :D
His pants worry me a touch, I know I used too much light shading there, I'm wondering if I should darken them some to avoid them looking shiny...
The shape looks a bit weird but I can't tell why. The shading is really quite cool and I advise you not to darken the trousers. The contrast makes them work, muteing the tones will ruin it in my opinion. The right arm looks a little large but I really like what you have.
Good Job :D
Updated Earl, played with a few details, fixed the colour of the text outline around the lettering, I'm working on a side profile now. I tried to make his head a little less square, fix his boots, give him more neck, touch up his shades, just generally fix a few things. I may or may not have succeeded.
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/earlslick3.png)
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/earlslick3.png)
Here, try this on for size, is now an updated, higher contrast and brighter image, with one side-view (uncompleted, but getting there). How does this stand up, boys and girls?
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/earlslick5.png)
2x:
(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/earlslick5.png)
Notably, the tips of his boots and the outlining of them in side-view needs work, I'll get to that. Can anybody suggest a good way to outline them? Any paintovers? I'm struggling with that in particular. Any other criticism would be greatly appreciated!
Oh, and I think his neck in profile is a bit fucked up, too. :P
something reminds me of frankenstein... maybe his sqaure head.
*sighs* Brilliant. I don't mean to be a pain but that would be the third time or so I've heard that, but I have no idea what I'm going to do about the head, and nobody has any suggestions. Does anyone have any ideas how I can fix his head? Pretty please? :)
Changed his head a bit, only to give you an idea.
3x(http://www.2dadventure.com/ags/redraw_coj.png)
The boots in the sideview are way to big, and don't "shade" him like that, it looks weird and is a pain to animate.
Quote from: CoyoteJack on Thu 09/02/2006 08:45:48
*sighs* Brilliant. I don't mean to be a pain but that would be the third time or so I've heard that.
oh sorry I didnt had enough time to read it all when i posted that :-[